JAMS Denver is located in Denver and serves Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West
  • Arbitration
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Estates/Probate/Trusts
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Estate

Steven C. Choquette, Esq.

Steven C. Choquette, Esq. is passionate about helping parties and their advocates resolve disputes in a fair, respectful, efficient, and economical manner. His skill in dispute resolution is informed by 15 years of experience as a mediator and arbitrator in hundreds of cases, and more than 30 years as an advocate in trials, appeals, arbitrations, and mediations. The qualities and commitment he brings to alternative dispute resolution matters include:

  • Thorough, advance preparation for all cases, whether complex or small
  • Empathic listening and guidance
  • A calm and reasoned demeanor and good humor
  • Creative problem-solving
  • Leadership of the process
  • Unflagging dedication to helping parties resolve disputes, including via ongoing follow-up when needed.

He is available for cases across Colorado and nationwide. He is always happy to come to you if that is more convenient than using JAMS’ Denver office.

Steve’s experience in mediations and arbitrations includes:

  • Commercial and business contract and tort claims;
  • First- and third-party insurance and bad faith claims related to property, casualty, business interruption, and errors-and-omissions coverages;
  • Construction and construction defects, both residential and commercial, involving urban and mountain projects;
  • Homeowners association (“HOA”) and commercial association disputes, including for mixed-use properties;
  • Conflicts and, if needed, “business divorces” among owners, managers, and employees of public, private, and professional-service entities;
  • Franchisor-franchisee disputes;
  • Real estate (commercial and residential) contract, commission, and broker/agent malpractice claims;
  • Landlord-tenant disputes, both commercial and residential;
  • Professional malpractice disputes, including between insureds and insurance producers; and
  • Personal and catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims.

Steve spent two decades of his legal career as a commercial, insurance, and tort litigator with Holland & Hart LLP. He then co-founded and managed two other law firms, Choquette & Simons LLP and Choquette & Hart LLP, where he continued such work for nearly twelve more years, and also served as an expert witness in attorney malpractice and fee disputes.

Steve wrote “Colorado Law on Mediation: A Primer” for The Colorado Lawyer in 2006. Since then, he has spoken on the subject to hundreds of lawyers, judges, college and law students, and members of the public. He has also published and lectured on arbitration. He was an adjunct professor of alternative dispute resolution at Denver University’s Sturm College of Law. He is managing editor of Colorado Civil Claims: Elements, Defenses, and Sample Pleadings, 1st ed. (CLE in Colo., Inc. 2019). In 2020, he became a member of the Executive Council of the Colorado Bar Association’s Litigation Section.

Steve is a Colorado native. He has previously served on boards of the Legal Aid Foundation and Metro Volunteer Lawyers. He was a radio disk jockey in college. Away from work, he enjoys time with family and friends, travel, teaching, theatre, live music, skiing, and hiking.

Publications

Managing Editor, Colorado Civil Claims: Elements, Defenses, and Sample Pleadings, 1st ed. (CLE in Colo., Inc. 2019).  (Prior editions published in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2016 under the title Colorado Causes of Action: Elements, Defenses, Remedies and Forms.)

“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Colorado Law on Mediation,” presented annually at the Colorado ADR Conference (Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., 2014-present).

“Boot Camp: Colorado Law on Mediation,” presented at the Colorado ADR Conference (Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., 2013).

“An Overview of Colorado Law on Mediation,” and “Supplement to an Overview on Colorado Law on Mediation,” presented at the Colorado ADR Conference (Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., 2008).

“Enforcing the Award,” outline, presentation, and panel member, Post-Award Proceedings in Arbitration (Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., 2008).

“Colorado Law on Mediation: A Primer,” 35 The Colorado Lawyer 21-31 (March 2006).

“A Three-Year Survey of Colorado Appellate Decisions on Arbitration – Part II,” 34 The Colorado Lawyer 47-58 (March 2005).

“A Three-Year Survey of Colorado Appellate Decisions on Arbitration – Part I,” 34 The Colorado Lawyer 41-48 (February 2005).

Co-editor and co-author, Chapter 180, “Insurance Coverage for Environmental Liabilities,” Environmental Regulation of the Mining Industry, American Law of Mining 2d (Matthew Bender 1996).

Teaching

Panel moderator, “Effective and Ineffective Mediation Strategies for Litigators,” 4th Annual Colorado Litigators Summit, Colorado Bar Association (2021).

Visiting lecturer, “Mediation Law and Process,” Business ADR, Denver University, for Professor Peter “Jeff” Bowen (2019, 2018, 2017, 2011, and 2010).

Visiting lecturer, “Mediation Ethics,” Alternative Dispute Resolution, Denver University, Sturm College of Law, for Visiting Associate Prof. CJ Larkin (2018).

Panel member, “Mediation Advocacy: Best Practices for Attorney Preparation, Participation, and Documentation,” Colorado ADR Conference (2018).

Panel member, “Navigating Ethical Issues,” Colorado ADR Conference (2017).

Visiting lecturer, “Mediation Law and Process,” Alternative Dispute Resolution, Denver University, Sturm College of Law, for Adjunct Prof. James L. Stone (2015 & 2016).

Mediation coach, Basic Mediation Training, Colorado Bar Association (2015-Present).

Mediation coach, The Mediation Process and Advanced Mediation, Mares-Dixon and Associates, Louisville, CO (2007-2015).

Adjunct professor, Alternative Dispute Resolution (survey course on law and practice of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration), Denver University Sturm College of Law (2006-08).

Panelist, “A Legal Overview for Non-Lawyer Mediators,” Court-Annexed Mediation Program (now known as Court Mediation Service), Denver, CO (2008, 2007).

Visiting lecturer, “ADR Processes,” Construction Law, University of Colorado, Boulder, for Adjunct Prof. Douglas Karet (2006).

Visiting lecturer, “A Trial Lawyer’s Perspective on Mediation,” Alternative Dispute Resolution, The Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., for Adjunct Prof. Nancy Lesser (2005).

Honors and Awards

Top Lawyer in Alternative Dispute Resolution, 5280 Magazine, 2024

Colorado Super Lawyer®: alternative dispute resolution (2015-present); civil/commercial litigation (2006-14).

Best Lawyers®, commercial litigation (2014-present).

National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys – Top Ten Personal Injury Attorney for Colorado (2017).

National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers in Colorado (2010-18).

Best of the Bar (Pro Bono), Denver Business Journal (2003).

Maroon Citation, Colgate University (2002).

Sen. Edmund S. Muskie Pro Bono Award, American Bar Association, Torts and Insurance Practice Section (2000).

Award of Merit, Denver Bar Association (2000).

Volunteer of the Year Award, Metro Volunteer Lawyers (1998, co-recipient).

Donald W. Hoagland Award, Colorado Bar Association (1991, co-recipient).

American Jurisprudence Award, Constitutional Law (1984).

Memberships and Professional Activities

Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2020-Present).

Professional member, Mediation Association of Colorado (the “MAC”) (2016-present).

Member, Executive Council, Colorado Bar Association Litigation Section.

 

Choquette & Hart LLP, co-founder and partner, 2011-19

Choquette & Simons LLP, co-founder and partner, 2007-11

Holland & Hart LLP, associate and partner, 1986-2007

J.D., Denver University, Sturm College of Law, 1986

B.A., Colgate University, 1982

Disclaimer

This page is for general information purposes. JAMS Denver makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness. Interested persons should conduct their own research regarding information on this website before deciding to use JAMS Denver, including investigation and research of JAMS Denver neutrals.