Catherine M. Tieman has consistently practiced law since her admission to the bar in 1990.  She began her career defending international corporations in high end international product liability litigation, including second chair of a five-week jury trial with a ten-million-dollar claim.  The trial resulted in a defense verdict for her client. She then began representing clients in plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and social security disability claims before transitioning to the exclusive representation of clients with family law disputes. 

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Catherine has exclusively represented clients in all aspects of family law as well as in all aspects of guardianship/conservatorship matters since 1999 in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and in Colorado as of 2005.   Catherine is highly experienced in the representation of clients in dissolution of marriage, allocation of parental rights, high-asset property division, relocation, post decree modifications of parenting time, maintenance and child support, adoptions, stepparent adoptions, relocation matters, grandparent rights, paternity, and preparation of premarital and post nuptial agreements.  

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Throughout the course of Catherine’s career, she recognized the benefits of mediation as a better way for parties to resolve disputes in family law matters, particularly disputes involving children. She is certified as a mediator via the 40-hour course offered by the Colorado Bar Association and has helped parties and counsel successfully reach resolution of family law disputes through mediation over the past ten years.  Catherine offers mediation and arbitration services to counsel as well as to pro se clients as part of her practice.  She also offers pro bono mediation through MVL.

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Prior to joining Setter Roche Smith & Schellenberger, LLC, Catherine worked at various law firms in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and had her own law firm in Denver.  She then worked with Beck Jonson & Nolan, PC in Lakewood for over fourteen years and with Bradley Devitt Haas & Watkins, PC for over two years.

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Catherine was initially licensed to practice law in Massachusetts in 1990 and in New Hampshire in 1995.  She relocated to Colorado in 2005 and was admitted to the Colorado bar the same year.  Catherine continues to maintain her licenses in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and periodically assists clients in Massachusetts.

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Catherine completed her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 1983, participating in a foreign studies program in Spain as part of her degree.  Upon graduation she moved to Chicago to participate a post-degree program, then upon completion of the post-decree program she moved to New York City where she became a supervising paralegal and manager of a law firm, supervising over 200 dental malpractice claims, construction litigation, personal injury, and maritime litigation.

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During the time that Catherine lived and practiced law in Massachusetts, she was very involved in the equine community, being a horse owner, and became one of several hundred attorneys in the United States who specialized in Equine Law, representing horse owners, racetracks, show barns, breeders and trainers, and other service providers associated with the equine industry.

 

When not in the office, Catherine is a rewards-based dog trainer assisting people with understanding canine communication and behavior.  She also trained rescue dogs for many years with the Rocky Mountain Cocker Rescue to help ensure successful adoptions of cocker spaniels.  Catherine also enjoys skiing, photography, and international travel, including annual visits to see family in Scotland and Ireland.