Get to KnowOur Attorneys

Employment Law:

Partners with employers in many industries to prevent and solve employment problems.

Works with the local and national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and has served as the legal and legislative director for Utah SHRM and Salt Lake SHRM. For such services, National SHRM honored him with its prestigious Capital Award, given annually to one of SHRM’s 170,000 members worldwide. Utah SHRM has given him its Award for Professional Excellence.

Counsels employers on how to minimize and manage risks, including those involving: civil rights, discrimination, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), sexual harassment, other harassment, retaliation, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), payment of wages, overtime pay and exemptions, employee benefits, drug and alcohol testing, workplace violence, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), affirmative action, unemployment compensation, employee misconduct, investigations, unions, unfair labor practices, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), employment contracts, noncompetes, defamation, torts, wrongful discharge, mediation and arbitration.

Represents employers when disputes become lawsuits.

Has successfully handled hundreds of cases before administrative agencies, trial courts, juries, arbitrators, mediators and appeals courts.

Works with clients regarding preventive employment law activities, such as investigations, supervisor and employee training, policy and handbook reviews, job descriptions, human resource audits and counseling on day-to-day employee problems.

Has published numerous articles on employment law topics.

Popular public speaker, often addressing the news media and local and national employer groups on various employment law trends and issues.

Serves as an arbitrator and mediator in employment law disputes.

First Amendment Law:

Assists news and publishing organizations in obtaining access to places and records (FOIA and Utah GRAMA), and in minimizing risks (and responding to claims) of defamation, invasion of privacy, tort and other matters related to publishing.

Represents clients including The Salt Lake Tribune, CNN, the Deseret News, the Associated Press, the Newspaper Agency Corporation, Newsweek, the Society of Professional Journalists, KUTV News, the Utah Media Coalition and KSL-TV and radio.

Member of, and has received “sunshine” and freedom of information awards from, the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Association of Broadcasters.

Co-editor of the Utah Media Law Handbook published by the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Department
Litigation

Practice Groups
Employment and Labor Law
Media

• Jones Waldo 1986 to present

Education

• University of Utah, J.D., 1986
  • Harry S. Truman Scholar
  • Utah Law Review, Member, 1984-1985 and Executive Editor, 1985-1986
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A., in Government/Theology, 1983

Bar Admittance

1986, Utah

• Utah State Bar Association and the American Bar Association, Employment Sections
• Society for Human Resources Management
• Judge Memorial High School Board

• AV Rating Martindale-Hubbell
• Highest ratings, Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2003-present
• Employment Lawyer Of The Year, Utah State Bar, 2001
• Human Resources Executive, Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Lawyers In America, 2010 to present
• Mountain States Super Lawyers, 2007-present
• Utah Business Magazine, Legal Elite, 2006-present
• Best Lawyers In America, “Salt Lake City Best Lawyers Employment Law Lawyer Of The Year,” 2011-2012, 2014
• Best Lawyers In America, First Amendment Law, Labor And Employment Law, 2005-present
• 2018 Lawdragon’s Most Powerful Corporate Employment Lawyer
• Best Lawyer’s 2019 Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law