Christopher Houk - Lawyer in Tempe, AZ

Christopher R Houk

Employment and labor Attorney at Tempe, AZ

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Reviews
Cost
Resume

Great experience

Excellent and Human

About Christopher

Learn Christopher’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Employment and labor

50%

17 years, 40 cases
Discrimination

20%

17 years, 40 cases
Sexual harassment

15%

17 years, 40 cases
Wrongful termination

15%

17 years, 30 cases

SINCE 2005, CHRIS HAS FOCUSED HIS PRACTICE PRIMARILY ON EMPLOYMENT CASES.

My philosophy of practicing law is to change the world one case at a time. I believe that aiming to deliver just results in every case builds a better society. My goal is to provide excellent representation as efficiently as possible.

Client's Choice

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Licensed for 21 years

State AZ

Status Active

Acquired 2001

Updated 12/21/2022

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Christopher

Houk Law Firm, PLLC

(602) 483-4695 Office

4645 South Lakeshore Drive

Suite 13

Tempe, AZ, 85282

houklawfirm.com

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Reviews

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4.6 / 5.0

18 customer reviews

5 Star

89%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Client's Choice

Christopher received a significant number of 4+ stars in 2020

Posted by Danielle | May 1, 2022

Great experience

Chris was compassionate and knowledgeable during a very difficult time for me. He acted quickly and kept in contact with me. His office staff were also very helpful and professional. In my opinion, he went above and beyond for me. I would not hesitate to hire Chris again or recommend him to a friend.

Posted by Jimmy | February 17, 2022

Excellent and Human

It's very hard to find people who are a full combination of professional, intelligent, thoughtful, and kind. Mr. Houk is one of them. Grateful for his and his employees' patience, empathy, and knowledge during a very difficult time.

Posted by anonymous | December 13, 2021

Employment Law Consultation

Chris was very helpful in the several consultations I had with him regarding some employment law questions with the vaccine mandates, Title 7, and the EEOC. With his legal advice, I was able to resolve the issue with my employer. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an employment law attorney.

Posted by Paul | June 8, 2021

Amazing

I contacted Chris and his team who quickly reviewed my questions on employment issues that closed on a positive response. I could not be more happy. Chris and his team did an excellent job and left no stone unturned. When we think all hope is lost and we seek out the experts Chris and his team are the ones to call. Thank you ever so much for all your efforts. If I ever have a question or actually any type matter Chris and his team will be the first ones I call.

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Posted by Ray | March 12, 2021

Fantastic Attorney

We spoke with many law firms prior to selecting Houk Law Firm; 15 minutes into our consultation with Chris we knew we found the right attorney to represent us. He listened to our concerns, asked great follow up questions, and provided wonderful options to us. Once we selected Chris there was not one moment in the process that we regretted our decision. Chris Houk and his staff were responsive, empathetic, and communicative. We always felt like they had our best interest at heart. At each step Chris took the time to explain the process and next steps. Most of all Chris made sure to make himself available. We are happy that we selected the Hauk Law Firm and highly recommend them.

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Posted by Christi | August 6, 2020

Great Advocate to have in your corner!

I have no regrets hiring Chris to help me with my job dispute. He listened to my grievances and gave me very pertinent and honest advice through the entire process. He didn't simply tell me what I wanted to hear, but was very honest about my legal rights and the realistic goals I should have moving through the dispute. In the end, I was extremely happy with the result and would not have achieved it with out Chris on my side. I highly recommend him for anyone looking for an honest advocate during a difficult time.

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Posted by anonymous | March 31, 2020

Greatness

I highly recommend Chris. Im totally satisfied with his and his law firms services. I can go on forever about all the great qualities but I'd rather keep it short and to the point. Lol.. hire Chris you'll be glad you did. Im totally happy with the end results and then some.

Posted by anonymous | March 19, 2020

Straightforward approach to resolution

Chris was helpful in a unique situation with a former employer. He guided the process that was thorough and case specific. He ensured my level of comfortably during each exchange, which led to a settlement I was happy with.

