Rebecca A. Winterscheidt

Rebecca is a former co-chair of Snell & Wilmer’s Labor and Employment practice area. She represents employers in all aspects of human resources to help companies avoid litigation, if possible, through best practices. Rebecca also handles cases from the administrative charge stage through trial. She has successfully tried several jury trials.

Representative Experience

• Handled hundreds of discrimination claims over the last 40+ years
• Jury trials in state and federal court – complete defense verdict in all trials
• Handled multistate layoffs
• Advised clients in Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) issues
• Handled Sarbanes‑Oxley Act (SOX) matters and other whistleblower claims
• Assisted clients with FMLA, ADA issues
• Handled company investigations

Representative Clients

• Multinational Companies
• Mental Health Agencies
• Insurance Companies
• Nonprofits
• Construction Companies
• Health Supplement Companies
• Manufacturing Companies
• High-tech Companies

Rebecca heads Snell & Wilmer’s Immigration Practice Group area. She represents companies to obtain immigrant and non-immigrant visas for their alien workforce and helps develop long term workable immigration strategies. Rebecca also represents individuals in family-based immigration matters.

Rebecca has advised foreign clients on EB-5, EB-1 and other investment related visa opportunities in the United States. She works closely with other Snell & Wilmer attorneys in the tax and corporate areas to provide a team approach for foreign nationals interested in investing in the United States.

Rebecca is also the former co-chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group.

Representative Experience

• Bringing aliens to the United States to work under the following non-immigrant visas: E, E-3, H-1B, J, L and O
• Assisting aliens in transition from non-immigrant status to immigrant status through labor certifications, I-140 and I-130 filings
• Advising clients on EB-5 (regional center projects and individual investors)
• Filing Adjustment of Status paperwork to obtain green cards
• Representing companies in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) audits
• Representing companies in raids

Representative Clients

• Gaming Industry
• Software Development Industry
• Real Estate Investment
• Construction
• Medical Practice Groups
• Education (private and public)
• Governmental
• Manufacturing
• Cybersecurity
• Retail

Rebecca is a private mediator and arbitrator and a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution. Through early intervention mediation, she assists parties in reaching a mutual resolution of their dispute without the need for costly litigation. Rebecca also serves as a neutral third-party arbitrator of employment disputes.

Representative Experience

• Arizona Civil Rights Division Mediator (2011-2013)
• American Arbitration Association Arbitrator (2010-2013)
• Strauss Institute Mediation Training (October 2010)
• Arizona Civil Rights Division Mediation Training (2011)
• Has served as an advocate in hundreds of mediations and arbitrations throughout her career
• Experience as an arbitrator and mediator in all types of employment-related disputes including discrimination, retaliation, disability, wage and hour, and contract disputes

Bar Admissions

• Arizona

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of Arizona
• United States District Court, District of Arizona

Education

• University of Kansas, School of Law (J.D.)
  • Order of the Coif
• Emporia State University (B.S., Public Affairs)

Awards & Recognition

• Phoenix Magazine, Top Lawyers (2025)
• State Bar of Arizona Employment & Labor Law Section’s, Rogers/Hayden Outstanding Achievement Award (2023)
• AZ Business Leaders Magazine, AZ Business Leader (2020-2021,2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®
  • Immigration Law (2005-2023, 2025-2026)
  • Labor & Employment Litigation (2005-2023, 2025-2026)
  • Employment Law – Management (2005-2023, 2025-2026)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Immigration Law (2019)
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business^®
  • Labor & Employment (2006-2024)
  • Immigration (2006-2011)
• Southwest Super Lawyers^®, Employment & Labor (2007-2022)
  • Top 25 Female Attorneys (2013-2014)
• AzBusiness Magazine
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, Employment Law and Litigation Law (2015)
  • Arizona’s Top Lawyers, Immigration Law (2014)

Professional Memberships and Activities

• American Bar Association
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow (2016-Present)
  • Labor and Employment Law Section, Member
  • Immigration Law Committee, Member
• American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member (1984-Present)
• National Association of Women Business Owners, Phoenix Chapter
  • President (1998-1999)
  • Board of Directors (2010-2011)

Community Involvement

• University of Kansas School of Law Board of Governors (Present)
• Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer
• St. Mary’s Food Bank, Former Board Member
• Metro YMCA, Former Board Member
• Emporia State University Alumni Board of Directors, Member (2010-2013)

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “H-1B Visa Lottery Registration Opens March 4th, 2026,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (February 11, 2026)
• “DOL Launches “Project Firewall” Targeting H-1B Employers,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (October 1, 2025)
• “Immigration Update: Travel Advisory & Student Visas,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 7, 2025)
• “President Trump’s Initial Immigration Actions and Potential Impacts on Employers,” Co-Author, Foundation of the American Subcontractors Association (February 25, 2025)
• “President Trump’s Initial Immigration Actions and Potential Impacts on Employers,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (January 30, 2025)
• “Preparing for Immigration Changes Under the Trump Administration,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (November 26, 2024)
• “’Tis the Season for H1-B Visas: The FY2021 Cap Lottery is Almost Here!,” Co-Author, Snell & wilmer Legal Alert (February 7, 2023)
• “Travel Ban Round Two,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (December 3, 2021)
• “Work Authorization Update—Relaxed Rules For E, L, and H Spouses,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (November 29, 2021)
• “COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for Travel to the U.S. – Are Your Employees Ready?,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Labor and Employment Law Blog (November 9, 2021)
• “Business Immigration Updates,” Co-Presenter, 2021 Employment Law Tool Kit Two-Part Webinar Series: Session 1: Issues for All Employers (November 4, 2021)
• “New Procedures for Employers Managing I-9 Forms,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (July 13, 2021)
• “USCIS Expands Premium Processing Program To Include Aussie E-3,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (February 24, 2021)
• “Immigration: Another World Upended,” Presenter, 2020 Employment Law Tool Kit Three-Part Webinar Series: Session 1: Issues for All Employers (October 20, 2020)
• “The Changing Landscape of Business Immigration,” Episode Host, CalCurrent Podcast (October 15, 2020)
• “EEOC Expands Mediation Program,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (July 13, 2020)
• “Immigration Alert: Form I-9 Announcements,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 29, 2020)
• “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 23, 2020)
• “Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Summary of the Employment Provisions of the New Law,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 19, 2020)
• “COVID-19: Dramatic Proposed Changes to the FMLA,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 15, 2020)
• “H-1B Lottery Registration – New Process,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (January 22, 2020)
• “H-1B Cap: New Year, New Lottery System!,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (December 10, 2019)
• Sexual harassment training for several clients (2017)
• “Interplay Between FMLA and FDA Workers Compensation” (State Bar Employment Section, 2017)
• Numerous speeches and presentations at professional national, state and local seminars, to human resource organizations and individual clients on all aspects of employment law. Rebecca is also a frequent speaker on privacy and data security issues.