ABOUT MICHAEL
Employees and employers alike benefit from Mike Petitti’s 30-plus years of experience in labor and employment law, human resources management, administrative proceedings and employment litigation.
EMPLOYEE COUNSELING
Michael’s services to public and private sector employees and members of labor associations emphasize counseling them on their rights and responsibilities in disputes against current or former employers. For workers whose claims may lead to EEOC and other administrative investigations and proceedings, Michael and his colleagues represent individuals and groups of employees in matters and class actions involving private and public employers, including the federal government and state, county and municipal employers. In addition, Michael frequently assists individuals in negotiating and litigating employment contracts and restrictive covenants.
EMPLOYER PROTECTION
Michael’s experience in advising employees also adds value to their representation of employers in a wide variety of labor, employment and human resource management issues. We help employers avoid employee-related disputes through informed review of their employee policies, manuals and handbooks; guidance in employee recruiting, interviewing, hiring, discipline and termination; and drafting of enforceable employment contracts, including non-compete agreements, such as trade secret protection, customer list protection, and other restrictive covenants.
PRACTICE AREAS
HONORS AND AWARDS
- “Lawyer of the Year,” Labor Law – Union (Phoenix), The Best Lawyers in America®, 2019 and 2022
- “Lawyer of the Year,” Employment Law – Individuals (Phoenix), The Best Lawyers in America®, 2017
- The Best Lawyers in America (Employment Law – Individuals, Labor Law – Union, Labor and Employment Litigation), 2005-present
- Super Lawyers (Employment & Labor), 2007-present
- AV Preeminent® Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
- Who’s Who in American Law, 2001-2015
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Arizona: Employment and Labor Law Section, Executive Council Member and Past Chair
- National Employment Lawyers Association
- Arizona Employment Lawyers Association
- Maricopa County Bar Association
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE BENEFITING WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS
- Employment discrimination based on age, gender, race, disability and other protected categories
- Employment contracts, non-compete clauses and other restrictive covenants
- Wage disputes, including wage-and-hour and overtime requirements
- Wrongful termination
- Misclassification of employees as independent contractors
- Defamation (libel and slander) and invasion of privacy
- Sexual harassment and hostile work environment
- ADA compliance
- Civil Rights Act compliance
- Employee benefits
- Union/Management issues
- Unemployment insurance claims
- Human resource management
- Employer policies and manuals
- Investigations into employee claims
BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS
- Arizona, 1987
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
REPORTED CASES
- Paul R. Peterson Construction, Inc. v. Arizona State Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust Fund, 179 Ariz. 474, 880 P.2d 694 (App. 1994)
PUBLISHED ARTICLES
- “Invasion of Privacy” (co-author), Arizona Employment Law Handbook, State Bar of Arizona, 2017 Edition
- Arizona Employment Law Handbook (Contributing Chapter Author), State Bar of Arizona, 2016 Edition
- Arizona Employment Law Handbook (Chapter Author), State Bar of Arizona, 2007 Edition
- “Drug and Alcohol Testing in Arizona: The Plaintiff’s Perspective,” Arizona Attorney, State Bar of Arizona, December 1994
EDUCATION
- J.D., cum laude, Arizona State University, 1987: Willard H. Pedrick Scholar; Arizona State Law Journal, 1985-1986
- B.A., Arizona State University, 1982