John Balitis

Partner

[email protected]

John Balitis

Mr. Balitis counsels private sector clients as well as government agencies, including the Arizona legislature, on a broad range of employment law and labor relations matters. Over his 30 years of practice, he has represented clients in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), U.S. Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Arizona Civil Rights Division, Arizona Industrial Commission, Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Recognizing that some issues need to be resolved at the legislative level, Mr. Balitis has participated in drafting and testifying on Arizona employment-related legislation.

In addition to the administrative and transactional aspects of his practice, Mr. Balitis litigates employment-related disputes in federal and state courts, where he has both bench and jury trial experience and has appeared and argued before the Arizona Court of Appeals. He has considerable experience prosecuting and defending employment claims in preliminary injunction proceedings and representing union employers in labor arbitrations involving disputes under collective bargaining agreements. Mr. Balitis also is experienced in training, investigating, writing, speaking, publishing, and interacting with the media on employment-related topics and developments.

In addition to his litigation experience representing clients in bench trials, jury trials, appeals, and administrative as well as union/management forums, Mr. Balitis’ practice involves extensive work as a neutral in arbitrations and mediations. He serves in this capacity through the American Arbitration Association, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and in privately retained proceedings. Although his ADR background is focused in the employment area, he also handles a wide range of commercial disputes as a neutral.

Mr. Balitis also serves as an arbitrator and mediator for the American Arbitration Association. He participates in proceedings in these capacities in Arizona and other jurisdictions.

Community Involvement

Southwest Human Development

  • Member, Board of Directors

Contemporary Forum

  • Member, Board of Directors

Chrysalis Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, Inc.

  • Former Member, Board of Directors

Florence Crittenton Services of Arizona, Inc.

  • Former Member, Board of Directors

Honors and Awards

  • AZ Big Media, “Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona for 2024” (2024)
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment Law – Band 3 (2019 – 2023); Band 4 (2015 – 2018)
  • AV Preeminent®Peer Review Rated™, Martindale-Hubbell®
  • AZ Business Magazine, “Top 100 Lawyers 2023” (2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Employment Law – Management (2010 – 2023); Labor Law – Management (2010 – 2023); Litigation – Labor and Employment (2010 – 2023)
  • Arizona Business Leaders Magazine, Az Business Leaders, Labor and Employment Relations (2020 – 2023)
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Employment and Labor (2013 – 2023)
  • Phoenix Magazine, “Top Lawyer,” Labor & Employment (2022)
  • AZ Big Media, “Top 100 Lawyers for 2021” (2021)
  • Phoenix Business Journal, “20 People to Know in the Law”(2016)

