About Aaron Colby

Aaron Colby

Aaron Colby is a California employment lawyer who knows how to resolve disputes.  After 15 years representing companies, he started Colby Law Firm to represent employees.  Aaron’s perspective and experience from being “on the other side” gives him an edge.  Aaron brings his practical, focused, and relentless approach to helping employees protect their rights.

Aaron graduated University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 2003 and returned to Los Angeles to pursue a law degree at Southwestern Law School.  After clerking for a judge and graduating in the top of his class in 2006, Aaron entered “BigLaw” and began representing companies.

Aaron became one of the youngest equity partners at the national law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where he represented businesses of all sizes across all industries in single-plaintiff and class action employment litigation.  He fought and settled all types of employment claims (harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, unpaid wages) in all contexts (direct negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, administrative agencies, judicial conferences, litigation).

Aaron is a regular contributor to the Forbes Food & Drink Blog and a frequent publisher on developments in California employment law.

Contact Aaron at [email protected] or 818.253.1599 or on LinkedIn here.

Colby Law logo 01 Professional Experience

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

  • Equity Partner, January 2018 – January 2021
  • Contract Partner, January 2016 – December 2017
  • Associate, February 2010 – December 2015
  • Represented organizations and individuals in single-plaintiff and class action disputes involving wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, and wage-and-hour claims; litigated and resolved disputes in direct negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, administrative agencies, and state and federal courts; provided advice on employment HR issues and policies; led firm’s California Private Attorney General Act and wage-and-hour class action practice; founded and led the Cannabis industry group.  A list of federal court defense litigation experience is here
  • Submission of amicus brief to the California Supreme Court on the issue of whether a plaintiff who voluntarily dismisses claims against an employer may continue to pursue a California Private Attorney General Act claim (2019).
  • Defense of national healthcare staffing company against allegations of discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate, and retaliation. Case resolved after court denied motion to remand. 2019 WL 164608 (2019)
  • Defense of large healthcare organization in wrongful termination case. Obtained summary judgment at trial court on procedural grounds, though overturned on appeal. 26 Cal.App.5th 309 (2018)
  • Defense of airline in wrongful termination and harassment case involving flight attendant. Obtained summary judgment at trial court and upheld on appeal. 2016 WL 7011336 (2016)
  • Defense of national healthcare staffing company against allegations of vicarious liability for harassing conduct of individual. Obtained dismissal based on statute of limitations. 2015 WL 6551870 (2015)
  • Defense of individual against former co-worker claim of defamation arising out of employment.  Obtained summary judgment early in litigation. 2014 WL 3709773 (2014)

Forbes.com

  • Contributor to Food & Drink Blog, May 2020-present
  • Member of paid content contributor team of authors on the Forbes.com Food & Drink blog vertical writing about employment law issues impacting the industry.

Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, LLP

  • Associate, September 2006 – January 2010
  • Summer Associate, June – August 2005
  • Represented management in employment-related disputes before administrative bodies and state/federal courts on discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, trade secrets and wage-hour issues; provided advice and counsel to employers regarding written policies and compliance issues; extensive law and motion experience and rules of civil procedure.
  • Won summary judgment on behalf of plaintiff in right-of-publicity infringement case involving defendant’s federal registration of “Butkus Award” as mark for annual football award. Court rejected defendant’s argument that it owned the “Butkus Award” mark, although plaintiff had consented to the mark and later revoked. In its published decision, court ruled that a contract without specified duration can be terminated at-will under California law. 2008 WL 2557427 (2008)

Screen Actors Guild

  • Legal Department Extern, August – December 2004
  • Prosecuted union claims under the collective bargaining agreement; assisted judgment recovery program; conducted research regarding membership.

Los Angeles Superior Court

  • Extern Clerk to Hon. Susan Bryant-Deason, Summer 2004
  • Researched, analyzed and provided written analysis on motions, discovery, and complaint amendments; observed trials, oral arguments on motions and status conferences.

Mattel, Inc.

  • Legal Department Intern, June – August 2003
  • Aided in updating website Terms & Conditions; analyzed and made recommendation regarding top-level domain registration; created Distributor Indemnity Matrix.

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

  • Sports Marketing & Communications Intern, August 2002 – April 2003
  • Assisted Marketing Director with corporate sponsorships; facilitated corporate advertising.                                   

KCET Community Television (PBS)

  • Marketing Agent, May – August 2001; May – August 2002
  • Negotiated membership benefits partnership/licensing agreements; negotiated license of high-definition content to consumer electronics companies; conducted events.

Colby Law logo 01 Education

Southwestern Law School

  • Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, May 2006
  • Associate Editor, Law Review, 2004-2006
  • Associate Editor, Entertainment Law Reporter, 2005-2006
  • Dean’s List, 2003-2006

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

  • Bachelor of General Studies, April 2003
  • Major, Communications/Sociology/Psychology
  • High Honors Distinction, Dean’s List, University Honors

Agoura High School

  • Graduated, June 1999
  • Varsity Basketball, Student Council, 1999

Colby Law logo 01 Memberships

Colby Law logo 01 Published Works

Colby Law logo 01 Press

Colby Law logo 01 Speeches

  • Blunt Talk: The Challenges Facing Content Creators And The Cannabis Industry, DOWNLOAD Conference Panel Moderator, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, October 22, 2020
  • Coffee And Conversation For Hospitality Executives: Legal Considerations For Effectively And Safely Reopening In California, Speaker, Marsh & McLennan, August 6, 2020
  • Restaurants High AP Sessions 2020, Webinar Series Speaker, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, April-June, 2020
  • California Reopening: Returning To The Workplace & Employment Related Issues, Webinar Speaker, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, May 13, 2020
  • HIGH-Tech: Cannabis, Technology, And Content, DOWNLOAD Conference Panel Moderator, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, February 27, 2020
  • Getting Back To The Basics Of Avoiding Risk, Client Seminar Speaker, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, February 7, 2019
  • California Employment Law, Quarterly Meeting Speaker, Cal-Southampton Insurance Captive, 2016-2019
  • Seeing Around The Corners: Practical Strategies To Cope With California Consumer Privacy Act And Whatever Comes Next, Moderator, Restaurant Law Center, October 15, 2018
  • Employment Nuts And Bolts: Wage-And-Hour, Speaker, Los Angeles County Bar Association, October 14, 2017
  • Gimme A Break, Speaker, Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), Speaker, October 16, 2009
  • Wage & Hour Master Class, Lee Smith Publisher LLC, Speaker, March 17-18, 2009