Kirch Rounds & Bowman PC
Managing Partner
January 2018 – December 2018; February 2024 – Present

Kirch Rounds Bowman & Deffenbaugh PC
Managing Partner
January 2019 – February 2024

Kirch and Rounds, P.C.
Partner
September 2011 – December 2017

David W. Kirch, P.C.
Founder, Owner, Attorney
March 1986 – August 2011

Bourke and Jacobs, P.C.
Special Counsel
June 1985 – March 1986

Weller, Friedrich, Hickisch, Hazlitt & Ward
Associate – April 1974 – July 1979
Partner – July 1979 – May 1985

• Member, Firm Management Committee (1983)

• Chairman, Firm Computer Committee (1984 – 1985)

Primary Practice Focus

• Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Administration

• Probate Litigation (Wills, Trusts, Estate and Gift Tax Planning, Elder Law)

Additional Experience

• Real Estate and Corporate Law

• Partnerships, LLCs, and Other Entities

• Commercial and Residential Leases

• Purchase and Sale of Businesses and Professional Practices

• Tax Return Preparation and Tax-Exempt Organizations

• Pretrial Motions, Discovery, and Appeals

Admitted to Practice
May 1974

Law Practice

• Client Distinction Award (2014 – 2024) – Martindale-Hubbell (awarded to only 1% of attorneys for excellence in service, value, responsiveness, and communication)

• AV Preeminent Rating – Martindale-Hubbell (Trusts and Estates) – Held for over 30 years

• Super Lawyers Magazine – Listed under Estate Planning and Probate (2006 – 2013; 2015 – Present)

• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (1991 – Present)

• The Best Lawyers in America – Trusts and Estates (1995 – 1996; 2016 – Present) and Elder Law (2016 – Present)

• Lecturer in Law, University of Denver Law School – Estates and Trusts (1987 – 1990)

• Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers – Outstanding in Probate and Estate Planning Law (1995 – Present)

• 5280 Magazine – Named one of Denver’s Top Lawyers, Trusts and Estates Category (2001)

• Attended Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, University of Miami School of Law (multiple years)

• Attended ALI‑ABA Estate Planning in Depth Program, University of Wisconsin Law School (1981)

Law School

• Storke Scholar – One of five highest scholastic averages after first semester

• E.V. Dunklee Law Award – Outstanding Freshman Law Student

• Order of the Coif – Honor society for top 10% of law school graduates

Other Professional Activities

• Coordinating Editor, Estate and Trust Forum for the Colorado Lawyer (1998 – Present)

• Chair, Colorado Lawyer Editorial Board (2017 – 2018)

• Member, Colorado Lawyer Editorial Board (2014 – 2020)

• Liaison, Real Estate Section and Trust & Estate Section, Colorado Bar Association (2009 – 2019)

• Co-Chairman, Guardian ad Litem Subcommittee, Trust Section, Colorado Bar Association (2014 – 2019)

• Chairman, Probate and Trust Law Section, Colorado Bar Association (1994 – 1995)

• Member, Colorado Bar Association Probate Council (1986 – 1988)

• Chairman, Statutory Revisions Committee, Probate and Trust Law Section, Colorado Bar Association (1988 – 1990)

• Co-Chairman, Model Will and Trust Forms Committee, Probate and Trust Law Section, Colorado Bar Association (1989 – 1992)

• Chair, Capacity Legislation Subcommittee, Trust and Estate Section, Colorado Bar Association (2013 – 2014)

• Chairman, Legislative Committee, Community Association Institute – Rocky Mountain Chapter (1987 – 1990)

• Chairman, Committee drafting and seeking enactment of the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (1988 – 1991; enacted in 1991)

• Member, Denver Bar Association (1974 – Present)

• Member, Colorado Bar Association (1974 – Present)

• Member, Probate and Trust Law Section, Colorado Bar Association (1974 – Present)

• The Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act, 21 Colo. Law. 645 (1992)

• Are You and Your Clients on the Same Estate Planning Path?, 7 Journal of Financial Planning 62 (1994)

• Avoiding Appreciation in Trust Assets Being Treated as Marital Property, 27 Colo. Law. 57 (1998)

• The Imposition of Constructive Trusts and Other Concepts at Probate – Part I, 27 Colo. Law. 41 (1998)

• The Imposition of Constructive Trusts and Other Concepts at Probate – Part II, 28 Colo. Law. 49 (1999)

• Conservatorship Proceedings, 30 Colo. Law. 5 (2001)

