Dru Nielsen, Partner

Photo of Dru Nielsen

 

303.893.6100 (Main)
866.730.6438
303.893.6110 (Fax)

 
 
Assistant:

 Shellee Lawson
slawson@rplaw.com
  • Tried dozens of criminal cases, including First Degree Murder, Sexual Assault, Drug Possession and Distribution, and White Collar Crimes.
  • Worked ten years and handled thousands of cases across the state as Deputy State Public Defender.
  • Handled complex cases involving the criminalization of federal regulations.
  • Lectured to hundreds of criminal defense attorneys on trial tactics and criminal procedure.
  • Argued successfully before the Colorado Court of Appeals.
  • AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®.
  • Listed in the 2013 edition of the Best Lawyers in America® under the specialty of White-Collar Criminal Defense.

Practice Areas:

  • Criminal Defense
  • Civil Litigation

Super Lawyers

Dru Nielsen, Partner

 

303.893.6100 (Main)
866.730.6438
303.893.6110 (Fax)

 
 
Assistant:

 Shellee Lawson
slawson@rplaw.com
 • Education
 • Media

 

 

About Dru:

Dru focuses her practice on criminal litigation. In her ten years as a deputy state public defender, she handled thousands of felony cases in courts across Colorado—including charges of first degree murder, attempted murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, economic crimes, conspiracy, child abuse and kidnapping. Because of her experience, she supervised ten other felony attorneys.

Dru has lectured to hundreds of criminal defense attorneys on subjects like trial tactics and procedure. She also served on the Colorado Jury System Standing Committee, which is charged with implementing the Supreme Court’s recommendations on jury reform.

Because of the nature of criminal defense practice, Dru prefers to keep confidential the names of her clients. She helps her client navigate at every stage of the criminal process:

Pre-emptive representation. Even before a criminal charge has been filed, Dru helps her clients take appropriate preemptive action to prevent or moderate the charge.

Trial representation. Once criminal charges have been filed, Dru helps her clients by initiating an exhaustive independent investigation of the facts. She strongly believes in the power of knowing more than the opposition, and refuses to rely only on government or police reports. Armed with these facts, she seeks a favorable disposition of the charges prior to trial or a positive outcome at trial.

Post-trial representation. When a client is convicted of a criminal act, punishment may include execution, loss of liberty, government supervision (parole or probation) or fines. In all cases, Dru helps her clients by making sure that the punishment is fair and carried out in an equitable manner. When the conviction is in question, she helps clients with an appeal.

“I sincerely believe that all people must be zealously and passionately represented in court, especially when the government seeks to deprive them of their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Ever since spending ‘career day’ with a criminal defense attorney way back in seventh grade, I focused on a career in criminal defense and never looked back. This is the best job in the world. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

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image Practice Areasimage
  • Criminal Defense
  • Civil Litigation
image Educationimage
  • J.D., University of Colorado
  • B.A., University of California at Los Angeles
    Magna Cum Laude
image Bar & Court Admissionsimage
  • State of Colorado
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
image Recognitionimage
  • Best Lawyers in America® (2013)
  • AV® rated by Martindale Hubbell®
  • Listed in Colorado Super Lawyers® (2012, 2013)
  • Rising Star by Colorado Super Lawyers® (2010, 2011)
 Presentations & Publicationsimage
  • Lecturer,"Using Technology and Demonstratives in the Courtroom." (2010)
image Professional Membershipsimage
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (Former Board Member)
image Mediaimage