Posted by Ashley | March 7, 2020

Strategic, Efficient, Genuine Employment Lawyer

After doing my research and speaking to many employment lawyers, I hired Chris. I was extremely satisfied with his services. During my initial consult, Chris not only answered all of my questions, but asked me lots of questions to get a better understanding of my concerns. He gave me options and painted a very clear picture of what was to come. Throughout the process, he was very upfront, transparent and efficient, not wasting my time or money. In addition, he kept me informed and guided me to make the best decisions for me. He is extremely strategic and smart in his approach and has your genuine interest at heart. Chris and his staff always made me feel comfortable and were extremely professional. I cannot say enough great things about Chris and highly recommend him.

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Posted by anonymous | March 1, 2020

Thoughtful, Creative Problem Solver

Mr. Houk was able to quickly identify key issues to begin crafting a strategy, yet he showed sensitivity in dealing with my case. I appreciated his willingness to take on a larger corporation and the creative and analytical skills that resulted in resolution. I highly recommend Christopher Houk.

Posted by anonymous | February 14, 2020

Stop shopping, he’s your guy.

No one gets an attorney unless something is seriously wrong and you’re stressed out to the max. When I called and spoke with Chris he was very understanding and kind but most important he listened and took notes on everything I said. A lot of attorneys are fast talkers and rude and Chris is quite the opposite. He’s polite, friendly and incredibly smart in the ways he does things. When you meet him you will see what I mean. I have nothing but good things to say about him. He’s smarter than most people around him and very brilliant at his craft. He’s an absolute excellent attorney and is concerned about doing right by people and their situations and it shows. Don’t take my word on it though, call the guy and you will see what I mean.

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Posted by anonymous | May 4, 2018

Excellent, skilled effective attorney

Chris Houk is a BRILLIANT attorney!!! He is available morning, noon and night. He is efficient and effective. From day one, knowledgeable, compassionate, skilled, and very meticulous in his craft. Genuine attorney who cares about his clients who goes above and beyond. Chris has the utmost integrity and their aren’t many left in his field. I highly recommend Chris to anyone seeking a skilled, effective attorney seeking fair justice!

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Posted by anonymous | April 8, 2016

Passionate, Sincere, Professional, Generous

First and foremost, this was my first experience in consulting with an attorney and did not know what to expect. Because of what I believed was a wrongful termination, I knew I had to have someone advocate on my behalf, in order for any negotiations to work out more favorably. I resorted to searching the web for an attorney in my area. Every place I called simply informed me of the consultation fee and coldly wanted to know if I wanted to schedule an appointment, without hearing any details of my situation or taking any initial interest in my predicament. This was until Michele pleasantly answered my call at Chris Houk's office. She took an immediate and sincere interest and wanted to know more about what was going on. She reassured me that everything would work out and that Chris was the perfect man to help me. She was absolutely right! Chris is one of the most approachable and kind men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Immediately, I felt at ease during my initial consultation, because of the sincere interest and passion he exhibited. It was clear he wanted to help me. His honesty and integrity manifested throughout the negotiations when Chris truly took my best interests at heart, even when it potentially conflicted with his own in the form of not extending the negotiations unnecessarily. His professionalism showed with how prompt he was in returning calls and keeping me updated with new developments as they occured. I am so impressed that I already have and will continue to recommend him to anyone in need of a competent and passionate advocate. I know they will be pleased with Chris. He's the man.

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Posted by Shelly | January 9, 2016

I needed help with an issue I had at work

I had a situation at work that could have escalated to end in termination of my position. I was losing sleep over it. I met with Chris, we strategized and came up with a plan. It saved my job. If I ever need assistance with an employment law situation again, I will definitely be seeing Chris about it

Posted by Donetta | October 20, 2015

Excellent Attorney

Chris was so easy to work with and a privilege to have on my side. He is knowledgeable, and actually cares. He also makes sure he can get you through whatever the situation without making you feel inadequate because you may not understand everything. I would recommend Chris to anyone for any case.

Posted by Kerwin | October 16, 2015

Completely satisfied!!!

I went to Chris with a problem I was having at work. The thing that impressed me and moved me about Chris is his kind, gentle heart! He really listened to me and immediately took action. He is a very detailed oriented individual. Phenomenal experience! Thank you, Chris for your professionalism, but more importantly, not taking for granted the human element!

