Lawrence Katz is a partner in Steptoe's Phoenix office, where he leads the firm's Labor Relations Law Department. Chambers USA 2014 states: "Mr. Katz anchors the firm's relationship with an impressive roster of companies in the automotive and supermarket chain industries, providing counsel on wrongful dismissal disputes, labor and union relations, as well as general personnel matters. Clients say he is a fantastic, responsive lawyer who will give parameters and analyze legal risks.”

Labor Relations & Union-Related Matters
Mr. Katz assists clients in all kinds of union-related issues, including unfair labor practice proceedings and other matters before the National Labor Relations Board, and he has substantial litigation experience related to union activities. In 1983, Mr. Katz successfully argued the Bill Johnson's case in the US Supreme Court, which established the employer's right to sue a labor union for defamatory statements made during otherwise protected activities. Mr. Katz and his colleagues in the firm's labor relations and employment law group also have substantial arbitration experience under collective bargaining agreements and have participated in numerous labor contract negotiations. Mr. Katz also counsels clients on antitrust issues related to labor-management relations, and he has litigated cases alleging Sherman Act violations.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Wrongful Discharge Litigation
A significant component of Mr. Katz's work involves state and federal court litigation under the employment discrimination statutes, contracts, or various common-law employment rights. His litigation experience, which has involved several successful jury trials, includes issues under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, The WARN Act, and various related state and federal statutory and common-law claims. Mr. Katz has successfully argued a number of cases in the appellate courts, including the US Supreme Court.

Human Resources & Personnel Counseling
Mr. Katz is often called upon in matters involving unfair competition, theft of trade secrets and business disparagement, and he advises his clients on the preparation and enforcement of non-compete clauses and other restrictive covenants and on labor relations issues pertinent to the change of ownership of a business. His counseling practice includes advice and representation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, wage and hour statutes, and other labor laws. Mr. Katz frequently negotiates and drafts employment agreements for high-level corporate officers and litigates disputes arising under such agreements. Mr. Katz is a firm believer in the need for an attorney specializing in labor relations and employment law to be easily accessible to his clients, and the firm's labor relations and employment group responds quickly to all inquiries.