Ciancio Ciancio Brown: Family in All Forms

More than half of Ciancio Ciancio Brown's attorneys are graduates of the Sturm College of Law. Back row (l-r): Lindsey Hanselman, BA'19, JD'22, Gene Ciancio, JD'72, Loren Brown, JD'03, Niceta Bradburn, JD'08, and Marc Kaplan, JD'83. Front row (l-r) H. Paul Himes, BA'72, JD'77, Monica Huber, JD'25, Alexandra Goldstein, JD'21, Cynthia Ciancio, JD'95, Banafsheh Lari, JD'15, and David Turner, JD'04.

If you ask Gene Ciancio, JD’72, about his eponymous law firm, you might hear about his parents’ legacy in Adams County or the umpteen cousins who first gave him business. You’ll undoubtedly hear about his daughter, Cynthia Ciancio, JD’95, and Loren Brown, JD’03, whom he refers to as a surrogate son, and who joins Gene and Cynthia as Founding Shareholder.

He might also tell you about the Sturm College of Law—perhaps his mentorship from longtime professor Howard Rosenberg or his connection to Dean Emeritus Dan Hoffman. He’ll likely mention how the law school’s emphasis on practical training prepared him for practice.

No matter how Gene Ciancio answers, you will realize that Ciancio Ciancio Brown (CCB) is about family in all its forms. From connections among peers to care with clients, family is at the core of his firm and his legacy.
 

Ready from Day One

It all started when Gene Ciancio disregarded convention and hung his own shingle straight out of law school. Five decades and several iterations later, CCB currently has 23 attorneys, more than half of whom are graduates of the Sturm College of Law.

Why has the firm been so drawn to Denver Law alumni? Brown sums it up in the words of his law school tour guide: “If you come out of DU, you’re going to be game ready.” These words, uttered more than 25 years ago, remain true to this day.

“There is a difference between the academic way of learning law and the practical way of learning law,” says Gene Ciancio. “I’m always going to go for the practical.” This is evident in the attorneys who have joined his firm.

Cynthia Ciancio, for example, approached law school ready to practice and meaningfully contribute to society. “I knew I wanted to get through school and get on with practicing,” she says. “I finished my degree in 2.5 years.”

Brown had a similar focus: “I always knew I wanted to be a trial attorney.” He took every form of trial practice, served on the Moot Court Board, and competed on the law school’s first national champion trial team.

Even the firm’s more recent additions maximized experiential learning at the Sturm College of Law. Banafsheh Lari, JD’15, interned for a judge whose docket solidified her interest in family law, and Monica Huber, JD’25, began her career at CCB as a student extern.

“I’m forever grateful for the support the firm gave me in law school and the support they gave me during bar prep,” says Huber. Now an associate, she joins a lineage of CCB attorneys who have spent the majority of their careers at the firm, which focuses on family law, wrongful death and personal injury, civil litigation, criminal defense, and liquor licensing.

“It’s a real mail room to board room story,” says Brown of his own journey from intern to founding and managing shareholder. “I met Cyndy the summer before law school,” he recalls, “working as an assistant for my mother, whose office was below Cyndy’s.” After his 1L year, Brown asked for a job, and the rest is history: “Cyndy and I worked closely, and Gene and I clicked right away.”

“It’s amazing,” says Cynthia Ciancio, “the connections that we all have.”

Even those who have lateraled to CCB have found longevity and a sense of belonging. Lari has been with the firm for eight years and recently made partner. “I feel invested in the firm,” she says, “and I want to see it grow.” To her, the firm’s sense of family is important: “Maybe that comes from Cyndy and Gene, but also Loren being here for his entire career.”

As Brown says: “It was—” and continues to be “—a close-knit, family feel.”

Leading with Compassion

CCB extends this notion of family to their clients and the greater legal community, leading with compassion and upholding the highest standards of excellence.

These values are of utmost importance to Cynthia Ciancio, who has built a robust family law division at the firm. “Family law was the one area where I actually had an impact,” she says of her early years at CCB. “Where my influence, my work, made a difference in the client’s life.”

Lari, who also practices in the Family Law Division, guides her work by asking: “Are we supporting our clients? Did we advocate for you? Did we leave you in a better place than when you came to us initially?”

“We also have a reputation,” Lari adds, “of being ethical, efficient, and no-nonsense.”  This reputation extends beyond client work and into the firm’s engagement with the broader legal community. It’s a reputation that’s tied to the firm’s values—and one that is grounded in heart.

“I’ve mentored some of the best family law attorneys in town,” says Cynthia Ciancio. “Most have taken leadership positions in the Family Law Section of the [Colorado Bar Association (CBA)]. The people who have been chairs—those are my former associates. It’s rewarding to look at that group and know that I mentored them.”

It’s not just Cynthia Ciancio who leads with heart. “I was one of the youngest presidents of the Colorado Bar Association,” says Brown. “My passion was DEI involvement. I formed the President’s Diversity Council and strengthened ties with the affinity bars and the CBA. Of all the things I worked on, that really stands out.”

“Loren becoming president of the CBA at such a young age was a big deal,” says Cynthia Ciancio. She adds: “The fact that so many of us have held leadership positions in different bars and organizations outside the firm is particularly meaningful. Time in the community is what sets us apart.”

At the end of the day, “it’s a really good group of people,” says Lari. “We’re all very supportive of each other and the community. We celebrate each other’s success and support each other through challenges. We’re invested in each other and our growth.”
 

Enduring Values

Investing in people—their skills, their representation, and their communities—is key to success. Gene Ciancio would certainly agree.

In fact, when you ask him about CCB, you’ll hear that he no longer sees himself as the first “Ciancio” in Ciancio Ciancio Brown. “That’s Cynthia,” is what he’ll tell you.

And when you ask him what he’s most proud of? “The two people right here,” he says, pointing at the firm’s sign, “Cynthia and Loren.”

Ultimately, CCB is much more than just one person—or even three. It is family, in all senses of the word. “Compassion, excellence, and community. These are our values,” says Brown. “We believe in doing the right thing. For ourselves, for each other, and for every client who walks through the door.”

Gene Ciancio wouldn’t have it any other way.