Best Lawyers in Colorado, United States for Litigation - Labor and Employment
Practice Area Overview
Colorado employers face a growing maze of workplace regulations, employee complaints and litigation risks. From wage-and-hour disputes to EEOC charges, the stakes in employment law cases are high and they can escalate quickly. That’s where experienced employment litigation attorneys come in.
Litigation – Labor and Employment is the practice area focused on defending businesses, management and corporate clients in employment-related legal disputes. Attorneys in this field protect employers when workplace issues lead to lawsuits, government investigations or reputational damage.
In Colorado, employers in cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins and Aurora increasingly turn to trusted employment defense counsel to help navigate and resolve these high-risk challenges.
What Employment Litigation Attorneys Do for Employers
Employment litigation attorneys help companies avoid, manage and fight back against legal threats in the workplace. They play a critical role in protecting the interests of employers when accusations arise or when compliance with fast-evolving regulations is on the line.
These lawyers defend companies in a wide range of disputes, including:
- Wrongful termination claims: Allegations that an employee was fired in violation of law or public policy
- Wage and hour class actions: Large-scale claims related to unpaid overtime, breaks or misclassification of workers
- EEOC charges: Investigations stemming from alleged discrimination or retaliation
- Harassment and hostile work environment lawsuits: Legal actions based on toxic or discriminatory workplace conditions
- Whistleblower retaliation: Claims by employees who allege they were punished for reporting illegal conduct
- Contract or severance disputes: Litigation involving executive compensation, restrictive covenants or exit packages
A seasoned employment litigation attorney doesn’t just respond to lawsuits. They help shape strategy from the outset, analyzing legal exposure, advising on settlement options and representing the business in negotiations, hearings and trials when necessary.
Common Reasons Colorado Employers Need Legal Defense
Employment-related litigation can stem from a single incident or pattern of alleged misconduct. In Colorado, employers commonly engage employment defense attorneys when:
- A former employee files a lawsuit, often citing discrimination, retaliation or wrongful termination
- The Department of Labor or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opens an investigation
- A claim is made involving race, gender, disability or other protected class discrimination
- A collective action is filed under the Colorado Wage Act or federal FLSA
- Disputes emerge around executive compensation, severance or noncompete agreements
Colorado follows the at-will employment doctrine, which allows employers to terminate employees for any legal reason. But misconceptions abound. At-will employment doesn’t shield businesses from litigation and terminations can trigger lawsuits if not properly documented or if perceived as discriminatory.
For employers with operations across Colorado—from Denver tech startups to Fort Collins manufacturers—early legal guidance can help reduce risk, contain costs and protect brand reputation.
Colorado-Specific Considerations for Employers
While federal laws set the foundation, Colorado has enacted its own statutes and regulations that often go further in protecting employees and exposing employers to liability.
Key legal considerations in the state include:
- Paid sick leave: Under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, most Colorado workers are entitled to paid leave
- Wage transparency and equal pay: The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires employers to post salary ranges in job ads and prohibits gender-based wage disparities
- Remote work compliance: With remote work more common, employers must adapt policies to ensure compliance with Colorado wage laws
- Cannabis use and workplace policies: Although recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, employers must carefully navigate drug policies and related discipline
Misclassification of workers—such as labeling employees as independent contractors—remains a frequent source of litigation and penalties. Employers also face risk when they fail to maintain clear documentation around performance issues or disciplinary actions.
Colorado’s regulatory environment is among the most employee-friendly in the nation. Employers who operate without proactive legal support may unknowingly violate these rules, increasing their exposure to costly disputes.
What to Look for in a Litigation Employment Attorney
Choosing the right employment defense lawyer in Colorado can make the difference between a resolved dispute and an expensive, drawn-out case. Key traits to seek out include:
- Trial and class action experience: Proven ability to handle complex litigation in both state and federal court
- Colorado-specific knowledge: Deep understanding of the state’s labor statutes, agency practices and court trends
- Employer-side focus: A consistent history of representing employers, not plaintiffs
- Industry fluency: Familiarity with the regulatory landscape in fields like health care, hospitality, education, tech and construction
- Strategic guidance: Not just reactive defense, but proactive advice on risk management and dispute prevention
The Best Lawyers directory allows businesses to vet attorneys based on peer feedback and professional results. Listings highlight those with strong reputations for defending employers and managing sensitive employment disputes with discretion and effectiveness.
