In every aspect of her practice, client service is Sharon’s top priority. She seeks swift results always keeping her client’s goals top of mind.

Overview

A practical and experienced attorney, Sharon has a robust employment practice and strong litigation background. She provides hands-on guidance in employment law to human resource professionals and business executives and effectively defends employers in workplace disputes, agency charges and litigation.

Sharon finds creative solutions and strategies to effect real-world resolutions for her clients. Her client base includes businesses of all sizes. She works with healthcare and technology companies, including start-ups, international businesses, major financial institutions, insurance companies, and Tribes and their business arms. She litigates breach of contract actions concerning employment and non-compete agreements, restrictive covenants, or other professional services agreements, and employment class actions in the wage and hour context. Sharon also handles employment business litigation concerning trade secret theft, wrongful termination, Title VII, ADA, and ADEA discrimination as well as wage and hour and misclassification disputes. She has strong experience representing tribal governments and tribally-owned business arms in the Southwest, and chairs the firm’s Tribal Law and Governance practice.

Experience

Sharon has worked with her clients to draft policy and standards of procedure in an effort to create a work environment that remains compliant with applicable law while allowing employees to thrive and be productive.

Sharon has helped her clients defeat and limit exposure to wage and hour misclassification and overtime class action disputes.

She has obtained injunctions to stop trade secret and confidential information theft on an expedient basis and understands the necessity to move quickly and efficiently.

Sharon’s experience also includes tort-related business disputes, including tortious interference with business expectancies, negligence, and related claims.

In an effort to preempt litigation, Sharon counsels and trains human resources professionals on employment law issues and compliance.

Sharon has experience in high level and sensitive employment investigations and in representing legislative bodies and key witnesses with respect to independent investigations of individual legislative members.

She represents clients in Arizona state and federal court and in arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association and other arbitral forums, and has experience representing clients in appellate matters before the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Sharon counsels clients about feasible ways in which to engage in business on tribal land in order to promote beneficial economic relationships.

Sharon has held Tribal Human Resource Professional certification through the National Native American Human Resources Association and has presented on emerging topics in this area.

Prior to joining the firm, Sharon developed her legal skills as a judicial law clerk for Judge John C. Gemmill (ret.), Arizona Court of Appeals Division 1.

Sharon has served as a judge pro tem for the Superior Court of Maricopa County, Arizona and is a member of the Arizona State Bar Civil Practice and Procedure Rules committee.

This prioritization of diversity and inclusion is a part of Sharon's professional development and community building. She is the Immediate Past President of the Arizona Asian American Bar Association where she has chaired subcommittees to develop programming to increase diversity and inclusion within the Arizona legal community. She also served as the firm's co-chair of the Attorneys of Color Employee Resource Group.

News & Insights

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, Soft Skills Workshop, Advanced Scholars at the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law, February 2023

Panelist, "Checking in on the 2017 and 2018 Changes to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure: A Practical Guide for Civil Practitioners," State Bar of Arizona CLE, January 2020

Co-presenter, "Not in My Office: Confronting Workplace Harassment and Bullying," National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) Conference, November 2019

Co-presenter, "Where the Rubber Meets the Road: How the 2017 and 2018 Civil Rules Changes are Impacting Litigation," State Bar of Arizona CLE, January 2019

Co-presenter, “The Law of the Land: Recent Legal Decisions & Hot Topics Affecting Tribal Employers,” The 2018 REDW Tribal Finance & Leadership Conference, November 2018

National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) annual conference at the Arizona Grand September 2018

  • Panelist, September 2018, "Native American Labor & Employment Law Updates"
  • Panelist, September 2018, "Conflicts of Law: What To Do When Federal Agencies Come Knocking"
  • Panelist, September 2018, "Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace"

Presenter, "Washington Update: Impacts of the Trump Era on Indian Country," REDW Tribal Finance & Leadership Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 2017

Presenter, "Importance of Job Descriptions" and "Tribal Law Update," National Native American Human Resources Association Annual Conference, Cherokee, North Carolina, September 2017

Moderator, “Running for Public Office 101: Your Hands-On Guide to Public Office,” Asian Corporate & Entrepreneur Leaders 3rd Annual Dynamics of Leadership Conference, Chandler, AZ, July 2017

Panelist, "Navigating Generational Shift & Millennials in the Workforce," Legalweek West, San Francisco, California, June 2017

Presenter, "New Challenges for HR in 2017 and Tribal Law Update," Stinson Leonard Street HR Seminar, Phoenix, Arizona, February 2017

Panelist, "Labor and Employment Law Changes: How Will This Impact Sovereign Immunity?" REDW Tribal Finance & Leader Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona, November 2015

Panelist, "Go Green, Save Green," Arizona State Bar Convention, Tucson, Arizona, June 2014

Recognitions

Recognitions

Selected to the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America©

Az Business', "Most Influential Minority Business Leaders" list, 2023 

Chambers' Diversity & Inclusion Awards, Highly Commended, U.S. Lawyer of the Year category 

Stinson's Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award, 2021

Southwest Rising Stars©, Business Litigation, 2014-2017

Asian Corporate & Entrepreneur Leaders 2015 Corporate Leader Award

Professional & Civic Activities

Professional & Civic Activities

Arizona Asian American Bar Association

  • Immediate Past President 

Arizona State Bar Association

  • Civil Practice & Procedure Committee, Past Vice-Chair
  • Council on Minorities and Women in the Law, Past Chair
  • Young Lawyers' Division, Past President
  • Task Force on Sustainability (sunsetted), CLE Chair

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Texas State Bar Association

FDCC Ladder Down Phoenix Class, 2021

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2015

Admissions

  • Arizona
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
  • Hualapai Tribal Court, 2008, 2014-2015
  • Fort Mojave Tribal Court, 2010

Education

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, J.D., cum laude

  • Jurimetrics, the Journal of Law, Science, and Technology

University of Arizona, B.A., English, Minor – French, summa cum laude

Clerkships

  • Judge John C. Gemmill (ret.), Arizona Court of Appeals Division 1
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