About Aaron Colby

 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.

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

Memberships

• Admitted to practice law in all California state and federal district courts, 2006-present.
• CORE Cares, Board Member 2019-present
• Jeffery A. Colby Cancer Research Fund, Co-Founder of charity promoting colon cancer research and awareness, 2003-present
• Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2013-2021
• Settlement Officer, Los Angeles Superior Court CRASH Settlement Program, 2014-2018