Trusted Family Lawyer
After graduating from college, Lenny studied at New Brunswick Theological Seminary for two years in a Master of Arts program in Theology. Tired of academia, he worked for a major retail shoe company as a management trainee in New Jersey for a year, then traveled the country for six weeks in 1974, settling finally in Boulder, where he resumed working in retail sales at Thornton Shoes on Pearl Street in Boulder prior to Pearl Street becoming a Mall. Lenny changed careers in 1976 and began working in restaurants. Beginning as a busboy, he worked his way to Manager and then Regional Supervisor of five restaurants.
In 1990, intent on finding a career where he could really make a difference in people’s lives, Lenny entered the University of Denver College of Law. During law school, he was awarded membership in the Order of St. Ives Honor Society, the American Jurisprudence Award in 1992 for Administrative Law, and the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., BNA Law Student Award at graduation. He also served as a Technical Editor of the University of Denver Law Review. During his final year in law school, Lenny interned for Judge Donald Cordova in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado in Denver, where he gained valuable knowledge of the behind-the-scenes workings of the courts. He obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1993, graduating eighth in his class.
Lenny began his professional law career as a Law Clerk for Frascona and Joiner, P.C., in June 1991 and then moved to the law firm of Cooper & Cooper, P.C., in March 1992, again as a law clerk until being admitted to the practice of law as an attorney in October 1993. At Cooper & Cooper, P.C., he handled about equal amounts of commercial litigation and family law-related work. In late 1995, Bob Cooper asked Lenny to become a partner, and they agreed that specializing in one area of law would provide the best service for clients. Thus, in January 1996, the firm was renamed Cooper & Tanis, P.C., and they began specializing in family law. Bob and Lenny have continued working together since then, committed to assisting people as they work through family law issues of every kind: divorce, custody (Allocation of Parental Rights), child support, maintenance, guardianships, and probate.
In his leisure time, Lenny enjoys cooking, walking his dog, reading, and spending time with his family. An interesting fact about him is that both of his daughters were adopted from Chile.
- University of Denver College of Law, Denver, Colorado
Juris Doctorate – 1993
Honors: Order of St. Ives Honor Society
Honors: American Jurisprudence Award in 1992 for Administrative Law
Honors: Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., BNA Law Student Award
Honors: Eighth in the Class
Law Review: University of Denver Law Review, Technical Editor, 1992 – 1993 - Hope College, Holland, Michigan
B.A., Bachelor of Arts cum laude – 1971
Major: English
Minor: Psychology - New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Master of Arts Program in Theology
- 90% Family Law
- 10% Probate/Guardianships
- Colorado, 1993
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1994
- Therapist-Client Privilege In Family Law Cases, COAFFF Newsletter, Spring, 2015
- In re Marriage of Tonn, 53 P.3d 1185 (Colo. App. 2002)
- In re Marriage of Bowles, 916 P.2d 615 (Colo. App. 1995)
- In re Marriage of Plank, 881 P.2d 486 (Colo. App. 1994)
- In re Marriage of Slowinski, 199 P.3d 48 (Colorado Court of Appeals 2008)
- In re Marriage of Ward and Baker, 183 P.3d 707 (Colorado Court of Appeals 2008)
- In the Matter of the Petition of W.H. and J.H., 11 CA 2652 (Colorado Court of Appeals 2012)
- Speaker, Continuing Legal Education for Adams/Broomfield County Bar Association – regarding Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
- Speaker, Multiple Legal Information Clinics for Boulder County Legal Services
- Dividing Retirement Accounts, Boulder County Bar Association, 2002 – Present
- Colorado Bar Association
- Boulder Bar Association, Past Chair of Family Law Section
- Adams/Broomfield County Bar Association
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Colorado Chapter, Board of Directors, 2009 – 2015
- Boulder Interdisciplinary Council, Past President, 2000 – 2015
- Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts, 2009 – 2015
- Thornton Shoes on Pearl Street in Boulder
- Judge Donald Cordova in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado in Denver, Intern
- Frascona and Joiner, P.C., Law Clerk, 1991 – 1992
- Cooper & Cooper, P.C., Law Clerk, 1992 – 1993
- Bolder Restaurants, Inc., Area Supervisor, 1976 – 1989
- Board of Directors of the Garden Center Association
- Boulder County Legal Services Pro Bono Clinic, 2005 – 2015
Let's Discuss Your Divorce Concerns and Explore Solutions
When you turn to Tanis McGonegal Family Law, P.C., you will speak directly with a knowledgeable family law attorney who understands the emotional and legal complexities of divorce. We offer a 20-minute consultations at no charge to discuss the basic aspects of your case and explain how our legal services can help you.