Erich A. Knorr
Partner, AWI-CH
Erich Knorr is a Partner at Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and he leads the Tempe, Arizona office. He is a licensed attorney in Arizona and California. His practice focuses on workplace investigations related to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct.
Erich is an experienced investigator who has conducted complex investigations in many different industries in the public and private sectors.
In the public sector, he regularly conducts investigations for public safety departments and is well versed in the Public Safety Officers’ Procedural Bill of Rights Act and the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act. Erich’s experience also includes investigations for universities, community colleges, and high schools.
In the private sector, Erich has investigated claims for organizations ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Erich is experienced in a variety of industries, including high-tech, telecommunications, biotechnology, data management, trucking, waste management, construction, medical, emergency response, and food production. He has handled numerous high-profile investigations involving top executives and elected government officials. He also has experience testifying in support of his investigations.
Erich develops and conducts trainings on best practices in workplace investigations. He is also an active member of the Association of Workplace Investigators and serves on multiple committees.
Before joining Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, Erich represented public safety labor associations and their members in civil litigation, administrative proceedings, and labor disputes. During this time, Erich represented employees throughout California in hundreds of discipline and discharge proceedings, workplace investigations, and critical incidents, including officer-involved shootings and deaths in custody. His background in representing employees gives him a unique perspective and skillset that he brings to his current practice as a neutral investigator.
Erich graduated with Distinction from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and is a member of the Roger J. Traynor Honor Society. He was an Associate Articles Editor for the Global Business and Development Law Journal. Erich served as an extern for the Honorable Ronald H. Sargis of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California. He also studied Fundamental Human Rights in the U.S. and Europe under Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
CA State Bar No. 294562
AZ State Bar No. 038028
+ Professional Degrees, Certifications, Awards and Organizations
- Juris Doctor, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2013
- Graduated with Distinction
- Member, Roger J. Traynor Honor Society
- Associate Articles Editor for the Global Business and Development Law Journal
- Bachelor of Business Administration, University of San Diego, 2009
- Member, Association of Workplace Investigators
- Member, Maricopa County Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of California
- Member, State Bar of Arizona
- State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Section
- AWI Certificate Holder, AWI Training Institute (AWI-CH)
- Association of Workplace Investigators, Advocacy Committee, 2020; Seminar and Webinar Committee, 2020
- Trained in Trauma Informed Forensic Interviewing
+ *Notable Publications and Presentations *
- "Bridge Over Troubled Water: Key Considerations in Working with an External Investigator" Presentation – Association of Corporate Counsel Arizona Chapter (March 26, 2024)
- “A Workplace Investigator’s Toolkit” Presentation – AZSHRM’s Employment Law and Legislative Conference in Phoenix, Arizona (February 9, 2024)
- “Public Sector Supplement” Virtual Seminar – Association of Workplace Investigators (June 20, 2023)
- “Conducting Effective Investigations” CALPELRALearn Virtual Training – CALPELRA (May 3-4, 2023)
- “Three Reasons Why Impartiality in Workplace Investigations is Critical” Article – Maricopa Lawyer Volume 42, Number 5 (May 2023)
- "Arizona Public Employers: Social Media Regulation and Free Speech – Reasonable or Overreach?" Article – Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, (April 20, 2023)
- “Phoenix Suns’ Investigation: What Every Employer Needs to Know” Article – Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, (March 24, 2023)
- “Conducting Effective POBR Investigations” – University of California | Ethics, Compliance & Audit Symposium (November 7, 2022)
- “Public Sector Workplace Investigations Basics” Virtual Seminar – Association of Workplace Investigators (September 20, 2022)
- “Workplace Investigation Basics” Virtual Seminar – Association of Workplace Investigators (May 18, 2021)
- “Strategically Navigating POBR/FBOR Investigations’ Three Biggest Challenges” – CALPELRA’s 45th Annual Conference (November 19, 2020)
- "Snap Judgments And First Impressions: How Unconscious Bias Impairs Effective Workplace Investigations" – CALPELRA’s 45th Annual Conference (November 17, 2020)
- “Quick Tips for Conducting Remote Interviews – Lessons Learned from the First Six Months” Article – Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, (September 14, 2020)
- “Public Sector Workplace Investigations Basics” Virtual Seminar – Association of Workplace Investigators (July 29, 2020)
- “Public Sector Workplace Investigations Basics” Virtual Seminar – Association of Workplace Investigators (June 24, 2020)
- "Elevating the Remote Interview – Conducting Effective Remote Interviews" Webinar – Van Dermyden Maddux Law Corporation, (July 9, 2020)
- "Elevating the Remote Interview – Setting the Stage for an Effective Remote Interview" Webinar – Van Dermyden Maddux Law Corporation, (June 4, 2020)
- “COVID-19: California Deadline Extension for Investigations of Public Safety Officers and Service of Adverse Action on State Employees Article – Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, (April 3, 2020)
- “Fair And Balanced POBR/FOBR Investigations” – CALPELRA’s 42nd Annual Training Conference, in Monterey, CA (December 6, 2017)