• Claims Against an Estate for Care Rendered to a Decedent, 33 Colo. Law. 93 (2004)

• Constructive Trusts, 146 No. 7 Trusts & Estates 50 (2007)

• A Donor’s Rights to Disposition of Assets Versus Undue Influence Protection, 39 No. 10 Colo. Law. 47 (2010)

• Balancing Discretion to Give and Undue Influence Concerns, 38 No. 8 Estate Planning 28 (2011)

• Dealing With a Decedent’s Mineral Interests, 44 No. 2 Colo. Law. 53 (2015)

• Estate Planning Tools for Second Marriages, 45 No. 12 Colo. Law. 45 (2016)

• Co-author with Emily L. Bowman, Avoiding Pitfalls for Minor Beneficiaries of IRAs and Other Qualified Retirement Benefits, 46 No. 9 Colo. Law. 46 (2017)

• The Impacts of Trusts on Public Benefits for Disabled Persons, 46 No. 10 Colo. Law. 43 (2017)

• Co-author with Gerard F.B. Deffenbaugh, Helpful Ethics Opinions for Trust and Estate and Elder Law Practitioners, 47 No. 7 Colo. Law. 48 (2018)

• Co-author with Gerard F.B. Deffenbaugh, How Powers of Appointment Affect Irrevocable Trust Remainder Interests in Dissolution of Marriage Proceedings: Four Approaches, 48 No. 11 Colo. Law. 48 (2019)

• Co-author with Emily L. Bowman and Gerard F.B. Deffenbaugh, The Treatment of SLATs in the Event of a Dissolution of Marriage, 53 No. 5 Colo. Law. 53 (2024)

• Chapter 51: Equitable Remedies, The Orange Book Handbook – Colorado Estate Planning Handbook, Vol. 1 & 2 (2016 – Present)

University of Colorado School of Law
Juris Doctor, December 1973

• Scholastic Average: 89.88 (excluding 7 hours at 90.86)

• Class Rank: 4/138 at end of Fall Semester, Third Year (Final Rank Unknown)

University of Chicago School of Law
Fall Quarter 1968 (Drafted into U.S. Army, January 1969)

• Scholastic Average: 76 (74‑79 = B)

California Lutheran University
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, June 1968

• Scholastic Average: 3.92 (4.0 = A)

• Summa Cum Laude; Co‑Valedictorian of Class

Valparaiso University
Freshman Year, September 1964 – June 1965

• Scholastic Average: 3.84 (4.0 = A)

• 17th Biennial Advanced Estate Planning Symposium – Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, University of Denver College of Law: Recovery of Non‑Probate Assets Through Constructive Trusts and Other Concepts (1997)

• Basic Probate in Colorado – National Business Institute: Probate Procedures (Multiple Years)

• Estate Planning and Probate in Colorado – National Business Institute: Probate Procedures and Administration (Multiple Years)

• The Probate Process from Start to Finish – National Business Institute (Multiple Years)

• Estate Planning Retreat – Continuing Legal Education: Constructive Trusts and Dead Man’s Statute (1988)

• Sophisticated Trusts: Emphasis on Drafting – CLE of Colorado: Trusts for Minors and Qualified Subchapter S Trusts (1988)

• Principles of Estate Administration and Taxation – CLE of Colorado (1989)

• Legislative Alert! – CLE of Colorado (1989)

• CIOA is Coming! – CLE of Colorado: Overview of the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (1992)

• Elder Care Conference – Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants: The Graying of America (1993)

• Advanced Issues in Probate for the Paralegal in Colorado – National Business Institute (1997, 1999)

• Medicaid and Medicaid Planning in Colorado – Medical Educational Services, Inc.: Basic Medicaid Planning and Planning for Residences (1998, 1999)

• Estate Planning Retreat – CLE: Resolving Commonly Encountered Ethical Issues in Estate Planning and Administration (2000)

• Basic Probate Procedures and Practice in Colorado – National Business Institute (2000–2003)

• Estate Administration: Basic Skills – Trust & Estate Section, CBA & CBA‑CLE: Ethics and Advising the Fiduciary (2003)

• Litigating Contested Wills – Trust & Estate Section, CBA & CBA‑CLE: Joint Tenancy and Other Donative Transfers (Sept. 2003)

• Trust and Estate Ethics – CLE of Colorado (Dec. 2004)

• Understanding Estate, Gift and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns 2004 – Practicing Law Institute: Basic Planning Issues Under the New Tax Laws (2004)

