Julia S. Acken

Ms. Acken focuses her practice in labor and employment law. She has defended numerous companies in gender, race and disability discrimination cases in state and federal court. Ms. Acken also has wide-ranging experience representing both public and private entities in EEOC claims, wage payment/overtime, wrongful termination, internal and external compliance audits, internal investigations, and state and federal leave issues.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Acken was in-house employment counsel to a large international company. In that capacity, she partnered with the Human Resources Department to draft and implement employment policies, assist with union labor negotiations and issues, resolve employee relations issues, manage civil and administrative employment and labor claims, draft and revise multi-state employment policies, and audit and implement new processes company-wide for I-9 and wage and hour compliance. Ms. Acken also trained both management and non-managerial employees on employment law compliance issues.

Admitted to Practice

• Arizona

Court Admission

• Supreme Court of Arizona (2002)
• Federal District Court, District of Arizona (2002)

Labor and Employment

• Responds to EEOC and ACRD charges of discrimination on behalf of employers, including investigating and drafting position statements
• Responds to unfair labor practice charges on behalf of employers, including investigating, responding to Board requests, drafting position statement, and attending Board interviews
• Attends mediations on behalf of employers and draft and revise subsequent severance and release agreements
• Drafts employment handbooks and associated policies, including paid sick time policies
• Provides sexual harassment and gender sensitivity training to employees

Adoptions

• Drafts and revises petitions to adopt in a variety of adoptions, including foreign re-adoptions, ICWA qualifying adoptions, step-parent adoptions, and direct-placement adoptions
• Represents prospective adoptive parents at final adoption hearings
• Advises prospective adoptive parents concerning associated legal issues, including terminating parental rights, obtaining parental consents, immigration requirements, and vital records

Articles

• “The Inclusion Equation,” Contributor, AzBusiness Magazine (March/April 2022)
• “Here are ways to create a diverse and inclusive workforce,” Quoted,  AZ Big Media (September 23, 2021)
• “Bending Toward Equal Pay Justice: The Gender Compensation Gap,” Co-Author, Arizona Attorney Magazine (February 2020)

Blogs

• “3 Tips For Navigating Workplace Romances This Valentine’s Day and Beyond,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (February 12, 2021)
• “The NLRB Issues Two Decisions That Continue to Roll-Back Some of the Restrictions Placed on Employers,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (December 17, 2019)

Interviews

• “Here are ways to create a diverse and inclusive workforce,” AZ Big Media (September 23, 2021)

Presentations

• “Lunch and Learn,” Panelist, Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Arizona Women in Business and Leadership (November 9, 2021)
• “Labor & Employment Fall Webinar,” Panelist, Jennings, Strouss & Salmon (November 4, 2021)
• “Contract Provisions and Negotiations for Medical Professionals,” Co-Presenter, Midwestern University Alumni Webinar (October 7, 2021)
• “The federal vaccine and testing mandate: How employers can prepare now,” Presenter, Arizona Rock Products Association (September 20, 2021)
• “Tricks and Trends for Defending Against Unfair Labor Practice Charges,” Presenter, Law Firm Alliance Labor & Community Virtual Meeting (August 26, 2021)
• “Critical Employment Law Issues in 2021,” Panelist, Jennings Strouss Labor & Employment Webinar (April 29, 2021)
• “Labor & Employment Law Updates and Hot Topics,” Presenter, Arizona Rock Products Association (February 10, 2021)
• “Vaccination Mandates and the Workplace Implications of Prop. 207,” Panelist, Jennings Strouss Labor & Employment Webinar (December 17, 2020)
• “Issues Facing Employers During The COVID-19 Crisis,” The Asbestos Institute (March 26, 2020)
• “Managing Innovation Risk,” Presenter, The Gavel Conference (January 20, 2020)
• “Accommodating Patients Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” Presenter, Bayless Integrated Healthcare (December 2, 2019)
• “Labor & Employment Seminar,” Presenter, Jennings Strouss & Salmon (November 14, 2019)
• “Labor & Employment Seminar,” Presenter, Jennings Strouss & Salmon (November 15, 2018)

State Bar of Arizona

• Member, Employment Law Section

Jennings Strouss Recruiting Committee

• Past Chair

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona

• Member, Executive Committee (2022)
• Member, Board of Directors (2019 – 2021)

• The Best Lawyers in America^©, Employment Law – Management (2021 – 2023); Litigation – Labor and Employment (2020 – 2023)
• Az Business Magazine, “The Most Influential Women in Arizona Business” (2021)
• AZ Big Media, “Top 100 Lawyers for 2020” (2020)