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Patricia S. Bellac

Founding Attorney

Ms. Bellac is the founding and managing attorney for PSB Law. After earning her undergraduate degree from McGill University, Ms. Bellac worked for an insurance company in the employee benefits department, and a large law firm in New York City, before enrolling in Fordham University Law School in New York City. Ms. Bellac’s interest in employment law and employee benefits is career-long, and she graduated near the top of her class at Fordham Law. After graduation, Ms. Bellac obtained her license to practice law in the State of New Jersey and went to work in her first job as an associate attorney for a large employment law firm, Carpenter Bennett and Morrissey. In 1993, Ms. Bellac moved to Colorado, became licensed, and has made her home here ever since. PSB Law Firm was established in 1999 and has grown from a solo practice to a small law firm over the last few years. Ms. Bellac raised her three sons here in Colorado and enjoys outdoor sports and adventures when not practicing law.

After moving to Colorado, she became an associate at Berenbaum, Weinshienk & Eason, P.C. Ms. Bellac has represented employees, employers, corporations, trade organizations, and those involved in employee benefit claims. She is active in the Boulder County Bar Association and served as its Labor and Employment Co-Chair, and she is also a member of the Colorado Plaintiff's Employment Lawyers' Association, the Colorado Bar Association, and the local Chamber of Commerce.

She is a frequent lecturer and published author of various professional works, including articles in the Boulder County Bar Association Newsletter, “Consequences of Independent Contractor Misclassification,” appearing on page 1, and “Changes to Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Law –Evolution And Comparison To Federal Discrimination Protections,” in the BCBA” March 2015 newsletter. She publishes a blog on her website and LinkedIn.

Earlier publications include:

  • Chapter 4 of the Colorado Practitioner's Guide to Employment Law, regarding the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (2008, supplemented 2011 and 2012)
  • “The Legal Advantages of Employment,” Boulder County Bar Association newsletter (January 2001)
  • "The DOL's Final Regulation Under the Family and Medical Leave Act," Colorado Lawyer. May 1995 at 1049
  • "Objective Job Requirements Help Employees Avoid Legal Claims," Real Estate J., April 5-April 18, 1995 at 10.

She has been recognized by Strathmore and Marquis' Who's Who in American Law and Who’s Who in the World and named a Colorado Super Lawyer. She is rated AV-Preeminent status with Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review (2013-2019).

Practice Areas

  • Employment law
  • Counsel for businesses and entrepreneurs
  • General business counsel and problem resolution
  • Business organization and choice of entity
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Contracts and transactions
  • Preventive employment counseling
  • Employment contracts, non-compete agreements and non-disclosure agreements
  • Employee benefits and ERISA
  • Business immigration
  • Business litigation
  • Protection of trademarks and service marks
  • Federal and state employment litigation
  • Employment issues for public employees
  • Independent contractor status issues
  • EEOC and CCRD claims
  • Wage and hour disputes
  • Wrongful termination
  • Health care law
  • Mediation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution

Education

  • Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York
    • J.D. - 1991
    • Honors: Moot Court Competitor
    • Honors: Top 25% of her class
  • McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
    • B.A., Political Science - 1983
    • Honors: McGill Varsity Ski Team and Debating Teams
    • Honors: Manager, Environmental Political Action Committee
    • Honors: Coordinator, Environmental Political Action Committee

