In Memoriam: Dale R. Harris

January 19, 2022

DGS is saddened to announce the passing of one if its longtime attorneys, Dale R. Harris, who had been with the firm for nearly 60 years and who was the last living mentee of one of its founders, Donald Stubbs. Mr. Harris was born on May 11, 1937 and died in Denver on January 16, 2022. He was licensed to practice law in Colorado and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Tenth Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

A former managing partner of DGS and a graduate of Harvard Law School, Mr. Harris had a career that encompassed complex commercial litigation, antitrust matters, trials, and appeals. He was a member of the American Arbitration Association’s National Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators and was involved in more than 50 commercial arbitrations. He held leadership positions in many professional and community organizations. He was a past president of both the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations as well as a fellow of the Colorado Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was Colorado state chair of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Colorado state membership chair of the Supreme Court Historical Society, president of the Denver Law Club, and president of the Colorado Association of Corporate Counsel. He held various leadership roles with the Legal Aid Foundation, the Colorado Judicial Institute, and the Colorado Trust Account Foundation. In addition, he was a member of the Colorado Chief Justice’s Commission on the Legal Profession and the Colorado Supreme Court’s Judicial Advisory Council. In the broader Denver community, Mr. Harris served as chairman of the boards of directors of Mile High United Way, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, and QuaLife Wellness Community. He was also a member of the Denver Rotary Club and Colorado Forum.

Mr. Harris received the Award of Merit from both the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, their highest award for service to the legal profession, and the Denver Law Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also honored with the Williams Award and the Ruth Vincent Cunningham Award, both presented by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation for outstanding community service. Mr. Harris’ abilities as a lawyer secured his inclusion in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in the West, and Who’s Who in American Law, as well as in The Best Lawyers in America©, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and Colorado Super Lawyers. In 2010 and 2013, The Best Lawyers in America© named him “Denver Antitrust Lawyer of the Year.” In addition to this long list of accolades and achievements, Mr. Harris was a tremendous mentor, colleague, friend and example to generations of lawyers at DGS and throughout the Denver legal community.

A devoted family man and loyal Broncos and Rockies fan, Mr. Harris is survived by his wife Toni and their loving family. A Celebration of Life is being organized for sometime in May. Donations may be made in his memory to the following organizations: University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center General Research Fund (giving.cu.edu/fund/cancer-center-general-research-fund), the Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org/donate), and Mile High United Way (https://unitedwaydenver.org/gi...).

About Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, one of the Rocky Mountain region’s preeminent law firms, serves clients nationally and internationally, with a strong focus on corporate finance and governance, mergers and acquisitions, natural resources, environmental law, real estate, and complex litigation. Our lawyers have extensive experience working with companies in the energy, mining, technology, hospitality, private equity, manufacturing, asset management, and aviation industries. As the exclusive member firm in Colorado for Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms, DGS has access to in-depth experience in 100+ countries worldwide.