J. Christopher Kinsman

Chris Kinsman focuses his practice on real estate development, construction, affordable housing, and mortgage lending law. His practice encompasses all aspects of acquiring, financing, entitling, developing, leasing, selling, and operating residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate projects in the Rocky Mountain region. He represents large national and regional, as well as local entrepreneurial, developers and builders and operators of mixed-use, office, retail, and multi-family projects.

Mr. Kinsman is a recognized expert in the creative formation and strategic operation, lease-up and sell out of town home, multi-family, time-share and condominium, master planned and mixed-use communities on behalf of builders, developers, converters and governments. His experience is broad and deep in assisting developers in minimizing risks associated with the construction, sale and operation of owner association communities. He also has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting complex public and private construction, design and design-build contracts, as well as with commercial leasing transactions.

Mr. Kinsman is knowledgeable in all aspects of affordable housing and has advised Forest City Stapleton, Lowry Redevelopment Authority, Douglas County, Summit County, Broomfield, Denver and many developers and non-profits, including community land trusts, on formation, operation and compliance issues in connection with affordable housing programs, including the use of complex land trusts, deed restrictions, covenants and ground lease structures. He organizes these programs from beginning to end and can assist with compliance and drafting issues at any stage. Mr. Kinsman is familiar with the relevant local and federal law impacting affordable housing, including secondary lending market considerations.

Mr. Kinsman also represents mortgage companies, title companies and related businesses in formation, regulatory and transactional matters, with a particular focus on Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) compliance matters.

Mr. Kinsman has authored numerous articles on common interest communities, mixed-use development, timeshares and fractional interests, RESPA, employment law, affordable housing, arbitration and attorney fee matters, as well as articles of interest to the mortgage lending and real estate development industries. He received the Colorado Bar Association's award for “Article of the Year.”

Professional Affiliations

• Colorado Bar Association
• City Club of Denver
• Denver Bar Association
• Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), Housing Council
• Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, Legislative Committee
• NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association)
• Real Estate Services Providers Council (RESPRO)
• University of Colorado Real Estate Council, Mentor Program
• Urban Land Institute (ULI)

Civic Involvement & Honors

• Chambers USA, Real Estate
• Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law
• AV^® Preeminent^TM Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
• Colorado Super Lawyers, Real Estate
• Legal Aid Society of Denver, Volunteer
• Habitat for Humanity, Board Member, Outside Counsel, Chair of Real Estate Committee, and Volunteer
• Big Brother Organization, Volunteer

Education

University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., 1993

University of Colorado, M.A., 1987

University of Colorado, B.A., 1984