For the past 27 years, Christina has partnered with large and small companies to solve their labor and employment issues. She assists clients with the full spectrum of employment matters, including daily management of employment issues as well as litigation.

Capabilities

Biography

Christina served as the chairperson of the firm’s Labor and Employment practice team for 10 years and is the past chairperson of the Labor and Employment Section of the Utah State Bar. She is the former Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) director for the firm and regularly speaks in client and community forums on that topic. Her experience as an employment attorney coupled with her DE&I leadership experience gives Christina the knowledge to help clients build and implement DE&I plans and address DE&I-related issues. 

Christina is recognized in: 

  • Utah Business Magazine, ranked as a “Legal Elite” in Employment and Labor Law, 2012 - 2023
  • Intermountain States Super Lawyers: Ranked as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers,” 2019 - 2023; also ranked as top attorney in Employment & Labor: Employer; and Employment Litigation: Defense, Business Litigation 2013-2014, 2016-2023
  • Best Lawyers in America, ranked as a “Best Lawyer” in Employment Law - Management, 2014 - 2023
  • Chambers and Partners USA, “Notable Practitioner” and top rankings, Labor & Employment Law, 2019 – 2023

Christina is also a member of the national and local Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and has spoken at multiple SHRM events.

Christina regularly represents employers in lawsuits and counsels employers in a variety of areas including:

  • Sex discrimination and sexual harassment
  • Age discrimination
  • Religious discrimination
  • ADA, disability and employee medical issues
  • Wrongful termination
  • Employment contracts and compensation
  • Non-compete, confidentiality, and non-solicitation agreements
  • Handbooks
  • Social media in the workplace
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), overtime, exemptions, collective actions and wage issues
  • Independent contractor issues
  • Drug and alcohol testing
  • FMLA and other leave issues
  • Terminations and unemployment
  • Union issues
  • Investigations
  • UALD and EEOC charges and audits
  • Training for management and employees
  • Benefits and ERISA
  • Diversity and inclusion plans

Christina is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. She has taught a litigation skills class for more than 16 years in the Juris Doctor program. She also teaches Labor and Employment Law in the Master of Legal Studies program. She is the past president of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining Parsons Behle & Latimer, Christina served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David K. Winder, then Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah, and the Honorable Stephen H. Anderson at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She graduated first in her class from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of law, where she also served on the Utah Law Review and competed for the National Moot Court Team.

Christina is a member of the American Bar Foundation Fellows.  

Experience

ERISA Defense

Represented numerous companies in defending ERISA healthcare denials.

Employment Agreements

Represent a variety of companies with employment agreements across industries and sectors, including real estate and development, investment, mining, healthcare, dental, agriculture, medical device, tourism, entertainment, nutritional supplements, physician practices, call centers, bio health, manufacturing, software, consumer products and construction.

Racial Discrimination Defense

Defending client against claims of race discrimination and national origin discrimination under Title VII, Section 1981 and breach of contract, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing.

Accomplishments

Academic

University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 1995)

Graduated 1st in the class
Order of the Coif
Named Outstanding Woman Law Graduate
William H. Leary Scholar
Winner of Law School Moot Court Competition
Member of National Moot Court Team
Best Brief and Best Oralist at Regional Moot Court Competition
Member of Utah Law Review

University of Utah (B.S., 1992)

Magna Cum Laude
Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, and Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Societies

Professional

Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law Management, 2014 - 2023

Intermountain States Super Lawyers: Ranked as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers,” 2019 - 2023; also ranked as top attorney in Employment & Labor: Employer; and Employment Litigation: Defense, Business Litigation 2013-2014, 2016-2022

Defense Research Institute (DRI), Utah Contributor to Fifty State Compendium, 2019 - 2023

Chambers and Partners USA, “Notable Practitioner” and top rankings, Labor & Employment Law, 2019 – 2023

Utah Business Magazine, “Legal Elite,” Labor & Employment, 2012 - 2023 

Business Today's "Top 10 Labor & Employment Lawyers Impacting Utah's Business Landscape"

Parsons Behle & Latimer 

Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Department, 2020 - 2023

Chairperson, Employment & Labor Practice Group, 2011 - 2020

Served on:

  • Lateral Hiring Committee
  • Web Design Committee
  • Wellness Committee
  • Opinion Letter Committee
  • Recruiting Committee
  • DE&I Committee

Associations

Professional

Utah State Bar Leadership and Boards

  • Chairperson, Utah State Bar Labor and Employment Section, 2014 - 2015
  • Vice-Chairperson, Utah State Bar Labor and Employment Section, 2013 - 2014
  • Treasurer, Utah State Bar Labor and Employment Section, 2012 -2013
  • Secretary, Utah State Bar Labor and Employment Section, 2011 - 2012
  • Member, Utah State Bar Character and Fitness Committee, 2001 - 2010
  • Member, Utah State Bar Association Summer Convention Committee 2015
  • Member, Utah State Bar Association Spring Convention Committees 2013 - 2015

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Co-Chairperson, Development Committee, Utah Center for Legal Inclusion 2022

Pro Bono Attorney for Domestic Violence Victims, 2000 - 2010

Pre-Litigation Chairperson, Department of Professional Licensing, 2003 - 2005

Judge Pro Tempore, Third District Court Small Claims Court, 1997 - 2007

Community

University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law

  • Past president, Board of Trustees, 2021 - 2022
  • President, Board of Trustees, 2019 - 2021
  • President-elect, Board of Trustees, 2017 - 2019
  • Member, Board of Trustees, 2008 - present
  • Chairperson, Alumni Relations Committee, 2015 - 2017
  • University of Utah Law School Search Committee for Career Development Director
  • University of Utah Law School Search Committee for Dean of Academic Affairs

Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Utah Law S.J. Quinney College of Law, 2007 to present

  • Labor and Employment Law in Masters of Legal Studies Program
  • Pre-Trial Practice in JD Program, 2007 - present
  • Adjunct Faculty Service Award 2022

University of Utah Alumni Association Board of Directors Member, 2005 - 2008

  • Chairperson and Member, Community Service Committee, 2006 - 2008
  • Member, Development Committee, 2007 - 2008
  • Member, Scholarships and Awards Committee, 2006 - 2007
  • Member, Legislative Affairs Committee, 2005 - 2006
  • Member, Athletics Advisory Council, 2005

Member, Visit Salt Lake Human Resource & Compensation Committee, 2021 - present

Member, Board of Directors, LiveOn.org, 2022 to present

Member of Board of Trustees, Visit Salt Lake, 2014 - 2018

Member, Board of Directors, Ballet West, 2012 - 2015

Pro Bono Clients

Utah Film Center

Girls on the Run

Megan Blues Studios

Salt Lake City Arts Council

Political

Member Utah Trafficking in Persons Taskforce Legal Subcommittee, 2016 - 2020

Democratic Party Sexual Harassment Committee, 2018 - 2019

Insights

Articles

Presentations

Credentials

Licensed

Utah
U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Utah
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Education

University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law