Ben Hase is a partner in the Denver office of O'Hagan Meyer. His practice is centered on labor, employment, trade secrets, and data privacy litigation and counseling, but Ben frequently works in the areas of immigration and education, as well as taking on some general or commercial litigation matters on behalf of his clients. Ben is currently co-chair of the firm's labor and employment data privacy group and a member of the national labor and employment law advice and counseling group. He also advises and litigates on behalf of school districts.

Ben's labor and employment practice is rooted in over a decade spent in private practice and six years working for state government enforcing employment laws. In his capacity as a representative of employers, he frequently litigates cases in federal and state district court in California and Colorado, as well as in other courts around the country on a pro hac vice basis. His recently litigated cases range from single-plaintiff discrimination claims to wage-and-hour class actions. Ben is frequently involved as a litigator in trade secret misappropriation cases brought on behalf of employers.

As a member of the advice and counseling team, Ben also assists with day-to-day and project-based employment law questions. He regularly consults on topics ranging from wage-and-hour, discrimination, and workplace safety to more specialized fields such as immigration and benefits. The list of agencies in front of which Ben practices is extensive and non-exhaustive but includes:

• the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (e.g., for FLSA and Davis- Bacon Act actions);
• the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (e.g., for ERISA actions and correction;
• the U.S. Department of Justice Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (e.g., for certain immigration related actions);
• the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (discrimination);
• the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (for workplace safety claims);
• the Internal Revenue Service (for tax-related issues);
• the California Civil Rights Department (formerly DFEH);
• the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement;
• the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration;
• the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (wage-and-hour and unemployment);
• the Colorado Civil Rights Division (discrimination claims);
• the Denver Labor Division;
• the Nevada Equal Rights Commission (discrimination claims);
• the Nevada Labor Commissioner (wage-and-hour);
• the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (workplace safety);
• and many others.

As co-chair of the O'Hagan Meyer Labor and Employment Division's Data Privacy Group, Ben assists clients with a multitude of privacy-related matters. He litigates claims against individuals who steal and misappropriate trade secrets and defends companies from similar claims. Ben advises on new policies for compliance with federal and state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, the California Privacy Rights Act, the Colorado Privacy Act, the EU General Data Privacy Regulation, and other complex laws in this field. As a regular advisor on employment and related contracts, Ben also provides guidance on transactional matters with respect to preserving data privacy rights and mitigating liability for third-party errors.

Further, Ben collaborates with school districts and individual schools around Colorado to provide guidance on topics related to student disabilities, teachers’ and other school professionals’ union disputes, and to defend lawsuits and other actions brought by teachers and parents. Possessing experience working with organizational leaders in both public and private sectors, from the federal to the local level, Ben's representation for educational institutions and leaders brings a unique perspective focused on problem resolution and prevention.

As a result of his long-standing practice in Colorado and diversified practice experience, Ben is a frequent presenter on legal topics and has appeared on national news media to discuss significant changes in employment law. He has also been honored with the distinction of advising the Colorado legislature and testifying before the Colorado Senate on new employment legislation. He teaches classes, both virtual and in-person, on all topics covered by his practice.