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Posted by anonymous | November 4, 2021

Buckled

Chris Houk has a good team. His office manager is amazing. The paralegal took the time to draw up the demand letter albeit key components were left out. It doesn’t really matter though because opposing counsel reached out to him and he literally buckled under on the first phone call. He told me later that he knows her which makes me uncomfortable. Either way, he wasn’t firm with her at all. I’m not sure he ever believed in my case. Quite possible that it was just a filler case for him anyways. He’s the reason most attorneys get a bad rap. I would not recommend him to anyone.

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Response from Christopher Houk November 4, 2021

A lawyer’s duty to keep client confidences has few exceptions, and, in an abundance of caution, I do not feel at liberty to respond in a point-by-point fashion in this forum. Suffice it to say, we are very proud of our track record of client satisfaction and favorable results at the Houk Law Firm.

Posted by anonymous | February 4, 2021

Dude is a joke

This guy is a complete joke, stay far away from him and his team. Wrote a demand letter to one of my employers and had numerous errors and didn’t list any of the things I outlined.

Response from Christopher Houk February 5, 2021

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Adjunct Professor
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
2022 - Present

Owner
Houk Law Firm, PLLC
2019 - Present

Partner
Gillespie, Shields, Goldfarb, Taylor & Houk
2019 - 2019

Attorney
Gillespie, Shields, Durrant & Goldfarb
2015 - 2019

Trial Attorney
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
2009 - 2015

Assistant Attorney General
Attorney General's Office - Arizona
2005 - 2009

Associate Attorney
Gillespie and Associates
2001 - 2005

Law Clerk
Office of Honorable Jack B. Kirsten
2000 - 2001

View all work experience

Education

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2000

University of Arizona
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1996

Brophy College Preparatory
High School Diploma
1992

Legal Cases

Shumway v. DHL Express (USA), Inc.
$350,000

Associations

National Employment Lawyers Association
National Board member
2022 - Present

Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix - Finance Council - Compensation Committee
Member
2017 - Present

Diocese of Phoenix - Finance Council
Member
2017 - Present

American Bar Foundation
Fellow
2016 - Present

National Employment Lawyers Association
Member - Ethics and Sanctions Committee
2016 - Present

Maricopa County Bar Association
Member
2016 - Present

American Bar Association
Member Ethics, Employee Rights and Responsibilities
2013 - Present

Arizona Black Bar Association
Member
2012 - Present

United Cerebral Palsy
Trustee
2018 - 2020

Southwest Arizona Bank (Proposed)
Vice Chair - Board of Directors
2018 - 2021

Valley Youth Theater
Board Member
2017 - 2020

Arizona Employment Lawyers Association
Executive Board Member
2016 - 2022

Tempe Human Relations Commission
Commissioner
2014 - 2017

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
Member - Stewardship Committee
2013 - 2019

State Bar of Arizona
Appointments Committee
2010 - 2016

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Languages Spoken

English

Spanish

Awards

Dr. Charles R. Campbell Outstanding Alumnus Award
Black Board of Directors Project
2016

Most Shelter Visits - New Attorney Volunteer
ASU Homeless Legal Assistance Project
2001

Publications

State Bar of Arizona - Annual Convention materials
Remarkable Lawyers, the ADA and Social Justice
2021

National Employment Lawyer Association Convention Materials
Ferreting Out & Exposing Implicit Bias from Intake to Trial
2020

National Employment Lawyers Association Convention Materials
Answers to Ethics Questions Commonly Posed by NELA Attorneys
2019

Speaking Engagements

Annual Convention
Case Review of Ninth Circuit Cases Interpreting the Severe or Pervasive Prong of Hostile Work Environment Cases
2021

Annual Convention
Remarkable Lawyers, the ADA and Social Justice
2021

Outreach to New and Young Lawyers webinar
Reinventing Your Career as a New or Young Labor and Employment Lawyer in 2020
2020

NELA Convention 2020 Community Learning Excellence
Ferreting Out & Exposing Implicit Bias from Intake to Trial
2020

Colorado Plaintiff's Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention
Ferreting Out & Exposing Implicit Bias from Intake to Trial
2020

Annual Conference of the National Employment Lawyers Association
Answers to Ethics Questions Commonly Posed by NELA Attorneys
2019

Fall Seminar
The Benefit and Ethics of Using the Press in Civil Cases
2019

Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee & Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee Midwinter Meeting
The Ethics of Bias and Looking Beyond Our Own Images: The Lawyer's Magical Looking Glass
2018

National Employment Lawyers Association - CLE Webinar Program
Ethics Tips For Successful Plaintiffs' Employment Lawyers
2017

African American Conference on Disabilities
Making the Case for Workplace Reasonable Accommodations
2017

Overview of Employment Laws
Top 15 Employment Law Do's and Don'ts for Medical Practices
2016

2016 Annual Employment & Labor Law Fall Seminar
Damage Calculations in Employment Cases
2016

Outreach
EEOC Process, EEOC Statutes, Hot Topics
2015

Outreach
Criminal Background Checks and the EEOC
2015

Contemporary Discrimination
Sexual Orientation Employment Discrimination
2015

Managing a Workforce in 2015
A Regulator's Perspective on Employment Laws and Enforcement Trends
2014

18th Annual Vision Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Expo
Disability Discrimination
2014

Outreach
Disability Discrimination
2014

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Attorney endorsements

Received (10)

Given (8)

Endorse Christopher

Adam DeMuro

Employment and labor Attorney | Nov 02
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Not only is Chris effective at what he does, he will lose sleep for his clients. He takes on his clients' problems and solves them. He is inspiring to me and I admire him for the example he sets for our profession"

Geoff Morris

Unknown Attorney | May 25
Relationship: Co-worker

"Chris Houk has wonderful insight in the nuances of employment law. He is a practical lawyer keenly focused on using his experience to help clients get the best results possible at each stage of litigation. I highly endorse Mr. Houk."

James Green

Employment and labor Attorney | Jan 04
Relationship: Co-worker

"Chris Houk was my advising attorney when I worked as an investigator at EEOC. He is an excellent attorney, and I am lucky to have had the opportunity to work for him. I learned a lot from him, which gave me an advantage heading into law school. I would strongly recommend Mr. Houk to anyone needing assistance with any type of labor or employment issue."

Werner Meyer

Employment and labor Attorney | Nov 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Chris for many years, and have found him to be intelligent, thoughtful, diligent and thorough. Chris just transitioned back into private practice from lengthy stints with the state and federal governments in the labor and employment fields. His extensive and high-level legal work during his government employment periods will be invaluable for private-sector clients. I recommend Chris to potential clients without reservation."

Stephen Coleman

Employment and labor Attorney | Nov 09
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Chris Houk is an outstanding advocate for his clients. He is intelligent, highly knowledgeable in his field, diligent in his preparation, and skilled in the courtroom. Chris puts his impressive experience and skill set to great use in obtaining successful outcomes in employment-related matters."

Haines Meyer

Employment and labor Attorney | Nov 01
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"If you have have suffered discrimination in the work place or have any employment law issue, you should contact Christopher Houk. In addition to being an expert in the field, he is honest and great to work with. Chris has behind the scenes experience as an attorney for the state and federal government, that will benefit your case immensely. Chris is the only employment law attorney I would recommend to a client seeking top representation with a reasonable fee for employment law or a maximum award for damages for employment discrimination."

Rebecca Pontikes

Discrimination Attorney | Oct 31
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Chris has many years of experience with the EEOC. He is very thoughtful and careful in his strategy. Clients can't ask for a more empathetic advocate."

Meenoo Chahbazi

Employment and labor Attorney | Oct 30
Relationship: Co-worker

"Chris is an extremely dedicated, experienced, and insightful attorney. He has worked both at the EEOC and the AZ Civil Rights Division and has obtained extensive relief for aggrieved individuals. He is a great asset for both employees and employers who need legal assistance."

Guy Knoller

Discrimination Attorney | Oct 18
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known him for more than 6 years. Chris Houk is an excellent attorney. He is conscientious, hard working and compassionate. I recommend him without reservation."

Tophas Anderson

Employment and labor Attorney | Jul 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Chris Houk is a hard working disciplined lawyer. He has great trial experience and is very well versed in all aspects of employment law. Chris cares about the employees he represents in all types ofemployment law claims. I highly recommend Chris."

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