Email Kent | 602-381-5477 | V-Card
Kent represents employers in a wide variety of employment matters and serves as principal outside employment counsel for a number of employers headquartered or with substantial operations in Arizona. His regular work includes complex employment litigation in state and federal courts and other sorts of employment-related dispute resolution, including arbitrations and administrative proceedings, drafting employment contracts and policies, and daily counseling about employment law issues as they arise in the workplace. He also regularly advises companies about business disputes and serves as lead counsel in related litigation.
Representative Matters
- Defending employers against all sorts of employment-related litigation in state and federal court, including claims of discrimination, wrongful discharge, wage and hour violations, and related tort claims.
- Defending employers in employment-related arbitrations.
- Defending employers against administrative charges before various state and federal agencies with responsibility for enforcing statutory employment laws.
- Prosecuting and defending claims involving activities of former employees, including alleged breaches of non-compete agreement and fiduciary duties.
- Advising employers about handling all manner of workplace issues—including reductions in force and employee discipline and discharge decisions—in compliance with applicable federal and state law.
- Negotiating and drafting employment agreements, offer letters, confidentiality and intellectual property agreements, arbitration agreements, separation and severance agreements, and other employment-related agreements.
- Preparing employee handbooks and other policies and procedures.
- Directing or conducting investigations into allegations of corporate or executive wrongdoing, discrimination, or workplace harassment.
- Performing employment law audits to insure compliance with state and federal statutes.
- Training human resources and supervisory personnel about how to avoid employment law liability
- Advising companies about contract and other sorts of business disputes, and representing them in litigation related to such disputes.
Awards & Recognitions
- Chambers USA: Labor & Employment Law (2004 – present)
- The Best Lawyers in America©: Labor and Employment Law (2006 – 2010); Employment Law – Management (2011 – present); Litigation – Labor and Employment (2011 – present)
- Phoenix Magazine: Top Lawyer (2022)
- Best Lawyers®: 2012, 2017, and 2024 Litigation – Labor and Employment “Lawyer of the Year” in Phoenix; 2016 Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” in Phoenix
- Southwest Super Lawyers: Employment and Labor Law (2007 – 2024)
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® rated
- Az Business Magazine: Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona (2017)
Publications & Presentations
- Co-Author with Jill Chasson, “Our View: Examine Noncompete Agreements Now Before FTC Takes Action,” Phoenix Business Journal (Sept. 2021)
- Commentor, “The Evolution of Workplace,” AzBusiness Leaders (2018)
- Commentor, “Office politics: What employers can and cannot do to limit political debates in the workplace,” Az Business (Sept. 2016)
Education & Admissions
- J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1984; Editor-in-Chief, UCLA Law Review, 1983 – 1984
- B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1981; magna cum laude
- Admitted in Arizona, 1984
