LAW
{ EMPLOYMENT & LABOR RELATIONS }
NEIL ALEXANDER
AMY GITTLER
Principal Jackson Lewis P.C. jacksonlewis.com
Shareholder Littler Mendelson, P.C. littler.com Alexander serves as co-chair of the Staffing, Independent Contractors and Contingent Workers Practice Group. His practice includes employment litigation, non-compete litigation and counseling clients on employment risk management for employee workforce or individual employee decisions. Business advice: “It’s a bit of a cliché, but new attorneys need to remember first and foremost that law firms are in the service industry. Hyperresponsiveness is something I take pride in and will serve your interests well in employment law. Companies need to make employment decisions in real time and can’t wait a few days to speak with their attorney.”
JOHN ALAN DORAN
Member Sherman & Howard shermanhoward.com Doran has more than 25 years of experience in all facets of employment law matters. He regularly represents employers in mass employment, wage/hour class and collective action litigation, as well as employment discrimination, public accommodations discrimination, and wrongful termination litigation. Doran represents employers in no-compete, restrictive covenant and trade litigation throughout the U.S. Trend to watch: “The hottest of issues are clearly in play judicially and administratively, including labor law, wage/ hour law, board and agency overreach, discrimination, alternative dispute resolution, LGBT, paid sick leave, political speech in the workplace and more.”
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JOSEPH CLEES
Shareholder Ogletree Deakins ogletreedeakins.com Clees is a founding shareholder of the Phoenix office of Ogletree Deakins. Clees has been honored as one of the “100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers in America” by HR Executive magazine from 2009-2016. Surprising fact” “I was born in a public housing project to two teenage runaways — my parents. After 57 years, they are still the most loving, humble, happy couple I’ve ever known.”
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “The employment law practice will continue to thrive in coming years. Gridlock in Washington, active federal regulators at the regional level, and energized state and local lawmakers will continue to pressure employers with even more expansive employment laws, regulations and interpretations. Additionally, enforcement will continue to be zealous, laws and interpretations will be increasingly inconsistent and workers will be more willing to assert claims against employers. Even in probusiness states like Arizona, ballot propositions and local laws will continue to burden employers and create enhanced rights for workers.”
Gittler opened the Phoenix office in December 2007 and managed it through 2012. She advises, counsels and defends businesses in all aspects of employment law, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, wage and hour, employment discrimination and noncompete agreements. Business advice: “Don’t allow other people to set limits on what you can do. With hard work, you can accomplish whatever you set as your goal.” Source of pride: “Arizona Governing Committee v. Norris is a case I won in the United States Supreme Court. The case established the right of women to receive equal pension benefits upon retirement and equalized forever all employer-sponsored pension plans in the country.”
J. RUSSELL SKELTON
Partner Jones, Skelton & Hochuli jshfirm.com Skelton has been a partner with Jones, Skelton & Hochuli since its inception in 1983. He concentrates his practice on medical malpractice and workers’ compensation defense. Skelton received his law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1969, and his Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel and the Arizona Compensation Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America every year since 1995. He has been listed in Southwest Super Lawyers every year since 2007 and is also rated AVPreeminent with a perfect score.