Lawrence Allen Katz

Partner

• lkatz@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Phoenix Office

Lawrence Allen Katz is a partner in the Phoenix office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP. He is head of the firm's Labor Relations and Employment Law Department and manages the twelve Phoenix attorneys who practice in that area.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Wrongful Discharge Litigation
A significant component of Mr. Katz's work involves state and federal court litigation representing management in the defense of lawsuits alleging violations of employment discrimination statutes, contracts, or various common-law employment rights.  His litigation experience, which has involved several successful jury trials, includes issues under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, The WARN Act, and various related state and federal statutory and common-law claims.  Mr. Katz has successfully argued a number of cases in the appellate courts, including the US Supreme Court.

Labor Relations & Union Avoidance
Mr. Katz assists clients in union-avoidance efforts, represents employers in union elections, in unfair labor practice proceedings, and in other matters before the National Labor Relations Board, and he acts on management's behalf in litigation related to union organizational activities.  In 1983, Mr. Katz successfully argued the Bill Johnson's case in the US Supreme Court, which established the employer's right to sue a labor union for defamatory statements made during otherwise protected activities, such as picketing or strikes.  Mr. Katz and his colleagues in the firm's labor relations and employment law group also have substantial arbitration experience under collective bargaining agreements and have participated in numerous labor contract negotiations.  Mr. Katz frequently counsels employers during union election campaigns and advises them how to avoid unfair labor practices.

Human Resources & Personnel Counseling
Mr. Katz is often called upon to protect companies from unfair competition, theft of trade secrets and business disparagement, and he advises his clients on the preparation and enforcement of non-compete clauses and other restrictive covenants and on labor relations issues pertinent to the change of ownership of a business.  His counseling practice includes advice and representation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, wage and hour statutes, and other labor laws.  Mr. Katz frequently negotiates and drafts employment agreements for high-level corporate officers and litigates disputes arising under such agreements.  Mr. Katz is a firm believer in the need for an attorney specializing in labor relations and employment law to be easily accessible to his clients, and the firm's labor relations and employment group responds quickly to all inquiries.

Noteworthy

• Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2008 for eleven straight years for Labor and Employment Law
• Listed in Who's Who Legal for Management Labour and Employment in 2008
• Received a #1 Ranking in Chambers USA 2007, America's Leading Business Lawyers; Labor & Employment (Arizona)
• Listed in Southwest Super Lawyers 2007 for Labor and Employment Law

News

• Best Lawyers in America Honors 43 Steptoe Attorneys
• 18 Steptoe Attorneys Selected for Who's Who Legal
• 14 Steptoe Attorneys Named Southwest Super Lawyers
• Chambers and Partners Names Steptoe A Leading Firm in 22 Practice Areas
• Best Lawyers in America 2007 Lists Steptoe Attorneys
• Six Make "Best of Arizona" List

Speaking Engagements

• Fifth Annual Labor Relations Conference, April 11, 2008, (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)
• Fourth Annual Labor Relations Conference, May 2, 2007, (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)
• Third Annual Labor Relations Conference, March 31, 2006, (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)
• CUE Spring Conference, "Solicitation and Distribution", 2006
• Training Supervisors to be Effective, Law-Abiding Members of the Union-Avoidance Team: Second Annual Labor Relations Conference, April 8, 2005, (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)
• Labor Relations Panel, April 2, 2004, (A Steptoe-Sponsored Event)

Professional Affiliations

• Arizona Equal Justice Foundation, Board of Directors
• American Bar Association, Sections of Labor Law and Litigation
• Member and past Chair, Labor Law Advisory Council/CUE
• Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Inc.