Labor & Employment Attorney - Denver, CO

plug-legal; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 220,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

plug-legal in Denver is seeking an experienced labor and employment attorney to join its Denver office. You will handle both traditional labor relations and complex employment defense matters for major employers.

This dual-track practice values strategic counseling, workplace investigations, and compliance audits, with a platform that supports growth without bureaucracy. Candidates should have 5–10 years of management-side experience and Colorado Bar admission; the role offers a competitive base

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of management-side employment experience.
• Colorado Bar license is required.
• Experience with union negotiations and collective bargaining preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise on traditional labor relations and collective bargaining.
• Defend employers in wage-and-hour, discrimination, and non-compete matters.
• Conduct sensitive workplace investigations and compliance audits.

Skills

Labor relations

Employment litigation

Workplace investigations

Education

Colorado bar admission

Job description

Labor & Employment Practice · 5–10 Years Experience · CO Bar Required

For a mid-to-senior employment attorney, the typical choice is frustrating: either you focus exclusively on traditional labor management, or you handle standard employment litigation and advice. This role within a growing, top‑tier national firm's Denver office breaks that divide. It offers a rare, genuinely balanced platform where you will command both traditional labor relations‑including high‑stakes union negotiations and collective bargaining‑and complex employment defense litigation, positioning you as a comprehensive counselor to major employers.

The Work

This is a sophisticated, dual‑track practice that moves past routine single‑plaintiff defense. Your portfolio will actively include:

• Traditional Labor Relations: Advising both union and non‑union employers on collective bargaining, labor negotiations, grievances, and arbitration matters.
• High‑Stakes Litigation: Defending employers against complex discrimination, harassment, wage‑and‑hour, accessibility, and restrictive covenant/non‑compete claims before courts and administrative agencies.
• Strategic Counseling: Conducting sensitive workplace investigations and auditing employer compliance on everything from executive contracts to large‑scale reductions in force.

Who This Is For

This role is designed for an established employment attorney looking for a broader platform, or a strong commercial litigator with deep employment roots who wants to anchor their practice in the Mountain West.

• The Labor & Employment Specialist: You have 5 to 10 years of management‑side experience and want a platform that respects and utilizes both your traditional labor skills and your courtroom advocacy.
• The Litigator Looking to Focus: If you have spent years handling broader commercial defense but possess significant experience litigating wage‑and‑hour or non‑compete disputes and want to transition fully into an elite employer‑side practice, the firm welcomes your trial skills.
• A license in good standing to practice law in Colorado is strictly required.

The Platform

The firm offers the financial strength and multi‑jurisdictional reach of a premier national powerhouse, combined with the collaborative, high‑growth environment of a dynamic Denver office. It is an ideal cultural fit for a self‑motivated attorney who wants institutional resources without bureaucratic silos, offering clear transparency regarding performance metrics and long‑term career progression.

Why Denver

Denver's middle‑market and corporate sectors are expanding rapidly, driving an increased demand for sophisticated labor counsel. This market offers top‑tier national deal and litigation flow paired with the distinct lifestyle benefits, outdoor accessibility, and professional community of the Rocky Mountain region.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary: $220,000 – $270,000 (Exact placement within the range is dependent upon relevant experience and qualifications).
• Benefits: A comprehensive, market‑leading suite including premium medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with profit‑sharing components; generous paid time off and parental leave; life, short‑term, and long‑term disability insurance; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); and a dedicated budget for continuing legal education (CLE) and professional development.