Radix Law bolsters employment, adoption law practices with new hires
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Radix Law welcomes its newest partners John Balitis and Julia Acken as both join the Scottsdale-based firm from Jennings Strouss & Salmon, bringing decades of well-rounded legal experience.
“John and Julia have worked together as a remarkably dynamic team for many years,” said Andy Kvesic, managing partner at Radix Law. “We are grateful and excited they chose Radix to bring their seasoned expertise, impressive backgrounds and passion for what they do.”
John Balitis counsels private sector clients as well as government agencies, including the Arizona Legislature, on a broad range of employment law and labor relations matters. Over his 30 years of practice, he has represented clients in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), U.S. Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, Arizona Civil Rights Division, Arizona Industrial Commission, Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
“What attracted me to Radix is that it’s unlike any other law firm. And I’ve met with a lot of law firms,” Mr. Balitis said in a prepared statement. “The firm’s unique structure — along with the flexibility it offers its attorneys — is very different from the big traditional law firm model.”
In addition to the administrative and transactional aspects of his practice, Mr. Balitis litigates employment-related disputes in federal and state courts, where he has both bench and jury trial experience and has appeared and argued before the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Radix Law bolsters employment, adoption law practices with new hires
Ms. Acken focuses her practice on labor and employment law, as well as adoptions.
Ms. Acken previously was in-house counsel at a large, international company, and now acts as external general counsel for clients, including drafting employment and labor policies, supporting human resources personnel, responding to wage and hour and I-9 audits, providing compliance training, conducting workplace investigations, and drafting and negotiating contracts.
Ms. Acken also has a keen interest in issues impacting children, including those with developmental disabilities, and regularly represents prospective adoptive parents as they navigate through the adoption process.
“After working in every type of legal environment, I am excited to join an innovative law firm that is changing the way things have always been done,” commented Ms. Acken. “It’s also comforting to see a firm leading the way in how it compensates attorneys in a transparent manner based on what they actually produce. And, the fact that I can work at my own pace is also very appealing.”
