J. David Hopkins, JD LLM

J. David Hopkins brings a rare combination of legal credentials to property tax work in Colorado Springs. He holds both a JD and an LLM in taxation, which means he's not just familiar with tax law, he's specialized in it at a graduate level. That depth shows in how he handles complex assessment disputes and valuation challenges that general practitioners tend to avoid. He's built a reputation locally for being thorough, direct, and genuinely invested in getting clients real reductions rather than just filing paperwork. Hopkins works primarily with commercial and residential property owners who feel their assessed value doesn't reflect market reality. Colorado's assessment cycle creates tight windows for appeals, and having an attorney who understands both the procedural requirements and the underlying tax law is a real advantage. His clients range from individual homeowners contesting a sudden spike in their assessment to business owners managing multi-property portfolios across El Paso County.

Hopkins offers a focused set of services built around one core goal: reducing your property tax burden through proper legal channels. His work starts with a thorough review of your current assessment notice and a comparison against comparable sales data and recent appraisals in your area. If there's a viable case for reduction, he'll build it and take it through the formal protest process. On the residential side, he handles everything from initial Assessor-level protests through Board of Assessment Appeals hearings. For commercial clients, the stakes are often higher and the valuation methods more complex, and he's comfortable working with income approach and cost approach analyses that county assessors rely on. He also does consulting work for property owners who want a second opinion before buying or before a lease renewal where taxes are a pass-through expense. That kind of proactive work can save clients significant money before problems show up on a tax bill. Additionally, Hopkins assists with abatement petitions when errors in prior years' assessments are discovered, which is a process many property owners don't know exists. He handles the documentation and filing requirements so clients aren't navigating county procedures on their own.

The process starts with a free initial review of your assessment notice. Hopkins looks at the property type, the assessed value, and pulls comparable sales or income data to get a quick read on whether there's a credible case for reduction. He'll tell you honestly if the numbers don't support an appeal rather than take your money on a long shot. If there's a viable path forward, he files the formal protest with the El Paso County Assessor's office before the statutory deadline, typically in late May. The Assessor's office then schedules an informal hearing where Hopkins presents the evidence. Many cases get resolved at this stage. If the Assessor doesn't offer an acceptable reduction, he can escalate to a formal hearing before the Board of Assessment Appeals. That's a more structured proceeding where his legal training is particularly useful. Throughout the process, he keeps clients updated so they're never wondering what's happening with their case. The whole cycle from initial filing to final decision typically runs several months, depending on the volume of protests the county is managing that year.

Hopkins serves property owners throughout El Paso County, with a primary focus on Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Monument, and Black Forest. He also takes cases in neighboring Teller County for clients with properties near Woodland Park. Commercial clients from the Denver metro area sometimes retain him for Colorado Springs-area properties when their primary counsel isn't licensed in Colorado. He's familiar with valuation patterns specific to each submarket in the Pikes Peak region.