Sara Yates is an associate in the firm's Litigation Practice Group. She represents businesses, financial institutions, and property owners in a broad range of commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts, arbitration proceedings, and post-judgment enforcement actions.
Sara’s practice focuses on business disputes, banking and financial services litigation, real estate litigation, foreclosure and collateral-related matters, judgment enforcement, and other commercial controversies. She has substantial experience managing cases through all phases of litigation, including pre-suit strategy, written discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, trial, arbitration, and post-judgment collection efforts. Sara has significant trial experience, argued contested motions, and represented clients in depositions and evidentiary hearings. She regularly advises financial institution clients on litigation strategy and asset recovery and has successfully obtained and enforced judgments involving breach of contract, promissory note, guaranty, and related claims.
Clients appreciate Sara’s practical approach, attention to detail, and commitment to developing efficient solutions for challenging disputes. She works closely with clients to understand their business objectives and craft litigation strategies that balance risk, cost, and achieve favorable outcomes through litigation, arbitration, or negotiated resolution.
Representative Experience
- Trial team member in a five-and-a-half-year real property dispute, securing a judgment confirming the client's ownership rights and a $3.1 million award of attorneys' fees and costs.
- Second chair in a two-day arbitration involving airport ground lease rates and excess rent payments, obtaining a favorable final award resolving all claims and establishing future lease rates.
- Trial team member in three-day arbitration involving breach of contract claims, obtaining a six-figure damages award and a six-figure award of attorneys’ fees and costs.
- Successfully obtained judgments and enforced collection remedies resulting in the recovery of significant assets on breach of contract, promissory note, and guaranty claims for financial institution clients.
- Successfully defended financial institution clients in mechanics’ lien and homeowners’ association lien litigation.
Professional & Civic Engagement
- Colorado Bar Association, Member
- LCLD, Member
Honors & Awards
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Commercial Litigation and Real Estate, 2025-present
