As an experienced employment lawyer with more than 20 years of experience representing employers of all sizes in a variety of industries, Chris focuses on providing cost-effective and personal service to his clients. After serving as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Alfred A. Arraj, he entered private practice, where he was an attorney and partner of some of the best employment law firms in the country. He returned to public service as a prosecutor, handling hundreds of hearings and trying dozens of cases to jury verdict. Before co-founding the Leh Law Group, LLC, he served in the world’s largest employer-side law firm. As a result of these diverse experiences, he serves clients with a full range of skills as a counselor, negotiator, litigator, and trial attorney. Chris and his wife Natalie, an intellectual property litigator, are active in community affairs, have two daughters, and live in Louisville, Colorado.
Experience | Representative Cases | Education | Awards and Recognition
Publications | Presentations | Community Service and Professional Involvement
Experience
- Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Leh Law Group, LLC, Broomfield, CO, 2013-present
- Of Counsel, Littler Mendelson, LLC, Denver, CO, 2009-13
- Deputy District Attorney, Boulder County, Boulder, CO, 2008-09
- Partner, Holland and Hart, LLP, Boulder, CO, 2001-07
- Member (1999-2001, and Associate, 1995-98), Caplan and Earnest, LLC, Boulder, CO, 1995-2001
- Associate, Davis, Graham and Stubbs, Denver, CO, 1990-95
- Law Clerk, U.S. District Judge Alfred A. Arraj, Denver, CO, 1989-90
Representative Cases
- Christie v. Loomis Armored US, Inc. (D. Colo. 2013)
Granting summary judgment to client/employer on claims of sex, age, and disability discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful discharge. - Arakawa v. Carestream Health, Inc. (D. Colo. 2012)
Granting summary judgment to client against current employee for alleged national origin, race and age discrimination. - Murphy v. TXI, Inc., 2006 WL 827308 (D. Colo. 2005)
Granting summary judgment for employer regarding claims under 42 U.S.C. S. 1981, race discrimination, and outrageous conduct; EEOC dismissed its companion case. - Selenke v. Medical Imaging of Colorado, 248 F.3d 1249 (10th Cir. 2001)
Upholding summary judgment for employer/client regarding claims for disability discrimination and failure to accommodate, retaliation,and wrongful discharge. - Robbins v. Jefferson County School Dist.R-1 et al., 186 F.3d 1253 (10th Cir. 1999)
Upholding summary judgment for employer in retaliation claim; upholding order of attorney’s fees against plaintiff and her counsel. - Lewis v. Dept. of Health and Hospitals, 1999 WL 448814 (10th Cir. 1999)
Upholding summary judgment for employer in claim for constitutional due process violation. - Palochko v. Manville Corp., 21 F.3d 981 (10th Cir. 1994)
Upholding summary judgment for employer in ADEA reduction-in-force case. - Wolenski v. Manville Corp., 19 F.3d 34, 1994 WL 89797 (10th Cir. 1994)
Upholding summary judgment for employer in ADEA reduction-in-force case. - Fullick v. Breckenridge Ski Corp., 962 F.2d 17 (10th Cir. 1992)
Upholding summary judgment on skier’s negligence claim. - In re Century 21-RE/MAX Real Estate Advertising Claims, 882 F. Supp. 915 (C.D. Cal. 1994)
Partially granting motion for summary judgment for client in mulitdistrict Lanham Act false advertising litigation. - Morrow v. Air Methods, 825 F. Supp. 1353 (D.Minn. 1995)
Granting partial summary judgment for employer on punitive damages in whistleblower case.
