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
News
Parsons Behle & Latimer attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in America
Article
Practical Law "Independent Contractors: Utah"
News
Super Lawyers Ranks 32 Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorneys as Top Practitioners in the Mountain States Region
News
Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorneys Named "Utah Legal Elite"
Articles
Practical Law "Independent Contractors: Utah"
Employment Law Update, May 15, 2023
Practical Law "Leave Policy Language: Utah (2023)"
Practical Law "Drug Testing Laws - Utah"
Practical Law "Employment Claims in Release Agreements: Utah"
Practical Law "Anti-Discrimination Laws Utah, 2022"
Unionization Trending
Practical Law "Employee Privacy Laws: Utah"
Practical Law "Hiring Requirements: Utah"
Practical Law "Wage and Hour Laws: Utah"
SCOTUS Rules States Can be Sued Under USERRA
The Impaired Mobile Employee: What are the Chief Medical Director's Options?
Practical Law "Drug Testing Laws: Utah"
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Rules that Computer Log-in Time for Certain In-Office Workers is Compensable Under Fair Labor Standards Act
Practical Law "Workers' Compensation Laws: Utah"
DRI Employment Law Compendium, Utah Section
Practical Law "Leave Policy Language: Utah"
Practical Law "Wage and Hour Laws: Utah"
Ground Rules: Three Major Employment Law Changes That May Impact Your Business
Background Check Law: Utah
Independent Contractors: Utah
Practical Law "Drug Testing Laws: Utah"
Anti-discrimination Laws: Utah
Leave Laws: Utah
Presentations
Navigating the ADA: Case Studies on Reasonable Accommodation
Parsons Attorneys to Present at SHRM Annual Employment Update
Hot Employment Law Topics for 2023
Privacy in the Workplace: How Much Snooping is Legal and Proper?
Common Mistakes and Horror Stories
Independent Contractors or Employees
The Impaired Mobile Employee: What are the Chief MedicalDirector’s Options?
Political Speech in the Workplace
Political Speech in the Workplace
Political Speech in the Workplace
Onboarding Talent Through Wellbeing and Inclusive Practices
Trends in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Programs
ADA and the FMLA: Managing Intermittent Leave
Religion in the Workplace: Walking on Eggshells
To Compete or Not To Compete... That is the Legislation
Pregnancy Discrimination Panel
Employment Law Compliance/Point and Counterpoint
Social Media in the Workplace
Social Media in the Workplace
Effective Use of Paralegals
Women in Law
Trends and Corrections in the Utah Courts of Appeals
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
