Mark Eastman Lyda

Mark provides high-quality legal services to startup/small businesses and moderate-income clients. Prior to starting the firm in 2014, he practiced at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, where he represented Fortune 100 clients in complex commercial litigation at the trial and appellate levels. He previously served as a law clerk to The Honorable Monica Márquez of the Colorado Supreme Court. Prior to his clerkship, he served as Deputy Legal Counsel to the Governor of Colorado.

Mark is actively involved in the community. He serves as Chair of the Council of Advisors on Consumer Credit (appointed by Governor Hickenlooper), a nine-person assembly that advises the Colorado Attorney General's Office on consumer credit issues and has the authority to approve and repeal regulations under the Uniform Consumer Credit Code. Mark also serves on the Steering Committee for the Mile High United Way's Emerging Leaders Council, which organizes and participates in community-based projects and supports local non-profits. Mark was also asked to serve on Colorado Attorney Regulation Counsel's Proactive Management-Based Regulation advisory subcommittee, which drafted the new preamble to the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct and is creating a framework for helping small firms establish ethical practices.

In addition to this community involvement, Mark is a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, in which he serves as a reservist in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Mark earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he received the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award, awarded for the highest score in Notre Dame's trial advocacy course. During law school, Mark worked at the Cass County, Michigan Prosecutor's Office, where he successfully tried cases under Michigan's student practice act. He also worked at Colorado Legal Services as a recipient of the Notre Dame Alumni-Funded Fellowship. Prior to law school, he served in a variety of roles for Governor Bill Ritter's campaign and administration, including deputy finance director.

EDUCATION

• University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D.
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award
• Journal of Legislation, Senior Articles Editor
• Dean’s List
• Business Law Forum
• University of Kansas, B.A., Music and English
• Chancellor's Student Award
• Honors Graduate
• University Daily Kansan, Editorial Board
• Kansas/Asia Scholar

EXPERIENCE

• Captain, U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps
• Associate, Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP
• Law Clerk to The Honorable Monica Márquez, Colorado Supreme Court
• Deputy Legal Counsel, Office of the Governor of Colorado

ADMISSIONS

• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
• Colorado Supreme Court

COMMUNITY

• Chair, Council of Advisors on Consumer Credit (Gubernatorial Appointee)
• University of Kansas Honors Program Advisory Board
• Mile United Way Emerging Leaders Council (Steering Committee)
• Colorado Attorney Regulation Counsel's Proactive Management-Based Regulation advisory subcommittee
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Mentor
• LawLine 9