People
Cliff Stricklin guides companies and executives through critical situations where litigation is a possible result. He advises clients in commercial disputes and defends them against government inquiries and private allegations of wrongdoing. He is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and board members. He performs independent investigations on behalf of corporations and boards on subjects that include auditing, accounting, corporate governance and control, sexual harassment, and fraud. Should litigation become necessary, Cliff is an accomplished trial lawyer who has successfully tried and won some of the nation’s largest, most complex cases, including those involving Enron and Qwest.
Cliff aggressively defends corporations and executives in serious matters involving commercial litigation, antitrust, the False Claims Act, securities fraud and regulation (including cryptocurrency issues), industrial accidents, healthcare fraud, and environmental claims. He provides sophisticated advice and counseling in government investigations and parallel civil suits. His industry experience includes healthcare, finance & banking, fintech & cryptocurrency, oil & gas, pipelines, regulated utilities, telecommunications, civil engineering, web-based retail, biotech, medical devices, food production, faith-based organizations, real estate investments, recreation & hospitality, sports & entertainment, higher education, and mining.
His public service positions have included the roles of First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Enron Task Force, and State District Judge in Dallas, Texas.
As a federal prosecutor, Cliff was one of the few attorneys to have won the two highest awards bestowed by the U.S. Department of Justice: the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service for his work as a key member of the Enron Task Force, and the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for his work prosecuting the CEO of Qwest Communications for insider trading.
Cliff’s courtroom experience also extends to the bench. During his distinguished term as a state district judge in which he heard thousands of cases – not a single case was overturned on appeal. Cliff also served as presiding judge in Dallas County, Texas, a position he used to implement a number of measures designed to bring openness and fairness to the justice system. The Dallas Morning News opined, “Mr. Stricklin totes impressive credentials. His work ethic, calm judicial temperament and judgment have earned him the respect of his robed colleagues … Mr. Stricklin has performed admirably on the bench.”
Additionally, Cliff created the White Collar Criminal Law program at the University of Colorado’s School of Law and served there as an adjunct professor for ten years. He is also Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
J.D., Washington and Lee University School of Law
B.A., Baylor University
Colorado
Texas
American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, Rocky Mountain Region White Collar Crime Committee Chair
Colorado Bar Association, Securities Section
The Blue Bench, a Sexual Assault Prevention, Care & Advocacy Organization, Board Member
Urban Peak, a Homeless Youth Prevention & Assistance Organization, Board Member
June 1, 2023
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 186 K&S Lawyers and 84 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
December 16, 2022
Litigators of the Week: Cliff Stricklin is Quoted in The American Lawyer on His Representation of Leprino Foods and Its Majority Shareholders
Represented the former CFO of a technology company in a federal grand jury investigation led by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division into alleged non-solicitation and “no poach” agreements. After a six-month long investigation, the government declined to prosecute and closed the case.
Led the defense of a large food manufacturing company and its majority shareholders against claims of breach of fiduciary duty and oppression brought by the minority shareholders. The plaintiffs' lawsuit sought to dissolve the company and $2 billion in damages. After a two week trial a jury found for the company and the majority shareholders and the plaintiffs took nothing. The jury foreperson was later quoted as saying, "[Stricklin's] closing was amazing. [The defense team] did a great job. To us at least, the closing really pieced together a lot of the evidence we had questions about or thoughts about."
Represented the former CEO of a Fortune 250 healthcare company against first of their kind federal antitrust criminal charges involving "no poach" agreements brought by the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. After a two week trial a jury found the client not guilty of all charges.
See more
June 1, 2023
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 186 K&S Lawyers and 84 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
December 16, 2022
Litigators of the Week: Cliff Stricklin is Quoted in The American Lawyer on His Representation of Leprino Foods and Its Majority Shareholders
Represented the former CFO of a technology company in a federal grand jury investigation led by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division into alleged non-solicitation and “no poach” agreements. After a six-month long investigation, the government declined to prosecute and closed the case.
Led the defense of a large food manufacturing company and its majority shareholders against claims of breach of fiduciary duty and oppression brought by the minority shareholders. The plaintiffs' lawsuit sought to dissolve the company and $2 billion in damages. After a two week trial a jury found for the company and the majority shareholders and the plaintiffs took nothing. The jury foreperson was later quoted as saying, "[Stricklin's] closing was amazing. [The defense team] did a great job. To us at least, the closing really pieced together a lot of the evidence we had questions about or thoughts about."
Represented the former CEO of a Fortune 250 healthcare company against first of their kind federal antitrust criminal charges involving "no poach" agreements brought by the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. After a two week trial a jury found the client not guilty of all charges.
See more
June 1, 2023
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 186 K&S Lawyers and 84 K&S Practice Groups as Leaders in Their Fields
December 16, 2022
Litigators of the Week: Cliff Stricklin is Quoted in The American Lawyer on His Representation of Leprino Foods and Its Majority Shareholders
J.D., Washington and Lee University School of Law
B.A., Baylor University
Colorado
Texas
American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, Rocky Mountain Region White Collar Crime Committee Chair
Colorado Bar Association, Securities Section
The Blue Bench, a Sexual Assault Prevention, Care & Advocacy Organization, Board Member
Urban Peak, a Homeless Youth Prevention & Assistance Organization, Board Member