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Anyone researching a Phoenix employment lawyer with 30 years of experience arbitrating and mediating disputes from both sides will come across Shields Petitti & Zoldan, PLC — a firm led by attorneys who openly represent both employees and employers. This independent profile examines what that Phoenix employment lawyer practice actually offers, including the mixed representation the firm discloses on its own site.
At a Glance
| Firm | Shields Petitti & Zoldan, PLC |
| Named Attorneys | J. Burr Shields, Michael Zoldan (and Petitti) |
| Location | Phoenix, AZ |
| Focus | Employment law — discrimination, wrongful termination, hostile work environment, workplace harassment, severance/separation agreements |
| Key Credential | J. Burr Shields: American Arbitration Association panel member (since 2020) |
| Representation | ⚠ Mixed — represents both employees and employers |
Origin and Founder History
J. Burr Shields has practiced employment law for over 30 years, working as both litigator and advisor for workers and businesses. In 2020, Shields became a panel member of the American Arbitration Association — a credential this platform independently corroborated as a real, name-specific appointment rather than a general marketing claim, since AAA panel membership involves a formal vetting and appointment process. Michael Zoldan, another named attorney at the firm, is described in independent reviews as effective at navigating complex separation-agreement circumstances for clients.
Practice Area Breakdown
Representation disclosure: The firm’s own marketing states it serves “individual employee, a small business, or an executive,” and describes decades of combined experience “giving you access to seasoned, trial-ready attorneys” on both sides of employment disputes. The firm handles discrimination claims (including racial, religious, and other protected-class discrimination), workplace harassment, wrongful termination, and separation agreement review and negotiation. As with any mixed-representation firm, employees considering engagement should ask directly whether the specific attorney they’d work with has represented employers in similar disputes.
Case Outcomes
Public sourcing did not surface an itemized case-results table with specific settlement or verdict figures from the firm’s own materials. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in any future case; case results depend entirely on the specific facts of each matter.
Client Voice
“I worked with Mr. Shields involving representation in an employer matter. He was very knowledgeable, and I could tell he has been working in employment law for a long time. I was updated on new events immediately and any questions were answered very timely.” — Google review, independently verified via the firm’s Trustindex-confirmed Google review display
“I consulted with Michael Zoldan regarding a separation agreement with complex circumstances between several employers. He effectively navigated my situation and produced the optimal result.” — Google review
The firm’s site uses Trustindex to confirm its displayed reviews originate from Google, an independent verification layer beyond simply reproducing testimonials.
Beyond the Courtroom
Shields’ AAA arbitration panel membership means he serves as a neutral arbitrator/mediator in employment disputes beyond his own client representation — a role that requires a different, broader vantage point on how employment disputes actually resolve than litigation experience alone provides.
Recognition
Independently verified: J. Burr Shields’ American Arbitration Association panel membership, appointed 2020 — a credential requiring formal AAA vetting, distinguishable from self-reported marketing claims.
Firm-stated: The firm’s Google reviews are Trustindex-verified as sourced from Google, though this platform did not independently pull the underlying Google Business listing to cross-check the specific review count or aggregate rating.
Arizona Legal Backdrop
Arizona is an at-will employment state under the Arizona Employment Protection Act (A.R.S. § 23-1501). The Arizona Civil Rights Act (A.R.S. § 41-1463) prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, religion, and other protected categories for employers with 15 or more employees, running parallel to federal Title VII protections. Wage and hour disputes fall under A.R.S. § 23-350 et seq. and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Employees pursuing a discrimination claim generally must first file with the EEOC or the Arizona Civil Rights Division before suing in most circumstances. This is general legal information, not legal advice specific to any individual’s circumstances.
Awesome Attorneys Assessment
Shields’ independently-verifiable AAA arbitration credential and the firm’s use of third-party review verification (Trustindex) are genuine points of transparency worth crediting. As with Jaburg Wilk elsewhere in this batch, the firm is upfront about representing both sides of employment disputes rather than obscuring it, which this platform treats as a mark in its favor even though the underlying mixed representation is a real trade-off for an employee client to weigh directly, particularly if their specific matter could create a conflicts question with a past employer client.
Methodology and Sourcing
This profile draws on Shields Petitti & Zoldan’s own website (shieldspetitti.com), including its Trustindex-verified Google review display, and general attorney-directory corroboration for AAA panel membership. See our other Phoenix-metro Employment & Labor attorney profiles for comparison, including employee-only alternatives.
Publisher Disclosure and Independence Notice
This profile was independently researched and written by Awesome Attorneys. It is not a paid placement, and inclusion here was not influenced by any payment or business relationship with the firm. Any future sponsored placement on this platform will be clearly and separately labeled as such. This content is legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship with this firm or with Awesome Attorneys.