Katya provides comprehensive legal counsel to employers on a wide range of employment law matters. Specifically, her experience includes advising on hiring, performance management, and terminations; addressing issues involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; handling accommodation requests for disability, religion, and pregnancy; ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws, paid sick leave, and the Family and Medical Leave Act; navigating concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act; and drafting and enforcing restrictive covenants.

Education

  • University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law, J.D., Dean’s List (2014), Third-Year Writer, Arizona Law Review, Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Certificate. Vice President of the Native American Law Students Association, Secretary of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
  • Boston College, B.A., English (2009)
  • La Universidad Iberoamericana, City of Puebla, State of Puebla, México, Study Abroad (2008)

Bar & Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (2015)
  • Arizona (2015)
  • Gila River Indian Community Court (2024)
  • Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Court (2024)
  • Tohono O’odham Court (2023)
  • Pueblo of Laguna Court (2023 – 2024)

Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Litigation – Labor and Employment (2026)
  • Super Lawyers Rising Star, Labor & Employment Litigation (2019 – 2025)
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America: Labor and Employment Law, Management and Native American Law (2024)
  • Phoenix Magazine: Top Lawyer: Labor and Employment (2024)

Professional & Industry Memberships

  • The Gregory School, Governance Committee, Member, 2025-present
  • Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, Member, (2025-present)
  • State Bar of Arizona, Indian Law Section, Secretary (2023-2024), Member (2022 – 2025)
  • Austin, Crepelle & Ernest Sickey’s School for Wards and Domestics Dependent Nations, Director of the Board of Directors (2023 – present) 
  • Community Legal Services, Director of the Board of Directors (2023 – present)
  • Phoenix Legal Action Network, Member of Programming Committee (2023)
  • State Bar of Arizona, Employment and Labor Section, CLE Fall Seminar Committee (2019, 2021), CLE Luncheon Committee (2019-2020), State Bar of Arizona Convention CLE Committee (2022)
  • Arizona Asian American Bar Association, Member (2015 – present), Treasurer (April 2018 – March 2019), Director of the Board of Directors (2016 – 2025)
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Member (2016 – 2025)
  • James E. Rogers College of Law Board of Visitors, Member (2019 – present)
  • Native American Bar Association of Arizona, Golf Tournament Planning Committee (2016), Member (2016), (2021 – present)
  • State Bar of Arizona Bar Leadership Institute, Class of (2020 – 2021)
  • Ninth Circuit Civics Contest Volunteer, (2019 – 2023)
  • Tribal In-House Counsel Association, Member (2024 – present)
  • American Bar Association, Member (2025 – present)
  • Maricopa County Bar Association, Member (2025 – present)

Language Fluency

  • Spanish (conversational) 

Representative Experience

  • Defended international package delivery company in trial of Surface Transportation Assistance Act claims
  • Defended large grocery retail store in disability discrimination claims
  • Defended restoration company in disability discrimination claims
  • Defended medical practices in trial involving business torts
  • Defended international semiconductor client in discrimination and retaliation claims
  • Defended alleged employer in alleged unpaid wages claims
  • Prosecuted wrongful termination/whistleblowing lawsuit on behalf of employee