Martin & Bonnett: The Phoenix Firm That Represents Only Employees, Never Employers

Inside Martin & Bonnett, PLLC, the Phoenix firm that has spent three decades representing only employees—never employers—in cases that have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide.

About the Firm

Founded in 1994 by Susan Martin and Daniel Bonnett, Martin & Bonnett, PLLC is a Phoenix-based law firm with a unique rule: it exclusively represents employees and retirees, never employers. The firm focuses on employment discrimination, wage and hour claims (FLSA), ERISA pension and benefits litigation, class actions, and union-side labor law.

Susan Martin, recognized as Best Lawyers 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” for Employment Law – Individuals in Phoenix, and Daniel Bonnett established the firm with a commitment to employee advocacy, setting it apart from many employment practices that represent both sides.

Practice Areas

• Employment discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful discharge under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, and the FMLA
• Wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including misclassification and overtime disputes
• ERISA pension and employee benefits litigation, a niche area where the firm has developed significant expertise
• Union-side labor law, with Susan Martin serving as chief negotiator for musicians in symphony orchestras nationwide

Track Record

The firm reports recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for employees and retirees over three decades, including class actions and individual ERISA pension disputes. One notable case involved a retired mine supervisor whose pension was reinstated after the firm successfully challenged an overpayment claim that threatened his benefits.

Note: Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future matters.

Client Feedback

• A client identified as Tom F. described serving as the class representative in a lawsuit against a Fortune 100 employer over pension issues, calling it his first real encounter with the judicial system.
• A retired truck driver praised the firm for resolving wage-and-hour issues affecting himself and coworkers.
• Another client credited attorneys Jennifer Kroll and Susan Martin with securing a pension settlement faster than his case had progressed through the ERISA process.

Community & Recognition

Susan Martin is a member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Labor and Employment Law, where she has served as Co-Chair of the Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee. She is also active in the Arizona Employment Lawyers Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the AFL-CIO’s Lawyers Coordinating Committee. Martin has lectured extensively on ERISA, pension, employment, and labor law.

The firm has received industry recognition, including Susan Martin’s 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” award from Best Lawyers for Employment Law – Individuals in Phoenix, and the “ERISA Law Firm of the Year in Arizona” award from Global Law Experts in 2020.

Legal Context in Arizona

Employment discrimination claims in Arizona are governed by both federal law (Title VII, ADA, ADEA) and the state’s civil rights statute (A.R.S. 41-1463). Arizona is an at-will employment state, with exceptions outlined in the Arizona Employment Protection Act (A.R.S. 23-1501). The state’s minimum wage and paid sick time requirements, often higher than federal standards, are established under the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act (A.R.S. 23-362 et seq.). ERISA, the federal law governing most of the firm’s pension work, preempts state law, requiring specialized expertise to litigate effectively.

Firm Differentiators

Martin & Bonnett’s key distinction is its firm-wide commitment to representing only employees, a rarity among employment law firms. This focus, combined with deep expertise in ERISA pension litigation—a niche few plaintiff-side attorneys handle—positions the firm for complex or high-stakes matters. However, individuals with smaller, straightforward wage disputes may find a lower-overhead practice more suitable.

Office: Park Place, 4647 N. 32nd St., Suite 185, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Contact: (602) 240-6900 | martinbonnett.com