Overview

Kristy L. Peters represents and counsels employers regarding all types of labor and employment matters arising under federal and state laws, including:

  • Discrimination issues
  • Unfair competition
  • Trade secrets
  • Restrictive covenants
  • The Legal Arizona Workers Act
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • The Uniform Trade Secrets Act
  • Arizona Medical Marijuana Act

Kristy litigates matters in both federal and state court, including wrongful termination claims, discrimination and harassment claims, and trade secrets and unfair competition claims. She regularly appears in front of the EEOC in the investigation, mediation, and conciliation process. Kristy also drafts employment agreements and restrictive covenants, drafts employer policies and handbooks, conducts employee training and advises on workplace issues.

Some of Kristy's notable decisions include the following:

  • Obtained a temporary restraining order against a former employee and her new employer for violation of a non-solicitation agreement and misappropriation of trade secrets
  • Prevailed on summary judgment in multiple cases with former employees alleging discrimination
  • Obtained adverse inference in trade secret case based on destruction of evidence, leading to favorable settlement for client
  • Prevailed on summary judgment against former employee alleging wrongful termination under the Arizona Employment Protection Act and defamation
  • Summary judgment affirmed by the Ninth Circuit in multiple cases alleging discrimination as well as violation of other state and federal laws

In law school, Kristy was articles editor for the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology and in college she was a sports writer for The Daily Cardinal.

Kristy serves on the Steering Committee of Littler’s Women’s Leadership Initiative. She also is the Associate Committee Liaison for the Phoenix Office. Additionally, Kristy leads Littler’s participation in the Diversity Legal Writing Program through the State Bar of Arizona.

*Not licensed to practice in New Mexico. Acting only in the capacity of a management role.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Lawyer Representative, 9th Circuit

U.S. District Court, District of Arizona

October 2018-August 2021

Immediate Past President

former Vice President, former Treasurer and former Secretary

Federal Bar Association, Phoenix Chapter

2013-present

Member

Arizona Women Lawyer's Association

Member

Law and Legislative Action Committee

SHRM of Greater Phoenix (SHRMGP)

Member

Society of Human Resource Management

Member, Board of Directors

Phoenix ToolBank

2016-present

Board Member

Arizona Human Resources Executive Forum

January 2019-present

Member, CLE Committee

Labor and Employment Law Section

State Bar of Arizona

2014-2017

Member, Executive Council

Young Lawyers Division

State Bar of Arizona

2006 - 2011

Member, Board of Directors

Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

2009-2011

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2018-2024

Named, Lawyer of the Year

Employment Law - Management, Phoenix

The Best Lawyers in America®

2022

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona

AZ Big Media

2021-2022, 2024

Named, Arizona Business Leaders

Employment and Labor Relations

Az Business Magazine

2020, 2023

Ranked, Labor & Employment

Chambers USA

2022-2023

Named, 40 Under 40

Phoenix Business Journal

2020

Named, 50 Most Influential Women in Arizona Business

Az Business Magazine

2019

Named, Rising Star

Arizona Southwest

Super Lawyers

2014-2019

Recipient, Client Choice Award

International Law Office

2019

News, Analysis & Press

40 Under 40 2020: Kristy Peters, Littler Mendelson

Phoenix Business Journal

August 6, 2020

Ask the Legal Expert: Can I immediately fire a manager based on sexual harassment allegations?

Phoenix Business Journal

April 2018

Ask the Legal Expert: My employee’s intermittent Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) absences only occur on Mondays and Fridays so I suspect FMLA abuse. What can I do?

Phoenix Business Journal

September 2017

Ask the Legal Expert: How does the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA) protect my company’s trade secrets and what should I do to take advantage of the protections?

Phoenix Business Journal

May 2016

Paying Unused Vacation to Arizona Employees

Phoenix Business Journal

November 2014

The Ninth Circuit Holds Section 303 of the Labor Management Relations Act Does Not Completely Preempt State Law Claims That May Constitute Secondary Boycott Activity

Record Reporter

October 2014

Personnel Files Access to Arizona Employers

Phoenix Business Journal

September 2014

Regional Challenges: Southwest--May 2011

PEO Insider

National Association of Professional Employer Organizations

May 2011

Speaking Engagements

2023 Arizona Regional Employer Conference

Phoenix, AZ

November 1, 2023

2022 Arizona Regional Employer Conference

Phoenix, AZ

October 13, 2022

2021 Arizona Virtual Regional Employer Conference

Phoenix, AZ

October 12, 2021

Protecting Confidential Information and Customers Through the Use of Restrictive Covenant Agreements

Phoenix, AZ

September 29, 2021

Littler’s Annual Report on the EEOC: A Practical Primer on Organizational, Procedural and Case Developments

April 14, 2021

2021 Workplace Safety and Employment Update

Arizona HR Executive Forum (AZHREF)

February 17, 2021

Education at Home and the Impacts on Women in the Workplace

Arizona Human Resources Executive Forum

November 17, 2020

Arizona Virtual Employer

October 20, 2020

COVID-19 Guidance for Employers: Part II, Preparing for the Coming Wave of Legal Claims

