Yen Pilch Robaina & Kresin PLC

Phoenix Employment Law Attorneys

The experienced Phoenix employment law attorneys of Yen Pilch Robaina & Kresin PLC understand what it takes to achieve results for clients. We will work closely with you to address your needs and find favorable solutions to your employment law matters.

You work hard every day to provide for your family and put yourself in a situation to succeed in life. When the dignity that comes with your job is wrongly taken away from you, you need an attorney on your side who works just as hard at their job as you do at yours. You need the Phoenix law firm of Yen Pilch Robaina & Kresin PLC.

Speak to an experienced Phoenix employee rights lawyer about your legal issues.

Robert Yen

SENIOR PARTNER

Following his graduation from Arizona State University’s College of Law in 1981, Bob Yen was honored to serve as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas Tang, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In the nearly forty years since, Bob has focused his practice on public employment law, including wage and hour issues and civil rights litigation, while also developing a significant estate planning practice. Bob has practiced in the United States Supreme Court and argued cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the United States District Court, the Arizona Supreme Court, the Arizona Court of Appeals, and the Arizona Superior Courts. Bob has maintained an “AV Preeminent” rating by the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, the highest rating for competence and ethics, for more than twenty-five years.

Bob has served as a faculty member at the State Bar Seminar “The Power of One: Making Cultural Diversity a Reality for the Legal Profession in Arizona” and at the Business Law Forum for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses speaking on the “At-Will” employment doctrine in Arizona. He was the founding director and remains a member of the Arizona Asian-American Bar Association, and served as a volunteer and participating mentor in the Maricopa County Bar Association Cultural Diversity Mentoring Program. Bob’s community involvement also includes service on the Board of Directors of the Phoenix Museum of History and a four-year appointment by the Governor to serve as a member of the State Liquor Board.

Caroline Pilch

SENIOR PARTNER

Carol Pilch graduated from University of Arizona College of Law in 1986. Carol’s practice focuses on employment law, personal injury law, and commercial litigation. Carol has a great deal of experience handling personal injury matters, as well as cases involving discrimination claims, and other matters brought under the National Labor Relations Act, including complex wage claims and other complex civil litigation matters. She has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Arizona Supreme Court, as well as the Consumer Products Safety Commission, where she helped her clients oversee the largest consumer product recall in U.S. history.

Carol was appointed a judge pro tempore in the Maricopa County Superior Court in 1994 and continues to serve in that capacity periodically. Carol is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale Hubbell, the highest quality rating for competence and ethical standards, and has been selected for inclusion in the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, a distinction held by less than 5% of the female lawyers nationally.

Edmundo P. Robaina

SENIOR PARTNER

Edmundo Robaina has practiced in the areas of labor and employment law for nearly 25 years. Edmundo regularly advises and represents individuals and business clients in discrimination/harassment cases under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and other federal and state laws. Furthermore, he handles wrongful termination cases pursuant to Arizona and federal laws; federal and state public employee discipline matters; wage and hour cases, breach of employment contract cases, and more. Throughout his career, Edmundo has successfully represented clients in state and federal administrative forums, in mediation and arbitration cases, and before various state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Edmundo is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and has served on the board of the Arizona Employment Lawyers Association. Edmundo has presented to a number of organizations on employment law topics including federal retaliation law, reasonable accommodation in the workplace, employment practices and trends, Arizona employment law, administrative law, wrongful termination, and mediation.

David C. Kresin

SENIOR PARTNER

Dave Kresin represents employees and small businesses in employment litigation matters including discrimination, retaliation, medical leave denial, restrictive covenant enforcement, wage and hour violations, and more. Dave is licensed in the state courts of Arizona, Kansas, and Missouri, as well as the U.S. District Courts for Arizona and Kansas, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and previously served as a law clerk to the Hon. G. Thomas VanBebber in the United States District Court for Kansas.

Dave has substantial experience in federal courts, state courts, private arbitrations, and administrative proceedings, and has extensive trial experience covering a range of different employment law issues. In 2020, Dave was named a member of the Lawyers of Distinction, and in 2014 and 2015, he was recognized as the Employee Rights Attorney of the Year in Arizona by the Corporate INTL Magazine Global Awards. He also was named one of “Arizona’s Finest Lawyers” in 2011. Dave is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Arizona Employment Lawyers Association, and the American Bar Association Labor & Employment Section.

Dave has presented on a wide variety of employment law topics and authored several articles relating to federal employment law issues including:

Presenter, “The Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act: Arizona’s Current Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Law”, Referrals Royale Network Luncheon, December 2019
Co-Presenter, “Employment Restrictive Covenants including Non-Competes, Non-Solicitation, and Non-Use Agreements: What’s Enforceable and What is Not”, Arizona Employment Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, February 2016
Co-Author, “2013 Update re: Fee Applications (Article 10.8)”, Arizona Employment Law Handbook, October 2013
Presenter, “The OSHA-Administered Whistleblower Laws”, Arizona Employment Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, February 2011
Presenter, “Updates on the FMLA and ADA”, Arizona Employment Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, February 2009
Co-Author, “Federal Regulations Update,” Employment Relations Today, Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Spring 2006
Presenter, “Untangling the Web of Overlapping FMLA, ADA, PDA, Workers’ Comp, and Antidiscrimination Laws,” Council on Education in Management FMLA Update, October 2005

Chad Smith

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

Chad Smith received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in 2014 and his Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University in 2017. Chad’s practice is primarily focused on estate planning and probate. He also regularly handles public employment law and administrative matters.

Samantha Caplinger

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY

Samantha Caplinger’s practice is primarily focused on public employment law, administrative investigations and hearings, and criminal defense. With a decade of experience litigating cases, Samantha has handled hundreds of pre-trial interviews, dozens of jury trials, and countless court appearances. Samantha prides herself on her ability to maintain good working relationships with all parties in a case and using her communication skills to benefit her clients, always striving to achieve the best possible outcome.

Prior to joining YPRK, Samantha served as a prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and Arizona Attorney General’s Office where she primarily focused on sexually motivated crimes, but handled cases of all types, both misdemeanor and felony. In this role, she gained substantial trial experience and invaluable insight into the workings of the prosecution. Samantha solidified her reputation in this role as a strong advocate for justice, which led her to the role of a public defense attorney for Pinal County.

Samantha is passionate about justice and fighting for her clients’ rights, whether in the criminal arena or employment law arena. She believes everyone deserves the best defense possible and enjoys being an advocate for those navigating through what are often harrowing experiences.

An Arizona native, Samantha has always been dedicated to serving the people of Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2012 and attended the University of Arizona as an undergraduate to receive her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration in 2008.