Using This Page to Find the Right Employment Defense Attorney
Whether your business is based in Boulder or operates across multiple Colorado cities, you can use the Best Lawyers directory to find qualified labor and employment litigation counsel. Scroll through the list of peer-reviewed employment attorneys below, filtering by city as needed. These professionals are recognized for their experience in defending employers and corporate clients in labor and employment matters.
When workplace issues arise, don’t wait until a lawsuit is filed. Employment law challenges can escalate fast and Colorado’s legal framework often favors well-prepared plaintiffs. Working with an experienced employment litigation attorney early in the process can help you assess risk, prepare defenses and maintain control of the situation.
Employment Law Legal Guide 2025
View Legal GuideSelect a city from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Cities
Naomi G. Beer is an experienced litigator who focuses her practice on complex commercial, employment and class action litigation, as well as multi district litigation (MDL) proceedings. Naomi works with clients involved in the retail, energy and manufacturing industries, and has represented clients in numerous state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the United States. Naomi also has experience in the coordination and management of complex litigation for clients faced with rela...
Jocelyn has extensive experience representing companies and individuals with their immigration and global mobility needs. Her practice focuses on providing efficient and effective immigration and global mobility solutions to companies throughout the United States. She represents a broad variety of companies and individuals with all types of business-related nonimmigrant petitions (especially H, L, E, O, P and TN petitions), applications for labor certification, employment-based immigrant peti...
Melissa Cizmorris focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling. Melissa has litigated in state and federal courts throughout Colorado, Kansas, New York, and New Jersey and represents employers in a variety of labor and employment matters involving Title VII discrimination and harassment claims, FLSA and other wage actions, claims brought under the ADA and FMLA, and non-compete and trade secret enforcement. Melissa also advises human capital and human resources outsourcing comp...
Brian L. Duffy is a president of the firm and previously served as Chair of the firm’s 600-member Global Litigation Department from 2009-2013. He focuses his practice on trial and appellate work in the class action, employment, energy, commercial contract and product liability areas, serving as national, regional and local counsel in high-profile cases. Brian represents public and privately-held entities and their principals in complex business-related disputes arising from both interna...
Chanda’s practice focuses on employment, insurance coverage, professional liability, and commercial litigation. Chanda worked in both private law firms and in-house for an insurance carrier. Chanda brings litigation and appellate experience in defending clients in a wide variety of areas, including employment, insurance coverage, class actions, professional liability, civil rights and commercial disputes. Chanda provides a full spectrum of employment-related services, including employer...
Todd Fredrickson is managing partner of the Denver office. He also serves as Chair of the firm's Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee. Todd tries employment cases before juries, judges, and arbitrators. His practice involves representing employers in various matters arising under such laws as Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA). H...
Liz provides counsel to individuals and companies of all sizes, from family-run businesses to multinational corporations. She regularly advises CBD, construction, and technology companies as well as individuals and companies in a wide range of other industries. She has served as counsel in bench and jury trials in Colorado and New York, arbitrations and administrative hearings. Liz has extensive experience assisting clients in disputes concerning contract-based issues, securities, fraud and o...
William “Bill” is the founding member of Kelly Law Partners, LLC whose commercial and employment litigation practice focuses on national and regional litigation for business clients. In response to a survey of Fortune 500 General Counsel, Bill has been named a “BTI Client Services All Star” for 4 consecutive years. He is also the sole Colorado recipient of the “Lexology Client Choice Award in Litigation” for 2017, a national survey of in-house counsel. Bill...
Christine (Chris) Lamb's practice focuses on counseling companies and executives on human resources and personnel issues and defending companies in employment lawsuits. Chris has over 25 years’ experience representing a wide variety of companies ranging from start-up businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Before founding Fortis Law Partners, Chris practiced employment law at Jenner & Block in Chicago and Davis, Graham & Stubbs in Denver. Chris frequently appears before state and f...
Ryan Lessmann is the office managing principal of the Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah offices and is a client solutions leader of Jackson Lewis P.C. He practices primarily in the area of employment litigation, including representing employers against claims alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination, matters involving trade secret protection, restrictive covenants and unfair competition, and various contract issues. Ryan also counsels and defends employers in wa...
Amy L. Miletich has over twenty years' experience in litigation and in counseling clients. Focused on employment and insurance law, Ms. Miletich enjoys an active and varied practice serving a range of clients. Ms. Miletich has extensive experience with employment law matters. She has represented domestic and international private employers, public employers, and academic institutions in the defense of claims alleging violations of federal and state employment laws, including cases alleging se...
About Dipak Dipak P. Patel is a Partner and member of the Civil and Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, and Family Law teams. He is experienced in providing business entity and individual clients with practical advice regarding all aspects of the employment relationship and has worked for over a decade as counsel to both startups and established businesses, and as a litigator. He regularly represents companies and owners in both agency and court proceedings, in addition to representing ind...
David D. Powell, Jr. is a partner in the firm’s Denver office, focusing his practice on employment and commercial litigation. Before co-founding the firm with his colleagues in 2023, David served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, managing the eight separate legal units comprising the State Services Section. In this role, he oversaw those responsible for representing the state’s key elected officials and providing legal services in the ar...
Sue Schaecher's practice has been dedicated to representing employers in labor and employment-related matters since 1984. She represents employers in bench and jury trials and appeals in state and federal courts, arbitrations, mediations, proceedings before state and federal administrative agencies, and government audits. She also advises employers involved in investigations, drafting policies and negotiating agreements. Sue provides advice and counsel to employers of all sizes from a variety...
Bradley N. Shefrin is a Partner in our Denver office and is a seasoned trial attorney with over three decades of legal experience. He concentrates his practice on construction and general liability litigation defense and works closely alongside companies of all sizes to protect their interests and support the growth of their businesses. Brad specializes in insurance litigation defense for builders, general contractors, engineers, construction trade companies, design professionals, manufacture...
Larry is a Partner in our Denver office with over 45 years of legal experience, and he specializes in commercial, business, employment, and civil rights litigation. Larry represents businesses of all sizes, employers, insurance carriers, financial institutions, and health care professionals in both state and federal court in a wide variety of cases including class actions involving commercial disputes, employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, wage and hour violations, civil...
Danielle Urban is a partner in the firm's Denver office. She has a national practice representing a wide range of employers. Her practice involves representation of employers in wrongful termination, employment discrimination and harassment, Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), False Claims Act, international employment issues, covenants not to compete, employee defection and trade secrets c...
Kristin R.B. White is a partner in the firm's Denver office. Kristin regularly counsels and defends clients in regulatory workplace safety matters, and often acts as crisis management counsel for employers across all industries. She acts as a strong advocate for her clients before government agencies and administrative boards, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), and various state Occupational Safe...
Holding corporations, healthcare facilities, and the government responsible for illegal conduct that violates the social contract that we all rely on – this is what Clay Wire strives to do with every client he represents. Clay is an advocate for those who engage in the selfless and difficult act of whistleblowing, and those who want to see fraudsters held accountable. The core of Clay’s practice is representing whistleblowers when they suffer retaliation or when they choose to rep...
Nick Erickson focuses his practice on commercial and corporate litigation, with an emphasis on the cannabis and brewing industries, including actions for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, corporate dissolution disputes, lease disputes, and non-compete agreements. Nick’s experience includes litigating cases in state and federal court, private arbitration, and appeals. Prior to joining Akerman, Nick worked at a midsize firm in Boulder, Colorado, where his practice cente...
David helps employers of all sizes from across a range of industries with many aspects of employment law. He litigates discrimination, retaliation, unfair competition, and workplace-based tort claims; protects trade secrets and enforces covenants not to compete; and advises and counsels his clients on compliance and preventative solutions. David recognizes that the best legal representation occurs when an attorney understands a client’s objectives. Accordingly, David collaborates with e...
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