Phoenix, AZ

May 21, 2020

COVID-19 Guidance for Employers: Part I, Updates and Practical Tips

May 14, 2020

Littler’s Annual Report on the EEOC: A Practical Primer On Organizational, Procedural, and Case Developments

March 10, 2020

Mastering the Complicated Ones: Examining HR Scenarios Involving Difficult Decisions and Legal Risks

Littler Arizona Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

October 10, 2019

Employment Law Update - Keynote

Arizona SHRM State Conference

August 30, 2019

The EEOC: Where We’ve Been and What’s on the Horizon

Employment Law Update, 2019 AZ SHRM State Conference

August 30, 2019

Scrutinizing Sexual harassment: How The HR Professional Becomes The First Responder and the First Line of Defense - Keynote

Arizona SHRM State Conference

August 27, 2019

Ethical Issues – Can they Really Do That?

Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)

June 18, 2019

The Interactive Process Under the ADA – Practical Tips

EEOC Phoenix Seminar

June 12, 2019

Littler’s Annual Report on the EEOC: Where We’ve Been and What’s on the Horizon

February 22, 2019

Littler's Annual Report on the EEOC: Where We've Been and What's on the Horizon

February 19, 2019

Accommodating Service Animals – Keynote; Me-Too and Gender Pay Disparity

2019 Arizona SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference

January 25, 2019

Employment Law Update - Keynote

Arizona SHRM State Conference

August 31, 2018

What Do You Mean It Isn’t Privileged

Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)

May 15, 2018

Littler’s Annual Report on the EEOC: Where We’ve Been and What’s on the Horizon

February 28, 2018

Implicit Bias in the Workplace

2017 Littler Arizona Employer Conference

October 17, 2017

Employment Law Update - Keynote

Arizona SHRM State Conference

September 1, 2017

Defend Trade Secrets Act

Littler Arizona Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

October 25, 2016

Trade Secrets Finally Get Federal Law Protection

State Bar of Arizona – Defend Trade Secrets Act, Phoenix, AZ

May 23, 2016

Drug Testing and Medical Marijuana

Nineteenth Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar/HR Summit, Prescott, AZ

May 13, 2016

Employee Documentation and Evaluation Tools

Arizona SHRM GP Presentation, Phoenix, AZ

April 11, 2016

Law and Legislative Update Panel

SHRMGP West Valley Breakfast, Glendale, AZ

January 28, 2016

You Can’t Make Me Come To Work: Case Studies Under the ADA, Reasonable Accommodation and Protected Leaves of Absence

Arizona SHRM 2015 State Conference, Phoenix, AZ

August 27, 2015

Past, Present, & Future of Employment & Labor Law: Lessons Learned, Critical New Developments & Future Challenges - The 2015 Employment Law Update

Central Arizona Human Resource Management Association Monthly Meeting, Casa Grande, AZ

August 12, 2015

Top Employment Issues Faced by In-House Counsel

State Bar of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ

November 5, 2014

The 2014 Arizona Employer Conference

Phoenix, AZ

October 2, 2014

Employee Document Essentials – What to Keep, What to Trash and What Could Land Your Business in the Courtroom

SHRM of Greater Phoenix, University Club, Phoenix, AZ

September 23, 2014

Defending Title VII Litigation: Rethinking Strategies After Recent Employee-Friendly Federal Court Rulings

Strafford National Webinar

June 18, 2014

Let the Whistle Blow: Understanding and Responding to Retaliation Claims

State Council Law & Legislative Conference - Arizona SHRM, Phoenix, AZ

February 2014

Employment Law Update

Organization for Nonprofit Executives (ONE), Phoenix, AZ

November 30, 2012

Employment Law Update

Central Arizona Human Resource Management Association, Casa Grande, AZ

November 14, 2012

Employer Obligations Under The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act

Northwest Arizona Human Resource Association, Kingman, AZ

November 9, 2012

Three Legal Stumbles to Avoid in Your Small Business

Annual Conference - Arizona SHRM

August 2012

3rd Annual Public Sector Employment Law Update

Phoenix, AZ

May 23, 2012

Conducting Workplace Investigations

Legislative Action Committee - Valley of the Sun Human Resources Association

May 2012

Employment Law Update

Central Arizona Human Resource Management Association

November 2011

Employment Law Update

Organization for Nonprofit Executives (ONE), Phoenix, AZ

November 2011

Public Employer, Employment Law Update

Annual Conference - Arizona SHRM

August 2011

Healthcare Reform and Medical Marijuana

Central Arizona Human Resource Management Association

April 2011

Annual Public Sector Employment Law Update

February 2011

Employment Law Update

Central Arizona Human Resource Management Association

November 2010

Top Ten Human Resources Mistakes

October 2010

Lock It Up: Protecting Your Trade Secrets and Preventing Unfair Competition

Better Business Bureau Legal Services

October 2008

Education

  • J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, 2006cum laude
  • B.B.A., University of Wisconsin, 2003With Distinction

Bar Admission

Arizona
Colorado

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona