Cecil E. Morris, Jr. has been in practice for thirty years, most of which have been in Denver. His practice emphasizes complex civil litigation in federal and state courts and arbitration, mainly in the areas of securities, business torts, banking, and commercial law. Cecil also practices in the areas of legal ethics and attorney discipline. Additionally, Cecil serves as an arbitrator in commercial and securities arbitrations and is a member of the National Panel of Commercial Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association. Among other things, he is a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Standing Committee on the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, former Chair of the U.S. District Court Committee on Conduct, and a member and former Chair of the Ethics Committee to the Colorado Bar Association. Cecil also writes and lectures frequently on trial practice, commercial law, and legal ethics.

Cecil was selected to Colorado SuperLawyers in the field of business litigation in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Cecil was also named in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 "Colorado Superlawyers - Corporate Counsel Edition." Cecil is a Director of the firm.

Email: cmorris@pwhclaw.com

       

Admitted to Practice
Colorado, State and Federal Courts; California; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court; Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Education
New York University School of Law; J.D., June 1982; Articles Editor, Review of Law and Social Change; Root-Tilden-Snow Scholarship University of Oklahoma; B.A., summa cum laude, May 1979. Major: Political Science; Phi Beta Kappa; Bronze Letzeiser Medal, Outstanding Senior; Pe-Et, Top Ten Seniors; Cortez A.M. Ewing Public Service Fellowship; Bass Memorial Scholarships in Economics and Political Science; President's Leadership Scholarship

Publications and Speeches
Inadvertent Disclosure, in Lawyer's Professional Liability in Colorado: Preventing Legal Malpractice and Disciplinary Actions (CLE in Colorado, Inc. 2009 and 2011)

Liability under the Federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, in Lawyer's Professional Liability in Colorado: Preventing Legal Malpractice and Disciplinary Actions (CLE in Colorado, Inc. 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2011)

Lawyers' Duty of Candor to the Tribunal and Remedial Measures in Civil Actions and Proceedings, CLE Legal Connection (2011)

Annual Convention:  Ethics & Privilege Logs, The Ethical Limits of Defending, and The Limits of Direct and Cross Examination, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2011) (chair and presenter)

Annual Convention: Ethics at Trial, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2010) (chair and panelist)

Inadvertent Disclosure, CLE Colorado, Inc. (2010)

Preventing Legal Malpractice, "Dealing with a Grievance", CLE Colorado, Inc. (2010) (presenter)

Annual Convention: "Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers", Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2009) (chair and panelist)

Navigating the Ethics Minefield: Third-Party Claims and Liens Against Client Property, Conflicts of Interest, and Aggregate Settlements, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2009)

Colorado Corporate Practice Conference: Legal Ethics for Business Law Attorneys, Colorado Bar Association (2008)

Ethical Rules Governing Lawyers' Advice for Privacy Breaches, Privacy Foundation, University of Denver College of Law (2008) (panelist)

Annual Convention: Ethics in a Wild Wired World, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2008) (chair and panelist)

Annual Convention: Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers, Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (2008) (lecturer)

Current Develpments in Legal Ethics in Colorado, Arapahoe County Bar Association (2008)

Ethics Issues in Connection with Settlement: Old Themes, New Developments, Arapahoe County Bar Association (2007)

New Rules of Professional Conduct, Tuesdays at the Bar, Colorado Bar Association (2007)

New Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, Colorado Bar Association (2007)

Ethics 2000, Colorado Bar Association (2007)

Annual Business Law Institute: Ethics 2007, Colorado Bar Association (2007)

Annual Convention: Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2007) (chair and panelist)

Liability Under the Federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, in Lawyer's Professional Liability in Colorado: Preventing Legal Malpractice and Disciplinary Actions (CLE in Colorado, Inc. 2005 & 2008)

Annual Business Law Institute: Ethics 2000, Colorado Bar Association (2006) (panelist)

Annual Convention: Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2006) (chair and panelist)

Aiding and Abetting Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association (2006)

Litigation Bootcamp: Discovery, Colorado Bar Association (2006)

Litigation Ethics, Colorado Bar Association (2005) (panelist)

Annual Convention: Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2005) (chair and panelist)

Third Annual Ethics Symposium: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Rules of Professional Conduct, University of Denver College of Law (2005) (author and panel chair)

Annual Employment Law Conference: Current Ethics Issues in Employment Law, Colorado Bar Association (2004) (chair and panelist)

Annual Convention: Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers II, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2004) (chair and panelist)

Second Annual Ethics Symposium: Discovery and the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, University of Denver College of Law (2004) (panelist)

Ethics Issues in Pretrial Practice, Plaintiffs' Employment Lawyers Association (2004) (lecturer)

