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Michael Fairhurst
About Michael
Biography
Michael Fairhurst is the founding Partner of Fairlaw Colorado. Mr. Fairhurst has devoted his entire legal career to representing people whose rights have been violated. He has only represented people – and never corporations or other large entities – who have been subjected to abuses of power.
Mr. Fairhurst has extensive experience with issues ranging from police misconduct to prisoners’ rights to disability rights to employment discrimination and retaliation, and more.
Mr. Fairhurst previously worked as a partner with the Denver-based civil rights firm Killmer Lane, LLP. He founded that firm’s Western Slope office in 2021. Today, Mr. Fairhurst and his family live on Colorado’s Western Slope, where they are active members of the local community.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Civil Rights
50%
13 years | 100 cases
Employment and Labor
30%
13 years | 75 cases
Constitutional
10%
13 years | 50 cases
Criminal Defense
10%
13 years | 15 cases
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Colorado for 13 years
State: Colorado
Acquired: 2013
No misconduct found
Location
Fairlaw Colorado
201 Main St., Carbondale, CO, 81623
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Michael Fairhurst's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
5 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (5)
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Health Care
Posted by Alexandra | October 17, 2023 | Hired Attorney
Excellent Employment & Labor Attorney
Michael provided counsel to me on two separate healthcare employment issues and in both instances, favorably resolved the matter with thoughtful engagement with opposing counsel. He is thorough and strategic - leveraging his vast knowledge of Colorado employment law to navigate complexities in both e...
Michael Fairhurst's Lawyer Endorsements
"Michael is an experienced and very smart civil rights lawyer who achieves great results for his clients. We worked together on a case recently and Michael brought strategic insight and also wrote brilliant legal pleadings. We ended up winning a great outcome. I wholeheartedly recommend him to any potential client seeking representation in civil rights cases."
"Michael is one of the leading civil rights attorneys in Colorado. Talented, compassionate, ethical, and deeply committed to his clients, Michael has the legal skills and depth of knowledge to successfully litigate the most challenging cases. His track record of exceptional results is proof of his ability, and his sterling reputation within the civil rights community is a real asset to his clients. As a fellow attorney, I consider Michael to be an authority on civil rights law and one of the most effective advocates in the field."
David Maxted
Civil rights lawyer
Zachary Warren
Civil rights lawyer
Experience
Honors
2026
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2023
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2022
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2021
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2020
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2019
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2018
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2017
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2016
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
Work Experience
2026 - Present
Founding Partner, Fairlaw Colorado
2013 - 2026
Partner, Killmer, Lane & Newman, LLP
2012 - 2013
Clerk, Sheppard, White & Kachergus
Associations
2019 - Present
Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers AssociationBoard Member
2017 - Present
Colorado Cross-Disability CoalitionBoard Member
2017 - 2019
Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers AssociationTreasurer
2016 - 2017
Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers AssociationOutreach Officer
Sample of Legal Cases
Harter v. Stover
plaintiff's verdict
Smith v. Kremmling, et al.
plaintiff's verdict
Bauman v. Bishop, et al.
directed verdict in favor of plaintiff
Walton et al. v. City and County of Denver et al.
plaintiffs' verdict
Education
2012
University of California - Berkeley
JD - Juris Doctor
2007
Williams College
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2026
FFA CLE
A Conversation with Colorado's Western Slope Magistrate Judges
2025
FFA CLE
A Fireside Chat with U.S. District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher
2023
CTLA Blockbuster CLE
Defeating Claims of Qualified Immunity in Civil Rights Cases under Colorado and Federal Law
2020
CTLA civil rights committee
Defeating Claims of Qualified Immunity in Civil Rights Cases
2017
CTLA civil rights committee
Pleading and Proving Municipal Liability Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
Publications
2013
Quinnipiac Health L.J.
Traffic-Light-Labeling on Restaurant Menus: A Call for the Communication of Nutrition Information through Color-Coded Prices