Brooke A. Colaizzi

Member

Denver, Colorado

Phone: 303.299.8471

Fax:

[email protected]

Education

  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law (2003)
    • High Honors 
    • Order of the Coif
    • University of Texas Law Review
  • B.A., Colorado State University (1999)
    • Technical Journalism
    • Political Science
    • Minor: Economics
    • Summa cum laude

Brooke Colaizzi is known among clients and colleagues for providing practical, business-minded solutions that place her clients in the best possible position to achieve success in litigation.

Approaching every client problem from two perspectives—what the law requires and what the business needs—Brooke has been counseling employers on all aspects of the employment relationship for more than 15 years. Her counseling services include contracts, workplace policies, employee relations, wage/hour issues, leave laws, wellness programs, issues regarding independent contractors, and covenants not to compete. In recognition of her experience and stature, Brooke was selected to serve as a member of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce’s Labor and Employment Council. She actively engages in discussions and negotiations of employment-related legislation. She also has testified before Colorado legislative committees regarding the implications of proposed legislation for Colorado’s businesses.

Brooke has the experience to successfully defend employers in court when they are faced with legal challenges to their policies or decisions. She has litigated and tried cases involving claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and many other federal and state statutes and laws governing the employment relationship. Brooke has first- or second-chaired dozens of cases in both federal and state courts—both class actions and single-plaintiff cases—involving sophisticated and complex employment-related claims.

Bridging the span between counseling and litigation, Brooke has extensive experience conducting and advising on internal and third-party workplace investigations.  She headed the employment law segment of a year-long, multidisciplinary investigation of the leadership of a multinational corporation.  She has directed and conducted workplace misconduct investigations in a variety of industries, including mining, finance, technology, real estate, e-commerce, and oil and gas, advised employers on post-investigation next steps, and litigated the outcomes of investigations.  She has been involved in investigations related to sexual harassment; gender, age, and race discrimination; retaliation; fraud; and many other topics.  She has a thorough understanding of the client and privilege issues present in investigations, and a deep understanding and appreciation for the importance of developing a complete, balanced, and accurate factual record.

Representing employers in multiple industries, including information technology, oil and gas, healthcare, food and beverage, government service, semiconductor, beauty, floral, cultural exchange, and telecommunications, Brooke is often called upon to conduct workplace investigations of discrimination and harassment claims involving alleged misconduct by supervisors and managers.

Experience

  • Litigated claims brought under multiple federal and state laws and theories, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, Colorado Antidiscrimination Act, FMLA, FLSA, the Equal Pay Act, the Colorado Wage Act, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, business contracts, intentional interference with business advantage, defamation, civil theft, state consumer protection, breach of fiduciary duty, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
  • Participated in stakeholder meetings on behalf of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce regarding proposed state leave legislation.
  • Investigated internal workplace complaints in a wide variety of industries, including mining, real estate, property development and management, and e-commerce.

Publications & Presentations

PRESS

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

PRESENTATIONS

  • Colorado’s New POWR Act: A Deep Dive
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Seminar | September 29, 2023
  • You’ve Got the POWR!
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Seminar | September 29, 2023
  • Putting it All Together: Understanding Changes to Wage and Hour Laws and the New Colorado SecureSavings Plan
    Colorado Labor & Employment Breakfast Briefing | April 12, 2023
  • Increasing Value and Mitigating Risk – Before, During and After your M&A Deal
    Financial Executives Network Meeting | March 16, 2023
  • It’s No Longer Just FMLA…
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Seminar | October 7, 2022
  • FLSA and COMPS – Don’t Forget About State Wage and Hour Law
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Seminar | October 7, 2022
  • COMPS Goes Into Effect: The Implications and What You Can Do
    Sherman & Howard Labor & Employment Breakfast Briefing | March 2020
  • Colorado Wage Order: Monumental Changes Afoot
    Sherman & Howard Colorado Labor & Employment Breakfast Briefing | December 2019
  • Webinar: Workplace Investigations
    Speaker, Wolters Kluwer Roundtable | October 2019
  • Religion, Politics, and the Great Pumpkin
    Annual Arizona Labor & Employment Law Seminar | September 2019
  • Equal Pay for Equal Work Act
    Colorado Labor & Employment Breakfast Briefing | August 2019
  • California-cation: State Legislative Update in the Wake of Democratic Control
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference | May 2019
  • Navigating LGTBQ+ Issues in the Workplace
    Wolters Kluwer Roundtable Webinar | October 2018
  • FMLA Intermittent Leave: A Fresh Look at an Old Problem
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference | May 2018
  • Complex Investigations
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference | May 2018
  • Webinar on Sexual Harassment Guidance for Employers
    Wolters Kluwer Partners with Leading Labor & Employment Law Practitioners | March 2018
  • The First 100 Days: What We Expected, What We Got, and What We Still Don’t Know
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference | May 2017
  • “Sex” Under Title VII
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference | May 2017
  • Federal Contractors Update
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference | May 2017
  • Sex” Under Title VII
    Labor & Employment Denver Presentation | March 2017
  • Sex” Under Title VII
    Labor & Employment Colorado Springs Presentation | March 2017
  • A Tale Of Two Houses: Colorado Legislative Developments
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference Agenda | May 2016
  • What Does The Workforce Look Like When Government Has Its Way?: Update On Government Contractors
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Law Conference Agenda | May 2016
  • What Does the Workforce Look Like When Government Has Its Way? Update on Government Contractors
    Annual Arizona Labor & Employment Seminar | April 2016
  • Hazardous to Your Health: Do Wellness Programs Help or Hurt Your Bottom Line?
    Annual Colorado Labor & Employment Conference | April 2015

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association
  • Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry
  • City Club of Denver
  • Colorado Chamber of Commerce
  • Labor & Employment Practice Group Leader
  • Metro Denver EDC, public affairs committee

Highlights

  • Barrister’s Best in Show: Best Employment Lawyer, Defense, Law Week Colorado (2013)