"Lawyers' Duties of Confidentiality and Disclosure: the Changing Climate and Changing Landscape," Colorado Bar Association, Environmental Law Section (2004), (co-author and lecturer)

Third Annual Litigation Institute: "Surreptitious Recording of Communications: New CBA Formal Ethics Opinion 112," Colorado Bar Association (2003)

"Ethics and the Business Lawyer," 32 Colo. Law 43 (Oct. 2003), co-author with Richard F. Hennessey

Annual Convention: "Ethics Issues for Trial Lawyers," Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2003) (chair and panelist)

"Colorado Supreme Court Adopts Further Jury Reform Measures," 52 Trial Talk 16 (April/May 2003)

"The Continuing Evolution of Quantum Meruit Recovery in Contingency Cases in Colorado," Plaintiffs' Employment Lawyers Association (2003) (lecturer)

First Annual Ethics Symposium: "Ethics in Civil and Criminal Practice," University of Denver College of Law,(2003) (lecturer)

"The New Local Rules for the United States District Court for the District of Colorado," 51 Trial Talk 12 (April/May 2002)

Sixth Annual Ethics Conference: "Developments in Legal Ethics," CLE International (2001) (author and lecturer)

"Ethics for Litigators," Colorado Bar Association (2001) (author and lecturer)

"Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence," 50 Trial Talk 14 (April/May 2001)

"Inadvertent Disclosure of Privileged and Confidential Documents," 30 Colo. Law. 59 (Feb. 2001)

Fifth Annual Ethics Conference: "New CBA Formal Ethics Opinion 108 and Beyond," CLE International (2000) (author and lecturer)

Annual Convention: "Ethics in Trial Advocacy," Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2000-01) (author and lecturer)

"Ethics for Government Lawyers," Colorado Bar Association (2000) (lecturer)

"A Breach in the Wall of Mandatory Arbitration," 49 Trial Talk 6 (April/May 2000)

Fourth Annual Ethics Conference: "Ethics Issues Relating to the Receipt of Privileged or Confidential Documents Belonging to Persons Other Than the Client," CLE International (1999) (author and lecturer)

Trial Advocacy Program, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (1999-2000) (co-presenter)

Annual Colorado Law Update (Commercial Law), Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (1996-2001) (co-author and lecturer)

"The Use and Abuse of Subpoenas," 47 Trial Talk 18 (April 1998)

"Taking Effective Depositions," Lorman Education Services (1994-1997) (co-author and lecturer)

"Alternative Dispute Resolution: Enforcing Arbitration Agreements," Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (1994) (co-author)

"Defending Depositions: Objections, Instructions, and Dealing With Opposing Counsel," Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. (1992) (co-author)

"Abusive Tactics, Protective Orders, and Sanctions," Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. (1991) (co-author)

Note, "Conserving Natural Resources: Toward a Comprehensive State Recycling Program Under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act," 10 Rev. Law & Soc. Change 469 (1980-1981)

Professional Activities
Colorado Bar Association; Member (1991- present); Professional Committee (1991-present) and Ethics Committee (1995- present, Chair 2004-2005, Vice Chair 2003-2004); Chair, Subcommittee on Formal Ethics Opinions 108; Chair, Subcommittee on Revised Formal Ethics Opinion 86; Member, Subcommittee on the Rules of Professional Conduct; Member, Calling Subcommittee; Member, Subcommittee on Formal Ethics Opinion 100; Co-Chair, Subcommittee on ABA Ethics 2000.

Colorado Supreme Court Standing Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct (2003-present)

Colorado Supreme Court Ad Hoc Committee on ABA Ethics 2000/Rules of Professional Conduct; Member (2002-2004)

U. S. District Court, District of Colorado, Committee on Conduct (2005-2011; Chair 2010-2011)

Colorado Bar Foundation; Fellow (2001- present)

Denver Bar Association; Member (1991- present), Professional Committee (1991-1994)

State Bar of California; Member (1982- present) (currently inactive); Litigation Section (1982- present)

American Bar Association; Member (1985- present); Litigation Section and Committees on Trial Practice, Securities Litigation and Business Torts Litigation

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association; Member (1992- present); Co-Chair, Commercial Law Section (1999- 2001); Member, Board of Directors (1999-2003); Editor, Civil Procedure and Discovery, Trial Talk (1997- present)

American Association for Justice: Member (1995-present), Commercial Law Section

Faculty of Federal Advocates, United States District Court for the District of Colorado (1997- present) (founding member)

American Arbitration Association; National Panel of Arbitrators, Commercial Arbitration (1996- present)

Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers: Member (2002-present)

Thompson G. Marsh Inn of Court: Member (2003-2006)

Historical Society of the Tenth Judicial Circuit (founding lifetime member) (2004-present)