Stephen B. Coleman

Steve is a founding member of Pierce Coleman PLLC. His practice focuses on the representation of management-side clients in all facets of employment law, with a primary emphasis on defending both public and private employers in lawsuits involving alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and state law discrimination and retaliation statutes.

His practice also encompasses representation of clients in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Arizona Civil Rights Division, the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, and other administrative agencies.

Steve also assists clients by drafting personnel policies and employment agreements, offering advice and counseling on compliance with employment-related laws and regulations, and conducting workforce training. In addition, Steve helps clients protect their proprietary information, customer relationships, and goodwill through the preparation and enforcement of restrictive covenants, such as non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.

Steve is a frequent speaker on topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, procedural due process, sexual harassment, and wage and hour compliance. In addition, he has authored numerous articles on employment-related topics for the Arizona Employment Law Letter.

Steve belongs to the Arizona State Bar Association and is admitted to practice in the Arizona Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Steve graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business and a B.A. in Political Science from the School of Arts and Science. He received his J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Since 2018, Steve has been consistently selected as a Super Lawyer in the area of labor and employment law. This distinction is based on independent research and an evaluation of 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Steve has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© since 2018 in the field of Employment Law – Management.

Steve has been involved in multiple jury trials, personnel appeals, arbitrations, and other evidentiary hearings. He has also filed numerous successful motions to dismiss lawsuits at very early stages. In addition, he has obtained summary judgment on behalf of employers in a variety of matters

Representative Successes

Obtained complete dismissal of claims against the educational institution and multiple individual defendants in lawsuit alleging disability discrimination, racial harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, disparate treatment, retaliation, and age discrimination.
Successfully moved for dismissal of multiple lawsuits against educational institution alleging race discrimination under Section 1981 and Title VII.
Obtained summary judgment for municipal client in lawsuit involving allegations of First Amendment retaliation.
Prevailed on several motions to dismiss claims against municipalities for alleged violations of the Due Process clause.
Obtained summary judgment in multi-plaintiff age discrimination lawsuit against Fortune 500 company.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of restaurant chain in lawsuit alleging age discrimination in connection with reduction in force.
Obtained summary judgment for medical technology company in lawsuit alleging wrongful termination based on race.
Obtained dismissal of lawsuit involving numerous constitutional and state law tort claims against non-profit organization that provides support services to law enforcement.
Obtained dismissal of wrongful termination lawsuit against municipality based on non-compliance with notice of claim statute.
Successfully opposed enforcement of overbroad non-compete and non-solicitation provisions.