Jack D. Patten represents companies in a variety of employment matters with an emphasis on employment discrimination. He has experience with all phases of employment litigation, from arbitration and mediation to discovery and trial preparation, and routinely assists employers with claims involving:

• Title VII
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
• The Family and Medical Leave Act
• Covenants not-to-compete
• Trade secret infringement
• Unfair competition matters

He also represents clients in systemic discrimination and pattern and practice matters filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Additionally, Jack provides managerial training and counsels employers on a broad range of personnel issues, including:

• Disciplinary actions
• Policy formulation
• Compliance with federal, state and local laws

Currently, Jack serves in the United States Army Reserve as a judge advocate, holding the rank of captain, and is assigned to the 22d Legal Support Organization Trial Defense Service. A veteran of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Jack's military experience gives him a first-hand understanding of the balance between employees' rights and an employer's business needs.  This uniquely qualifies him to represent employers in defending claims brought under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and to advise employers on its applications and procedures.

Following law school and prior to joining the firm, Jack clerked for the Honorable Judge Robert G. James, United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana. During his clerkship, he gained significant experience and familiarity with employment claims brought under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the FMLA and various federal jurisdiction issues. In law school, he was senior staff editor of the Denver University Law Review.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

• Secretary, Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
• Vice chair, Fundraising Committee - Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
• Member, Colorado Bar Association
• Member, Denver Bar Association
• Member, Deans' Diversity Council Pipeline Committee - Colorado Bar Association
• Member, Faculty of Federal Advocates
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, Associates Campaign Committee - Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado
• Former chair, Education Committee - Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
• Former co-chair, Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee - Colorado Bar Association

RECOGNITION

• Order of St. Ives
• Recipient, Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Legal Writing, Civil Procedure and Employment Law
• Recipient, Outstanding New Hispanic Lawyer Award – Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, 2008
• Recipient, Gary McPherson Young Lawyer of the Year Award – Colorado Bar Association, 2007
• Inducted Fellow, Colorado Bar Foundation, 2008