Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, D. Colorado
79 approved rates from 21 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Sep 23, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $450 | $400 to $544 | $235 to $830 | 22 |
| Of counsel | $396 | $320 to $660 | 6 | |
| Associate | $351 | $285 to $385 | $220 to $451 | 16 |
| Attorney | $375 | $318 to $490 | $180 to $525 | 15 |
| Paralegal | $200 | $163 to $215 | $100 to $260 | 19 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $400 (8) | $195 (11) | |
| 2025 | $485 (12) | $379 (10) | $205 (8) |
| 2024 | $398 (6) |
Median approved rate by the year of the ruling (number of rates in brackets). A year shows a median at 5 or more rates. Not adjusted for inflation.
Attorney rates by years of experience
| Experience | Median | Middle half | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-19 years | $360 | 5 | |
| 20+ years | $400 | 6 |
Only rates where the opinion states the attorney's years of experience.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 0 of 60 timekeepers (0%).
Cite these rates
$450/hr
In D. Colorado fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $450 an hour (22 rates).
$396/hr
In D. Colorado fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved of counsel rate was $396 an hour (6 rates).
$351/hr
In D. Colorado fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved associate rate was $351 an hour (16 rates).
$375/hr
In D. Colorado fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $375 an hour (15 rates).
$200/hr
In D. Colorado fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved paralegal rate was $200 an hour (19 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent D. Colorado rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Culp v. Remington of Montrose, LLC, No. 1:18-cv-02213 (D. Colo. Sept. 23, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $250 to $400 for attorneys; $100 for a paralegal); Board of Trustees, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 9 Pension Trust v. United Test and Balance, No. 1:24-cv-00935 (D. Colo. Sept. 10, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $325 for of counsel with 18 years' experience; $360 for a partner with 30 years' experience; $360 for a partner with 18 years' experience); McLaughlin Group, Inc. v. American Manufacturing & Machine, Inc., No. 1:20-cv-03531 (D. Colo. Aug. 17, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $715 for a partner with 25 years' experience; $830 for a partner); Joppy v. HCA-HealthOne LLC, No. 1:22-cv-00986 (D. Colo. Aug. 14, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $180 to $220 for paralegals); Irizarry v. Ingersoll, No. 1:21-cv-01490 (D. Colo. Aug. 13, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $505 for an attorney with 12 years' experience; $375 for an associate with 4 years' experience; $175 for a paralegal); Gomez v. Timberline Custom Builders, LLC, No. 1:23-cv-01510 (D. Colo. July 17, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $450 for a partner; $325 for an associate; $125 to $195 for paralegals); Ramales Photography LLC v. Vail en Espanol, Inc., No. 1:25-cv-00934 (D. Colo. June 26, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $525 for an attorney); Leonite Fund I, LP v. Hawaii Brewery Development Co., Inc., No. 1:25-cv-01371 (D. Colo. June 2, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $400 for a partner with 27 years' experience; $320 for of counsel with 6 years' experience; $400 for a partner with 30 years' experience); Beachley v. Palisades Funding, Corp., No. 1:23-cv-03098 (D. Colo. Mar. 17, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $249 for a partner; $237 for an associate; $221 for a paralegal); Board of Trustees, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 9 Pension Trust v. Moosh Inc., No. 1:24-cv-02808 (D. Colo. Sept. 9, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $210 for a paralegal); Coomer v. Make Your Life Epic LLC, No. 1:21-cv-03440 (D. Colo. July 28, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $275 to $500 for attorneys); Einstein Bros Bagel Franchise Corporation v. J.F.C. Management Holdings LLC, No. 1:24-cv-03344 (D. Colo. June 9, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $450 to $475 for partners; $295 for an associate; $125 for a paralegal).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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Oct 15, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $258 $258 The court's words
Petitioner seeks fees for 27.95 total hours of work at an hourly rate of $258.45 for a total of $7,223.95. Respondents do not meaningfully challenge the reasonableness of the hourly rate, and the Court finds it reasonable.
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Sep 29, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $260 $260 The court's words
Pal requests that the Court award him $4,500.000 in attorney’s fees for 17 hours of work his counsel expended litigating the Petition at a rate of $260.16 per hour.
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Culp et al v. Remington of Montrose, LLC et al
Sep 23, 2026 · Employment · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 Attorney $375 $375 Attorney $250 $250 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
Plaintiff requests an hourly rate of $400 for Mr. Killian, $375 for Mr. Davis and Mr. Mayle, and $250 for Mr. Azbell, Mr. Fredenburg, Mr. Meade, and Ms. Keith.
Plaintiff requests an hourly rate of $400 for Mr. Killian, $375 for Mr. Davis and Mr. Mayle, and $250 for Mr. Azbell, Mr. Fredenburg, Mr. Meade, and Ms. Keith.
Plaintiff requests an hourly rate of $400 for Mr. Killian, $375 for Mr. Davis and Mr. Mayle, and $250 for Mr. Azbell, Mr. Fredenburg, Mr. Meade, and Ms. Keith.
Plaintiff further seeks a uniform hourly rate of $100 for paralegal work.
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Board of Trustees, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 9 Pension Trust et al v. United Test and Balance
Sep 10, 2026 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Of counsel 18 years $325 $325 Partner 30 years $360 $360 Partner 18 years $360 $360 Paralegal $210 $210 Paralegal $210 $210 The court's words
Mr. Siegel avers that Plaintiffs' requested attorney's fees are calculated based on the following hourly rates: $325 for Mr. Siegel
$360 for Mr. Swyers and Mr. Dietrich
$360 for Mr. Swyers and Mr. Dietrich
and $210 for Ms. Iyer and Ms. Khandker
and $210 for Ms. Iyer and Ms. Khandker
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McLaughlin Group, Inc. et al v. American Manufacturing & Machine, Inc.
Aug 17, 2026 · Commercial
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 25 years $715 $715 Partner $830 $830 The court's words
Plaintiffs seek the following hourly rates for Colby A. Kingsbury: $715 in 2020; $755 in 2021; $820 in 2022; $920 in 2023; and $1,015 in 2024.
Plaintiffs seek hourly rates for Mike Gustafson and James M. Pfau, who are "partners and/or senior counsel at Faegre Drinker," that "do not exceed $830 in any year for which fees are sought."
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Joppy v. HCA-HealthOne LLC et al
Aug 14, 2026 · Employment · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $220 $220 Paralegal $180 $180 The court's words
The paralegals whose hourly rates the Medical Center challenges are Mses. Gwen Burton and Leah Robinson... They recite their hourly rates at $220.00 and $180.00, respectively.
The paralegals whose hourly rates the Medical Center challenges are Mses. Gwen Burton and Leah Robinson... They recite their hourly rates at $220.00 and $180.00, respectively.
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Aug 13, 2026 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 12 years $505 $505 Associate 4 years $375 $375 Paralegal $175 $175 The court's words
The requested fee consists of 199.2 hours by attorney E. Milo Schwab at a rate of $505 per hour
21 hours by attorney Casey Alexa Peel at a rate of $375 per hour
46.5 hours by paralegal Nicholas List at a rate of $175 per hour
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Gomez v. Timberline Custom Builders, LLC et al
Jul 17, 2026 · Wage and hour
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $450 $450 Associate $325 $325 Paralegal $195 $195 Paralegal $125 $125 Law clerk $125 $125 The court's words
As to the attorneys, Plaintiff requests an hourly rate of $450 for Penn Dodson, the partner on this case.
Plaintiff also requests an hourly rate of $325 for both associates. This Court finds that $325, the billing rate requested by Plaintiff in the body of ECF No. 21 at 10, is reasonable
For the paralegals—Jess Velez, Jessica Balint, Callyn Carter, Lucy Espinal and Lynne Sharpe—the rates range between $125 and $195.
For the paralegals—Jess Velez, Jessica Balint, Callyn Carter, Lucy Espinal and Lynne Sharpe—the rates range between $125 and $195.
He returned to Anderson Dodson, P.C. as a law clerk. His billing rate was $125 for both roles.
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Ramales Photography LLC v. Vail en Espanol, Inc.
Jun 26, 2026 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $525 $525 The court's words
The Declaration of Craig B. Sanders includes explanation of Sanders’s hourly rate of $525 and a breakdown of time spent on this matter.
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Garcia Abanil v. Baltazar et al
Jun 18, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $260 $260 The court's words
Garcia Abanil requests that the Court award him $6,504.000 in attorney's fees for the 25 hours of work his counsel expended litigating the Petition at a rate of $260.16 per hour.
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Leonite Fund I, LP v. Hawaii Brewery Development Co., Inc. et al
Jun 2, 2026 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 27 years $400 $400 Of counsel 6 years $320 $320 Partner 30 years $400 $400 Attorney 6 years $450 $450 Attorney 20 years $375 $375 Paralegal 20 years $195 $195 Paralegal 15 years $210 $210 The court's words
Ms. Seelman, a partner at GRSM who has been practicing law for 27 years, billed at a rate of $400 per hour.
Mr. Porter, senior counsel at GRSM who has been practicing law for six years, billed at a rate of $320 per hour.
Ms. Colwin, a partner at GRSM who has been practicing law for over 30 years, billed at a rate of $400 per hour.
Mr. Markham, lead counsel and a senior attorney at Springer and Steinberg, P.C., billed at a rate of $450 per hour. Mr. Markham has been practicing law for over six years.
Mr. Richardson, an attorney, billed at a rate of $375 per hour. Mr. Richardson has been practicing law for over 20 years.
Mr. Ericksen, a paralegal, billed at a rate of $195 per hour. Mr. Ericksen has been a paralegal for over 20 years.
Ms. Ameri, a paralegal, billed at a rate of $210 per hour. Ms. Ameri has been a paralegal for over 15 years.