Education
- Princeton University, A.B., Public and International Affairs, 1985
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 1989
- Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Certificate in Mediation, 2013
Awards and Professional Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®
- AV® Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Colorado Superlawyers®
Publications
- Leh It On the Line Blog
- “Colorado’s Marijuana “Legalization” Amendment Task Force OKs Recommendation to Permit Employers to Terminate Employees for Off-Duty Marijuana Use,” Workplace Privacy Counsel blog (Feb. 12, 2013)
- “Marijuana Laws Liberalized in Colorado, Washington – But Effect on Workplace Policies Likely SmallCommunity Service and Professional Involvement,” Littler ASAP (Nov. 8, 2012) and reprinted in National Assoc. of Legal Secretaries Online (June 10, 2013) (co-author)
- “The ‘Bring Your Own Device to Work Movement: Engineering Practical Employment and Labor Law Compliance Solutions,” The Littler Report (May 2012) (co-author)
- “Though Not Yet Banned, Requiring Social Media Information Is a Bad Idea,” Littler ASAP (Mar. 29, 2012)
- “Colorado Supreme Court Rules that Continued Employment is Sufficient Consideration to Support Post-Hiring Noncompetition Agreement with At-Will Employee, “ Littler ASAP (June 15, 2011) (co-author)
- “Nobody Wants to be Made an Example of – Crafting Employer Policies to Avoid Liability for Social Media Use,” Digital Workplace blog (May 24, 2011)
- “Mitigate Or Litigate Flexible Working And Legal Exposure,” The Littler Report (Feb. 2011)
- “Employers Should Act Promptly in Response to NJ High Court’s Recognition of Employee’s Right to Privacy in Lawyer-Client Emails Stored on Company Computers,” Workplace Privacy Counsel blog (Apr. 1, 2010)
- Contributing Editor, The National Employer and The Rocky Mountain Employer, Littler Mendelson (2009-13)
- Contributing Editor, Employment Discrimination, Ch. 24, BNA (2010, 2012)
- CBA-CLE, Colorado Discovery Handbook (contributing editor) (forthcoming).
Presentations
- “Noncompetes & Trade Secrets,” Boulder County Bar Association’s Business Law Section (May 2014)
- “Employment Law Update,” Longmont Area Human Resources Association (May 2014)
- “Termination Without Lawsuits,” Boulder County Bar Association’s In-House Counsel Section (Jan. 2014)
- “Marijuana ‘Legalization’ and the Workplace: Conflict, Compromise, Chaos or Clarity?” Colorado Society for Human Resources Management (Aug. 2013)
- “Up In Smoke? Marijuana Law Reform and What it Means for Employers,” IECRM/ABC (Jan. 2013) (co-presenter)
- “Non-Monetary Considerations in Mediating Employment Cases: Where do Emotions go When the Case is Over?” Boulder County Bar Association (Dec. 2012) (panel member)
- “Checking Backgrounds and Managing Risks,” International Association of Privacy Professionals (Dec. 2012)
- “Independent Contractor Misclassification,” Littler Breakfast Briefing (Dec. 2012) (co-presenter)
- “In Your Facebook – Social Media Issues in Employment,” Labor and Employment Relations Association (Sept. 2012)
- “Best Practices for the Digital Workplace: Social Media and Electronic Communications from a Legal Perspective,” Colorado Human Resources Association (Apr. 2012)
- “Multi-Generational Workplace,” Measuring Up Conference (May 2012) (co-presenter)
- “Written Discovery Basics in Employment Suits,” Stafford Publications Webinar (Feb. 2012) (co-presenter))
- “Hands Off My Privacy,” Boulder Area Human Resources Association’s Employment Law Update (Aug. 2011)
- “Jury Instructions in Federal Cases,” Federal Bar Association (Feb. 2010) (panel member)
- “Retaliation Claims Update,” PEB Network Webinar (Mar. 2010, Apr. 2011) (co-presenter with EEOC)
- “Fair Labor Standards Act Developments,” Boulder County Bar Association (Nov. 2010)
- “Blogging, Sexting and Social Networking: the New Frontier of Employment Law Risk,” Boulder Area Human Resources Association’s Employment Law Update (Aug. 2010)
- “Social Media Policies In the Workplace: Are Blogging, Tweeting and Facebook Good for Business?” Colorado Bar Association Intellectual Property/Technology Conference (June 2010)
- “Litigating Cases of Employment Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity,” Colorado Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Conference (May 2010) (co-presenter)
Community Service and Professional Involvement
- Member, Board of Directors, Imagine! Foundation, 2011-15
- Member, Faculty of Federal Advocates, Employment Law Jury Instructions Task Force, 2001-present
- Co-chair, Labor and Employment Law Section – Colorado Bar Association, 2000-01
- Co-chair, Labor and Employment Law Section – Boulder County Bar Association, 1996-97
- Trustee, Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, 2003-09
- Member, Colorado, Boulder, Denver, and 13th Judicial District Bar Associations, 1990-present
- Councilman, Louisville City Council, 2014-present