Mistakes to Avoid in Employee Handbooks

Sherry Janssen Downer Related Seminars and Products

Ms. Downer is a labor and employment and business disputes attorney, with experience in both the private sector and federal EEO law. Prior to establishing her own law firm, Ms. Downer was a director in a large regional law firm and focused her practice on representing companies in litigation
before courts and administrative agencies on a variety of business and employment disputes. Ms. Downer’s practice includes employment class action litigation, employment contract drafting and disputes, litigation and counseling regarding discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, non-competition and trade secrets, family and medical leave, disability, accommodation, the National Labor Relations Act, and federal sector employment law, including grievances, arbitration, EEO and labor organization issues. She also drafts policies and conducts internal investigations and management level and employee training, has experience serving as a board member and officer as well as providing legal counsel to and training for boards and nonprofit organizations on a variety of matters, and has experience with Arizona public records law. Ms. Downer is admitted in Arizona and obtained her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Arizona in 2004. She graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a double major in Political Science and Communication and a minor in English.

Ms. Downer has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law teaching employment topics and serve on the Society for Human Resources of Greater Tucson’s (SHRM-GT) Legislative Update committee. Her peers recognized her as one of the Best Lawyers In America since 2014 in the area of Employment Law-Management and her law firm as one of the Best Law Firms in America since 2016 (2017 Edition), rated her AV-Preeminent, the highest Martindale-Hubbell peer rating available, and as a Southwest Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Employment Litigation: Defense from 2013-2017. The Arizona Daily Star and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named Ms. Downer to the 2013 “40 Under 40” list of leaders, and Inside Tucson Business recognized Sherry in its 2013 “Women of Influence” list of 10 inspirational women and as a 2014 “Up & Comer.” In 201, the Governor appointed Ms. Downer to the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments, the committee that recommends candidates for Pima County Superior Court Judge to the Governor for appointment. Ms. Downer was appointed for a second term in 2018 and continues to serve on the Commission and served on a 2024 Judicial Performance Review Conference Team for the Appellate Courts. Ms. Downer also serves on the Arizona Women Lawyers Association Southern Arizona Steering Committee and the Arizona Women Lawyers Association State Board. Ms. Downer has been a member of the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation Board since 2019, served as Board Secretary and currently serves as Vice President.