Colin picture

Colin Tanner

Founding Partner & Of Counsel

Orange County

t: (949) 223-1170

d: (949) 250-5402

e: ctanner@awattorneys.com

VCard

Bio

Colin J. Tanner is a founding partner of the firm and former Chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He advises the firm’s clients regarding their labor and employment practices, including addressing issues of preventive liability, insurance coverage, and risk management. Mr. Tanner has been admitted to practice before most of the courts and administrative tribunals in California and to the US Supreme Court. He has also been admitted to practice in the State of Colorado.  Mr. Tanner is a member of the Bar of the US Supreme Court, California State Bar, Colorado State Bar, American Bar Association, and Orange County Bar Association. He is acknowledged as a member of the 2024 Editorial Board for The California Municipal Law Handbook and serves on the Cal Cities City Attorneys Department Ad-Hoc Committee on Labor & Employment Law.

  • Cal Cities City Attorneys Department Ad-Hoc Committee on Labor & Employment Law

Labor & Employment Special Counsel for:

  • City of Chino

  • City of Fillmore

  • City of Huntington Beach

  • City of Livingston

  • City of Lompoc

  • City of Murrieta

  • City of Perris

  • City of San Dimas

  • City of Santa Monica

  • City of South Gate

  • City of Torrance

  • Casitas Municipal Water District

  • Foothill Municipal Water District

  • Housing Authority of the City of Madera

  • Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino

  • Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District

  • Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority

  • San Diego Housing Commission

  • Southern Inyo Healthcare District

Labor and Employment Special Counsel for:

• City of Arvin

• City of Bell

• City of Carson

• City of Grand Terrace

• City of Irwindale

• City of Lawndale

• City of Lynwood

• City of Morro Bay

• City of Palm Springs

• City of Pasadena

• City of Rancho Palos Verdes

• City of Rialto

• City of Signal Hill

• City of Santa Monica

• City of South El Monte

• City of Suisun City

  • City of Santa Monica

  • Bar of the US Supreme Court

  • State Bar of California

  • State Bar of Colorado

  • US District Court, Central District of California

  • US District Court, Eastern District of California

  • US District Court, Northern District of California

  • US District Court, Southern District of California

Colin is acknowledged as a member of the 2024 Editorial Board for The California Municipal Law Handbook.

Mr. Tanner has authored or co-authored articles which include:

  • AB 1484 Mandates Public Employers to Include Temp. Employees in Permanent Employees' Bargaining Units

  • Employers Have No Duty of Care to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 to Employee's Household

  • SB 931- Public Agencies Beware- PERB Can Award Penalties and Attorneys' Fees for Violations of Government Code Section 3550

  • Are Your District’s Independent Contractors Affected by AB 5 and AB 170?

  • The Do’s and Don’ts of Retaining Independent Contractors

  • Agreements In Employment Discrimination Cases

  • Governor Signs SB 188 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on One’s Natural Hair

  • Governor Signs SB 83 Extending Paid Family Leave Benefits

  • Supreme Court Rules In Janus v. AFSCME That Agency Fees Violate The First Amendment and SB 866 Is Signed Into Law In Response

  • CalPERS Agencies Must Limit Out-of-Class Appointments to 960 Hours per AB 1487

  • New Employer Notice to Employees Requirement for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Time Off

  • DOL Changes CPI Index for LA-RIV-OC in 2018 with New Geographic Areas

  • AB 119 Union Access to Employee Orientation; Minor Revisions to Public Records Act

  • Diploma Mills: How to Prevent Employees from Buying Questionable Degrees

  • Local Officials Must Participate in Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Education

  • CA Supreme Court Case Permits Use of Pitchess Motions in Administrative Disciplinary Appeals

  • Peace Officer Retirement Identification Issues and the Related Endorsement to Carry a Concealed Weapon

  • When is an Administrative Decision Final?

  • 2025 CALPERLA Session Co-Presenter, AI’s Rapidly Evolving Impact On Public Sector HR
    • Presentation in PDF format here.

• Lake Forest Little League, former Vice President & volunteer manager

• AYSO Region 85, former volunteer coach

• California State Soccer Association – South, Certified Coach

Mr. Tanner is a regular presenter on labor and employment topics, including but not limited to:

  • 2025 CALPELRA 2025 Annual Conference, “AI’s Rapidly Evolving Impact On Public Sector HR”
  • CALPELRA 2024 Annual Conference, “Navigating Practical, Ethical, And Legal Considerations In AI-Powered HR”

  • CALPELRA 2023 Annual Conference, “The Good News About The Reinvented CalPERS Retired Annuitant Hiring Requirements”

  • CALPELRA 2022 Annual Conference, “Making a Hit: The Retired Annuitant Remix”
  • 2020 CALPELRA 2020 Annual Conference, “Labor Negotiations In Times Of Fiscal Crisis: Strategies For Confronting New Economic Realties”
  • 2019 Public Employer Labor Relations Association of California's 10th Annual Training Conference, “The ‘California Rule’ Under Attack Still Stands – For Now”
  • 50th California Special Districts Association Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase, “Independent Contractor Do’s and Don’ts”
  • 2018 CALPELRA 2018 Annual Conference, “Navigating The CalPERS Administrative Appeals Process”
  • Public Employer Labor Relations Association of California's 9th Annual Training Conference, “Labor Relations 101”
  • Annual Chapter Conference of Northern California Chapter – International Public Management Association – Human Resources (NCCIPMA-HR), “Let the Grieving Process Begin - Evaluating the Grievance Scope, Grievability, Timeliness, and Management Rights as Potential Defenses.”
  • 2017 Annual Chapter Conference of Northern California Chapter – International Public Management Association – Human Resources (NCCIPMA-HR), "When All Else Fails – Gearing Up for Imposition: Prerequisites, Techniques, and Approach."
  •  2016 National Public Employer Labor Relations Board (NPELRA) Labor Relations Academy I: “The Foundation of Labor Relations.”
  • Public Employer Labor Relations Association of California's Training Conference, “Basic Principles And Practices Of Collective Bargaining And Tools Of The Trade.
  • Public Employer Labor Relations Association of California's 7th Annual Training Conference, “Preparing for Negotiation.”

  • University of CA, Hastings, JD, 1990

  • University of CA, San Diego, BA, 1987