PRO
Lisa R. Shellenberger
also known as Lisa Shellenberger Doman
Virtual Consultation Available
About Lisa
Biography
Lisa R. Shellenberger is a founding and managing partner of Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger LLP and leads the firm's Litigation Division. Widely recognized as one of Colorado's premier family law attorneys, Lisa has earned recognition from Super Lawyers throughout her career, first as a Rising Star and later as a Colorado Super Lawyer. She is regularly invited to teach attorneys and judges throughout Colorado on trial advocacy, complex family and juvenile law litigation, and emerging developments in Colorado law.
Lisa represents clients in complex, high-stakes family law matters. She also represents clients in adoptions, guardianship proceedings, and ICWA cases. In her family law practice, Lisa is routinely entrusted with sophisticated divorce and post-decree matters involving substantial and complex wealth. Her work includes working with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, closely held and family-owned businesses, complex trusts and trust income, executive and deferred compensation, substantial separate-property tracing, business valuation, and matters involving premarital agreements.
Her approach is defined by discretion, preparation, and strategic insight. Lisa is highly trained in settlement negotiation and collaborative divorce, allowing her to pursue efficient, private resolutions when possible. When litigation is necessary, she brings extensive courtroom experience, having successfully tried hundreds of cases over the course of her career.
Lisa also serves on numerous judicial committees appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court, including committees tasked with developing and refining procedures governing family law and juvenile law proceedings. In addition to her family law practice, she advises clients in select juvenile law, probate, and tribal-law matters, particularly where those issues intersect with complex family dynamics, jurisdictional questions, or multigenerational family interests. She also provides consulting and expert witness services in select family law, juvenile law, ICWA, and international jurisdictional proceedings.
Strategic counsel for complex family, wealth, juvenile, probate, and ICWA matters.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Always
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
Licenses
Licensed in Colorado for 14 years
State: Colorado
Acquired: 2011
No misconduct found
Location
Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger, LLC
Fax
1860 Blake Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO, 80202
setterroche.comLisa R. Shellenberger's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
64 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 36 reviews | Advocacy
Posted by Jazlyn | November 14, 2023 | Hired Attorney
Stepparent adoption
Lisa and her team far exceeded our expectations with the stepparent adoption. Lisa's knowledge in family law is absolutely something you want sitting next to you in the court room. Lisa fought a very hard fight for me and my daughter for 4 long years and had a very successful end with my Husband adop...
Posted by anonymous | November 08, 2023 | Hired Attorney
Contested Adoption
Lisa Shellenberger represented me in a contested adoption proceeding. She was exceptional. Her staff was professional and handled everything. She was always on top of the case and provided my wife and I the support we needed to get through a multi year legal battle. When we went to court we kne...
Posted by Greg | November 07, 2023 | Hired Attorney
First Class Attorney
I'm grateful for Lisa Shellenberger and her team's exceptional legal services at Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger LLP. A highly skilled attorney, Lisa's empathy, dedication, and expertise helped me navigate my child support case. Her team communicated well, and their collective effort made the ...
Posted by anonymous | February 19, 2023 | Hired Attorney
So grateful for Lisa!
I hired Lisa about 3 years into a treacherous custody battle, and I'm so glad I did. Not only is she kind, compassionate, and thorough, she is BRILLIANT and highly effective in court. Lisa has been a life saver for me and ultimately my child. She helped me achieve favorable rulings in court on issues...
Posted by Robert | June 17, 2022 | Hired Attorney
Freedom
Freedom, If you find yourself with that feeling of hopelessness, where you can no longer see a way out. There is a solution Lisa and her team can bring light to a situation that you may have thought there was no light to be found. I was that person thinking that things were over and that I would n...
Lisa R. Shellenberger's Lawyer Endorsements
"Lisa is quick-witted, smart, poised and compassionate. She truly gives it her all and deeply cares about her work and her clients. Lisa can be trusted to put real thought into each of her cases - even the thorniest of issues - to find whatever creative solution there may be. I would want Lisa on my side."
"I met Lisa several years ago on the other side of a fairly high conflict matter that included complex tribal law and family law issues. Lisa is smart and creative when it comes to conflict resolution/strategy. She is trustworthy and respectful in her approach. I found her to be a fair opponent and I call her often for advice. I would hire Lisa in a heartbeat to handle any family law case and I have referred some of my closest friends to her for legal services."
"Lisa is an extremely dedicated attorney who does everything possible to obtain positive results for her clients. I endorse this attorney."
"Lisa Shellenberger is an extraordinary attorney. She possesses a vast amount of knowledge in the area of family law, which enables her to successfully navigate and guide her clients through the complex nature of domestic relations cases. Lisa is a dedicated attorney who cares deeply about the clients she represents, and she works hard to help them through the difficulties of family law cases with compassion and understanding. She is very skilled in every phase of the litigation process from written work product to courtroom advocacy. I fully endorse and highly recommend this attorney."
"Lisa is one of the smartest lawyers that I have ever encountered. She will search high and low for creative ways to advocate for her clients. She is a skilled litigator and a consummate professional. I highly endorse her as a lawyer."
