Mary C. Peckham – Senior Counsel
In December 2010, Denver Colorado attorney, Mary Peckham, along with fellow lawyers, Joane Garcia-Colson and Fredilyn Sison, wrote a book, Trial in Action: The Persuasive Power of Psychodrama. This book is a step-by-step manual that will help lawyers who are new to psychodrama learn the basic techniques and will help lawyers familiar with the method improve their skills.
When Mary Peckham founded her law practice with Katy Kurtz in 1979 she committed to three values: excellence, integrity, and compassion. Mary has seen much change in Denver in the intervening years: 16th street became the 16th street mall, the face of downtown was forever changed with the building of the new library, the new Coors baseball field, a new football field, the Pepsi Center arena and the enlargement of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The flowering of downtown continued with the development of the Pavilions shopping center and the growth and energy of Lower Downtown (“LoDo”). And, although Kurtz & Peckham, PC has matured and grown during these years, one thing that has endured is Mary’s commitment to these three values: integrity, excellence and compassion.
Mary became a lawyer because she wanted to help people and believes the best way to do that is one person at a time with individual care, concern and dedication. Most people come to lawyers with a problem. Mary’s commitment to address each client’s unique individual circumstances in the most thoughtful and effective way possible remains a hallmark of her practice. This commitment has only deepened and sharpened over the years.
Mary’s practice, centrally located, where it has been since its inception, encompasses the Metropolitan area including Jefferson, Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder and Douglas counties. Mary has also represented people on the western slope and the eastern plains of the state, as well as out of state residents with legal issues in the Metropolitan area.
After graduation from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, in 1969 Mary traveled to Detroit, Michigan where she served in VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) and later worked in the typesetting industry. She then worked as a director and counselor for disadvantaged children in Detroit. Mary then returned to her home in Colorado where she graduated from the University of Denver College of Law in 1979. After graduation she served in the CJAWS where she was instrumental in establishing Colorado’s existing statutes concerning domestic violence, one of the forerunners of the serious attention now paid to domestic violence throughout the country.
Mary is admitted to practice in all state courts in Colorado and the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Her practice centers around all aspects of family law, wills and estates and probate.
Mary and Kurtz & Peckham, PC have an A-V rating with Martindale-Hubbell. An A rating means very high to preeminent lawyering and the V rating means the ethics are exemplary. M-H ratings are achieved by M-H requesting confidential opinions from other attorneys in the area, and is the guide lawyers turn to when referring clients to lawyers out of state.
Mary is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, The Denver Bar Association, Family Law section, and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. She is a staff member of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming, where she has been on the faculty since 2000. Mary spends time each year teaching other attorneys at the college, including a graduate seminar as well as helping to establish, facilitate and teach at Regional Seminars throughout the country.
Mary’s work with Trial Lawyers College led her to a rigorous course of study in psychodrama and sociometry, and in 2006, Mary was certified as a practitioner in psychodrama and sociometry.
Mary likes to spend her free time with her husband (a Jefferson County school teacher) hiking, camping, motorcycling and traveling.
When asked what she finds most rewarding about her career in the law, Mary answered, “it’s the clients, it’s always been about the clients for me”.
Year Joined Organization: 1979
Areas Of Practice:
Family Law
Wills and Estates
Probate
Bar Admissions:
Colorado, 1979
U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1979
Education:
University of Denver College of Law, Denver, Colorado, 1979 J.D.
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 1969 B.A.
Certified Practitioner in Psychodrama and Sociometry, 2006
Representative Clients:
ATU Local 1001
Regional Transportation District Legal Services Trust
References:
Julio Rivera (A.T.U. 1001)
Greg Fisher (R.T.D.)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Legal Panel, Colorado Coalition for Justice for Abused Women, 1980 – 1985
Staff Member, Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College, Dubois, Wyoming, 2000
A-V Rating with Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Colorado Women’s Bar Association, 1983 Judicial Qualifications Committee
Washington Park Early Learning Center, 1992 – 1993 Board of Directors
Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1994 Member
Colorado Women’s Bar Association Member
Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association Member
National Association of Women Business Owners Member
VISTA (Volunteers in Service To America)
Colorado Bar Association Member
Denver Bar Association, Family Law Section Member
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Member
American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama Member