James Burr Shields II

Burr Shields is an experienced employment attorney, mediator, and arbitrator based in Arizona. With over three decades of practice in employment law, he represents both employers and employees in a wide range of legal issues, including litigation. Burr's approach to practicing law and mediating employment disputes is influenced by his love for people and his intolerance for waste and inefficiency.

Burr has received recognition and accolades for his work in employment law. He holds Martindale-Hubbell's AV-Preeminent rating, has been selected as a Super Lawyers honoree, and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2009. In 2016, he was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Labor and Employment Litigation for Phoenix by Best Lawyers. Additionally, Chambers and Partners has rated him highly since 2015, with fellow practitioners praising his expertise and describing him as a top employment lawyer.

As a trained employment mediator from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine School of Law and an American Arbitration Association panelist, Burr brings his extensive subject matter expertise to every employment dispute he mediates. With nearly 30 years of experience representing employers and employees, both as an advisor and litigator, he possesses a deep understanding of the perspectives and challenges faced by both sides. This experience allows him to approach employment disputes objectively and evaluate the positions of the parties involved.

In addition to mediation, Burr has been arbitrating employment-related disputes for over a decade and became a panel member of the American Arbitration Association in 2020. His practice areas encompass employment law, employment litigation, mediation, and arbitration. He has been honored and awarded by various legal publications and organizations for his contributions to the field.

Burr's legal practice includes counseling employers, particularly in the healthcare sector, on all labor and employment matters. He drafts employment agreements, non-competition agreements, and employer manuals and policies. In addition, he serves as a mediator and arbitrator in employment disputes and represents employers and employees in litigation, arbitration, and mediation. Burr also handles matters before agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General's Office, the National Labor Relations Board, and the United States Department of Labor. Furthermore, he represents healthcare professionals in licensing matters.

Burr is an active member of professional organizations, including the State Bar of Arizona's Labor & Employment Section, the American Arbitration Association, the Arizona Employment Lawyers Association, and the Maricopa County Bar Association.