Ariel DeFazio has been representing employees in state and federal suits and investigations of discrimination and retaliation for her entire legal career. She also regularly negotiates severance agreements and assists current employees who are navigating precarious situations at work.
After earning her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and teaching environmental education, Ariel came out west to serve with AmeriCorps. She then spent several years working in the nonprofit field before attending the University of Colorado Law School. Since earning her law degree, Ariel has devoted her efforts as an attorney to advocating for employees who have been discriminated and retaliated against, harassed, denied wages, paid less than others performing substantially similar work, and wrongfully fired because of their disability, sex, pregnancy, age, race, LGBTQ+ status, use of family medical leave, and other reasons that violate federal and Colorado law. These cases are often emotionally fraught and legally challenging, and Ariel takes great pride in her role as counselor-at-law, educating clients about their options, what to expect at each step of the process, and supporting clients in their decisions.
You can read about how clients describe Ariel here and here.
Ariel’s passion for educating individuals about their rights in the workplace has led her to present on employment law topics to an array of lay audiences. This spans the spectrum from informal discussions about parental leave with expectant parents to presentations about how to handle a cancer diagnosis at work and knowing your basic rights as an employee. If you know of a group that would benefit from such a presentation, please contact Ariel.
Ariel is a board member of the Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association and the Faculty of Federal Advocates. She is also a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, Colorado Women’s Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association’s (CBA) Labor & Employment Section, and the Colorado LGBTQ+ Bar Association, where she served on the board previously. She volunteers periodically providing legal assistance to pro se litigants through the CBA’s Federal Pro Se Legal Clinic. Ariel is also a member of the National Women’s Law Center’s Legal Network for Gender Equity and a volunteer attorney with Colorado’s branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Leadership Roles:
Community Service & Pro Bono:
Recognition:
• 2022-2024 Super Lawyer in Employment Litigation: Plaintiff
• 2020-2021 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Employment
• 10.0 (Superb) Avvo rating
Selected Courses Taught:
• Employment Law in 80 Minutes, Faculty of Federal Advocates, Representing Pro Bono Clients in Federal Court – Part I (co-presenter) (July 2022)
• Health and Employment Issues for Non-binary and Transgender People, League of Women Voters of Denver March Briefing (co-presenter) (March 2022)
• Written Discovery Battles: from Tax Returns to Personnel Files, CBA Labor & Employment Section (January 2022)
Memberships:
Publications:
