Overview
Erin Bass focuses her practice on labor and employment litigation and counseling matters, as well as complex commercial litigation.
In the labor and employment realm, she develops and implements education programs to train management on best practices and compliance to minimize litigation risk and promote effective management. Erin also designs policies and procedures that provide guidance on lawfully and efficiently managing a workforce. Her litigation experience informs her advice: Erin defends employers against wage-hour class actions and claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, and whistleblower retaliation claims.
Her commercial litigation experience includes defending Fortune 500 corporations and government entities against claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and bad faith.
- Arizona
- US District Court, District of Arizona
- US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
- Hon. Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch, Arizona Supreme Court
- Extern, Hon. Susan R. Bolton, US District Court, District of Arizona
- J.D., University of Arizona College of Law, 2012, summa cum laude; Order of the Coif; Research Editor, Arizona Law Review
- B.A., Arizona State University, 2009, cum laude, Journalism
Representative Matters
Employment Litigation and Counseling
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Claims of whistleblower retaliation under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act and age discrimination brought by a former high-level executive against a publicly-traded company.
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Race, sex, and national origin discrimination charges under Title VII.
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Discrimination and retaliation claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.
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A multi-state wage-hour class action in New York federal court challenging the employer’s tip credit and uniform allowance pay policies under the Fair Labor Standards Act and various state laws.
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A wage-hour class action in California federal court challenging the employer’s piece-rate pay system under the Fair Labor Standards Act and California law and alleging a joint employer relationship.
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Department of Labor wage-hour audits.
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Guiding employers through restructures, relocations, and mass layoffs.
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Claims of wrongful discharge in violation of Arizona’s Employment Protection Act.
Labor
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Consolidated unfair labor practice trial and appeal to the NLRB challenging an employer’s discipline of employees who conducted a demonstration on a retail sales floor.
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Unfair labor practice trial and appeal to the NLRB challenging an employer’s national handbook policies.
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Dozens of other unfair labor practice proceedings, including challenges to an employer’s decision to close a facility and allegations of nationwide retaliation.
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NLRB representation hearing and objections to election proceedings under the expedited election rules.
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Union organizing campaigns in retail stores, distribution centers, food processing plants, and among truck drivers.
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Grievance arbitrations alleging discharge without just cause.
Commercial Litigation
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Federal court case involving inter-governmental claims for preemption, fraud, misrepresentations, and breach of contract.
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Breach of contract and bad faith claims on behalf of a hospital against a medical provider.
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Defense jury verdict for an insurer against allegations of breach of contract and bad faith.
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Partial summary judgment for an insurer on bad faith claims.
Speaking Engagements
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"Arizona's Paid Sick Time Law: Are You in Compliance?," Southwest Arizona Human Resources Association (SAHRA) and RevAZ Workshop, November 14, 2018
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"How to Draft an Employee Handbook According to the NLRB," 12th Annual ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference, November 9, 2018
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"Arizona's Paid Sick Time Law. Are you in Compliance?," Arizona Commerce Authority, RevAZ 2018 Workshop Series, September 13, 2018
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"I'm Still Hoping for the Raise...Denying a Wage Increase During Bargaining: A Look at Arc Bridges Inc. v. NLRB," ABA Committee on the Development of the Law Under the NLRA 2018 Midwinter Meeting, February 26, 2018
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"Defend Trade Secrets Act," MIP Trade Secrets Forum 2016, September 27, 2016
News & Publications
Client Alerts
May 21, 2018
Client Alerts
California Narrows Definition of Independent Contractor; Upends 30-Year Old Test
May 1, 2018
Client Alerts
California Supreme Court Rejects Federal OT Formula; Requires More Expensive Calculation
March 7, 2018
Publications
The Hidden Landmine in Arizona’s Earned Paid Sick Time Law
Az Business magazine
June 15, 2017
Events
Seminars & Events
15th Annual Labor Relations Conference
May 3, 2018
Speakers: Erin Norris Bass, Elizabeth A. Schallop Call, Alan M. Bayless Feldman, Steven D. Wheeless
The Phoenician
6000 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Seminars & Events
13th Annual Labor Relations Conference
May 25, 2016
Arizona Biltmore
2400 East Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, AZ
Noteworthy
- Super Lawyers Southwest, "Rising Star," Employment and Labor (2018)
Professional Affiliations
- Board Member, Maricopa County Bar Association, Employment Law Section
- Secretary, Arizona Law Review Alumni Association
- Law and Legislative Action Committee, Greater Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management
- Past Treasury and Finance Chair, Gabriel's Angels Board of Young Professionals
- National Financial Institutions Employment Lawyers Committee
- Contributing Editor, The Developing Labor Law