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

For the past 27 years, Christina has partnered with clients 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. Christina served as the chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Department for 10 years and is the past chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the Utah State Bar. She is the director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) director for the firm and regularly speaks in client and community forums on that topic. With her experience as an employment lawyer and as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Christina has the expertise to help clients build DE&I plans, implement plans and address issues. 

Christina is recognized in: 

  • Utah Business Magazine, ranked as a “Legal Elite” in Employment and Labor Law, 2012 - 2021
  • Intermountain States Super Lawyers: Ranked as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers,” 2019 - 2022; also ranked as top attorney in Employment & Labor: Employer; and Employment Litigation: Defense, Business Litigation 2013-2014, 2016-2022
  • Best Lawyers in America, ranked as a “Best Lawyer” in Employment Law - Management, 2014 - 2023
  • Chambers and Partners USA, “Notable Practitioner” and Band 2 ranking, Labor & Employment Law, 2019 – 2022

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:

  • Diversity and inclusion plans
  • 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
  • COVID-19 issues including leave, safety, back to work plans and positive tests

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 14 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

Representing Software Company in Collective Action

Representing a dental software company in a collective action brought by independent contractors.

Employment Counsel to Bio Research Company

Providing employment advice to a bio research company in the drug discovery space.

Defending Client in FLSA Claims

Defending call center client against claims of violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Utah Wage Payment Act and Montana Wage Payment Act.

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 - 2022; 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 - 2020

Chambers and Partners USA, “Notable Practitioner” and Band 2 ranking, Labor & Employment Law, 2019 – 2022

Utah Business Magazine, “Legal Elite,” Labor & Employment, 2012 - 2022  

Parsons Behle & Latimer 

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

Chair, Employment & Labor Practice Group, 2011 - 2020

Served on:

  • Lateral Hiring Committee
  • Web Design Committee
  • Wellness Committee
  • Opinion Letter Committee
  • Recruiting Committee

Associations

Professional

Utah State Bar Leadership and Boards

  • Chair, Utah State Bar Labor and Employment Section, 2014 - 2015
  • Vice-Chair, 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-Chair, Development Committee, UCLI 2022

Pro Bono Attorney for Domestic Violence Victims, 2000 - 2010

Pre-Litigation Chair, 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
  • Chair, 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

  • Chair 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, currently

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 - present

Democratic Party Sexual Harassment Committee, 2018 - 2019

Insights

Articles

Leave Policy Language: Utah (2023)

Drug Testing Laws - Utah

Employment Claims in Release Agreements: Utah

Anti-Discrimination Laws Utah, 2022

Unionization Trending

Employee Privacy Laws: Utah

Hiring Requirements: Utah

Wage and Hour Laws: Utah

Employment Law Update, July 15, 2022

The Impaired Mobile Employee: What are the CMD's Options?

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

Workers' Compensation Laws: Utah

DRI Employment Law Compendium, Utah Section

Leave Policy Language: Utah

Salt Lake County Extends Face Covering Order to Aug. 20, 2020

Salt Lake County and Summit County Require Individuals to Wear Face Coverings

Leave Policy Language: Utah

FLSA Requirements for Part-time Telecommuters: When Must Employers Pay For Time Spent Commuting?

Industry-Specific Guidelines for Re-Opening Construction and Manufacturing Businesses in Utah (June 2)

Industry-Specific Guidelines for Re-Opening Restaurants in Utah

Industry-Specific Guidelines for Re-Opening Retail Establishments in Utah

Industry-Specific Guidelines for Re-Opening the Hospitality Industry in Utah

Industry-Specific Guidelines for Re-Opening Construction and Manufacturing Businesses in Utah

OSHA Issues New Enforcement Policies Regarding Workplace Inspections And Employer Recording Requirements For Covid-19

What to Do with Employees at High Risk for Serious COVID 19 Illness: The ADA and Return to Work

What Utah Employers Need to Know About Governor Herbert’s Order Moving the COVID-19 Public Health Status from Red to Orange

The U.S. Department of Labor Cracks Down on Employers not Providing Sick Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

COVID-19: Employers' Rights and Duties When Pandemic Spurs Protected Concerted Activity

Re-opening for Business: Employers Should Begin Planning Now

What Employers Need to Know About the CDC’s Recent Recommendation to Wear Cloth Facemasks

New Guidance From The Department of Homeland Security Allows Some Employers To Confirm Employees’ I-9 Information Remotely During “National Emergency”

Wage and Hour Laws: Utah

Ground Rules: Three Major Employment Law Changes That May Impact Your Business

Background Check Law: Utah

Independent Contractors: Utah

Drug Testing Laws: Utah

Anti-discrimination Laws: Utah

Leave Laws: Utah

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