Joseph T. Ortiz

Partner

Joseph T. Ortiz is a partner in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Labor and Employment practice group in the Riverside office. An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Ortiz has successfully tried employment matters before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and arbitration tribunals on claims of all types.

Mr. Ortiz's experience includes the representation of private and municipal employers in employment matters of all kinds, such as claims of wrongful termination, claims of discrimination and harassment and related claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of implied employment contract, interference with prospective economic advantage, unfair competition, breach of contract, civil rights, and the various forms of unfair business practices. Mr. Ortiz has also represented management before federal and state administrative agencies including the NLRB, PERB, EEOC, DFEH, U.S. Department of Labor, DLSE, State Labor Commissioner, and, in limited instances, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.

Mr. Ortiz also provides employers a variety of services including drafting employee handbooks, employment and severance agreements, consultant agreements, independent contractor agreements, and employment policies of all types; providing in-house training on sexual and other types of harassment avoidance; and providing consultation on all types of employment discrimination, wage and hour issues, affirmative action, and sensitivity and diversity concerns.

Mr. Ortiz recently taught employment law as an adjunct professor at the University of California, Riverside extension program.

Speaking Engagements

• "New California Paid Sick Law," Riverside Business Expo & Mixer (June 18, 2015)
• "California Wage and Hour Laws," Alington Business Partnership (June 18, 2015)
• "Workplace Investigations," So. Wine Country SHRM (May 29, 2015)
• "New Labor Laws," Hemet Chamber of Commerce (May 20, 2015)

Education

• University of Minnesota, J.D.
• University of California, Los Angeles, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• California

Awards

• AV® peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell®

Memberships

• Executive Committee for the Labor and Employment Law Section of the California State Bar, member

Authorships

• “Employment Law Trends & Legislation,” The Impact of Recent Regulatory Developments in Employment Law (2014 Ed. Aspatore) Inside the Minds TM
• “Trends, Developments, and Best Practices Relevant to Drafting Employment Agreements,” Negotiating and Drafting Employment Agreements (2014 Ed. Aspatore) Inside the Minds TM.

Joseph T. Ortiz

Partner

• “Trends, Developments, and Best Practices Relevant to Drafting Employment Agreements” chapter for “Negotiating and Drafting Employment Agreements, 2014: Leading Lawyers on Constructing Effective Employment Contracts (Inside the Minds)” Aspatore, 2014
• “Employment Law Trends and Legislation” chapter for “The Impact of Recent Regulatory Developments in Employment Law, 2014 ed.: Leading Lawyers on Understanding Recent Legislation, Implementing Effective Workplace Policies, and Cooperating with Enforcement Authorities (Inside the Minds)” Aspatore, 2014