Top best E Lawyers in Mesa | 547 available

Kristi Hancock ESQ is a 4th generation Arizonan. She spent 12 years traveling around the country with her husband while he was in the Air Force. They came back to settle down in Arizona where Kristi began her real estate career and eventually become an attorney.. Education:. Kristi graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. She received her law degree from Arizona Summit Law School where she graduated summa cum laude. Kristi was the recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for being the top student in Criminal Procedure, Civil Litigation, and Wills, Trusts and Estates. She has practiced real estate law, family law, estate planning, probate, equine law, and contract law.. Community:. Kristi volunteers with Women In Law, Wills for Heroes, Helping Hands, and other church and community organizations. She loves to help our first responders and military heroes with their legal needs.. Hobbies:. Kristi loves to ride and train quarter horses. She has three grown daughters and five grandchildren. She loves family time and outdoor time.

Kirk Lewis has been an Arizona resident for over 20 years and completed his undergraduate studies locally at Arizona State University, graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in English Linguistics.  Following his degree at ASU, Kirk attended law school in Sacramento, California at the University of the Pacific – McGeorge School of Law, earning Dean’s List honors and being named to the Traynor Honor Society.. Kirk has fought for criminally charged individuals through every stage of litigation, including multiple jury trials.  Kirk is also fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese, which enables him to personally interact with individuals from various cultural backgrounds – in both the criminal defense and immigration setting.  Additionally, due to the adverse effect any criminal conviction could have on an immigration case, Kirk’s experience in both criminal and immigration law allows him to better serve his immigration clients by fighting for a result that won’t disqualify them from immigration relief.. When Kirk isn’t fighting for his clients in court, he enjoys all the outdoor activities Arizona has to offer with his wife and three kids.  During the scorching summer months Kirk looks forward to family camping trips on the beach in California.

Kelli joined the Phelps LaClair team in 2021. Previously, she served as in-house counsel at GoDaddy, a publicly traded internet company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, where she oversaw acquisitions and global compliance. Prior to moving to Arizona, she was the General Counsel at Himalayan Cataract Project, a Vermont-based nonprofit organization, and an attorney at a Burlington law firm, providing legal guidance to a wide range of clients in both business transactions and litigation matters. Kelli graduated summa cum laude from Vermont Law School and obtained her bachelor’s degree in ecology from the University of Arizona.. Kelli returned to private practice to do what she loves most as a lawyer: work directly with members of her community. She decided to dedicate her career to estate planning after personally witnessing, on one hand, the visible relief of loved ones who have a quality estate plan in place, and, on the other hand, the extreme stress and family strife caused by a poorly planned estate. Kelli enjoys giving clients the peace of mind that comes from planning for the future.. Kelli resides in Mesa, Arizona with her partner. She loves exploring Arizona’s gorgeous hiking trails and cheering on the Phoenix Suns. She is (slowly) learning to play the violin.

Just because you have been charged with a crime does not mean that you are guilty. The State has the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office on their side; you need a zealous advocate on yours. The State will bring all of its vast power to bear against those it accuses of a crime, so it is important to have an experienced professional to guide you through this nightmare. A criminal record will follow you for the rest of your life. It is vital that you do everything that you can to keep that record clean. It can affect your employment, schooling, even your personal relationships.. It is important to gather all the evidence that you possibly can, for the State will be doing exactly that. Even before you have to appear in court, steps can and should be taken to strengthen your case. Again, this is where having an experienced professional on your side will help immensely. I will work with you at every stage of your case. I will weigh every option and explore every potential solution to your legal troubles. Ultimately, you will make the final decisions, but I will do everything in my power to give you the best options to choose from.

Joshua Edwards is a family law and criminal defense attorney in Arizona who strives to give each and every one of his client’s a voice. It is Josh’s belief that all too often, the legal system charges forward without stopping to hear and truly understand the situation placed before them. When this occurs, individuals are left feeling hopeless and frustrated.. This is why Josh focuses his representation around what each of his client’s goals are and what each client designates as success. No two cases are exactly the same and not everyone is seeking the same outcome. By taking the time to truly listen to his client’s, Josh is able to better understand how to assist them in their unique situation.. Josh believes that in order to be a truly effective attorney there must be a great deal of listening and communication between the attorney and client. For this reason, Josh makes himself available to his Clients 24 hours a day 7 days a week because no one knows when issues will arise or when law enforcement will be contacting them. No one should ever have to wait until normal business hours to get help from their attorney when they are in the midst of a crisis.

Josh is a graduate from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Josh has previous experience working as a defense attorney for one of the nation's largest auto insurance companies, he has also worked in law enforcement for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Because Josh wanted to help those that needed help the most, he left the insurance world to focus on helping his clients one person at a time. Josh founded The Wood Law Group as a customer service business that so happens to be a personal injury law firm. He wanted to create a firm where the clients have direct access to the attorneys. The biggest complaint from clients in the legal field is that there is a lack of communication. At the Wood Law Group you will speak to an attorney from the beginning until the very end. The Wood Law Group knows when you are injured your life can be turned upside down. Josh's goal is to make a bad situation better. This is done by fighting for every at every step along the way!

