Theodore “Ted” Boutrous Jr. is not exactly known for being shy. The gregarious Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner, with his trademark swoop of silvery hair, has been at the forefront of some of the most heated legal battles around the country, from Wal-Mart v. Dukes to the fight over California’s gay marriage ban.

Now, he’s at ground zero of the next big courtroom showdown: defending Uber Technologies Inc. and its view of how drivers fit into the “gig economy.”