Classes & Seminars

  • Speaker, Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act's New Frontiers, Boulder County Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section), 11/12/2013 to 11/12/2013
  • Private Disability and PERA: Strategic Considerations for Disabled Clients, Plaintiffs' Employment Lawyers' Association Annual Retreat, 2012 to 2012
  • Panelist, Non-Monetary Considerations in Mediating Employment Cases: Where do Emotions go When the Case is Over?, Boulder County Bar Association Labor and Employment Section, 12/11/2012 to 12/11/2012
  • Panelist, Application of Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) to Real-Life Scenarios, Plaintiffs', Employment Lawyers' Association, Brown Bag Presentation, 06/17/2011 to 06/17/2011
  • What Is Left of the Colorado Wage Claim Act: 2003 Revisions, Lorman Education Seminars, 03/03/2004 to 03/03/2004
  • Speaker, Colorado Wage Claim Act, Boulder County Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section), 09/09/2003 to 09/09/2003
  • The Legal Advantages of Employment, BCBA Newsletter, 2001 to 2001
  • Overview of the ADA, Boulder Chamber of Commerce, 1999 to 1999
  • Speaker, Employment Law Section, Boulder County Bar Association, 1998
  • Effective Employment Policies, Jung & Assocs. P.C. Firm Seminar, 1998 to 1998
  • ERISA and Insurance Claims Appeals: A Patient's Bill of Rights, Labor and Employment Law Sections, BCBA, 12/03/1998 to 12/03/1998
  • What Is ERISA, and How to Win that Insurance Claim Appeal, Leads Group, 10/22/1998 to 10/22/1998
  • Speaker, Colorado Women's Bar Association, 1995 to 2005
  • Speaker, Boulder Chamber of Commerce

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Boulder County Legal Services, Attorney Volunteer, 09/1999 to Present
  • Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, Volunteer, 10/2011 to Present
  • Boulder Chamber of Commerce, 1999 to Present
  • Boulder County Legal Services, Pro Bono Attorney, 1998 to Present
  • Colorado Chamber of Commerce

Past Positions

  • King & Greisen, LLP, Denver, Colorado, Of Counsel, Part Time: Compliance Enforcement Team in Montez v. Colorado Department of Corrections, 2006 to 2008
  • Jung & Associates, P.C., Boulder, Colorado, 1998 to 1999
  • Berenbaum, Weinshienk, & Eason, Denver, Colorado, Associate Attorney, 1993 to 1998
  • Carpenter, Bennett & Morrissey, Newark, New Jersey, 1990 to 1993
  • Proskauer, Rose, Goetz & Mendelsohn, New York, New York, Legal Assistant/ERISA/Tax
  • Alexander & Alexander Consulting Group, New York, New York

Published Works

  • “Consequences of Independent Contractor Misclassification,” Boulder County Bar Association Newsletter, May 2018, p.1
  • “Changes To Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Law –Evolution and Comparison To Federal Discrimination Protections,” Boulder County Bar Association Newsletter, March 2015 newsletter
  • Book Chapter: "The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act," Practitioner's Guide to Colorado Employment Law, December, 2008; Revised 2010 and Supplemented 2011
  • The Legal Advantages of Employment, Boulder County Bar Association newsletter, January, 2001
  • Objective Job Requirements Help Employees Avoid Legal Claims, Real Estate Journal, April 5-April 18, 1995
  • The DOL's Final Regulation Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Colorado Lawyer, May, 1995
  • Book Chapter, New Jersey Employment Law, 1992
  • Daily Camera, Occasional Columnist, 1998-1999
  • Chapter 4 of the Colorado Practitioner's Guide to Employment Law, Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, 2008

Professional Associations

  • Boulder County Bar Association, Employment Law Section, Co-Chair, 2015 to 2017
  • Boulder County Bar Association, Employment Law Section, 1998 to Present
  • Colorado Women's Bar Association, 1995 to 2001
  • Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition, 1994 to 1995
  • Colorado Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, 1993 to Present
  • Plaintiffs' Employment Lawyers Association of Colorado ("Colorado PELA"), Present
  • Boulder County Bar Association, Moot Court judge
  • Boulder County Bar Association, Present
  • Boulder County Bar Association, Labor Law Section, Co-Chair, Present
  • Colorado Bar Association, Present

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1991
  • Colorado, 1993
  • U.S. District Court District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit

Current Employment Position

  • Attorney/Owner, 1999

Honors

  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
  • Lead Counsel
  • Strathmore's Who's Who in American Law
  • Colorado Super Lawyer
  • Fellow, Boulder County Bar Association
  • Marquis' Who's Who in American Law
  • Marquis' Who's Who in America
  • National Registry of Who's Who
  • International Who's Who in America
  • Twenty-First Century Award for Achievement, International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England
  • Who's Who in the 21st Century, International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England
  • National Advocates
  • Marquis Who’s Who in the World
  • Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition
  • Strathmore Who’s Who in the World
  • AV- Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Super Lawyers

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