Skip to content

Michael Moberly

Senior Counsel

Mike Moberly assists employers in the technology, banking, mining, and transportation industries, among others, in civil rights and employment-related administrative proceedings, arbitrations, and litigation at both the trial and appellate levels.

With nearly 40 years of litigation experience, Mike also recognizes the value in counseling and assisting employers in avoiding litigation.  To that end, he frequently represents and assists employers in the mediation of employment disputes and in drafting severance and other types of settlement agreements.

Mike also assists employers with wage and hour compliance, in drafting and revising employment contracts and employee handbooks and policies, in conducting internal investigations, and with strike contingency and other planning.

Appointed by a former Arizona governor, Mike served for a number of years as Chairman of the Arizona Agricultural Employment Relations Board, the state agency charged with the responsibility for enforcing the Arizona Agricultural Employment Relations Act.

Practice Areas

Education

J.D., with high distinction, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1983, Order of the Coif, American Jurisprudence Awards
B.B.A., with high distinction, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1979

Recognitions

Ranked in the highest tier (Band 1) of labor and employment attorneys by Chambers and Partners 2024-2025

Named among Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law-Management (2011-2026), Litigation – Labor and Employment (2011-2026) by Best Lawyers

Named among Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year in Litigation – Labor & Employment in 2015 and in Employment Law – Management (2018, 2020, 2025)

Named among the Top 50 Lawyers in Arizona by Super Lawyers (2007-2011, 2022)

Named among “Top 100 Lawyers” by AzBusiness Magazine (2020)

Named among Southwest Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (2007-2024)

Memberships

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Arizona Industrial Relations Association

Arizona Town Hall

State Bar Licenses

Arizona

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
U.S. District Ct., District of Arizona

Media

  • “We Might Be On (To) Something, But Who Knows? A Fresh Look At The Pharmacist-Patient Privilege,” 27 Journal of Health Care Law & Policy 217 (2024)
  • “Title VII Trials – and Tribulations: Examining the Divergent Roles of Judge and Jury Under the Act’s Enhanced Remedial Scheme, 39 Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal 331 (2022)
  • “The Workplace Injunction: An Emerging But Imperfect Weapon in the Fight Against Domestic Violence,” 26 American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law 831 (2018)
  • “Old MacDonald Hid a Farm: Examining Arizona’s Prospects for Legalizing Industrial Hemp,” 20 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 361 (2015)
  • “Contemplating the Recognition of a Common Law Tort for Wrongfully Refusing to Hire Bankruptcy Debtors,” 22 American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review 431 (2014)
  • “Reaching the End of Our Rope? An Appraisal of the Movement to Legalize Industrial Hemp,” 3 Accord, Legal Journal for Practitioners 1 (2014)
  • “This is Unprecedented: Examining the Impact of Vacated State Appellate Court Opinions,” 13 Journal of Appellate Practice and Process 231 (2012)

Speaking Engagements

  • “Cannabis in Colorado, Workplace Safety and CMA Actions,” 117th National Western Mining Conference & Exhibition Presented by the Colorado Mining Assoc. (February 2015)
  • “Prescription Drugs in the Workplace: What is Your Role as an Employer?,” Arizona Small Business Association’s Business Education Seminar (July 2014)
  • “Marijuana Legalization Issues,” Arizona Bankers Association 111th Annual Convention (June 2014)

Experience*

  • Successfully defended the employer at trial and on appeal in one of the first cases ever litigated under the anti-retaliation provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
  • Represented the employer in the first reported decision holding that compensatory damages are not recoverable under the Arizona Civil Rights Act.
  • Represented the employer in the first reported decision in which a court in Arizona compelled an employee to arbitrate a statutory employment discrimination claim.
  • Successfully represented the employer in another case in which the court held that an employee was precluded from proceeding with litigation due to her failure to comply with a grievance and arbitration provision contained in an employee handbook.
  • Successfully represented the employer in the first case holding that the statutory presumption against an award of attorneys’ fees to prevailing employers in federal civil rights actions does not apply in cases involving the alleged breach of an employment contract in Arizona.
  • Submitted an amicus brief in support of the employer’s successful argument that there is no common law tort claim for wrongful refusal to hire in Arizona.
  • Submitted an amicus brief in support of the employer in a case holding that an employer can terminate an employee who tests positive for marijuana even though the employee ingested the drug in compliance with Colorado’s medical marijuana laws.

*Completed prior to joining Clark Hill

The Clark Hill approach is equally pragmatic and growth-minded, which is why we understand our clients’ toughest business challenges. Our multidisciplinary, global team of advisors focuses on smart legal solutions, delivered simply.

© 2026 Clark Hill PLC.