Sarah French
Ms. French is an attorney at HKM’s Denver office. She earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law and started her career as a law clerk to a trial court judge in Anchorage, Alaska. After concluding her clerkship in Alaska, Ms. French spent two years as a law clerk to […]
Hayden DePorter
Hayden DePorter is an attorney at HKM’s Denver office. They earned their law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law with a certificate in Workplace Law. After law school, Hayden spent three years at the Colorado Court of Appeals as an appellate law clerk where they drafted over fifty opinions. In 2023, […]
Elizabeth Marasco
Elizabeth Marasco is an attorney in the Denver office. After a career in political campaigns and advocacy, Ms. Marasco attended law school at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. While in law school, Ms. Marasco worked full-time in plaintiff-side employment as a law clerk. She was admitted to the Colorado bar in 2024. […]
Andrew Quisenberry
Andrew (Drew) Quisenberry’s passion for the law started in his formative years. A sense of advocacy developed through his father, who was a conservationist that successfully inspired a community to protect one of the largest preservation areas in the Southeastern U.S. The elder Quisenberry lobbied on behalf of the state of Mississippi in 1974 to […]
Abby Zinman
Ms. Zinman is an attorney at HKM’s Denver office. She was drawn to practice law by the desire to help people and to give a voice to those who often don’t have access to justice. She earned her law degree from the University of Colorado and started her legal career at the Denver Public Defender’s […]
Jacqueline Guesno
Ms. Guesno is of counsel at HKM’s Denver office. In 2003 she began her career as a Public Defender and tried more than seventy criminal cases. In 2012, Ms. Guesno left the Public Defender’s office and began defending a fortune 500 company across the country in employment litigation cases. From 2012 to 2018, she first […]
Cynthia Sánchez
Cynthia Sánchez is an attorney at the Denver office. Originally from Manson, Washington, she obtained her B.A. from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. After college, she worked as an immigration paralegal for six years in Seattle and in 2017, she relocated to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado Law School. Ms. Sánchez […]
Adam Harrison
Adam is a Partner in HKM’s Denver office. He received his bachelors from Cornell University and his law degree from the William and Mary School of Law. Over the past 14 years, he has represented thousands of workers in litigation, arbitration, mediation, administrative proceedings, grievances, and severance negotiations. Adam specializes in wage and hour class […]
Denver Coronavirus FAQs
HKM is no longer taking specific inquiries or addressing specific questions as it relates to employees and the coronavirus pandemic. That being said, we intend to periodically update our main coronavirus site, https://hkm.com/coronavirus/, which contains a FAQ, recordings and transcripts of prior roundtables, and other resources helpful to employees. We feel that focusing on the […]
Denver Attorneys
From our combined experience, we’ve seen employees encounter several workplace issues – from wrongful termination to retaliation for reporting employer misconduct. The HKM Employment Attorneys in Denver, Colorado, stand with these workers who have been treated unfairly. We make their voices heard and their legal rights protected. If your employer has failed to provide fair […]
Shelby Woods
Ms. Woods is a partner at HKM’s Denver office. She has been named a “Top Rated Civil Litigation Attorney in Denver, Colorado” by Super Lawyers Magazine and selected as a “Rising Star” (a distinction given to no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state) by Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2018. Ms. […]
Claire Hunter
Ms. Hunter is the Managing Partner of HKM’s Denver office. She has handled complex litigation throughout the country and focuses on employment, tort, and contract related disputes. Her work has been recognized in the legal community, earning her the distinction of Rising Star from Super Lawyers magazine as well as opportunities to teach Continuing Legal […]
Commission Disputes
Disputes Between Employers and Employers Regarding Commissions Commission-based compensation is a common payment structure in many sales-based positions. They operate by paying an employee a percentage or set fee for every sale made, and the main idea behind paying an employee on commission is that it incentivizes an employee to produce more profit for the […]
Separation Agreements Denver
The Purpose of a Separation Agreement Separation agreements are contractual agreements between employers and employees that are used to set the terms on which an employee will leave a position upon termination. These agreements can be useful to employees, and can operate to temporarily provide for the financial needs of an employee and to limit […]
Ethics Investigation Denver
Employer Misconduct in Colorado Employer misconduct is an unfortunate reality that many employees will have to face. When you have been discriminated against, retaliated against, harassed, or otherwise mistreated, it is up to your attorney to prove that these actions occurred. It can be difficult, however, to prove employer wrongdoing without the proper evidence. The […]
Wrongful Termination – Violation of Public Policy Denver
If you have been wrongfully terminated by your employer, you may have recourse under Colorado law. It is illegal in Colorado for an employer to fire a worker for a reason that is against public policy. Employees who have been terminated against public policy have the right to bring a lawsuit and seek job reinstatement, […]
Wrongful Termination – Retaliation Denver
Retaliation is an illegal employment practice that has become increasingly common during the last fifteen years. According to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, charges of retaliation have outpaced all other types of discrimination, such as race and gender discrimination. What is Retaliation? Retaliation occurs when an employer takes an adverse action against an employee […]
Wrongful Termination – Discrimination Denver
Many victims of discrimination who are brave enough to take action, whether that action is complaining informally to their employer or filing a formal complaint or lawsuit, also become victims of retaliation. In fact, retaliation was the most common charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2013. Retaliation can include: Wrongful termination, such as […]
Wrongful Termination Denver
