John C. Clune
Practice Areas
Experience
John Clune is a nationally recognized litigator with a distinctive practice at the intersection of sports law, Title IX, and advocacy for survivors of sexual abuse and harassment. For nearly 25 years, he has represented clients in high-stakes litigation, administrative proceedings, and crisis-driven disputes involving athletes, politicians, educational institutions, governing bodies, and survivors of abuse.
As Chair of Hutchinson Black and Cook’s Sports Law Group, John represents athletes, coaches, and others in complex sports-related matters, including eligibility disputes, Title IX athletics issues, athlete safety matters, disciplinary proceedings, governance disputes, and high-profile litigation involving sports organizations and institutions. His practice reflects a deep understanding of the unique legal, reputational, and competitive pressures that arise in sport.
John is also widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading attorneys for survivors of sexual abuse and harassment. He has successfully litigated landmark cases against powerful institutions and individuals, often in matters involving significant media scrutiny, helping clients hold influential defendants accountable while protecting privacy and dignity throughout the process.
A frequent speaker on sports law, Title IX, media, and crisis management in high-profile cases, John is known for navigating legally and publicly complex matters where litigation, institutional accountability, and reputation intersect.
Before joining HBC, John co-founded and served as the first Legal Director of the Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, a pro bono nonprofit dedicated to enforcing crime victims’ rights. That work built on a distinguished career as a criminal prosecutor, including service as Chief Deputy District Attorney for Colorado’s Fifth Judicial District.
Representative Matters
John has built a national practice representing individuals in high-impact litigation involving college athletics, Title IX, sexual misconduct, institutional accountability, and civil rights. He has litigated against universities, athletic organizations, school districts, billionaire entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, nationally recognized business leaders, professional athletes, public officials, and other powerful institutions in matters that have shaped the law, prompted institutional reform, and received extensive national media attention. Representative matters include:
Lead appellate counsel representing objectors in the landmark House v. NCAA settlement appeal, challenging the allocation of billions of dollars in damages and advocating that the settlement comply with Title IX. The appeal presents significant questions regarding the future economics and legal framework of college athletics.
Counsel in nationally significant Title IX class actions against Stephen F. Austin State University and Concordia University Irvine, challenging the elimination of women’s athletic opportunities and obtaining significant rulings enforcing Title IX’s participation requirements.
Represented students in precedent-setting Title IX matters involving institutions including Baylor University, Florida State University, the University of Oregon, the University of Wisconsin, and Stanford University, addressing issues of gender equity, retaliation, sexual misconduct, and participation in intercollegiate athletics.
Represented survivors in high-profile sexual assault and sexual misconduct litigation involving public figures, professional athletes, business leaders, and political figures, including matters involving Kobe Bryant, Jameis Winston, the Supreme Court confirmation proceedings of Brett Kavanaugh, and the nomination of Representative Matt Gaetz for United States Attorney General.
Lead counsel for multiple survivors in litigation against Harvey Weinstein, one of the most consequential sexual abuse cases in modern history.
Obtained significant injunctive and other relief in complex civil rights and institutional accountability litigation involving novel legal issues, emergency proceedings, and matters attracting national media attention.
Regularly advises attorneys, educational institutions, athletes, and organizations on Title IX, sports law, and sexual misconduct matters and is frequently retained to handle high-profile, legally significant disputes
In the Media
“Clune and his coworkers at Boulder law firm Hutchinson, Black and Cook are widely recognized as some of the best attorneys for cases involving sexual assault and Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex at colleges and universities.”
“Clune is a very skilled attorney at using civil actions to hold institutions responsible for employing or supervising persons who are accused of sexual assault. His threat to sue [the school] should thus be taken at face value: he is not bluffing.”
“Clune’s résumé makes him uniquely qualified for the task. In legal battles with superstars such as Kobe Bryant and powerful collegiate institutions, the attorney has zealously protected his clients and fought for their cause.”
Education
Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., 1996
University of Iowa, BA, 1992
Memberships / Awards
Recipient, 2019 Frank Carrington Champion of Civil Justice Award, National Crime Victim Bar Association
Association of Title IX Administrators, Advisory Board Member
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, Advisory Board Member
National Crime Victim Bar Association
Bar Admissions/ Clerkships
Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Admitted to the US Courts of Appeals for the Second, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits.
U.S. Supreme Court
In the Media
