Overview
Kristin Decker represents property owners, developers, local governments, and special districts in complex land use and real estate matters. With over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Kristin brings a unique perspective to her practice, having served as legal counsel to Adams County, Douglas County, and the City of Westminster.
Kristin’s practice focuses on helping clients navigate local government approval processes, including annexations, rezonings, subdivisions, development agreements, vested property rights, and uses by special review. She regularly assists with the creation, revision, and interpretation of jurisdictional land use regulations, ordinances, and agreements. Her extensive experience in organizing and representing Title 32 special districts, combined with her work advising local governments on service plan approval processes, gives her comprehensive insight into the intersection of land use and public finance.
Beyond land use entitlements, Kristin handles public finance matters, including negotiating tax-sharing agreements and structuring public-private financing mechanisms such as tax increment financing and public improvement fees. Her diplomatic and collaborative approach, combined with her deep knowledge of land use law and strong relationships within local governments, makes her a trusted advisor for clients seeking to advance complex development projects.
Practice Areas
Industries Served
Speaking & Publications
- Speaker, Subdivision Plats, CLE International Land Use Law: How-To Conference (December 2025)
- Speaker, Ethics for the Land Use Professional, CLE International Land Use Law: How-to (Advanced) Conference (December 2024)
- Guest Speaker, Real Estate and Land Use Law, University of Colorado Leeds School of Business (November 2024)
- Speaker, Subdivision Plats: Law and Processes for Approval, CLE International Land Use Law: How-to Conference (November 2016)
- Speaker, Quasi-Judicial Hearings on Land Use Applications: Procedures, Practices and a Few Lessons Learned, CBA/CLE Real Estate Symposium (July 2016)
Awards & Involvement
- Best Lawyers in America: Land Use and Zoning Law (2024-2027)
- Legal 500 – United States – Denver Elite: Real Estate (2026)
- 5280 Magazine Top Lawyer, Government Relations/Contracts/Lobbying (2025)
Jurisdiction
- Colorado Bar Association, Real Estate Section
- Denver Bar Association
- Executive Council of Colorado Bar Association Real Estate Section (2013-2017)
Education
- J.D., Chicago Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, with Honors (1998)
- B.A., Biology and Sociology, Southern Methodist University (1994)