Representative Experience

Debora Verdier is a senior partner with The Cavanagh Law Firm.  Ms. Verdier defends employers in all types of labor and employment disputes pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state and federal courts, and private arbitrators.  She has experience in defending employers, including municipalities, against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation brought under Title VII, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the whistleblower provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Ms. Verdier has handled EEOC and employment-related litigation matters for several of Arizona’s employers, including private charter schools, health care providers, health clubs, tourist resorts, automotive dealerships, law firms, and multi-family housing managers.  She has performed policy reviews and revised policies as necessary to comply with changes in the law.  She has also provided in-service and training for management personnel in those same industries on topics regarding ADA, FMLA, and Title VII.  In addition to representing business clients in litigation, Ms. Verdier counsels companies with an eye toward preventing disputes and providing pre-litigation solutions.

Ms. Verdier has represented businesses in liability and insurance matters and has represented insurance companies in matters involving reimbursement issues and insurance coverage disputes.  Her work in this area has included preparing insurance coverage opinions, reservation of rights letters, and, if necessary, litigating coverage disputes and negotiating resolutions.

In 2012, Ms. Verdier was appointed to the International Association of Defense Counsel.  Membership to this 2,500 member group is by invitation only.  The IADC assumes a leadership role in many areas of legal reform and professional development.

Ms. Verdier served as a judge pro tem in the Maricopa County Superior Court from 2012-2020.  Since 2012, she has served as an adjunct professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University where she teaches a practical skill course called “The Litigation Experience.”  In 2022, Ms. Verdier was appointed to the Board of Directors at Cavanagh.

Associations & Activities

• State Bar of Arizona
• International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
• Professional Liability Underwriters Society (PLUS), Southwest Chapter, Steering Committee Member (2013-2019), Chapter Chair (2017-2018)
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Awards & Recognition

• Southwest Super Lawyers, 2013-2022
• Southwest Super Lawyers Top 25 Arizona Women Attorneys, 2015-2022
• Southwest Super Lawyers Top 50 Arizona Lawyers, 2016-2019
• AZ Business Magazine’s Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, 2016-2020, 2022
• AZ Business Magazine’s Top Lawyers in Labor and Employment, March/April 2011 and March/April 2013
• The Best Lawyers in America, Spring 2022, Employment Law – Management and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• PHOENIX Magazine Top Lawyer in Labor and Employment Law (2022)
• Capitol Times Women Achievers of Arizona 2022

Bar Admissions

• Arizona, 1997

Court Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
• United States District Court of Arizona
• United States District Court of Colorado

Education

• Arizona State University (B.S. Political Science/Philosophy, 1992)
• Arizona State University (J.D., 1997)
• Writing Instructor (1995-1996)
• National Moot Court Team, Member (1996-1997)
• ASU Law Journal, Member/Editor (1996-1997)
• Women Law Student’s Association, President (1996)
• Outstanding Woman of the Year, Women Law Student’s Association (1997)
• CALI Award – Federal Courts
• CALI Award – Employment Law

Representative Matters

• Doe v. Mahoney, 244 Ariz. 2040, 418 P.3d 1013 (Ariz. App. 2018)
• Hill v. City of Phoenix, 162 F. Supp. 3d 918 (D. Ariz. 2016)
• In re the Estate of Richard D. Snure, 234 Ariz. 203, 320 P.3d 316 (Ariz. App. 2014)
• Yahweh v. City of Phoenix, 544 Fed. Appx. 776 (D. Ariz. 2013)
• Canyon Ambulatory Surgery Center and El Dorado Surgery Center, LLP v. SCF Arizona, 225 Ariz. 414, 239 P.3d 773 (App. 2010)
• Xcentric Ventures, L.L.C. v. Bird, et al., 683 F. Sup. 2d. 1068 (D. Ariz. 2010)
• CBS Broadcasting, Inc. et al. v. EchoStar Communications Corp., et al., 276 F. Supp. 2d 1237 (S.D. Fla. 2003)
• In re Price Waterhouse, Ltd., 202 Ariz. 397, 46 P.3d 408 (2002)
• CBS Broadcasting, Inc. et al. v. EchoStar Communications Corp., et al., 265 F.3d 1193 (11th Cir. 2001)

News & Publications