Spencer J. Kontnik - Denver, CO
Attorney at Kontnik | Cohen, LLC
Civil Rights Lawyers in Denver, CO
201 Steele Street Ste. 210 Denver, CO 80206
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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12
Years
Experience
Denver Civil Rights Lawyer
Updated: 09/11/2026
Areas of Practice
- Civil Rights
- Family Law
- Employment Law
- Disability Law
- Employment Practice
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Representation
- Disability Accommodations
Attorney Information
Overview
Spencer Kontnik is a founding partner of Kontnik | Cohen, LLC and one of the premier civil rights litigators in Colorado. He has also gained national attention for his work representing individuals with disabilities. In 2024, Mr. Kontnik was appointed by Colorado Governor, Jared Polis to serve on a task force to rewrite the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. He has also drafted legislation, testified before the Colorado State Legislature, and helped pass legislation in Colorado related to ensuring basic civil rights for all individuals regardless of age, race, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, and disability.
Mr. Kontnik has represented clients before the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, the Colorado Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court of Colorado, numerous state trial courts throughout Colorado and other states, and in numerous administrative courts and arbitration settings. Mr. Kontnik has tried numerous jury trials, bench trials, injunction hearings, and arbitrations. In the process, he has secured verdicts and settlements in the six and seven figures for his clients. Mr. Kontnik expects to go to trial, and he expects the attorneys in his firm to take cases to trial. Trial attorneys try cases, and the best results are won in the courtroom.
Mr. Kontnik has also been instrumental in taking on the difficult cases that have wide-reaching impact. In 2024, Mr. Kontnik became one of the only attorneys in the United States to successfully obtain preliminary injunctive relief against a State Supreme Court for discriminating towards disabled test takers on the bar exam. The impact of the 2024 preliminary injunction has been widespread within the Colorado legal community. In 2021, Mr. Kontnik was awarded the Access to Justice Award by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association in connection with a lawsuit against a large long term care facility that engaged in a pattern of discrimination towards a disabled patient.
As part of his commitment to ensuring equality, Mr. Kontnik regularly consults, provides training, and education on civil rights issues. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and he has presented numerous Continuing Legal Education Courses to various bar associations. He has also presented to numerous professional organizations including the Colorado Bar Association, the Association of Late Deafened Adults, the Faculty of Federal Advocates. Mr. Kontnik is also a founding member of the Colorado Disability Bar Association and has been on the board of several non-profit organizations.
Mr. Kontnik has always been driven by competition and a desire to overcome any obstacle. From an early age, he excelled in sports and was an All-American swimmer in high school. While attending law school, he was recognized as a leader of the National Trial team and was given the prestigious “Directors Award” from which is only given out in exceptional cases. Prior to starting his own firm, Mr. Kontnik worked for a prominent defense law firm in Colorado. He was one of Chipotle’s trial attorneys in a high stakes multi-million-dollar lawsuit in Texas. Mr. Kontnik routinely draws from his experience as a defense attorney to obtain competitive advantages for his clients.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Selected to Super Lawyers for Colorado, 2024 - 2026
- Selected to 5280 Top Lawyers for Colorado, 2024 - 2026
- Selected to Super Lawyers for Colorado, 2019 - 2024
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Access to Justice Award, 2021
- 7-News Everyday Hero, 2018
- U.S. Senator Udall: Distinguished Service
- 2-Time All-American Swimmer, Cherry Creek High School
- Law360 Legal Lions of the Week (Feb. 28, 2025) for the 9–0 U.S. Supreme Court victory in Waetzig v. Halliburton
Other Sources of Feedback About Spencer J. Kontnik
Included on the 2027 Colorado Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2026 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2025 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Colorado Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Colorado Super Lawyers list
Education
Legal Education
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University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Denver, Colorado, 2014
J.D.
Honors: Directors Award, Performance and Leadership Sturm College of Law National Trial Team
Honors: National Trial Team, Member
Honors: Best in Tournament, In Vino Veritas National Trial Team Invitational
Honors: Academic Scholar
Non Legal Education
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University of Colorado, 2010
B.S.
Current Employment Position(s)
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Founding Partner + Attorney
Past Positions
- Messner Reeves LLP, Attorney, 2014 - 2017
Languages
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English
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American Sign Language
Classes and Seminars
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University of Denver Sturm College of Law: Guest Lecturer
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University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School: Guest Lecturer
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Colorado Diverse Attorney Community Circle: CLE Presenter
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Colorado Trial Lawyers Association: CLE Presenter
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Faculty of Federal Advocates: CLE Presenter
- Association of Late Deafened Adults: Convention Speaker
Pro Bono Activities
- The Smile and Nod Project, Co-Founder
- Denver Active 2030 Children’s Foundation, Member
- English Channel Swim: Raised over $150,000 for charity
Representative Cases
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United States Supreme Court: Waetzig v. Halliburton, 145 S.Ct. 690 (2025) (9-0 win) (Reversed and remanded to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit)
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit: McNellis v. Douglas County School District, 116 F.4th 1133 (2024) (Religious and First Amendment Retaliation Appeal)
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit: Snyder v. Beam Technologies, Case No. 24-1136 (2024) (Trade Secrets Litigation Appeal)
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit: Waetzig v. Halliburton, 82 F.4th 918 (10th Cir. 2023) (Age Discrimination Appeal)
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Colorado Court of Appeals: Ozborn v. Colorado Supreme Court, Case No. 2025CA000037 (Disability Discrimination Appeal)
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Colorado Court of Appeals: Harmony Painting v. Snowdance, Case No. 2023CA000226 (Breach of Contract Appeal)
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U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado: Gregory v. National Football League, Case No. 1:24-cv-01986-SKC-CYC (D. Colo. 2024) (Disability Discrimination)
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U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado: Mullen v. South Denver Rehabilitation, et al., 18-cv-01552 (D. Colo. 2018) (Disability Discrimination)
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U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado: Mullen v. Claps, Case No. 1:21-cv-02398-CNS-MDB (D. Colo. 2024) (Disability Discrimination – six figure settlement)
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Colorado State Trial Courts: Hause v. Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulations, Case No. 2024 CV030283 (Denver Dist. Ct. 2024) (Disability Discrimination – Preliminary Injunction Obtained with Attorneys Fees)
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Colorado State Trial Courts: McFann v. Denver Health, Case No. 2023CV032359 (Denver Dist. Ct. 2024) (Disability Discrimination – six figure jury verdict and eventual settlement)
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Colorado State Trial Courts: Weber Facial Plastic Surgery PC. V. McBryde, Heather, Case No. 2022 CV030357 (Douglas Cnty. Dist. Ct. 2023) (Non-Competition Agreement – verdict in client’s favor)
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Colorado State Trial Courts: Samuelson v. Arvada BJ LLC (i.e. Blackjack Pizza), 2019 CV030638 (Disability Discrimination – confidential settlement)
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado
- Colorado, 2014
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
Other Affiliations
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, 2023 - 2025 (Board Member)
- Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association, 2017 - Present (Member)
- Disability Rights Bar Association, 2017 - Present (Member)
- Colorado Disability Bar Association (Founding Member and Executive Board)
- Association of Late Deafened Adults (Member and Volunteer Counsel)
- Colorado Bar Association, 2016 - Present (Member)
- Faculty of Federal Advocates (Member)
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