Mr. Clees represents employers throughout the United States in discrimination and wrongful discharge cases and labor relations. He also counsels clients on a wide array of state, federal and tribal compliance laws. Mr. Clees has been singled out by Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers as one of the top labor and employment law attorneys in the country for many years in a row and as a Chambers USA Top Leader in his Field. He has been applauded for his “integrity and common sense” as well as his “pragmatic style.” Mr. Clees was noted as one of the “100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers in America” by HR Executive Magazine in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. He was ranked in the “Number 1” tier among Arizona employment lawyers by Chambers, and has been selected as one of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers.
Mr. Clees also has been recognized for several years as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He also has been honored as one of the Best Lawyers in the United States. He was singled out as one of the “The Legal 500” nationally and the Arizona Business Magazine rates him as one of the “Top Attorneys of Arizona.” He also has been designated as a “Best of the Bar” by the Phoenix Business Journal and has been rated as one of the “Southwest Super Lawyers” for several years. He has repeatedly been recognized as one of the “Top 50 Southwest Super Lawyers.”
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Clees was the group leader of the worldwide labor and employment practice of a large international law firm. He has served as the chair of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Arizona’s Employment and Labor Law Section, a member of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Affirmative Action Association and Board of Directors of the Metro Phoenix Human Resources Association (SHRM). He is employment law counsel to many industry and trade groups and he regularly speaks and trains on labor and employment law topics, both regionally and nationally.
Experience
Arizona
Arizona Court of Appeals
Arizona Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Apache Tribal Court
Education and Honors
- Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers (2003-2012)
- Chambers USA – Leader in the Field (2011 and 2012)
- 100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers in America – HR Executive Magazine (2009-2012)
- Arizona’s Finest Lawyers
- Best Lawyers in America (2006-2012)
- Best Lawyers in the United States
- Singled out as one of “The Legal 500” nationally
- “Top Attorneys in Arizona” – Arizona Business Magazine
- “Best of the Bar” – Phoenix Business Journal
- Southwest Super Lawyers (2007-2011)
- Top 50 Southwest Super Lawyers (repeatedly recognized)
Professional Activities
- Arizona Affirmative Action Association (Past Board Member)
- Arizona Alliance of Business (Past President)
- Arizona Employment Law Handbook (Editor)
- Arizona Labor Letter (Member, Editorial Board)
- Arizona State Bar (Employment and Labor Law Section – Past Chair, Executive Committee)
- Metro Phoenix Human Resources Association (SHRM) (Past Member, Board of Directors)
- Phoenix Friends of the Library (Past Board Chair)
- Arizona Grand Resort - "Positive Employee Relations Avoiding Labor Unions" - Phoenix - December 28, 2011
- Drivetime - "Employment Law Update" - Phoenix - November 14, 2011
- Macerich - "A.B. 1825 No Harassment Compliance Training" - Los Angeles - November 3, 2011
- Macerich - "A.B. 1825 No Harassment Compliance Training" - Phoenix - November 2, 2011
- Blue Cross Blue Shield - "Employment Law Update and FLSA" - Phoenix - October 25, 2011
- Ogletree Deakins Seminar - "Eye on Employment Law" - Phoenix - October 14, 2011
- Ogletree Deakins Seminar - "Wacky Employment Law Cases" - Phoenix - October 14, 2011
- Hospitality Human Resources Association - "Employment Law Update" - Phoenix - October 12, 2011
- Drivetime National Meeting - "How to Conduct Internal Investigations" - Scottsdale - September 27, 2011
- Federal Bar Association - "Federal Employment Topics Presentation, Including Social Media" - Phoenix - September 15, 2011
- Blue Cross Blue Shield - "Employment Law Update and FLSA" - Phoenix - September 11, 2011
- Arizona SHRM Conference - "Understanding Medical Marijuana; Hashing out the Issues" - Phoenix - September 2, 2011
- Triumph Group - "Employment Law Update" - Philadelphia - August 22, 2011
- Blue Cross Blue Shield - "Employment Law Update" - Seattle - July 11, 2011
- Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants - "Understanding Medical Marijuana" - Phoenix - July 7, 2011
In The News
- November 6, 2011 - The Arizona Republic - "Ask the Experts Column: Remember Federal Laws in Questioning Sick Leave"
- October 27, 2011 - Arizona Business Gazette - "Ask the Experts Column: Broach Sick-Time Abuse with Caution"
- June 2, 2011 - Arizona Business Gazette - "A Reluctance to Hire Jobless"
- April 19, 2011 - Phoenix Business Journal - "Arizona Senate Passes Drug Testing Bill Related to Medical Marijuana"
- January 14, 2011 - Phoenix Business Journal - "2 Cents Worth Column: What Does Legalized Medical Marijuana Mean to Employers in Arizona, and How Are Their Antidrug Policies Impacted by This Change?"
- January 14, 2011 - Phoenix Business Journal - "What Does Medical Marijuana Mean to Employers in Arizona, and How are Their Antidrug Policies Impacted by this Change?"
- January 13, 2011 - Arizona Business Gazette - "News Experts Column: Firing Over Comments Made on Facebook Probably Legal"
- January 13, 2011 - Arizona Business Gazette - "Firing Over Comments Made on Facebook Probably Legal"
- November 11, 2010 - Arizona Business Gazette - "Ask the Experts Column: Employer Decides Worker's Eligibility for Medical Leave"
- June 24, 2010 - Arizona Business Gazette - "Severance Deals Have Implied Covenant of Honesty, Fairness"
- May 5, 2010 - AZCentral.com - "Some Firms Have Applicant’s Try Job–Without Pay"
- April 30, 2010 - Phoenix Business Journal - "Immigration Law Cutting Into Hispanic Hires"
- April 30, 2010 - The Phoenix Business Journal - "Latino Professionals Fear Being Racially Profiled in Arizona"
- February 18, 2010 - Arizona Business Gazette - "Company Has an Obligation to Keep Workplace Secure"
- October 25, 2009 - The Arizona Republic - "Ask the Experts Column"
- March 2011 - Arizona Restaurant Association Magazine - "Hiring Decisions – Avoiding the Pitfalls"
- January 2011 - Arizona Restaurant Association Magazine - "The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act and It’s Impact On Employers"
- December 2010 - Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association/E-Bulletin - "The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act and It’s Impact on Employers"
- August 2010 - Arizona Restaurant Association Magazine - "Preparing and Implementing an Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy"
