Kristy L. Peters

kpeters@littler.com
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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
  • 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
  • Prevailed on summary judgment in restrictive covenants case resulting in an award of $150,000 in attorneys’ fees
  • Obtained complete defense verdict in 4-day arbitration alleging discrimination and retaliation
  • Obtained complete defense verdict in 8-day arbitration alleging discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
  • Obtained preliminary injunction against former employees and new employer for violating restrictions on competition, solicitation, and confidentiality

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.

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

Credentials & Recognition

Speaking Engagements

Best Practices for Leaves and Accommodations

  • August 28, 2024
  • Arizona SHRM State Conference

2021 Workplace Safety and Employment Update

  • February 17, 2021
  • Arizona HR Executive Forum (AZHREF)

Education at Home and the Impacts on Women in the Workplace

  • November 17, 2020
  • Arizona Human Resources Executive Forum

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

  • October 10, 2019
  • Littler Arizona Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

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

  • August 30, 2019
  • Employment Law Update, 2019 AZ SHRM State Conference

Employment Law Update - Keynote

  • August 30, 2019
  • Arizona SHRM State Conference

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

  • August 27, 2019
  • Arizona SHRM State Conference

Ethical Issues – Can they Really Do That?

  • June 18, 2019
  • Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)

The Interactive Process Under the ADA – Practical Tips

  • June 12, 2019
  • EEOC Phoenix Seminar

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

  • January 25, 2019
  • 2019 Arizona SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference

Employment Law Update - Keynote

  • August 31, 2018
  • Arizona SHRM State Conference

What Do You Mean It Isn’t Privileged

  • May 15, 2018
  • Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)

Implicit Bias in the Workplace

  • October 17, 2017
  • 2017 Littler Arizona Employer Conference

Employment Law Update - Keynote

  • September 1, 2017
  • Arizona SHRM State Conference

Defend Trade Secrets Act

  • October 25, 2016
  • Littler Arizona Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

Trade Secrets Finally Get Federal Law Protection

  • May 23, 2016
  • State Bar of Arizona – Defend Trade Secrets Act, Phoenix, AZ

Drug Testing and Medical Marijuana

  • May 13, 2016
  • Nineteenth Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar/HR Summit, Prescott, AZ

Employee Documentation and Evaluation Tools

  • April 11, 2016
  • Arizona SHRM GP Presentation, Phoenix, AZ

Law and Legislative Update Panel

  • January 28, 2016
  • SHRMGP West Valley Breakfast, Glendale, AZ

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

  • August 27, 2015
  • Arizona SHRM 2015 State Conference, Phoenix, AZ

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

  • August 12, 2015
  • Central Arizona Human Resource Management Association Monthly Meeting, Casa Grande, AZ

Additional Thought Leadership

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

  • April 2018
  • Phoenix Business Journal

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?

  • September 2017
  • Phoenix Business Journal

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?

  • May 2016
  • Phoenix Business Journal

Paying Unused Vacation to Arizona Employees

  • November 2014
  • Phoenix Business Journal

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

  • October 2014
  • Record Reporter

Personnel Files Access to Arizona Employers

  • September 2014
  • Phoenix Business Journal

Regional Challenges: Southwest--May 2011

  • May 2011
  • PEO Insider
  • National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
  • Neil M. Alexander

Let us know how we can help you navigate your particular workplace legal issues.