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Morales Lopez v. Baltazar et al
May 28, 2026 · Immigration · Statutory rate, not in medians · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $271 $271 The court's words
Morales Lopez seeks $37,926 in attorney’s fees based on 140 hours of work billed at an adjusted rate of $270.90 per hour.
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Beachley v. Palisades Funding, Corp. et al
Mar 17, 2026 · Consumer protection
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $249 $249 Associate $237 $237 Paralegal $221 $221 The court's words
Attorney Amanda Loughmiller’s hourly rate of $249, as a shareholder at Quilling Selander Lownds Winslett & Moser PC
$237 for her associate
$221 for her paralegal
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Ingerson v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Dec 2, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $240 The court's words
this Court will use a blended hourly rate of $239.79. Taking this hourly rate of $239.79 multiplied by the total number of reasonable hours of 63.35, the total award is $15,190.70.
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Board of Trustees, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 9 Pension Trust et al v. Moosh Inc.
Sep 9, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal $210 $210 The court's words
which indicates an hourly rate between $325–360 for counsels’ labor and $210 for paralegals’ labor
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Coomer v. Make Your Life Epic LLC et al | Jul 28, 2025 | Attorney $275, Attorney $500 |
| Einstein Bros Bagel Franchise Corporation et al v. J.F.C. Management Holdings LLC et al | Jun 9, 2025 | Partner $450, Partner $450, Partner $475, Associate $295, Paralegal $125 |
| Serna et al v. Colwell et al | Apr 30, 2025 | Attorney $480, Paralegal $150 |
| zColo, LLC v. Information Technology Partners, Inc. | Apr 30, 2025 | Associate $374, Associate $385, Partner $495, Partner $565, Paralegal $260 |
| Sensoria, LLC et al v. Kaweske et al | Apr 17, 2025 | Attorney $360, Attorney $180 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. v. Flatiron AECOM, LLC | Mar 6, 2025 | Partner $765, Of counsel $660, Partner $615, Of counsel $611, Partner $498, Associate $451, Of counsel $442, Partner $421, Partner $413, Associate $402, Associate $388, Associate $371, Of counsel $350, Associate $330, Associate $320, Paralegal $236, Paralegal $226, Paralegal $200, Paralegal $121 |
| Goode et al v. Gaia, Inc. et al | Feb 19, 2025 | Partner $465, Associate $385 |
| Electro-Mechanical Products, Inc. et al v. Alan Lupton Associates Inc. | Jan 8, 2025 | Partner $560 |
| Weidner, III v. Doe | Nov 14, 2024 | Attorney $500, Attorney $300 |
| Massey v. Specialized Loan Servicing, LLC et al. | Nov 8, 2024 | Associate $220, Associate $255, Partner $235, Partner $345 |
| Geiger v. Chubb Indemnity Insurance Company et al | Nov 1, 2024 | Attorney $335, Associate $250 |
| Cronick v. City of Colorado Springs, The et al | Oct 17, 2024 | Attorney $300 |
| Perea v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration | Sep 16, 2024 | Attorney $220, Attorney $230, Paralegal $100 |
| Let's Go Aero, Inc. v. Forcome, Ltd. | Sep 5, 2024 | Attorney $500, Attorney $325, Attorney $395, Paralegal $180, other $75, Law clerk $120 |
| Stuhmer v. Girdner et al | Jul 8, 2024 | Attorney $300, Attorney $250, Attorney $170, Attorney $175, Attorney $175, Attorney $175 |
| Morfitt-Shumway v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration | May 22, 2024 | Attorney $223 |
| Owens v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration | Apr 30, 2024 | Attorney $186, Paralegal $100 |
| Swanton v. Zou et al | Apr 29, 2024 | Attorney $650, Attorney $375, Attorney $125, Attorney $650 |
| Baxter Construction Company, LLC v. SF Construction, Inc. | Apr 9, 2024 | Attorney $350, Attorney $300, Attorney $275 |
| Meggs v. Joalto Group, LTD | Mar 26, 2024 | Partner $450, Associate $350 |
| Murphy v. Schaible, Russo & Company, C.P.A.'s, L.L.P. et al | Mar 21, 2024 | |
| Electro-Mechanical Products, Inc. et al v. Alan Lupton Associates Inc. | Mar 15, 2024 | Partner $510, Partner $370 |
| CLVM LLC et al v. Van Handel | Mar 4, 2024 | Partner $425, Paralegal $125 |
| Kolbe et al v. Endocrine Services, P.C. | Feb 15, 2024 | Attorney $505, Attorney $425, Paralegal $190 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the D. Colorado approve for partners?
A median of $450 an hour across 22 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $400 to $544.
What hourly rate does the D. Colorado approve for of counsels?
A median of $396 an hour across 6 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the D. Colorado approve for associates?
A median of $351 an hour across 16 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $285 to $385.
How often does the D. Colorado cut a requested hourly rate?
For 0 of 60 timekeepers (0%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the D. Colorado?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.
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