Joseph T. Clees

Mr. Clees represents employers throughout the United States in employment litigation and labor relations.  He also counsels clients on a wide array of state, federal and tribal compliance laws.  Joe has been singled out by Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers as one of the top labor and employment lawyers in the country for many years 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.”  Joe was honored as one of the “100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers in America” by HR Executive magazine in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.  He is ranked in the “Number 1” tier among Arizona employment lawyers byChambers, and has been selected as one of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers.

In 2014, Joe was named a Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.  He also has been recognized for several years as one of the Best Lawyers in America and honored as one of the Best Lawyers in the United States.  Joe has been singled out as one of the “The Legal 500” nationally and the Arizona Business Magazine has recognized him as an “Arizona Business Leader” and 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 a “Southwest Super Lawyers” for many years.  He has been recognized as one of the “Top 50 Southwest Super Lawyers” from 2010 to 2014.

In 2013, Joe was honored as the “Phoenix Lawyer of the Year” for Employment Law/Management by Best Lawyers.  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 on labor and employment law topics, both regionally and nationally.

Education

• J.D., Villanova University, 1984
• B.A., magna cum laude, Dickinson College, 1981

Honors and Awards

• Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers (2003-2014)
• Chambers USA – Leader in the Field (2011-2014)
• Chambers USA - Eminent Practitioner (2014)
• 100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyers in America – HR Executive Magazine(2009-2014)
• Arizona’s Finest Lawyers
• Best Lawyers in America (2006-2014)
• Best Lawyers in America, Phoenix Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year (2013)
  
• Legal 500: Labor and Employment - Labor & Employment Litigation
• “Top Attorneys in Arizona” – Arizona Business Magazine
• Arizona Business Leader - Arizona Business Magazine (2013)
  
•  Top Lawyers List 2014: Employment/Labor Relations - Arizona Business Magazine
•  "2013 Guide to World-Class Employment Lawyers" - LawDragon
• “Best of the Bar” – Phoenix Business Journal (2004)
  
• Southwest Super Lawyers (2007-2014)
• Top 50 Southwest Super Lawyers (2010-2014)
• AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (1999-present)
• Fellow, The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2014)

Professional Activities

• Arizona Affirmative Action Association (Past Board Member)
• Arizona Alliance of Business (Past President)
• Arizona Asian American Bar Association
• Arizona Bankers Association
• Arizona Employer's Council (Past Board Member)
• Arizona Employment Law Handbook (Past Editor)
• Arizona Healthcare Human Resource Association (Legal Counsel)
• Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association (Legal Counsel)
• Arizona Labor Letter (Former Member, Editorial Board)
• Arizona Restaurant Association (Legal Counsel)
• Arizona State Bar (Employment and Labor Law Section – Past Chair, Executive Committee)
• GratitudeAmerica, Inc. (Member, National Board)
• Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association
• Management Labor & Employment Roundtable
• Metro Phoenix Human Resources Association (SHRM) (Past Member, Board of Directors)
• National Indian Gaming Association
• Native American Bar Assocaiton - Arizona
• Phoenix Friends of the Library (Past Board Chair)
• Presidents Club, Brophy College Preparatory
• SHRM of Greater Phoenix
• Society of Human Resource Management
• Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS (Campaign Cabinet)
• The Horace Rumpole American Inn of Court

Admitted to Practice

• 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

Practice Groups

• Traditional Labor Relations
• Employment Law
• Litigation
• Higher Education
• Airline and Railway