• Estate Administration: Basic Skills – Trust & Estate Section, CBA & CBA‑CLE: Ethics and Advising the Fiduciary (Mar. 2005)

• The Probate Process from Start to Finish – Trust & Estate Section, CBA & NBI (Dec. 2006, Dec. 2007)

• 17th Annual Estate Planning with the Masters – Illinois Institute for CLE: Constructive Trusts to Remedy Improper Transfers (Nov. 2007)

• Understanding Estate, Gift and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns 2007 – Practicing Law Institute: Basis Planning Issues Under Changing Tax Laws (Dec. 2007)

• Beyond Will Contests – American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Pre‑Death Theft and Non‑Probate Diversion of Assets (Mar. 2007)

• Advanced Estate Administration – Trust & Estate Section, CBA (Apr. 2008)

• The Probate Process from Start to Finish for Paralegals – Institute for Paralegal Education (June 2008)

• Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step Is Important – National Business Institute (June 2008)

• Will Contests – CBA Trust & Estate, Elder Law, Solo/Small Firm, and Litigation Sections: Presumptions and Inferences in Probate Litigation (Aug. 28, 2009)

• Counseling Trustees on Their Duties – CBA CLE: Trustee Duties – Legal Aspects (Feb. 24, 2010)

• Ethics: Distinguishing Ethical from Malpractice Issues – CBA Trust & Estate Section: Maintaining Ethical Balance in Practice (June 2011)

• Trust and Estate Fall Update – CBA Trust & Estate Section (Nov. 4, 2011)

• Drafting Effective Wills and Trusts – National Business Institute (Sept. 26, 2011)

• Probate Process from A to Z – National Business Institute (Dec. 20, 2011)

• Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important – National Business Institute (Oct. 23, 2012)

• The Probate Process from Start to Finish – Institute for Paralegal Education (May 6, 2013)

• The Probate Process from Start to Finish – National Business Institute (Dec. 18, 2013)

• Estate Planning Basic Skills – CBA Trust & Estate Section: Introduction to Ethics in Estate Planning (Feb. 20, 2014)

• Ethical, Legal, Medical & Practical Considerations of Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity – 35th Annual CBA Trust & Estate Retreat (June 12, 2015)

• Legal Tests for Capacity in Colorado – CBA CLE (Jan. 23, 2015)

• (QTIPs and Other) Estate Planning Tools for Second Marriage – National Business Institute (Feb. 10, 2015)

• Will Contests – Legal and Equitable Claims and Defenses – CBA Trust & Estate Section & CBA CLE (Sept. 11, 2015)

• Estate Planning Basic Skills – CBA Trust & Estate Section: Introduction to Ethics in Estate Planning (Feb. 27, 2016)

• Capacity Issues – Probate Section, El Paso County Bar Association (Apr. 12, 2017)

• Advanced Estate Planning Symposium with Ted Atlass – CBA Trust & Estate Section: Equitable Remedies and Missed Opportunities in Probate Litigation (Oct. 12, 2017)

• Trust and Estate Fall Update – CBA Trust & Estate Section (Nov. 9, 2018)

• Confluence of Trust and Estate and Real Estate Law and Practice – 39th Annual Estate Planning Retreat, CBA Trust & Estate Section: Co‑Presenter (June 6–8, 2019)

• Will Contests – CBA Trust & Estate Section (Sept. 20, 2019)

• Introduction to Ethics in Estate Planning – CBA CLE (Jan. 31, 2020)

• Family Law Spring Update – CBA Family Law Section (May 26, 2022)

• Select Ethical Issues in Estate Administration and Planning – 42nd Annual Estate Planning Retreat, CBA Trust & Estate Section (June 18, 2022)

• Recent Ethical Issues in Estate Administration and Planning – 2023 Family Law Institute, El Paso County Bar Association (Mar. 8, 2023)

• Basics of Trust Interest in a Divorce – Co‑Presenter, Horper Hofer & Associates, LLC (June 6, 2023)

• Basics of Trust Interest in a Divorce – Co‑Presenter, NACVA‑Colorado Chapter (Nov. 30, 2023)

• Introduction to Ethics in Estate Planning – Co‑Presenter, Estate Planning Basic Skills, CBA Trust & Estate Section (Feb. 15–16, 2024)

• Trust Interests in a Divorce – Family Law Spring Update, CBA Family Law Section (Apr. 11, 2024)