Laurie J. Rust

Laurie J. Rust partners with clients to understand the business, financial, and practical motivations and implications of each matter. Laurie represents employers in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies in matters involving alleged violations of the:

• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Equal Pay Act (EPA)
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
• Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
• California Labor Code
• Colorado Wage Act
• Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA)

She routinely defends companies against employment-related charges and claims before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Colorado Civil Rights Division, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Laurie provides employment advice and counsel on a wide range of issues, such as hiring, discipline, termination, accommodating disability, wage and hour compliance and audits, federal and state immigration compliance, recreational and medical marijuana, leaves of absence, social media, and trade secrets. In addition, she works with employers to draft employment agreements, employee manuals, severance agreements, and other employment policies and procedures. She regularly provides training on harassment and all aspects of employment law.

A sampling of Laurie's representative experience includes:

• Secured summary judgment on gender discrimination claim for energy client (July 2024)
• Secured summary judgment in reverse discrimination claim for healthcare client (March 2024)
• Secured dismissal of disparate treatment religious discrimination claim in high-profile COVID-19 case (October 2023)
• First chair, trial of race discrimination and unpaid bonus claim on behalf of healthcare client (June 2023)
• Secured dismissal of complaint for age and disability discrimination following a cause finding by the EEOC on behalf of beverage distributor (March 2021)
• ​Secured summary judgment on behalf of former executive of crypto currency company in fraud and veil piercing case valued at $75 million (March 2020)
• First chair, trial of race discrimination claim for national retailer (complete defense verdict) (May 2019)
• Secured summary judgment on duty to defend under indemnification provision in master services agreement (January 2019)
• First chair, arbitration of claims for race, national origin, and religious discrimination under the NYCHRL (complete defense verdict) (August 2018)
• Secured summary judgment on claims for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, retaliation under the NDAA, and unpaid overtime under the Qatari Labor Code (January 2018)
• Secured summary judgment in arbitration seeking to enforce covenant not to compete (August 2017)
• Secured summary judgment on claims for FLSA retaliation (October 2017)
• First chair, arbitration of breach of contract claim (complete defense verdict) (March 2017)