Joshua R. Woodard, Partner at our Phoenix law office
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Joshua R. Woodard

Partner
Biography

Josh Woodard is licensed in Arizona, California, and Nevada, with a practice concentrated in labor and employment law. He advises and represents employer/management clients before state and federal agencies, including the Arizona Civil Rights Commission, the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the United States Department of Labor (DOL). Josh has formerly served as vice president and in-house counsel and brings a “real-world” perspective to clients.

Josh has extensive litigation experience in both state and federal jurisdictions in wage and hour issues, misappropriation of trade secrets, non-competition/non-solicitation matters, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, employment contracts and related matters. Josh has defended employers against wage and hour class actions, DOL initiated audits and litigation, and EEOC initiated investigations and litigation. He also advises, instructs and trains employers in a variety of areas including compliance with the FFCRA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Arizona’s Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act and other employment law issues.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Nevada


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • Supreme Court of California
  • Supreme Court of Nevada
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court


Education

  • Southern Methodist University (J.D.)
    • Notes and Comments Editor, Southern Methodist University Law Review
  • University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., History)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law, Management (2016-2023, 2025); Labor Law, Management (2025); Labor and Employment, Litigation (2025)
  • Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Attorneys, Labor & Employment Law (2010-2011)
  • Arizona’s Top Lawyers, AzBusiness Magazine (2008-2010)

Previous Professional Experience

  • Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, Litigation Special Counsel (2002-2004), Associate (1990-1993)
  • SWTV Production Services, Inc., Vice President and General Counsel (1996-2002)
  • Cohen and Cotton, P.C., Litigation Associate (1993-1996)
  • Western International University, Instructor (Leadership; Organizational Behavior, Corporate Ethics; Labor Relations; Human Resources Management; Business Law)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • CFO Leadership Council
    • Advisory Board
      • Member (2019-Present)

Representative Presentations and Publications