RECENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Parks Mediation, Denver, Colorado, Mediator/Owner, 2020 to present
• Provide mediation services for special education, divorce, child custody, relocation, child support, spousal maintenance, HOA, personal injury, and civil litigation matters

University of Denver – Sturm College of Law, Adjunct Professor, 2019 to present, teaching:
• Negotiation and Mediation
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• ABA Representation in Mediation Competition Team Coach, Spring 2021, Regional Champions

Cohen & Cohen, P.C., Denver, Colorado, Special Counsel, April 2016 to present
• Lead counsel in family law, bankruptcy, adversarial proceedings, and civil litigation
• Mediation in civil litigation and family law matters, including contractual and business disputes
• Bankruptcy mediation in adversarial proceedings, including preference and dischargeability actions
• Trustee representation in bankruptcy estate administration matters, including sale of estate property
• Complex multi-year, multi-state bankruptcy and commercial litigation
• General business transactions and contract drafting, include asset purchase agreements and operating agreements

Colorado Office of Dispute Resolution, Contract Mediator, 2019 to present
• Selected as mediator for Colorado’s 2nd, 17th, and 20th Judicial Districts
• Work cooperatively with clerks and court facilitators to manage court referrals to mediation

Colorado Department of Education, Contract Mediator, 2020 to present
• Mediate special education disputes involving school districts and parents of students with disabilities
• Facilitate complex mediations with multiple stakeholders involving federal IDEA, ADA, and Section 504 matters

EDUCATION

University of Montana School of Law, Missoula, Montana, J.D., 2013
• Class of 2013 Outstanding Law Student Award
• Mediation Clinic Intern (2012-2013)
• Emmett C. Angland Excellence in Clinical Work Award (2013)
• ABA Mediation Competition Regional Finalist (2013)
• Scholarships: Hickman (2011) & Garlington, Lohn, & Robinson (2012)

University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, B.A. Art History, 2003
• Graduated with Distinction
• Undergraduate Research Award (2003)
• Ilus W. Davis Writing Competition, Second Place (2001)
• Eddie Jacobson Scholarship for International Studies (2001)
• Study Abroad: Université Lyon 2, Lyon, France, (2001)

PUBLICATIONS
• Parks W., & Larkin C., Unlocking Apology’s Potential in Resolving Disputes, Colorado Lawyer,  Vol. 51, No. 7 (July 2022)
• Parks, W., From Gladiators to Counselors: The Mediator’s Role in Encouraging Attorneys to Problem-Solve, Colorado Lawyer, Vol. 50, No. 4 (April 2021)
• Parks, W., et al., Is Lawyer Presence to Blame for Mediation’s Drift away from Party Self-Determination? Trial Talk, Vol. 69, No. 2 (2020)
• Parks, W., Removal of the Impediment, Montana Law Review, Vol. 74, No. 2 (2013)
• Parks, W., Mandatory Appellate Mediation, Montana Lawyer, Vol. 39, No. 2 (2013)

PRO BONO & VOLUNTEER
• Pro Bono All Stars Award Recipient, Denver Bar Association, 2021
• Chair, Colorado Bar Association ADR Section, Executive Council Member, 2021-2023
• Vice Chair, Colorado Bar Association ADR Section, Executive Council Member, 2020
• 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th Annual ADR Conference Planning Committee, Denver, Colorado, 2018–2022, committee member, planned conference, drafted request for proposals, and reviewed proposals
• Court Mediation Services, Denver, Colorado 2019 to present, court mediator for civil, small claims, and domestic matters
• Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Denver, Colorado, 2019 to present, volunteer attorney and mediator

 

Practice Areas

• Business
• Civil Matters
• Divorce
• Domestic Relations/Civil Unions
• Family Related
• Landlord/Tenant
• Small Claims

Additional Professional Services

• Licensed Attorney