"Ms. Shellenberger worked diligently to represent her client's interests, challenging the positions taken by my client, and ultimately helping come to a fair agreement for both parties. She conducted herself with professionalism, and never stopped representing her client."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have learned an incredible amount while working on cases with Ms. Shellenberger. She is hardworking, diligent, and extremely bright. She fights hard for her clients. I can honestly state that if I ever needed a family law attorney, I would hire Ms. Shellenberger."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Exceptional attorney"
Family lawyer
Family lawyer
Family lawyer
Native peoples law lawyer
Family lawyer
Divorce and separation lawyer
Family lawyer
Child custody lawyer
Experience
Honors
2026
2026 Colorado Top 10 Family Law Attorney, American Association of Attorney Advocates
2025
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2024
Top 10 Attorney Under 40, National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys
2024
Top 10 Family Law Attorney, America's Best Advocates
2024
Colorado's Top 10 Family Law Attorneys, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2024
Top 10 Attorney, American Association of Attorney Advocates
2024
Top 10 Family Law Attorney, Best of the Best Attorneys
2024
10 Best, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2024
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2023
Top 10 Family Law Attorney, America's Best Advocates
2023
Colorado's Top 10 Family Law Attorneys, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2023
Top 10 Female Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2023
Top 10 Attorney (Under 40), National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys
2023
Top 10 Family Law Attorney, Best of the Best Attorneys
2023
Top 10 Family Law Attorney, American Association of Attorney Advocates
2023
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2022
Top 10 Family Law Attorney, American Association of Attorney Advocates
2022
Client's Choice, Avvo
2022
Top 10 Female Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2022
Top 10 Attorney, Best of the Best Attorneys
2022
10 Best, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2022
Colorado's Top 10 Family Law Attorneys, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2022
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2021
Colorado's Top 10 Family Law Attorneys, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2021
Featured Attorney, Lawyers of Distinction
2021
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2021
Top 10 Female Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2021
10 Best, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2020
Top Ranked Attorney, American Association of Attorney Advocates
2020
Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2020
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2020
Colorado's Top 10 Family Law Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2020
Client's Choice, Avvo
2020
Featured Attorney, Lawyers of Distinction
2020
10 Best, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2019
Top 10 Family Law Attorney, Best of the Best Attorneys
2019
Top 10 Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2019
10 Best, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2019
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2019
Client's Choice, Avvo
2019
Colorado's Top 10 Attorneys, Attorney and Practice Magazine
2019
Top 10 Attorneys Under 40, National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys
2019
Top 10 Family Law Attorneys, Colorado American Jurist Institute
2019
Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2019
Featured Attorney, Lawyers of Distinction
2019
Top 100, American Academy of Attorneys
2018
Client's Choice, Avvo
2018
Top 10 Attorneys in Colorado Area, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2018
Top 10 Attorneys Under 40, National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys
2018
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2018
Featured Attorney, Lawyers of Distinction
2017
Client's Choice, Avvo
2017
Distinguished Lawyer, Expert Network
2017
Top 10 Attorney in Colorado, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2017
Top 10 Attorneys Under 40, National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys
2017
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2016
Client's Choice, Avvo
2011
Excellence in Clinical Education, University of Colorado
Work Experience
2021 - Present
Appellate Justice, Havasupai Tribe
2021 - Present
Partner & Attorney, Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger LLP
2018 - 2020
Appellate Justice, Havasupai Tribe
2013 - 2021
Partner & Attorney, Smith & Shellenberger, LLC
2012 - 2013
Associate Attorney, Smith, Shelton & Ragona, LLC
2011 - 2012
Associate Attorney, Smith, Shelton, Ragona & Salazar LLC
2010 - 2011
Clerk, Colorado Supreme Court
Associations
2016 - Present
Colorado Revised Statues, Juvenile Rules CommitteeCommittee
2016 - Present
Indian Child Welfare Court, DenverCommittee
2015 - Present
Colorado Court Improvement ProgramCommittee
2011 - Present
Colorado Bar AssociationMember
2011 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
Indian Child Welfare Act Rules Drafting Committee
2014 - 2015
Colorado Pay Equity CommissionMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Both Petitions granted by the Court.
Both Petitions granted by the Court.
Client prevailed on appeal.
Education
2011
JD - Juris Doctor
2007
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2022
Application of ICWA in Probate Cases
2022
The Indian Child Welfare Act and its Impact on Family Law Cases in Colorado
2022
Multicultural Considerations for CFI and PRE Experts
2021
An Overview of the Applicability of ICWA in Colorado’s Private Legal Actions Involving Non-Biological Parents; A Guideline on Arguing for and Complying with the ICWA
2019
Careers in American Indian Law
2019
An Overview of the Applicability of ICWA in Colorado’s Private Legal Actions Involving Non-Biological Parents; A Guideline on Arguing for and Complying with the ICWA
2018
Informal Discovery & Expert Witnesses
2018
ICWA Compliance
2016
Family Law
2016
Discovery Considerations in Dependency & Neglect Cases
Publications
2017
2012
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers