Overview

Steve Biddle has successfully defended public and private sector employers in employment-related litigation and regularly advises companies in all human resources matters. He represents management in issues related to:

  • Occupational safety and health compliance
  • Union organization
  • Collective bargaining
  • Unfair labor practices
  • Union elections
  • Compliance and litigation regarding employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation
  • Wrongful termination
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Unemployment compensation investigations
  • Wage and hour matters
  • Indian gaming, tribal employment and casino issues
  • Employment tort and contract litigation
  • Drug testing and marijuana in the workplace

He appears in federal, state, and appellate courts and represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other government agencies. He also handles arbitration and mediation.

Steve has specific experience with claims arising under:

  • The Occupational Safety and Health Act (and state equivalents)
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act
  • The National Labor Relations Act
  • The Fair Labor Standards Act
  • The Labor Management Relations Act
  • The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
  • The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
  • Arizona and New Mexico employment statutes

He also assists clients with employment class actions, business restructuring, employment policies and procedures, and compliance counseling.

Additionally, Steve speaks to various employer groups and bar associations on labor and employment law, OSHA, Indian law, and other employment-related topics. His experience with legislative lobbying and bill drafting includes drug testing, the Arizona Employment Protection Act and workers' compensation group self-insurance.

Steve works with a diverse range of clients, including:

  • Retail
  • Real estate investment companies
  • Law firms and other professional services firms
  • Non-profits
  • Utilities
  • Medical practices
  • Security/law enforcement
  • Governments
  • Indian tribes
  • Casinos
  • Hotels
  • Construction
  • Homebuilders
  • Universities and colleges
  • Trade schools
  • Transportation
  • Manufacturers and distributors
  • Biotech

Since 2017, Steve has served as a Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, teaching courses in advanced labor and employment topics.

Prior to working at Littler Mendelson, Steve was a partner at two other firms in the Phoenix area.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Arbitrator

Maricopa County Superior Court

1995-present

Member

Maricopa County Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Member

Section on Labor and Employment Law

American Bar Association

Member

Employment and Labor Law Section

State Bar of Arizona

Member

Indian Law Section

State Bar of Arizona

Member

Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Law

American Bar Association

Member, Board of Directors

Scottsdale Arts

Member

Human Resources People and Strategy

Founding Board Member

Arizona Human Resources Executive Forum

Pro Bono Consultant

Arts and Business Council of Phoenix

Member, Board of Visitors

James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona

Former Chair

Minorities in Law Committee

Maricopa County Bar Association

Former Member

Minorities in Law Committee

Maricopa County Bar Association

Former Member

Corporate Counsel Division

Maricopa County Bar Association

Former Member

Employment Law Section

Maricopa County Bar Association

Former Member, Editorial Board

Arizona Attorney Magazine

State Bar of Arizona

Former President and Board Member, Board of Directors

Community Legal Services

Former Member, Board of Trustees

Ballet Arizona

Former Member, Board of Directors

Kids Voting

Former Member

Employment Law Committee

Arizona Association of Defense Counsel

Former Chair

Employment Law Committee

Arizona Association of Defense Counsel

Former Member

National Indian Gaming Association

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2014-2025

Fellow

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Inducted 2011

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona

AZ Big Media

2020-2022

Named, Arizona Business Leaders

Arizona Business Magazine

2019-2021

Named, Super Lawyer

Southwest

Super Lawyers

Named, Top Pro Bono Attorney

Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education

June 9, 2017

Recipient, Pro Bono Award

Littler Mendelson

2010

Recipient, Decade of Dedication Award

Community Legal Services

2010

News, Analysis & Press

DOL Creates New Whistleblower Protocols

EHS Today

March 19, 2021

Preemption’s Silver Lining: The NLRA Offers California Tribes a Shield Against State Labor Protections

Tribal Gaming and Hospitality

March 2, 2020

New Mexico Supreme Court Holds Tribal Casino Immune from Workers’ Compensation Claims

Littler ASAP reprinted with permission in The Claims Journal

February 3, 2020

Power Play—Women’s Hockey Team Nets New Agreement

ABA Labor and Employment Law Newsletter

June 1, 2017

US Supreme Court Passes on Tribal Casino Labor Case

Daily Business Review

June 28, 2016

U.S. Supreme Court Passes on Tribal Casino Labor Case

National Law Journal

June 27, 2016

Are home care union fee requirements a violation of an employee’s rights?

The Record Reporter

August 1, 2014

From the Experts: Eyes On The Road, Please

Corporate Counsel

July 5, 2011

Labor and Employment Issues for Tribal Employers

34:5 Arizona Attorney 16

1998

When is Workers’ Compensation the Exclusive Remedy in Sexual Harassment Cases

33:4 Arizona Attorney

1996

Employment and Tribal Gaming

Indian Law Section - State Bar of Arizona

1996

Managing COBRA Requirements

ADP Workplace Blueprints

1996

Overview of the Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Arizona School Boards Association Journal

1992

Justice Stevens’ Pro-Land Use Planning Views in Recent Regulatory Taking Cases

21 Urban Lawyer 579

1989

Less Restrictive Alternatives for Achieving and Maintaining Competitive Balance in Professional Sports

30 Arizona Law Review 889

1988

Books & Book Chapters

  • Arizona Wage Laws; Fair Labor Standards Act; Drug and Alcohol Testing; Tribal Employment, Arizona Employment Law Handbook, State Bar of Arizona, Chapter Author and Editor, 1995-present
  • State Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health; Judicial Review of Enforcement Proceedings, Occupational Safety and Health Law, American Bar Association, Chapter Author
  • Sexual and Other Forms of Harassment, Employment Discrimination Law, American Bar Association, Contributor
  • The National Employer, LexisNexis and Littler Mendelson, Contributor, 2000-present
  • The Arizona Employer, Chapter Author and Editor, 2005-present

Speaking Engagements

2023 Arizona Regional Employer Conference

Phoenix, AZ

November 1, 2023

Much Ado about OSHA

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

“I’ll Take Safety and Health for $500!” Critical Safety and Health Questions Answered for the Post-Pandemic World – So YOUR Organization Does Not End Up in JEOPARDY!

Littler Executive Employer Conference

May 5, 2022

2021 Arizona Virtual Regional Employer Conference

Phoenix, AZ

October 12, 2021

Is OSHA Helping Employers Deal With COVID-19

2021 Arizona SHRM Virtual Employment Law & Legislative Conference

February 26, 2021

Medical and Recreational Marijuana in Arizona

Phoenix, AZ

February 24, 2021

2021 Workplace Safety and Employment Update

Arizona HR Executive Forum (AZHREF)

February 17, 2021

Arizona Virtual Employer

October 20, 2020

Updates and Best Practices for Drug Testing and Marijuana in the Workplace

2019 Littler Arizona Employer Conference

October 10, 2019

Medical Marijuana and Drug Testing Update

2018 Littler Arizona Employer Conference

October 25, 2018

What to Expect from OSHA in the Coming Year

Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

May 3, 2018

Employment Practices Liability and Sexual Harassment

RIMS, The Risk Management Society, Arizona Central Chapter

April 9, 2018

Weed at Work: Are Marijuana Users the New Protected Class?

2017 Littler Arizona Employer Conference

October 17, 2017

Arizona Paid Sick Time Update - Are you Compliant?

2017 Littler Arizona Employer Conference

October 17, 2017

Diagnoses and Prescriptions: Top Ten Things Employers Need to Know About Arizona Paid Sick Time Before July 1, 2017

June 6, 2017

The Limits of Work Time: What is Compensable Time?

Littler Arizona Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

October 25, 2016

Food and Beverage Industry Roundtable

The 2016 Executive Employer® Conference, Scottsdale, AZ

May 6, 2016

Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

Phoenix, AZ

August 15, 2013

Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

Phoenix, AZ

August 14, 2013

Hot Topics in Employment and Labor Law

Phoenix, AZ

August 13, 2013

OSHA Update: The 2012 Compliance and Enforcement Agenda

The 2012 Executive Employer® Conference

Littler Mendelson, Scottsdale, AZ

May 10, 2012

The Growing Contingent Workforce and Strategies for Legal Compliance

Arizona State Conference - Society of Human Resource Management

September 2011

Recent Changes in the Law the Impact Employers

Management Students Association - Arizona State University

April 2011

Executive Employment Law Update

Arizona Senior Human Resources Executive Council

March 2011

Enforcement Alert: Significant Changes in DOL’s Wage/Hour Division and OSHA

Annual Employment Law and Legislative Conference - Arizona, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)

March 2011

Arizona’s New Medical Marijuana Act

Arizona HR Consultant’s Forum

February 2011

Littler’s 2010 Employment Law Update

Organization for Nonprofit Executives

November 2010

What's Hot, What's Not: Labor and Employment Laws to Watch for in 2011

Arizona Human Resources Executive Forum

November 2010

Exempt or Non-Exempt? The Expensive Legal Risk Facing Your Organization

Organization for Nonprofit Executives

November 2010

Occupational Safety and Health Update

The 2010 Executive Employer® Conference - Littler Mendelson

April 2010

Business Continuity During the H1N1 Outbreak

November 11, 2009

Business Continuity During the H1N1 Outbreak: Update and Best Practices

Littler Mendelson Webinar

November 2009

H1N1 Influenza Update

American Bakers Association

October 2009

Swine Flu: Preparing the Workplace for a Pandemic

May 6, 2009

H1N1 and the Global Pandemic

Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG) Webinar

May 2009

Swine Flu: Preparing the Workplace for a Pandemic

Littler Mendelson Webinar

May 2009

Preparing for the Significant Safety and Health Initiatives of the New Administration

The 2009 Executive Employer® Conference - Littler Mendelson

April 2009

Employee Free Choice Act

Littler Mendelson

April 2009

Wage and Hour Basics and the Class Action Explosion

Organization for Nonprofit Executives

October 2008

Employment Law Update

Organization for Nonprofit Executives

October 2008

The Latest Issues in Wage and Hour Law: FLSA Update

Arizona Employer Conference

September 2008

Critical Employment Law Issues in Corporate Transactions

Sterling Education Services, Inc.

July 2008

Public Health Concerns in the Workplace

The 2008 Executive Employer® Conference - Littler Mendelson

April 2008

MRSA in the Workplace

Littler Mendelson Webinar

December 2007

MSHA Inspections

Arizona Rock Association

November 2007

Employment Law Update

Arizona Employer Conference

November 2007

Employment Law Update

Organization for Nonprofit Executives

June 2007

Emerging State and Federal Issues: Preparing for Future Employment Law Challenges

Arizona Employer Conference

October 2006

Employment Law Update

Center for Business Excellence - University of St. Thomas

October 2006

Celebrating Ten Years of Mediation at the EEOC

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law

September 2006

Employment Class Actions

Arizona Human Resources Executive Forum

February 2006

FLSA White Collar Exemptions

Council for Education in Management

February 2006

Managing Leaves of Absence

Organization for Nonprofit Executives

November 2005

Drug Testing in Employment

Drugs Don’t Work Arizona

August 2005

Discipline and Termination: Steps to Avoid Wrongful Discharge Liability

Arizona Employer Conference

November 2004

Current Strategies for Union Avoidance

Arizona Hospitality Expo

September 2004

Essentials of Wage and Hour Law

Council for Education in Management

August 2004

New FLSA Regulations and Exemptions

Council for Education in Management

May 2004

Managing the Maze of Leave Laws and COBRA and HIPAA Compliance

ADP

March 2004

Top Ten Best Practices for Employee Benefits

Client Presentation

March 2004

Better Bossing

Arizona Human Resources Executive Forum

February 2004

Employee Benefits Update

Sterling Education Services

October 2003

Employment Law Update

Council for Education in Management

August 2003

HIPAA, COBRA and FMLA

Lorman Education Services

March 2003

OSHA, Workers’ Comp and Ergonomics: Maintaining a Safe Work Environment

Arizona Employer Conference

October 2002

Labor/Employment Law Update

Community Legal Services

August 2002

Maintaining a Safe Workplace

The 2002 Executive Employer Conference® - Littler Mendelson

June 2002

I-9 Compliance

Sterling Education Services

June 2002

Wage and Hour Law Basics

Client Presentation

April 2002

Interviewing and Hiring: Keeping Your Recruitment Strategies Legal

Council for Education in Management

February 2002

Human Resources Audits

Council for Education in Management

February 2002

Exempt or Non-Exempt?

Personnel Law Update - Council for Education in Management

December 2001

Human Resources Audits: How to Ensure Your Recordkeeping and Compliance Efforts Protect You

Personnel Law Update - Council for Education in Management

December 2001

Employee Drug Testing

Lorman Education Services

June 2001

The Aging Workforce: Attracting and Retaining Older Workers in Today’s Labor Market

Personnel Law Update - Council on Education in Management

December 2000

Is Your Organization Prepared for a Union Organizing Attempt?

8th Annual Human Resource Conference - Arizona Employers Council

December 2000

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls in Your Reference Checking and Reference Giving Practices

Council on Education in Management

June 2000

Labor and Employment for Tribal Gaming

Annual Meeting - National Indian Gaming Association

April 2000

Family and Medical Leave Act Basics

Client Presentation

March 2000

Employer Sanctions and Anti-Discrimination: Basic Immigration Law for Arizona Employers

National Business Institute

December 1999

When the Government Comes Knocking: Responding to Government Inquiries and Investigations

National Business Institute

December 1999

Post-Termination Considerations for Employers

Streich Lang Forum on Labor and Employment Law

October 1999

Post-Termination Considerations

Council on Education and Management

October 1999

Legal Issues for Human Resources Executives

Human Resources Forum

May 1999

COBRA, HIPAA AND FMLA

Client Presentation

March 1999

Creative Settlement Approaches with OSHA

Annual Meeting, Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Law - American Bar Association

February 1999

Economic and Employment Issues in Tribal Gaming

Annual Convention - State Bar of Arizona

June 1998

Successful Right-Sizing

Arizona Association of Industries

February 1998

Litigation Scorecard: Lessons Learned To Date

Center for a Competitive America

January 1998

When the Government Comes Knocking - Responding to Government Inquiries and Investigations

Streich Lang Forum on Labor and Employment Law

October 1997

ERISA, Savings Plans and COBRA

Streich Lang Forum on Labor and Employment Law

October 1996

Sexual Harassment and Cultural Issues Affecting the Tribal Employer/Employee Relationship

Indian Law Section - State Bar of Arizona

October 1996

How to Protect Your Company from OSHA Citations and Penalties

Labor and Employment Law Annual Update - NBI

October 1995

New Developments in Employee Drug Testing Law

Labor and Employment Law Seminar

October 1995

Ethical Considerations in Hiring, Firing and Nepotism, Indian Gaming - Human Resources Problems, Processes and Solutions

National Indian Gaming Association

October 1995

Sexual Harassment and Sex Discrimination in the Workplace, Indian Gaming - Human Resources Problems, Processes and Solutions

National Indian Gaming Association

October 1995

Drug-Free Workplace Laws and Drug Testing

Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

June 1995

Affirmative Action: Has It Out-Lived Its Usefulness?

Arizona Human Resources Association

May 1995

Paying Non-Exempt Employees in an All Salaried Workforce

East Valley Human Resources Association

January 1995

Immigration Law Refresher

Labor and Employment Law Seminar

November 1994

Negligent Hiring

Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium

September 1994

Hiring and Firing - What Are Your Risks?

Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium

October 1993

Restrictive Covenants

Labor and Employment Law Seminar

October 1993

Required Postings in the Workplace

Arizona Independent Electrical Contractors Association

October 1992

How to Educate, Train and Investigate Acts of Misconduct and Harassment

Labor and Employment Law Seminar

October 1992

Workplace Safety

Labor and Employment Law Seminar

November 1991

Americans with Disabilities Act Basics

Labor and Employment Law Seminar

September 1990

Education

  • J.D., University of Arizona College of Law, 1989cum laude
  • M.S., University of Delaware, 1984
  • B.A., University of Delaware, 1982

Bar Admission

Arizona
New Mexico

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals
  • Arizona Supreme Court