Nonnie advises, counsels and represents private and public employers in all aspects of employment law, in particular defending employers against allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination in state and federal court, as well as administrative forums. Nonnie also regularly provides advice and guidance to employers on reductions in force, disability issues and pre-litigation disciplinary matters. Nonnie has conducted numerous internal investigations for clients and assists in identifying and resolving potential areas of liability and exposure in a proactive way.
Nonnie regularly speaks and trains on current and emerging employment law topics, including recent presentations to industry and trade groups on the pitfalls of social networking and avoidance of retaliation claims. Nonnie’s advanced degree in education and years of experience as an instructor and student affairs professional at Arizona State University help make her training sessions and presentations one of a kind.
Nonnie has published several scholarly articles focused on employment law, including a recent book chapter on the impact of reasonable workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities on employers and employees’ expectations of privacy outside the workplace. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Shivers served as a law clerk to the Honorable Patricia K. Norris on the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Experience
Nonnie’s clients run the gamut from large, international companies to flourishing local businesses. Her personal clients include a large domestic air carrier, a large national telecommunications company, several regional and local law firms, title agencies, in-home care providers, and surgical centers. Nonnie also devotes a large portion of her litigation practice to representing a regional non-profit health care provider and a major regional utility company.
Nonnie’s practice focuses on litigation, but clients also seek her out to resolve problems before litigation ensues and to prevent litigation by acting proactively. Nonnie’s litigation successes include:
- Obtaining complete summary judgment in a multi-plaintiff age discrimination case filed in federal court on behalf of an international technology company
- Obtaining complete summary judgment for a retail company in a wrongful termination case in which the company allegedly blackballed and defamed a former employee
- Winning a total defense judgment and an award of all attorneys’ fees incurred after a multi-day arbitration for a national bank in a wrongful termination case
Arizona
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Education and Honors
- Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Star (2012)
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association (Business Law Section)
- Federal Bar Association
- Arizona State Bar (Labor & Employment Section; Chair - Continuing Legal Education Committee; Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Task Force Member)
- iCivics Project Committee Member
- Instructor, Arizona State Bar Professionalism Course
- AZSHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference - "When LameBook Backfires: Protecting Yourself from the Social Media 'Police'" - Phoenix - March 9, 2012
- 2011 AZSHRM Annual State Conference - "You're Not the Boss of Me - Regulating Employee Conduct On and Off the Job" - Phoenix - September 1, 2011
- 16th Annual AZSHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference - "All Atwitter About Social 'Notworking'" - Phoenix - March 2, 2011
- Ogletree Deakins Seminar - "You’ve Got “Friends” In Low Places: Cautionary Tales From The Digital Age" - Scottsdale - September 24, 2010
- Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association - "All ‘Atwitter’ About Social Networking: Employment Law Pitfalls" - Phoenix - April 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Seminar - "Blogs, Social Networking & Virtual Worlds – A Brave New Workplace Indeed" - Paradise Valley - October 15, 2009
- Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar - "Retaliation – Employers’ Greatest Liability Risk" - Paradise Valley - November 13, 2008
- Ogletree Deakins Seminar - "Sexual Harassment – The Bare Essentials" - Phoenix - October 3, 2007
- Private Client Training - "Workplace (Mis)Conduct Training" - Phoenix - April 2007
- Lorman Seminar - "Human Resources Fundamentals Course" - Phoenix - December 2006
- Arizona Healthcare Human Resources Association - "Law and Order At Work" - Phoenix - December 2005
- Ogletree Deakins Seminar - "Clarification or Confusion? Lessons From Employee Leave Litigation" - Phoenix - September 15, 2005
In The News
- 2007 - The In-house Counsel's Essential Toolkit - "Employment Law, Contributing Author and Editor"
- 2005 - Perspectives on Disability Research and Policy: Issues and Trends - "Making the Case for Meaningful Reasonable Accommodations for Employees With Physical Disabilities: A Legal Analysis of Part-time and Flexible Work Schedules Under the Americans With Disabilities Act"
- 2004 - 21 Ariz. J. Int'l. & Comp. L. 621 - "Firing “Immoral” Public Employees: If Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights Protect Employee Privacy Rights, Why Can't We?"
