Diane Wolfson

Managing Partner

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”
- Tim Ferriss

Diane Wolfson is the founder of Sphere Law Firm. She has over 25 years of comprehensive experience in real estate law, business law and litigation.

She began her career in "big law" at Milgrim, Thomajan & Lee, which was a prominent Wall Street firm that is now part of DLA Piper.  After that, she spent two decades managing her own practice in Telluride, Colorado.  Today she is based in Denver.

A natural dealmaker, Diane is renowned for her negotiation skills and her ability to strategically navigate and resolve complex and high-stakes transactions.

Diane is a seasoned real estate attorney whose practice encompasses the full spectrum of both residential and commercial real estate matters, including acquisition, financing, partnerships, zoning and entitlements, development, construction, HOAs, management, leasing, and disposition. 

Diane's passion for real estate is reflected in her legal expertise, and also in her being a real estate investor and having founded both an HOA property management company and lodging company.  This entrepreneurial background gives her a unique, practical perspective on real estate and business deals. She understands not only the legal intricacies, but also the operational and financial challenges that investors and business owners face. 

Additionally, Diane has significant expertise in homeowner associations (HOAs). She has served as counsel to numerous HOA boards and developers, is expert in preparing HOA governing documents, and has reviewed community association documents on behalf of countless buyers, making her a trusted authority in this niche area of real estate law.

In addition to her real estate work, Diane is an accomplished business attorney. She handles a variety of corporate matters, including entity formation, partnership agreements, financing, and mergers and acquisitions. Diane has also served as general counsel to companies, offering expertise in a wide range of commercial contracts such as service agreements, licensing, franchise agreements, employment contracts, NDAs, non-competes, property management, and real estate brokerage agreements. 

Diane is also an accomplished commercial litigator with decades of experience representing clients in complex business disputes. She has a successful track record litigating matters involving breach of contract, collections, computer hacking, construction defects, defamation, easements, embezzlement, evictions, foreclosures, indemnification, injunctions, lease disputes, bankruptcy, and patent infringement.

Beyond her transactional and litigation expertise, Diane is trained in non-violent communication and mediation, enabling her to guide clients through negotiations with empathy and skill.

Outside the office, Diane pursues a balanced lifestyle through yoga, painting, and meditation. She also completed advanced-level comedy improv training and has performed live with an improv team. On beautiful Spring days, you can find Diane on the slopes skiing bumps without poles.


Transactions

  • Buyer's counsel $45 million resort hotel purchase Telluride, CO

  • Buyer's counsel $30 million asset purchase and refinance

  • Real estate counsel to national restaurant franchisee with 200+ locations

  • Counsel to HOAs representing > $100 million collective assets

  • HOA counsel for The Peaks (largest multi-use property in Telluride, CO)

  • Counsel to largest affordable housing developer in Telluride, CO

  • Seller's real estate counsel for $18 million marijuana retail business with > 15 leased locations

  • Counsel to landlord leasing 50,000 sq. ft. build-to-suit industrial

  • Construction and architect contracts for high-end custom homes and multi-use developments

  • Residential home purchases from $250,000 to $10 million+

  • Custom real estate broker office contracts

  • Negotiated Sotheby’s franchise agreement for real estate broker with 5 offices

  • Represented doctor in medical practice business divorce


Litigation

  • Lead associate representing plaintiff in $200 million patent infringement litigation

  • Represented managed computer services provider falsely accused of hacking in $25+ million federal lawsuit; completed discovery then won motion for summary judgment

  • Evicted 4,000 sf restaurant and held UCC sale of personal property

  • Represented brewery in lease termination based on discovery property located in flood plain

  • Helped HOA take possession of condo in HOA lien foreclosure and avoid losses by renting the unit

  • Won bench trial for broker who sought commission based on procuring cause

  • Represented company against group who embezzled over $1.5 million


Publications

CCIOA Amendments to HOA Enforcement - Colorado Law Journal October 2022


Favorite Books

“Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell

“Tools of Titans” by Tim Ferriss

“The Greatest Show On Earth” by Richard Dawkins

“The Checklist Manifesto” by Atul Gawande

“The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz

Practice Areas

Business
Commercial Contracts
Construction
Development
Easements
Entitlements
Homeowner Associations (HOAs)
Leasing
Litigation
Mergers & Acquisitions
Partnerships
Property Management
Real Estate
Service Agreements
Zoning

Industries

Accounting
Construction
Homeowner Association Management
Hospitality
Lodging
Manufacturing
Property Management
Real Estate
Restaurants
Retail and Shopping Centers
Services

Education

New York Law School
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Cum Laude,
Law Review

Ursinus College
Economics and Business (B.A.)

Bar & Court Admissions

Colorado (1996)

New York (inactive)

U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Memberships

Evergreen Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors (2024-2027)

Colorado Women’s Bar Association

Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors (D.M.C.A.R.)

Golden Chamber of Commerce

Longmont Chamber of Commerce

Mountain Metro Association of Realtors (M.M.A.R.)

N.A.I.O.P. - Public Policy Committee

Women Owned Law Firms (W.O.L.F.)

Power Animal

Sponge

Law Articles and News