44th Annual Real Estate Symposium: True Detective - Dirt Lawyers Edition - Webinar
True crime fans rejoice! The 44th Annual Real Estate Symposium: True Detective – Dirt Lawyers Edition brings intrigue, strategy, and real-world problem-solving to the pressing issues facing the real estate industry today.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Vail, this premier conference combines high-caliber education (and 17 CLE credits to boot!) with unmatched opportunities to connect and recharge.
Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or rising professional, the Symposium delivers the perfect blend of litigation and transactional content to ensure attendees gain practical insights across the full spectrum of real estate law—from contract negotiation and drafting to dispute resolution and risk management.
This year’s agenda embraces the true crime theme with creative, substantive sessions that dig deep into the complexities of modern real estate practice, including:
- The Real Estate Mavens Are Back – Only Murders in the Buildings (and Other Real Estate Related Crimes) Part Deux – Be sure to pack your pink hat!
- I See Dead People: Litigating Real Estate Cases Where a Party in Interest is Deceased
- When Zoning Kills the Deal: Managing Entitlement Risk in Real Estate Development
- The Anatomy (and Autopsy) of a Commercial Purchase & Sale Transaction
- The Devil is in the Details: When Minor Drafting Choices Matter
Fittingly, the programming is rounded out by several ethics-focused presentations, as well as a timely and thought-provoking rule of law discussion by the inimitable Geoff Anderson.
Of course, no Symposium is complete without the fan-favorite 15-Minute Drill (and Marc Painter’s gong) – keeping everyone, especially the presenters, on their toes.
Join your fellow dirt lawyer detectives in Vail for three days of insight, inspiration, and entertainment!
Hotel Accomodations:
The Hythe Vail
715 West Lionshead Circle, Vail, CO 81657
CBA-CLE has reserved a block of rooms for attendees. Room rates start at $319 plus applicable taxes and fees.
To receive the group room rate, please indicate that you are a guest of the Real Estate Symposium when you make your reservation, which can be done online or by phone (970) 476-4444.
Based on availability, rooms are being held at the conference rate until June 24, 2026.
Reservations will be accepted online at: https://book.passkey.com/go/RealEstateSymposium2026
All reservations will require a credit card guarantee, and a deposit equal to one night of lodging is due at the time of booking. The balance is due at check-in. Reservations cancelled after June 24, 2026, will forfeit the deposit equal to one night’s room and tax.
CLE CREDITS: This program has been submitted for 17 General CLE Credits, including 3.7* Ethics/Professionalism Credits.
Real Estate Broker Continuing Education Credits: The in-person course has been submitted for 13 hours of credit for real estate continuing education requirements pursuant to C.R.S. § 12-10-213. Please note the webinar course and home study are NOT ELIGIBLE for real estate continuing education credits.
The program is accredited in Colorado. CBA-CLE staff can provide a Uniform Certificate of Attendance, and it is the attendee's responsibility to complete the accreditation outside of Colorado.
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors!
Platinum
Fidelity National Title
Filevine
Gold
Cordes and Company
First American Title Insurance National Commercial Services
Silver
Farmers National Company
Fidelity National Title Group, UCC Plus Division
First Integrity Title Company
HKS Civil
Integris
JAMS
Land Title Guarantee Company
RASi
Stewart Title Guaranty Company
Synergy CPA Group LLC
Event
CBA Membership
CBA-CLE Books
Home studies will be available 2-3 weeks following the live program.
CBA-CLE is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, and employment. To request an accommodation please contact [email protected] at least 14 business days in advance.
Cancellation Policy: If you are unable to attend, please notify CBA-CLE by June 24, 2026, and we will gladly refund your tuition in full or apply your tuition to the webinar or home study. Cancellations after June 24, 2026, will be refunded less a $150 cancellation fee.
Golfers: Golf will not be coordinated as part of the program this year; attendees are welcome to make their own arrangements. You may contact the Vail Golf Club, 1775 Sunburst Dr., Vail, CO 81657, at (970)476-8366 or https://www.vailrec.com/vail-golf-club to book your tee time. Remember, tee times in Vail fill up quickly!
Thursday, July 9, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Registration
1:00 – 1:05 pm
Opening Remarks
Extended by Reagan Larkin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP, Program Chair, and Dan Sweetser, Esq., CBA-CLE
1:05 – 2:20 pm
Legislative Update
Presented by Lyndsey O’Connell, Esq., O’Connell Law Group
2:20 – 2:30 pm
Recognition of Outgoing Real Estate Section Chair, Zak Kessler, Esq.
Extended by Reagan Larkin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
2:30 – 3:20 pm
When Values Collide: Balancing Personal Morality with Professional Duty
Presented by James (Jim) Meseck, Esq., White and Steele, P.C., and Lyndsey O’Connell, Esq., O’Connell Law Group
Submitted for 1 Ethics Credit
3:20 – 3:40 pm
Networking Break – please visit your sponsors!
3:40 – 5:00 pm
The 15-Minute Drill
Moderated by J. Marcus (Marc) Painter, Esq., Holland & Hart LLP
- Revised Colorado Real Estate Commission Forms
Presented by Kent Levine, Esq., Kent Jay Levine, P.C.
