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Stephen M. DeHoff
s_dehoff
Position: Partner
Practice Group: Labor & Employment, Commercial Litigation
Education: Hastings College of the Law, J.D. 2002
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. 1998
Bar Admissions: Colorado, New York & Wyoming
Telephone: 720-904-6009
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Practice Overview

Steve DeHoff is a partner of Friesen Lamb LLP.  Mr. DeHoff's practice focuses on commercial litigation, small to mid-size business consulting and employment litigation.  He has extensive experience in commercial contract litigation, representing a broad range of clients, from multinational Fortune 50 companies to small, closely held corporations in a variety of business disputes.  He has successfully represented clients in disputes involving business torts, contract matters, bankruptcy litigation, securities fraud, UCC Article 9 claims, trade secret and unfair competition and anti-trust matters.  In employment matters, Mr. DeHoff's practice focuses on defending businesses in employment disputes and counseling employers regarding personnel issues, policies and compliance.  He has defended clients against claims involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on age, sex, race, national origin, religion and disability, state and federal wage claims and breach of contract.

Mr. DeHoff also provides guidance and business counseling on a variety of issues and legal concerns to help our clients grow and proactively avoid unnecessary liability pitfalls.  In this capacity, Mr. DeHoff provides general legal services ranging from the most basic need and choice regarding the proper legal structure of business, to the numerous issues that impact the operation of our clients' businesses, such as drafting, review and negotiation of contracts, drafting of company handbooks and policies, and addressing internal compliance issues.

He is a member of the Section on Business Litigation and Labor and Employment Law of the American Bar Association and a member of the Legal Fee Arbitration Committee of the Colorado Bar Association.

Representative Cases

  • Represented public utility company in a dispute concerning easement access rights, obtaining injunctive relief allowing utility to initiate system expansion construction project.
  • Represented corporate executive in arbitration of "earn-out" dispute involving acquisition of information technology reseller business.
  • Defended national moving and storage rental company in class arbitration of sexual harassment claims.
  • Represented national business process outsourcing company in race and sex discrimination claim.
  • Defended national retailer against wrongful discharge and bad faith claims arising from workers' compensation dispute.
  • Defended Boulder, Colorado restaurant in class action FLSA wage case involving allegations of minimum wage and tip pooling violations.
  • Defended national home improvement retailer against claims alleging immigration-related discrimination brought under the Immigration Control and Reform Act (ICRA).
  • Represented technology sales representative in dispute concerning commission calculations and termination benefits.
  • Counseled Denver-based religious corporation in immigration employment matters and handling of governmental audit.
  • Represented Native American tobacco manufacturing company in antitrust litigation involving national tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.
  • Assisted national property management company in dispute with construction contractor involving wrongfully withheld project initiation fees.
  • Counseled private equity investment company in connection with downsizing of oil and gas portfolio company, successfully resolving employee claim and statutory compliance issues.
  • Defended national thrift store chain in premises liability action.
  • Represented venture capital equity investor in claims arising under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act) after closure of national marine engine manufacturing company.
  • Counseled international investment insurer in connection with SEC reporting and disclosure requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Recent Speeches and Publications

  • FLSA Classification Issues -- Exempt or Non-Exempt, and What to Do if You're Wrong? (2009)
  • The Wage and Hour Tsunami: How To Survive the Wave of New Litigation Being Brought by Plaintiffs' Attorneys (2008)

Honors and Awards

  • Selected to Colorado Super Lawyers 2010 Rising Stars
  • Recipient of Witkin and CALI awards for excellence in alternative dispute resolution
  • Semifinalist and best brief award winner at the Evan A. Evans Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition.