Jill focuses on helping businesses of all sizes and in a variety of industries with their employment law needs. She advises employers regarding compliance with the many federal and state laws that govern the workplace and regularly provides training for supervisors and human resource professionals. When disputes arise, Jill represents employers before administrative agencies, in arbitration proceedings, and in litigation in federal and state courts regarding a variety of employment-related claims. Jill also works closely with the firm's health care and criminal defense lawyers in defending clients in False Claims Act qui tam actions. .
EDUCATION AND BAR ADMISSIONS
- J.D., Boston University School of Law, 1995; Note Editor, Boston University Law Review, 1994-95
- B.A., Stanford University, 1990
- Admitted in Arizona, 1999
- Admitted in Massachusetts, 1995 (inactive)
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Helping employers comply with workplace laws and regulations, including the FMLA and ADA, the Legal Arizona Workers Act and federal I-9 requirements, and federal and state wage and hour laws
- Working with employers to minimize risk when dealing with employee discipline and discharge situations
- Preparing offer letters, employment contracts, confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements, severance agreements (including for RIFs), employee handbooks and other employment-related documents
- Training human resources personnel and front-line managers regarding the workplace legal environment, including prevention of unlawful discrimination and harassment
- Investigating and responding to administrative charges and complaints filed with the EEOC, ACRD, DOL and other government agencies
- Representing employers in lawsuits alleging violation of employment laws, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages
- Prosecuting and defending claims arising out of employee departures, including alleged breaches of post-employment restrictive covenants
- Counsel for America West Airlines in Galati v. America West Airlines, Inc., 69 P.3d 1011 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2003) (affirming dismissal of alleged whistleblower employment claim)
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES
- Panelist for The Arizona Republic’s “Ask the Experts” column on employment issues
- Co-presenter with Jim Belanger & Julie Nelson, of “The New FCA: How to Survive in a More Aggressive False Claims Act Environment,” 2009
- Author of FMLA chapter and contributor to ADEA chapter in the Arizona Employment Law Handbook, Vol. 2 (2d ed. 2007)
- "Taking Control of Your Workforce: Legal Strategies for Terminations and Reductions in Force," Southwest Employment Law Symposium, 2007
- "FMLA Master Class," M. Lee Smith Publishers seminar, 2006
- "Taming Non-Compete and Confidentiality Agreements in a Fiercely Competitive World," Arizona Employers' Council Annual Conference, 2005
- "Weird, Weirder and Weirdest: How to Handle the Strangest HR Issues," Arizona Employers' Council Annual Conference, 2004
- "What's New With the FMLA and FLSA?", Arizona State Bar Convention, 2004
- Speaker on a variety of topics at Perkins Coie Brown & Bain seminars, including the EEOC's investigation and mediation process, compliance with federal and state immigration rules, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, claims by whistleblowers, and white collar exemptions from federal overtime pay requirements
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND RECOGNITIONS
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law (2012)
- Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell
- Secretary, Executive Council of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona
- Chair of USA Swimming's National Board of Review
- Past member of the Boards of Directors of USA Swimming (1994-2000) and the United States Olympic Committee (1996-2000)
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS
- Member, 1992 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, 200m breaststroke
- NCAA Division I Swimming individual champion, 1990 (200y breaststroke) and team champion, 1989 (Stanford University); 11-time NCAA All-American, 1987-90
Coppersmith Schermer & Brockelman PLC
2800 N. Central Ave.,
Suite 1200
Phoenix, Arizona 85004-1009
P (602) 381-5481
F (602) 772-3781