- The Real Estate Negotiator: Turning Dirt, Deals, and Disputes into Wins – Fresh Strategies for Dealmakers and Litigators Alike: When “Yes” Isn’t Enough: Mastering the New Playbook of Negotiation
Presented by Amy Brimah, Esq., Brimah LLP
- Deed, Mortgage and UCC-1 Fraud Prevention and Mitigation
Presented by Cynthia (Cyndi) Stovall, Esq., Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
- Pitfalls and Benefits of House Bill 1090 for Residential and Commercial Landlords Tenants
Presented by Robin Nolan, Esq., Spencer Fane LLP, and Carolin Topelson, Esq., Carolin Topelson Law, LLC
- Practicing in the Red Zone: Wildfire Risk, Insurability, and Solutions for Real Estate Deals
Presented by Nikki Musco, Esq., Holland & Hart LLP, J. Marcus (Marc) Painter, Esq., Holland & Hart LLP, and Erik Stegemiller, Esq., Holland & Hart LLP
5:00 – 5:15 pm
Presentation of the Willis Carpenter Award
Extended by Reagan Larkin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
5:15 – 6:45 pm
Annual Wine Reception
Sponsored by Fidelity National Title
Friday, July 10, 2026
7:30 – 8:00 am
Breakfast (Registered Attendees Only)
8:00 – 8:05 am
Welcome Back Remarks featuring Colorado Village Collaborative
Extended by Jordan Bunch, Esq., Holland & Hart LLP, and Reagan Larkin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
8:05 – 8:55 am
Cohabitation, Co-Ownership, and Conflict: Real Estate Planning and Partition
Presented by Jessica Howard, Synergy One Lending, Inc., and Meredith Quinlivan, Esq., Goodspeed Merrill
8:55 – 10:00 am
Case Law Update
Presented by Joseph (Joey) Lubinski, Esq., MDH Law Group LLC
10:00 – 10:20 am
Networking Break – please visit your sponsors!
10:20 – 11:20 am
Judicial Systems in Authoritarian Societies: But Can I Enforce My Contract?
Presented by Geoffrey (Geoff) Anderson, Esq., Anderson Notarianni McMahon LLC
11:20 am – 12:10 pm
The Anatomy (and Autopsy) of a Commercial Purchase & Sale Transaction
Presented by Christopher Campbell, Esq., Pless Law Firm, and Justin Pless, Esq., Pless Law Firm
12:10 – 1:30 pm
Lunch Break – Lunch on Your Own
Optional: Brown Bag Lunch and Book Club Discussion
Read ahead and join your colleagues in a lunch discussion about the book. Bring your own lunch- lunches available for purchase at the hotel.
Moderated by Erin Clark, MPL/JD, Denver Housing Authority
1:30 – 2:20 pm
Why Is Change So Hard? Legal and Ethical Issues in Common Interest Community Transitions
Presented by Miro Kovacevic, Esq., Goodspeed Merrill, and Lindsay Smith, Esq., Winzenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne, LLP
Submitted for 0.4 Ethics Credit
2:20 – 3:10 pm
The Devil is in the Details: When Minor Drafting Choices Matter
Presented by Jordan Bunch, Esq., Holland & Hart LLP
3:10 – 3:30 pm
Networking Break – please visit your sponsors!
3:30 – 4:20 pm
When Zoning Kills the Deal: Managing Entitlement Risk in Real Estate Development
Panelists:
Rashmin Asher, Esq., Spencer Fane LLP
Evan Singleton, Esq., Spencer Fane LLP
John Peckler, Esq., Spencer Fane LLP
Moderated by Michelle Berger, Esq., Spencer Fane LLP
Submitted for 0.3 Ethics Credit
4:20 – 5:10 pm
The Real Estate Mavens Are Back – Only Murders in the Buildings (and Other Real Estate Related Crimes) Part Deux
Presented by Elizabeth (Liz) Marcus, Esq., Anderson Notarianni McMahon LLC, and Deanne Stodden, Esq., Messner Reeves LLP
Submitted for 1.0 Ethics Credit
5:10 pm
Closing Remarks & Adjourn to Cocktail Party
Extended by Reagan Larkin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
5:10 – 6:30 pm
Cocktail Party with optional Geeks Who Drink (and Those Who Don’t) Trivia
Please be sure to sign up when you register for the Symposium to help us get an accurate headcount.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
7:00 – 8:00 am
Yin Yoga Class
Featuring Tanya Griscom, Mobile Healing Yoga
8:00 – 8:30 am
Breakfast (Registered Attendees Only)
8:30 – 8:35 am
Welcome Back Remarks
Extended by Reagan Larkin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
8:35 – 9:25 am
I See Dead People: Litigating Real Estate Cases Where a Party in Interest is Deceased
Presented by Holly Shilliday, Esq., McCarthy & Holthus, LLP
9:25 – 10:15 am
Land Use Meetings and Public Hearings
Presented by Michael Sawyer, Esq., Karp Neu Hanlon, P.C.
10:15 – 10:35 am
Networking Break – please visit your sponsors!
10:35 – 11:25 am
Easements: Drafting Agreements and Litigating Disputes
Presented by Brian Allard, Esq., Flanders, Elsberg, Herber & Dunn, LLC, and Cameron Grant, Esq., Lyons Gaddis, P.C.
11:25 am – 12:15 pm
Ethics Issues Over the Lifespan of a Development Project: A Case Study
Presented by Nicholas Dyer, Esq., Fennemore Craig, P.C., Kate Strauss, Esq., Fennemore Craig, P.C., and Doug Tueller, Esq., Fennemore Craig, P.C.
Submitted for 1 Ethics Credit
12:15 pm
Closing Remarks and Adjourn
Extended by Reagan Larkin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $669.00 |
| CBA Member | $499.00 |
| CBA Real Estate Section Member | $409.00 |
| Public Service/Government | $299.00 |
| Paralegal/Support Staff | $299.00 |
| Active Military | $299.00 |
| New Lawyer Edge Member | $259.00 |
| CLE ELITE Pass Holder | $259.00 |
| Students currently enrolled in Law School | $49.00 |
- General Credits: 17.00
- Ethics Credits: 3.70
- EDI Credits:
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