Articles

Interviews

Presentations

  • “The Impact of the Great Resignation,” Presenter, Jennings Strouss Labor & Employment Webinar(March 2, 2023)
  • “Impact of the Great Resignation,” Presenter, The Gavel National Conference VII(January 16, 2023)
  • “Mediation: Finding Common Grounds,” Panelist, The Lodestar Dispute Center at ASU Law(October 17, 2022)
  • “Employer Liability for Things Unknown ‘Should Have Known’ Conundrums,” The Gavel National Conference VI(January 19, 2022)
  • “Vaccine Mandate Update Regarding its Various Challenges and Compliance,” Mesa Chamber of Commerce(December 7, 2021)
  • “Labor & Employment Fall Webinar,” Moderator, Jennings, Strouss & Salmon( November 4, 2021)
  • “Vaccine: How to Prove a Religious Exemption, ADA/HIPPA Considerations, What Employers Must Do,” Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce Webinar(September 30, 2021)
  • “Tech Ethics and Risk Management,” Care Bridge International and The Gavel Webinar(September 22, 2021)
  • “COVID 19 Vaccines and Employment in Arizona,” AzCourtHelp Webinar(September 21, 2021)
  • “Litigating Morality,” The Gavel National Conference V(May 20, 2021)
  • “Business after COVID-19: Managing Your Employees in the Post-Virus Workplace,” The Gavel National Conference V(May 19, 2021)
  • “Critical Employment Law Issues in 2021,” Moderator, Jennings Strouss Labor & Employment Webinar(April 29, 2021)
  • “What Businesses Need to Know About the Recently Passed COVID-19 Frivolous Lawsuit Bill,” Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce Live Webinar(April 16, 2021)
  • “Vaccination Mandates and the Workplace Implications of Prop. 207,” Moderator, Jennings Strouss Labor & Employment Webinar(December 17, 2020)
  • “Legal Preparedness for Practicing in a Pandemic,” Dentistry Uncensored(December 10, 2020)
  • “Marijuana in the Workplace, What Do You Do?” Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce Live Webinar(December 8, 2020)
  • “Liability Risks from COVID,” The Wealthability Show(June 4, 2020)
  • “Restarting Your Business after COVID-19; Managing Employment, Liability and Regulatory Risks,” Mesa Chamber of Commerce Live Webinar (May 15, 2020)
  • “What Should Businesses Do?,” Co-Presenter, Mesa Chamber of Commerce Live Webinar(March 31, 2020)
  • “Townie Town Hall on COVID-19 – Q&A Panel,” Dentaltown(March 26, 2020)
  • “Managing Innovation Risk,” The Gavel Conference(January 20, 2020)
  • “Accommodating Patients Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” Bayless Integrated Healthcare(December 2, 2019)
  • “Labor & Employment Seminar,” Jennings Strouss & Salmon(November 14, 2019)
  • “Medical Marijuana in the Arizona Workplace,” American Advertising Federation Tucson’s “How To Series”(August 29, 2019)
  • “Protecting Employer Interests: Enforceable and Effective Employment Non-Compete & Non-Solicitation Agreements,” Jennings Strouss & Salmon(March 20, 2019)
  • “Labor & Employment Seminar,” Jennings Strouss & Salmon(November 15, 2018)
  • “Best Practices in Employment Arbitration from the Arbitrator and the Advocate Perspectives,” State Bar of Arizona CLE(November 14, 2017)
  • “Proposition 206,” Lovitt & Touche(June 6, 2017)
  • “Proposition 206,” Fennemore Craig Webinar(May 24, 2017)
  • “Social Media in the Workplace,” Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce(October 28, 2015)
  • “Marijuana in the Workplace,” Moderator (October 6, 2015)
  • “The Art and Science of Healthcare Reform,” Panelist(June 18, 2013)
  • “Alternative Fee Agreements in Litigation – An Overview of Systems in Use,” Association of Corporate Counsel Arizona Chapter(May 2, 2013)
  • “Social Media in the Workplace: What are the Risks and How Can an Employer Avoid Them?” Public Relations Society of America, Phoenix Chapter, Western District Conference(April 19, 2013)

Representative Experience

  • Michael Barrett Conway v. Circle K Stores Inc., No. 1 CA-CV 17-0057 (Ariz. App. Feb. 01, 2018)
  • Mark F. Wynn v. Arizona Department of Economics, No. 1 CA-UB 12–0372 (Ariz. App. Jan. 07, 2014)
  • Lennar Corp. v. Transamerica Ins. Co., No. 1 CA-CV 10-0141 (Ariz. App. April 14, 2011)
  • Lennar Corp. v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 214 Ariz. 255, 151 P.3d 538 (App. 2007)
  • Lopez v. Home Depot U.S.A., 85 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. (BNA) 282 (D. Ariz. Feb. 05, 2001)
  • Arizona Retail Systems v. The Software Link, 831 F. Supp. 759 (D. Ariz. 1993)
  • John C. Lincoln Hosp. v. Superior Court, 159 Ariz. 456, 768 P.2d 188 (App. 1989)
  • Weller v. Blue Circle, 176 Ariz. 220. 176 Ariz. 220, 860 P.2d 487 (Ariz. App. Div.1 1993)