TEAM YOAST

Mr. Yoast is beyond dedicated and “not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk.” -Director/Professor Steve Zeidman, CUNY  Law, Criminal Defense Clinic 

Mr. Yoast has dedicated his life to advocating for those who are unable to advocate for themselves. Mr. Yoast prides himself on creating long-lasting, meaningful relationships with those he represents and those in the community as a whole. 

Mr. Yoast is a die-hard trial attorney focusing in criminal defense - largely representing indigent client matters. Mr. Yoast has already tried over thirty jury trials and numerous court trials. Mr. Yoast has also been successful in overturning a conviction at the appellate level for a trial he tried. 

Further, Mr. Yoast represents licensed professionals, including attorney and nurses, in ethical dilemmas. Mr. Yoast has had tremendous success in having his client achieve their license or maintain their license after a complaint was filed. 

Before branching out on his own, Mr. Yoast was an Associate Attorney with a private firm working on criminal defense and federal civil rights matters. Mr. Yoast started his career here in Colorado with the Colorado State Public Defender Office as a 2L-certified intern in Arapahoe County and a post-graduate deputy public defender in El Paso County. With the public defender, Mr. Yoast represented hundreds of clients on misdemeanor charges, completed several jury trials, and conducted dozens of motion hearings that focused on constitutional issues.

Mr. Yoast is a graduate of CUNY School of Law and completed four semesters in the number one-ranked criminal defense clinic in the country. While in the clinic, Mr. Yoast represented individuals seeking clemency in New York. Mr. Yoast excelled in courses on race and the law, government misconduct (Sec. 1983), First Amendment, civil disobedience, bail reform, and death penalty.

In addition to his criminal defense clinic, Mr. Yoast also interned with the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia, Trial Division; American Civil Liberties Union, Campaign for Smart Justice; Brooklyn Defender Services, Mental Health Unit; The Legal Aid Society of NYC, Juvenile Rights Practice, Special Litigation and Law Reform Unit.

Before attending law school, Mr. Yoast received a Master of Science in Ethics and Public Policy: Ethics and Policy of Race Relations where he graduated with a 3.97GPA and was the sole recipient of the department’s Academic Excellence Award. As part of the graduate program, Mr. Yoast also completed a legal internship with the Massachusetts Commission of Discrimination.

In his free time, Mr. Yoast enjoys hanging out with his golden-doodle and YOAST Law mascot Bo-dacious, playing disc golf, rockhounding and fossil finding, creating art, and tending to his jungle of house plants.

Mr. Patel joins us with a vast business development experience through the process of starting, building, and managing multiple businesses over the last 15 years. He often found himself working with attorneys and law firms on a wide variety of business-related issues spawning his desire to now focus on his legal career in order to help those who need zealous, dedicated advocacy.

As a graduate of Nova Southeastern University College of Law, Mr. Patel adds tremendous value to the firm and our clients by expanding our outreach, delivering in-depth legal analysis, and focusing on comprehensive case management. All these areas will assist the firm grow our already stellar trial reputation leading to more successful outcomes for clients across the state of Colorado.