Liz Austin

Overview

Liz Austin is a member of Williams Weese Pepple & Ferguson’s Litigation and Labor and Employment Practices. She handles a variety of corporate litigation and employment matters, including trade secret and non-compete disputes, and she has substantial experience defending clients against class and collective action lawsuits, as well as representing them before state and federal agencies.

In addition to her corporate work, Liz advises higher education institutions on a range of regulatory compliance matters and investigations, including those related to Titles VI, VII, and IX. She provides guidance on complex issues such as discrimination, harassment, and policy enforcement, ensuring her clients’ practices align with evolving legal standards in education law.

Liz brings a unique background to her employment and litigation practices that enhances her ability to assist corporate clients in their decision-making processes. Prior to entering private practice, she worked in the corporate office of a large retail company in San Francisco, where she managed training, onboarding, and employee-to-supervisor mediation. Liz leverages this experience to provide current clients with practical, up-to-date training, advice, and counsel.

Education

J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2017
B.A., Colorado State University, 2012

Publications, Speeches and Presentations

Publications

• Sixth Circuit Decision May Help Employers Facing FLSA Collective Actions (March 2021)
• Nieto v. Clark’s Market, Inc. Update  (June 2021)
• Bloomberg Colorado Wage and Hour Treatise (2022)
• Bloomberg Colorado Wage and Hour Treatise (2023)
• Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Amendments (“EEPEWA”) (September 2023)

Lectures

Wage and Hour Class Certification: Impact of Appellate Authority Applying the Specific Jurisdiction Rule
Strafford Publications, Inc., Webinars (March 2022)

Employment Law for Nonprofits
30th Annual Institute on Advising Nonprofit Organizations in Colorado
Colorado Bar Association (August 2021)

Updates to Colorado Leave and Time-Off Laws
Association of Corporate Counsel (August 2021)

Employment Law for Nonprofits, 30th Annual Institute on Advising Nonprofit Organizations in Colorado (August 2021)

Updates to Colorado Leave and Time-Off Laws, Association of Corporate Counsel (August 2021)

Wage and Hour Class Certification: Impact of Appellate Authority Applying the Specific Jurisdiction Rule, Strafford (March 2022)

Employment Law Update, Association of Corporate Counsel (September 2022)

Artificial Intelligence Considerations for Lawyers, Association of Corporate Counsel (September 2023)

Presentations

Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado- Artificial Intelligence Considerations for Lawyers (September 2023)

Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado- No Good DEI Goes Unpunished: Increasing Risks of DEI Programs (September 2025)

Bar Admissions

Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
U.S. District Court, District of Southern New York (inactive)

Community Involvement

Firefly Autism, 2023-Present
Colorado Lawyers Committee, Legal Night Clinics, 2024-Present
Embassy Christian Bible Church, Stewardship Advisory Committee, 2022-2024

Other Professional Affiliations