Colorado, like almost every state, is an at-will employment state. However, every at-will state has numerous exceptions to the at-will rule, and when an employee is fired for one of these exceptions, his or her discharge could constitute wrongful termination. In basic terms, wrongful termination occurs when an employee is fired for reasons that go […]
Severance Denver
The termination of an employment relationship can cause significant legal issues, and can be an extremely stressful experience. Former employees may suddenly be without a source of income and may not be able to find new employment for some time. Sometimes, employers offer departing employees a severance package as a temporary way to meet a […]
Employment Contracts Denver
Contracts serve as the basis for every employment relationship. Employment contracts can be created by a written document, by oral statements, or implied by the conduct of the employer and employee. Ideally, every employment relationship would be accompanied by a clear writing specifying all of the terms of employment such as the length, wages, benefits, […]
Employment Contract Review Denver
Although not all employees will have a written employment contract, these written agreements do have many advantages. A written employment contract can help to ensure that the employer and the employee have a common understanding of important aspects of the employment relationship, such as: How long the job will last; What the compensation will be; […]
Severance Review
Being laid off or losing your job is hard to deal with. You may feel frustrated, angry, depressed, or frightened at the prospect of having to search for a new job or change careers. In the midst of all this, your former employer may offer you a severance package. A severance package can consist of […]
Non-Compete Review Denver
Non-compete agreements, also called covenants not to compete, exist to help protect one or both parties to a contract from being forced to compete with the other. These agreements often arise in the employment context. The most common scenario is when an employer asks an employee to sign a non-compete agreement that would prevent the […]
Employee Counseling Denver
Resolving Workplace Issues in Colorado There is a wide variety of laws that apply to the relationship between employers and employees. These laws exist on both the state and federal level, and include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), […]
Breach of Contract Denver
Every employer-employee relationship is based on a contract, whether that contract is written down, verbal, or implied through the actions of the parties. When an employer fails to hold up their end of the bargain and breaches the contract, an employee may be able to bring a contracts lawsuit and recover damages for lost pay, […]
Disability and Reasonable Accommodations Denver
Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), commonly called the ADA, is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA is divided into five different sections, called Titles: Title I – protects workers with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace; Title II – prohibits disability […]
Whistleblower Claims Denver
Employees in Colorado are protected from workplace retaliation when they engage in behavior that is protected for public policy reasons. Federal and state laws exist to protect these employees who are courageous enough to report wrongdoing in the workplace. These employees are often referred to as whistleblowers, and cannot be terminated or otherwise punished by […]
Retaliation for whistleblower claim Denver
If you informed the authorities that your employer was engaging in an illicit or illegal activity, you have certain rights and protections. Although it is not uncommon for employers to attempt to retaliate against whistleblowers, whistleblower retaliation is an illegal employment practice in Colorado. Persons who have been retaliated against may be able to file […]
Retaliation for union activity Denver
Although union activity is not as prevalent in Colorado as it is in many other states, it is still important for workers to understand the protections that the law offers for retaliation. In Colorado, it is illegal for an employer to fire an employee solely because that employee has engaged in union-related activity. An employee […]
Retaliation for filing workers comp. claim
Being injured on the job or developing a work-related illness is bad enough. No employee should also have to suffer from employer retaliation just because they filed a workers’ compensation claim. However, it is not uncommon for employees who have exercised their rights under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act (Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 8-40 […]
Retaliation for complaining about discrimination Denver
Retaliation occurs when an employer takes an adverse employment action or otherwise discriminates against an employee who has complained about discrimination. Over the last decade, the number of reported incidents of retaliation has risen dramatically, outpacing every other type of discrimination claim. In order for there to be retaliation, three elements must be satisfied: There must […]
Retaliation Denver
If you have experienced retaliation in the workplace, an experienced Colorado employment attorney may be able to help. Both federal and Colorado state law prohibit retaliation, and an attorney may be able to help you get back your job, recoup lost pay, recover damages for emotional stress, or even receive punitive damages. Retaliation is prohibited […]
Family Medical Leave Act Denver
Family Medical Leave Act in Colorado The FMLA, or Family Medical Leave Act, is a federal law that requires employers to provide unpaid leave to employees for certain medical reasons or issues having to do with military deployment. In addition to the FMLA, Colorado also requires that employers provide employees leave, and the law that […]
Failure to pay wages
There are significant legal protections for workers in Colorado who are owed money by an employer or former employer, or who have been denied overtime pay or other benefits. Depending on the type of employer-employee relationship, a worker may be able to file a lawsuit to recover wages under contract law, federal law, or the […]
Failure to pay overtime
Colorado State and Federal Laws Regarding Overtime An extremely common area of dispute between employers and employees is disagreement with overtime hours and overtime compensation. Both state and federal law entitle certain employees to overtime pay, and employees rightfully expect to be compensated in compliance with the law. On the other hand, employers need to […]
Wage and Overtime Denver
Employers in Colorado are required to follow both the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the state Colorado Wage Act. These laws govern such things as the required minimum hourly wage, the required overtime wage, the duration of pay periods, appropriate payroll deductions, required pay statement information, payment of final wages, and much more. […]
Hostile Work Environment Denver
Workplace discrimination and harassment present an ongoing problem in many workplaces in the United States. Both Colorado state and United States federal law prohibit workplace harassment, which becomes unlawful when enduring the conduct becomes a condition of continued employment, or when the conduct results in a hostile work environment. A hostile work environment exists when […]
Sexual Harassment Denver
Sexual harassment is a type of sex discrimination that occurs when unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other workplace conduct creates a hostile or intimidating work environment. Members of both sexes, men and women, can be victims of sexual harassment. Steps to Document Sexual Harassment Video Like other types of sex discrimination, sexual […]
Non-Solicitation of Employees Denver
It is common for an employment agreement to include a clause prohibiting the solicitation of employees. Generally, an employee non-solicitation agreement prohibits one party, usually an employee, from attempting to solicit, hire, or divert other employees of a business. However, an employee non-solicitation agreement can also be between two businesses. A common scenario is when […]
Non-Solicitation of Clients Denver
An agreement not to solicit clients or customers is one type of non-compete agreement in Colorado. Although the details of each agreement will vary, an agreement not to solicit clients generally prohibits one party to the agreement from directly or indirectly soliciting the business of the other party’s clients. A non-solicitation agreement can be between […]
Non-Competition Denver
It is not uncommon for an employer to require employees to sign a non-compete agreement, also called a covenant not to compete. Although the details of non-compete agreements can vary quite a bit, these agreements generally prohibit one party to the agreement from competing with the other party, for example by entering the same profession […]
Non-Competes Denver
Non compete agreements are commonplace in many of today’s employment contracts. While your employer may have had you sign such an agreement, not all non competes can be upheld in a court of law. If a non compete agreement is too harsh and unfair to the employee, such as setting an unrealistic amount of time […]
National Origin Discrimination Denver
What is National Origin Discrimination? National origin discrimination occurs when an employee or job applicant is treated differently because of the country they are from, part of the world they are from, their ethnicity, or their accent. National origin discrimination can even occur if someone is treated differently because they look like they are from […]
Disability Discrimination Denver
Disability Discrimination in the Workplace Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms, and both federal and state laws make certain types of discrimination unlawful. Though some employers may have concerns that persons with disabilities might have more difficulty performing essential job duties, both federal and state laws provide that disabled individuals should have equal […]
Age Discrimination Denver
Age Discriminations Claims for Employers or Employees Employees suffer unlawful discrimination in the workplace for various reasons including race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Another form of unlawful discrimination is based on an employee or potential employee’s age. Due to the economic downturn over recent years, companies are looking to save money and often […]
Pregnancy Discrimination Denver
Dealing with Pregnancy Discrimination Pregnancy and childbirth should mean happiness and celebration for a woman and her family, and she should not be subjected to adverse employment action or discriminatory treatment at work. For this reason, both federal and state laws exist that protect female employees from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical […]
Ethnic Discrimination Denver
What is Ethnic Discrimination? Ethnic discrimination is an illegal employment practice in Colorado that is prohibited by both state and federal employment laws. The law prohibits discrimination because of ethnicity when it comes to any aspect of employment, including: Refusing to hire; Firing an employee; Paying an employee less; Refusing to promote; Job assignments; Training; […]
Race Discrimination Denver
Race Discrimination in the Workplace Video Though race discrimination is not as prevalent as it once was throughout the United States, thousands of employees still suffer from unlawful discrimination in their places of work each year. Employees are regularly the victims of adverse employment decisions, harassment, or hostile work environments due to their race. Sometimes […]
Sexual Orientation Discrimination Denver
Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Workplace Unlawful discrimination in the workplace can be based on many factors. A growing problem in companies over the past few decades has been discrimination or harassment based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This type of discriminatory behavior is illegal in Colorado workplaces because it directly violates […]
Religious Discrimination Denver
Religious Discrimination in the Workplace Laws on both the federal and state levels prohibit employers from discriminating against employees because of their religious beliefs or practices. Employers may not base any employment decisions on religious reasons or interfere with an employee’s right to free expression of religion. Furthermore, employees who suffer religious discrimination also experience […]
Sex Discrimination Denver
Employees in Colorado are protected from discrimination on the basis of sex by both state and federal laws. In many instances, these laws offer overlapping protections, giving employees who have been discriminated against the option of whether to seek help at the state or federal level. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 […]
Discrimination Denver
Discrimination in the Workplace The attorneys at our firm are experienced in helping employees resolve all types of discrimination claims. Employees who have been the victims of illegal discrimination at work should ensure they are represented by a knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated employment attorney who will fight to protect their rights to be free from […]
Denver
Employment Lawyers in Denver, Colorado Representing Denver employees in all forms of employment law. We have won over $100 Million for our clients since 2003. Contact us today to see how we can help you. Tell Us About Your Case Call Us – 303-991-3075 $500 Million+ Over $500 million obtained for clients. No Fees No […]