Michael J. Petitti, Jr. is a highly experienced attorney with over 30 years of expertise in labor and employment law, human resources management, administrative proceedings, and employment litigation. He serves both employees and employers, providing valuable counsel and representation in a wide range of legal matters.
For employees and members of labor associations, Michael focuses on counseling them regarding their rights and responsibilities in disputes with current or former employers. He represents individuals and groups of employees in administrative investigations and proceedings, including those conducted by the EEOC. Michael also handles individual and class action lawsuits involving private and public employers, including federal, state, county, and municipal entities. Additionally, he assists individuals in negotiating and litigating employment contracts and restrictive covenants.
Michael's experience in employee counseling also benefits his representation of employers. He advises employers on various labor, employment, and human resource management issues. This includes reviewing employee policies, manuals, and handbooks to help prevent disputes, providing guidance on recruitment, interviews, hiring, discipline, and termination, and drafting enforceable employment contracts, including non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants aimed at protecting trade secrets, customer lists, and other confidential information.
Throughout his career, Michael has received numerous honors and awards, including being named "Lawyer of the Year" in Labor Law - Union (Phoenix) by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2019 and 2022, as well as "Lawyer of the Year" in Employment Law - Individuals (Phoenix) in 2017. He has consistently been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law - Individuals, Labor Law - Union, and Labor and Employment Litigation since 2005. He has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Employment & Labor since 2007. Michael holds an AV Preeminent® Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has been included in Who's Who in American Law from 2001 to 2015.
Michael's areas of expertise benefit both workers and employers and cover a wide range of employment-related issues. These include employment discrimination based on protected categories, employment contracts and restrictive covenants, wage disputes, wrongful termination, misclassification of employees, defamation 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, and investigations into employee claims.
He has been involved in notable reported cases, such as Paul R. Peterson Construction, Inc. v. Arizona State Carpenters Health and Welfare Trust Fund. Michael has also contributed to published articles in legal publications, including the Arizona Employment Law Handbook and Arizona Attorney.
Michael is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona's Employment and Labor Law Section (where he serves as an Executive Council Member and Past Chair), the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Arizona Employment Lawyers Association, and the Maricopa County Bar Association.
