David Kolko

Biography

Biography

David Kolko is a Senior Partner at Kolko & Casey, P.C. where he specializes in the field of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Law. 

Together with the law firm’s team of experienced attorneys and professional staff, David Kolko represents clients worldwide with immigration cases based on employment, family relationships, naturalization, asylum, and select removal proceedings.

Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado in 1988, David brings more than 26 years of professional legal experience to his work at the firm, as he is involved in the firm’s cases as both an attorney and managing partner.   This means that each client who engages Kolko & Casey, P.C. receives the value of David’s expertise, a benefit that sets the firm apart from many other immigration organizations.

A native of New York, David attended college at the State University of New York at Albany, earning his Bachelor’s Degree with honors in Political Science. In the 1980s, David moved to Colorado to attend law school at The University of Denver College of Law.  It was at the College of Law where David initially distinguished himself as a first-rate legal talent.  He received awards in trial tactics and was named to the National Moot Court Trial Team.  During his time at The University of Denver College of Law, he was also selected to serve in the distinguished position of Graduate Assistant to the Dean of the Law School, and was awarded a scholarship to attend his final year of law school.

Following his graduation from law school in 1988, David became an associate at a prestigious law firm in Denver, Colorado.   After accumulating several years of law firm expertise, David formed his own private law practice where he represented clients in a wide range of substantive legal areas – including immigration, family law, criminal law, personal injury, wrongful death, consumer protection, and corporate law. David gained extensive civil, criminal and administrative trial court experience, and his diverse clientele for more than 25 years includes national and international businesses, small and large educational institutions, banking institutions, corporations, families and individuals worldwide.

Eventually, David’s interest in the unique needs of foreign nationals living in this country led him to narrow the focus of his legal practice to primarily U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Law. 

With prominent Colorado Immigration Attorney C. James Cooper, Jr., David formed the Law Partnership of Cooper and Kolko in 2000.  When James Cooper retired in 2002, David kept the spirit of the old firm alive, but renamed it for the 21st century as he surrounded himself with top-notch professional talent and turned the new firm – Kolko & Casey, P.C. – into a premier immigration law firm.

Today, David is one of Colorado’s preeminent immigration attorneys.  People from across Colorado, the United States and throughout the world contact him for assistance with their U.S. immigration needs.  He is well-regarded by his individual and business clients, co-workers, colleagues and peers. 

David is a member of the Immigration Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association. Along with other distinguished Colorado Lawyers on the Executive Committee, David was a motivating force behind the recognition of the field of Immigration Law as a new section within the Colorado Bar Association.

David continues to contribute his expert knowledge on local and national immigration issues to various government agencies regarding issues of immigration affecting the State of Colorado. In 2010, David was selected to serve (and still serves) as a Co-Editor for substantive immigration articles submitted to the monthly publication of the Colorado Lawyer. David also regularly interacts with U.S. House Members’ and U.S. Senators’ offices by serving as a resource on current Immigration Laws and proposed changes to existing laws, as well as assisting federal and state legislators and their staff to better understand the impact of immigration law on businesses, organizations and individuals.

Since 2002, David has also been an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), which is the primary national organization of over 13,000 immigration professionals devoted to immigration law in the United States.  On behalf of AILA, David has been selected to serve on the National Liaison Committees, including USCIS Field Operations, and dealing with the immigration interests of Fashion Models, Extraordinary Athletes, Science, and Entertainment. David also served as Chair of the AILA National, Family Detention Task Force, which was focused on resolving the complex issues surrounding the detention of children seeking protection from persecution in Central America.

In 2010, David was elected by his professional colleagues in Colorado to serve on the Executive Committee of the Colorado Chapter of AILA.  This was a five-year commitment leading to his term as Chair of the Colorado Chapter. AILA Colorado is the regional chapter of the professional organization with approximately 250 licensed immigration attorneys in the State of Colorado.

In 2014-2015, David served as Chair of the Colorado Chapter of AILA. Through his leadership, the Colorado Chapter was recognized as a Platinum Chapter (highest honor) within the national association. He also served as the Conference Chair for the 2013 Rocky Mountain Immigration Law Conference, which is the premier annual immigration law event in the Rocky Mountain region, attracting the top immigration lawyers throughout the United States.

David teaches and conducts seminars in the field of immigration law.  He has presented at many seminars for professional and civic organizations, including the AILA National Conference on Immigration Law, the AILA - Colorado Chapter, The University of Denver College of Law, on behalf of the Colorado Bar Association, and for various civic and non-profit organizations.

David has traveled the world extensively and possesses a unique ability to understand and communicate with individuals of all cultures and backgrounds.  His broad cultural experiences have shaped his interest in immigration and have inspired his commitment to assisting businesses and individuals in resolving their legal and personal issues in this often complex area of the law.  

When David is not working to achieve his client’s goals, he enjoys many athletic activities with his wife Janet, including skiing, running, sailing the open ocean, road and mountain biking.  David is also an accomplished percussionist, plays in a band with other immigration professionals, and continues to have a passion for traveling and exploring new places around the world.