Gilkey & Stephenson, P.A., a New Mexico professional corporation in good standing, provides quality legal representation in the areas of employment and labor law to a variety of diverse clients, including local and national companies and public entities. Gilkey & Stephenson was formed on March 1, 1995, and, from its inception, the Firm’s mission was to offer employers the high quality legal representation of a big firm with the personalized and cost-effective touch of a small firm. The Firm is listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers and is “AV” rated (Results derived from a lawyer poll or survey), both Mr. Gilkey and Ms. Stephenson are listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the field of employment law and are certified by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization as specialists in employment and labor law, the Firm is ranked as the number one defense firm in the area of labor and employment law in New Mexico in Chambers USA, and Gilkey & Stephenson is the only New Mexico member of Worklaw Network, a national association of select employment and labor law defense attorneys.

Gilkey & Stephenson provides representation to employers on employment and labor law-related issues, and 90% of the Firm’s work is defending lawsuits (Past successes cannot be an assurance of future success because each case must be decided on its own merit). Our litigation practice is enhanced by the Firm’s active practice in counseling and training employers, auditing employers’ employment practices, drafting or revising employee policies, responding to collective bargaining issues, and assisting in other measures aimed at preventing disputes from turning into administrative charges or litigation (Past successes cannot be an assurance of future success because each case must be decided on its own merit). Through this employment and labor law specialization and our work in preventative practices, we provide responsive and cost-effective service.

The Firm’s primary emphasis is on litigation, and since opening our firm in early 1995, we have tried over a dozen employment cases in either federal or state court, and prevailed in each case but one. Significant victories have been obtained for several of our larger clients, such as Intel Corporation, Delta Air Lines, Lockheed, BHP Minerals International, Inc., Philips Semiconductors, Philips Electronics, United Parcel Service, Inc., and American National Insurance Company. We also have obtained numerous outright dismissals short of trial, and a considerable number of very reasonable settlements. Our success over the past eight years is even more remarkable in light of the inherent difficulties present in employment litigation. Our general philosophy is to vigorously and aggressively defend against employment claims in order to avoid the type of “copy-cat” claims that often arise when an employer either loses a case, or agrees to unreasonable settlement demands.

The Firm also has an active practice in defending administrative charges before such agencies as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New Mexico Human Rights Division, the OFCCP, and the National Labor Relations Board. Gilkey & Stephenson handles other labor and union-related issues, including picket line activities, union membership questions, injunction issues, and collective bargaining agreement arbitrations. The Firm also provides loss-prevention services for its employer clients, including drafting or revising personnel policies, training of managers and employees, and pre-termination consultations.