Chris is a veteran criminal defense and personal injury trial attorney having litigated hundreds of trials and over 20+ homicide trials. He started his career in the public defender system in Iowa and tried complex criminal and civil cases in almost every county in Iowa.
His career path started in Dubuque, Iowa and after a few years of trying any case that would come his way, Chris was promoted to the Special Defense Unit in Des Moines, Iowa. While at the Special Defense Unit, Chris tried the highest level civil and criminal defense cases in almost every county and courthouse in Iowa. He also appealed civil commitment cases to the appellate courts in the State of Iowa
When his family set up roots in Colorado Springs, he followed shortly behind to join the Colorado Springs Public Defender Office. As a Senior Public Defender in Colorado Springs, Chris tried numerous complex cases, homicides, and other serious and high-profile cases. At the Colorado Springs office, he oversaw the intern program and helped younger attorneys with the transition to felony court. After leaving the Public Defender system, Chris joined a local defense firm as an experienced and competent litigator that handled the most complex criminal cases. He quickly became the manager of the criminal defense section at the firm overseeing the work of other attorneys and criminal defense paralegals, investigators.
After meeting Tim Bussey, Chris knew right away that he wanted to learn from one of the best trial attorneys in the industry. He joined the Bussey Firm in 2023 as an experienced litigator and trial attorney, ready to take on any case, whether it be a personal injury case or a criminal case.
Education: Chris graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in communication studies and psychology. He also received a degree from the University of Swansea in Wales, UK where he studied psychology. In 2011, Chris graduated from the Creighton University School of Law with a special certificate in litigation. While at Creighton, he was honored as the student who was most outstanding in their service to the law school. He also obtained numerous CALI awards for the highest possible grade in each law school class. He was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 2011, and the Colorado Bar in 2020.
Outstanding Service to the Creighton Law School Award, 2011. 2012 Telegraph Herald and Biz times “Rising Star – under 40.”
Dubuque, Iowa City Life Academy, 2014. Dubuque, Iowa Citizens Police Academy, 2012.
Iowa Public Defender Association – Treasurer 2015-2019. Iowa Bar Association. Colorado Bar Association. El Paso County Bar Association. Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Member (CTLA). DUI Defense Lawyers Association Member (DUIDLA). Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Member. American Association for Justice Member.
Chris received his yoga teacher training (200 HR RYT) from B-1 Yoga in Dubuque, Iowa in 2016. He has taught classes to lawyers, judges, and everyone in between. His favorite classes to teach: “Farm Yoga” at the Iowa Farm Sanctuary and “Yoga for Cyclists” at Buffalo Bike Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Chris rescued his dog, a stray yellow lab in rural Iowa in 2017. They found each other on a bike trail and when Chris is not at work, he loves doing all the “Colorado things” with his dog. Other favorite things when not at work fighting for his clients: Biking, Camping, Cycling, Hiking, Red Rocks concerts, Skiing – cross country and downhill, traveling.
Chris has appeared on podcasts in the Pikes Peak Region related to cycling. He has also been asked to appear and talk about work, life balance on podcasts in the Pikes Peak Region.
Chris has appeared as a legal commentator on numerous YouTube true crime series. You can currently hear him on the “Crime Curious” podcast, most Thursday nights live from 6-7pm MT hosted by true crime author Jennifer Knight.
Chris is an avid cyclist in the Pikes Peak Region. He is on the Buffalo Lodge Bike Resort Buffalo Tribe as a road cyclist and gravel cyclist. He also mountain bikes with the Trails End Taproom group rides and enjoys riding trails all over the front range. He frequently teaches “Yoga for Cyclists” at Buffalo Lodge Bike Resort. His Instagram handle -@thegraveldefender, blends his passion for cycling and the outdoors, with his desire to fight for and defend the rights of others.
Chris has been a longtime mentor with the YMCA Reach and Rise mentoring program in Iowa. While living in Des Moines, Iowa he served monthly dinners at a homeless shelter near his office and was the legal advisor for the Iowa Farm Sanctuary not-for-profit board. While living in Omaha, Nebraska, Chris taught “Street Law” in an urban high school in downtown Omaha. He has also previously been involved with mental health and domestic violence related non-profits and was on the board of a mental health non-profit in Dubuque, Iowa.
Chris has also taught classes at his undergraduate school, the University of Northern Iowa and lectured at high schools and colleges about criminal defense.
Chris presents CLE courses to the Pikes Peak Paralegal Association; his most recent courses are “Intro to Criminal Defense for a Paralegal” and “DUI Defense.”
Chris has also presented on wellness for lawyers and was on the State of Colorado Wellness Committee in 2020-2021. He has been invited to speak at the Iowa Public Defender Association Annual Seminar on attorney wellness, and Chris taught yoga to lawyers from all over Colorado via zoom in 2020.
