Clayton E. Wire

Clayton Wire understands that people who have been badly treated at work or who are considering blowing the whistle on their employer's illegal conduct need protection. Clayton has dedicated himself to protecting his clients. He is a tireless advocate who earns his clients’ trust through hard work and dedication. While his practice is litigation-based, Clayton understands that avoiding a trial may sometimes be just as important as succeeding at trial. Clayton represents clients before administrative, state, and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels.

Clayton represents clients in various stages of dispute resolution, from counseling individuals on the proper avenues to voice their concerns, to commencing litigation on their behalf. When clients are faced with the complex maze of administrative and procedural requirements for whistleblower protection, Clayton guides workers and offers an analysis of the risks and benefits of the choices that confront them. In addition to representing workers, Clayton also assists those with claims for civil rights abuses outside of the employment arena, having litigated Section 1983 liability claims against municipalities, police departments, fire departments, and other public entities.

Clayton has played an important role in achieving favorable outcomes for his clients in a variety of circumstances, including the following:

• When a mortgage company employee blew-the-whistle on fraud against government entities, Clayton litigated the retaliation claims and achieved a settlement days before trial.
• When a physician blew-the-whistle on inadequate patient care and potential violations of Medicare and Medicaid reporting requirements, Clayton represented her and played a crucial role in achieving a favorable confidential settlement with her large institutional employer.
• When an in-house attorney at an international company blew-the-whistle on violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other illegal activity, Clayton represented the attorney in extremely contentious multi-million dollar litigation, playing a key role in protecting the client from retaliatory counterclaims for using company documents and information. As a result of the tenacious representation provided by Clayton and his colleagues, the attorney was able to achieve a favorable confidential settlement.
• When an executive in a start-up company was terminated without compensation or the stock grants he was promised, Clayton represented the executive through litigation and a favorable confidential mediated settlement.
• Clayton was the lead appellate attorney before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in a Section 1983 liability case against the Grand Junction Police Department, representing a courageous woman who was raped by a GJPD Officer with a record of sexual assaults. Schneider v. City of Grand Junction Police Dep't, 717 F.3d 760 (10th Cir. 2013).

Clayton attended law school at the University Of Denver Sturm College Of Law, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. While attending law school, Clayton served as Editor-in-Chief of the globally recognized Denver Journal of International Law and Policy and was the recipient of multiple scholarships. While in law school, Clayton interned at the Colorado State Public Defender’s Appellate Division. After graduating with honors from the University of Denver, Clayton clerked for the Honorable Nancy J. Lichtenstein of the Colorado Court of Appeals, Clayton then joined Starrs Mihm, LLP, a widely-respected boutique litigation firm in Denver, Colorado.  Clayton is an elected officer of the Colorado Plaintiffs’ Employment Lawyers Association (PELA), and sits on that organization’s Legislative Committee. Clayton is also an active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA), and sits on that organization’s Employment Law Committee. As a representative of PELA and CTLA , Clayton has testified before the Colorado General Assembly regarding the expansion of remedies for victims of discrimination.

In addition to advocating for and counseling clients, Clayton is an author, having published several articles in bar organization publications in Colorado, New York, and nationally. Clayton has also published chapters on Social Media and Employment Law in Lawyers’ Professional Liability in Colorado, 3rd Ed. (CLE in Colorado, Inc.). Clayton is also the founder and sole author of WhistleblowerBlawg.com, a blog dedicated to reporting on and analyzing the legal aspects of blowing-the-whistle on wrongful conduct.

Clayton is a native Coloradoan, who grew up in the state’s northern mountains. Clayton’s childhood was anything but typical, growing up on his family’s subsistence farm and ranch, which has equipped him with problem solving skills and tenacity for getting the job done. Clayton is an avid golfer. He looks forward to raising a family with his wife, Rachael, their new son, Jackson, and their Border Collie, Ellie.

Areas of Practice

• Employment Litigation
• Whistleblower and Qui Tam Relator Representation and Litigation
• Civil Rights Litigation
• Legal Malpractice Litigation
• Business Torts & Fraud Litigation
• Civil Appellate Practice

Education

• University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, J.D., Order of St. Ives
• Colorado State University, B.A.

ADMISSIONS:

• Colorado
• United States District Court for the District of Colorado
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals