Robert A. Lees

Attorney Robert A. Lees is the founder and principal of Robert A. Lees & Associates. For over 40 years he has committed his career to resolving complex issues involving regulatory grievances, litigation, arbitration, mediation and appellate actions in all administrative law courts and before regulatory boards at the state and federal levels in Colorado. Bob serves mental health professionals and corporate clients not only in this state, but throughout the United States. He effectively and conclusively handles cases before Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), where he puts the best of his extensive experience of mental health, corporate and management issues to work on behalf of the client.

From 1995 to 2001, Bob served as Special Counsel for Baroness Caroline Cox, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords of the English Parliament, subject to the Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for her activity in the United States and internationally before the United Nations. This involved legal advisement for members of the House of Lords, interaction with non-governmental agencies and other projects of interest to the British Commonwealth. Further, Bob represented Scottish members of the House of Lords whose identification, in accordance with British custom, remains strictly confidential. Finally, he represented members of Parliament. In 2001, Bob was commended for his service to the House of Lords.

Bob is committed to improving regulations and laws involving mental health counseling and children’s services. He assisted in drafting and presenting Colorado’s child abuse laws to the legislature and worked closely with governmental and private agencies on child protection issues involving school violence, response protocols and first responder procedures. In addition, Bob helped draft and present numerous statutory amendments to the Colorado Code for nonprofits and other causes.

Governor Bill Owens appointed Bob to the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors in Colorado for the term that ended in 2006. Also, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) consulted with Bob to assist in the reenactment of sunset review laws and requested his opinions and suggestions on modification of the current laws. Robert A. Lees & Associates is asked to participate in ongoing “stakeholders” meetings with DORA as to ongoing regulatory issues and concerns.

Bob is not afraid to try cases for our clients when necessary to protect their rights. In February of 2012, Robert A. Lees & Associates was the first law firm to win a precedent setting appeals action against the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and the State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners in its more than 30 year history. The Colorado Court of Appeals found that DORA and the State Board had abused their discretion and violated client’s right to due process and reversed and remanded the Board’s ruling.

In September of 2018, Robert A. Lees & Associates once again prevailed over DORA at trial. The case involved the Registered Psychotherapist Board, which had issued a Summary Suspension against our client’s right to practice. DORA and the Board brought four charges against our client, and because of the shortened timeline of a Summary Suspension, we quickly mounted a defense. At the trial’s conclusion, the judge ruled in our favor on all four counts, finding that none of the charges brought against our client had any merit or basis in law.

In 1990, Bob litigated against the Property Tax Assessor for the state of Colorado, and won a precedent-setting case to exclude certain nonprofits from taxation. This case was later adopted into the Colorado Revised Nonprofit Act, and has now become codified law.

Bob has since been appointed to the Colorado’s P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer’s Standards and Training) Board by Governor John Hickenlooper, serving alongside the state Attorney General who chairs the P.O.S.T. Board. As a P.O.S.T. certified law enforcement academy instructor, Bob provides ongoing training to first responders and law enforcement officials as to proper legal protocols to be followed, including school and church incidents. He serves on various task forces and panels for the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Court of Appeals. He is currently organizing a task force that focuses on issues for those possessing and purchasing firearms at the request

Colorado, 1977
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 1977
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit, 1978
Education

B.S., Michigan State University, 1974
Honors College
Phi Beta Kappa
J.D., Case Western Reserve University, 1977
Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Arapahoe Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
National District Attorneys Association
Professional Licensing Agencies

District Attorney's Office, 12th Judicial District
Board of Licensed Professional Counselors in Colorado
Department of Regulatory Agencies