April 12, 2019

To: Clients and Friends of Alpern Myers Stuart LLC

From: Dan Stuart

The best thing about practicing law is the opportunity to help clients get through some of the most challenging times of their lives.  Solving problems is what lawyers do.  I’ve been fortunate to work with talented lawyers and staff for many years, solving problems for hundreds of clients.

I’ve practiced with the same law firm for my entire career. That’s a rare thing in these days of constant change. Our firm’s commitment to our clients and to one another is our strength and stability.  It has been an extraordinary blessing for me.   I get to work with people I really enjoy.  Many of my friends have become clients and many of my clients have also become friends.  The ability to render service to them has kept me working happily for forty years. 

A lawyer’s reputation is built one case at a time, over many years.  Our firm has always focused first on the needs of the client.  How do we best solve problems in the most cost-effective manner?  I’ve never advertised my services as a lawyer, believing instead that referrals from other clients were the best way to build my practice.  Our positive results speak for themselves.  

Periodically, over the years, new acquaintances have said to me, “You can’t be a lawyer! You’re a nice guy.”  That is, at best, a side-ways compliment.  

At first, I took it as a sign that I couldn’t meet their expectations.  Some lawyers still believe that the best way to represent a client’s interests is to be a hyper-aggressive S.O.B.  But I’ve seen what that approach does to reputations, relationships and families.  Those cases have no winners – except perhaps the lawyers.  Fortunately, the courts usually recognize those destructive tactics.  After that, the credibility of those lawyers is shot, but the judicial system is also poorer for their behavior. 

The bottom line is, despite the stereotypes, it’s possible to be a good person and be an effective lawyer.  In fact, it’s a requirement.

There have been a few people I couldn’t help.  They asked me to ignore the rules, shade the truth or hide the facts.  No ethical lawyer practices law that way.  Those few people left my office unhappy.  More than once, they came back months later to report, “I should have listened to you.” 

A lawyer’s obligation to society extends beyond client work.  We are sworn to uphold the Constitution.  We are committed to uphold the integrity of the judicial system. We help support the institutions that keep a civil society functioning.  In short, we protect the Rule of Law.

Beyond those lofty ideals and pursuits, we participate.  I’m grateful that my law firm has provided the flexibility to allow me to be an active part of the community.  I’ve been incredibly fortunate to serve the Pikes Peak region and the State of Colorado in many capacities over the years. I have worked with many wonderful, dedicated individuals.  I’ve represented local governments and elected officials, and I’ve served on numerous non-profit Boards. I’ve worked to advance the arts, our schools, those less fortunate, as well as our natural environment and our political environment.  I’ve served as a Mayor and chaired the Colorado Transportation Commission.  I’ve worked to build community and to convince others that investing in the future of our communities is not only a good thing, it’s an essential thing if the generations that follow us are to have hope. 

I offer my thanks to all of you for being part of an amazing journey.  Even now, as I transition away from the practice of law, I hope to continue to be able to serve our community.  Perhaps I’ll see you out there, too.

With best wishes,

Dan Stuart

Dan joined our firm in 1979. He has been an active member of the community, having served on the Manitou Springs City Council, with two terms as mayor, and on the Colorado Transportation Commission with a term as chairman.

Dan has also chaired the Pikes Peak Clean Air Campaign, The Mineral Springs Foundation, the Business of Arts Center, and the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Board. He has chaired successful campaigns for a School District 14 bond issue, for a Manitou Springs downtown improvement project, and for the formation of the Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority.

Dan is married and has three children. Dan has climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14ers, and he hikes with the AdAmAn Club to the summit of Pikes Peak each New Year’s Eve.