Barbara Weil Laff

Barbara Laff joined Ireland Stapleton in 2000. With more than 39 years of private practice experience in Colorado, she has represented both private and public companies in a wide range of complex intellectual property, employment, and real estate matters, as well as intellectual property licensing transactions.

Barbara currently balances her legal practice with a career as an elementary educator. In her legal work, she consults with clients and fellow attorneys on real estate business matters and intellectual property issues, bringing a thoughtful and experienced perspective shaped by decades of practice.

Education 

• University of Northern Colorado M.A., Gifted and Talented Education, 2011
• University of Denver, School of Education Teaching Certificate, 2006
• Northwestern University School of Law J.D., 1985 Deans List, Note Editor, Law Review
• University of Michigan at Ann Arbor B.G.S., with distinction, 1982

Admissions 

• Admitted to practice in Colorado

• Drafted and negotiated multi-million dollar licensing and technology transfer agreements relating to intellectual property in telecommunication equipment, computer hardware and software, Internet, e-commerce, and trade secrets.
• Represents clients in sales of medical practices.
• Represents clients in leasing and real estate transactions.
• Managed, conducted discovery of, and tried complex commercial, patent, trademark, copyright, Internet, high technology, trade secret and employment cases through bench and jury trials and arbitration.
• Instructor, Trial Advocacy, University of Colorado School of Law (1998, 1999)

Involvement

• Denver, Colorado and American Bar Associations (Intellectual Property and Litigation Sections) The Law Club (President 1997-1998)
• Co-Chair, Trademark Subcommittee of the ABA Intellectual Property Section Litigation Committee 1999-2000 and 2003-present
• Hearing Officer, Colorado Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, 1997-present
• Denver Bar Association, Trustee 1990-1991, Board of Governors 1999-2001
• Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented, 2009-present
• Steering Committee, DPS Shakespeare Festival, 2014
• Children’s Event Volunteer, Opera Colorado, 2013-present
• Member, Girl Scouts Mile High Council, 1997-2009

Publications

• “Cyber Risks in Medical Practice,” Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine, August 2021
• “Legal Escape Room,” Thompson Marsh Inn of Court, November 2019
• Adjunct Professor of Business Law, Community College of Denver, 2022 to Present
• Editorial Board, www.giglaw.com (authored various publications on the site); frequent speaker on trade secret protection, Internet ethics and e-commerce topics
• Representative publications:
  
  • ”Legal Practice in a Dot Com World” ABA National Convention 2000
  • “Legal Ethics on the Internet” 1998 Vail Institute January 2000
  • “Internet Domain Names and Trademarks” 1998 and 1999
  • “Internet, Intranet and E-Mail Policies” 1999, 2000
  • General Intellectual Property Presentations- 1989-2005
  • “Protecting Trade Secrets in the Employment Relationship” 1995-1999 Vail Institute 1997
  • “Security Interests in Intellectual Property” American Bankruptcy Institute 1998, State Capital Law Firm Group, 2004
  • “Investigation Employee Misconduct” 2004, 2005
  • “Ethics and the Difficult Client” 2005, Law Club Ethics Revue 2005-2013