John Dosdall is a shareholder of JacksonWhite and a key member of the criminal defense team, with a focus on felony and misdemeanor offenses. Prior to joining the Firm in 2014, John handled thousands of felony and misdemeanor matters while prosecuting cases as a Deputy County Attorney for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, an Assistant Attorney General for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and a Deputy County Attorney for the Pinal County Attorney’s Office. His experience and relationships benefit his clients tremendously when navigating the difficult criminal legal system.. Honors:. Top 100 Trial LawyersNation’s Top One Percent of Distinguished CounselPremier 100 Trial Attorneys by the National Academy of Jurisprudence10 Best Attorneys for the State of Arizona, Criminal Law. Admissions. All State CourtsUnited States District Court | District of Arizona. Memberships. Arizona State Bar AssociationAZ State Bar, Criminal Justice SectionAZ State Bar, Juvenile Law Section

Jeremy Geigle is a managing shareholder at JacksonWhite and the head of the criminal defense team. For over 20 years, Jeremy has guided both juveniles and adults through the challenging criminal legal system with care and empathy. He strongly believes that everyone deserves the best defense possible and that's what he strives to provide to every client JacksonWhite represents. Jeremy works tirelessly with his team of experienced attorneys to reduce charges, limit penalties, and protect the rights of those accused.. Admissions. All Arizona State CourtsUnited States District Court | District of Arizona. Honors. Super Lawyers Rising StarTop 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers AssociationNation’s Top One Percent of Attorneys, National Association of Distinguished CounselPremier 100 Trial Attorneys, National Academy of Jurisprudence10 Best Attorneys for the State of Arizona, Criminal Law

Jason has been resolving a wide variety of family law cases, from simple to demanding. He has over a decade of unique expertise in high-conflict custody cases, many of which involve allegations of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Jason began his legal career working for the City of Phoenix Prosecutor's Office, trying criminal cases before juries and judges. This is highly unusual in a field in which the vast majority of both criminal and civil cases end up being settled out of court. Jason's trial experience as a prosecutor helped him develop the calm confidence and argumentative skill you want in family law court. His clients appreciate his ability to execute focused case strategy, communicate persuasively, connect with judges, assert dominance, and think critically in the moment.

Jared Everton is a JacksonWhite managing shareholder and joined the firm in 2001, focusing his practice on personal injury and wrongful death cases. Jared has been successfully advocating for clients for over twenty takes special care to ensure that his clients feel confident in themselves and in their cases, and that case settlements represent a fair reimbursement of damages done to personal injury victims. He is an attorney that truly cares, and that’s why he’s one of the leading Arizona personal injury lawyers.. Jared has been named to the Arizona Super Lawer Rising Stars list. No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in Arizona are selected by the Super Lawyers research team to receive this honor annually. He has also received the American Jurisprudence Award, the Martindale Hubbel 5 Star Peer Award, and been featured in the AVVO Top 10.. Jared is married to his wife Jill and they have five children. His family enjoys traveling and being together. Jared lived in the Czech Republic for two years as a missionary for his church.

James Phelps is managing partner at Phelps LaClair. Born and raised in Arizona, James has strong ties to the state where his family has resided for several generations. He developed a passion for the practice of law at a young age when he worked alongside his father, who is also an estate planning attorney, for many years before attending law school. James has been practicing law since 1999 and devotes his law practice exclusively to estate planning and trust administration and enjoys helping clients achieve peace of mind by preventing “fires” instead of having to put them out.. James has counseled thousands of clients who have benefited from trusts and estate plans that protect wealth, minimize estate taxes and avoid probate. His clients come from all walks of life and have both modest and wealthy estates. James has the unique experience of having handled hundreds of trusts and estates after people have passed away and knows what works and doesn’t when the time comes. James truly enjoys educating others on the importance of estate planning and presents dozens of estate planning seminars each year to organizations, clients and the public.. James graduated summa cum laude in accounting from Arizona State University in 1996, after which he attended law school at J. Reuben Clark Law School and graduated cum laude in 1999. He is a longstanding member of the State Bar of Arizona Probate and Trust Section, WealthCounsel, the Maricopa County Bar Association and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.. James and his wife, Jolene, have three very active children. He is passionate about living a healthy and balanced life and loves to coach and play competitive tennis. James shares his love of sports with kids as a volunteer coach, and on weekends he enjoys backpacking, camping, paddle boarding and other high adventure activities.

Jake Carlson is an attorney, recognized business leader, inspiring presenter, and popular podcast host. He is personable and connects immediately with others. A natural storyteller, he loves listening to your story and exploring what matters most to you.. Jake earned his law degree (JD) from California Western School of Law concurrently with a business degree (MBA) from San Diego State University. He attended law school on a Creative Problem-Solving Scholarship and was awarded the 2005 Outstanding Case Award for best MBA consulting project. He is a licensed member of the State Bar of Arizona.. Jake's career began in the nonprofit sector as Associate Regional Director, and then National Major Gifts Counsel, an in-house tax counsel position, with the Boy Scouts of America National Foundation. It was in these positions he was first introduced to the idea of leaving not just your valuables but your values to the people you love most. Working with hundreds of families on tax estate strategies, he developed the Values-Based Estate Planning strategy used by LifePlan Legal today.. Later, Jake joined the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council as Director of Development and later Chief Operating Officer (COO), overseeing development efforts in the four counties of Santa Clara, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito and leading a team of 18 Field Directors and District Executives earning the Journey to Excellence Award in 2015.. Jake has personally presented to over 200 groups in 27 states on estate planning and protecting your legacy. He is the author of over 100 leadership articles on topics of influence, legacy, family vision, and the Values-Based Estate Planning process. He has had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of recognized executives and, since 2014, hosted the Family Before Fortune and The Modern Leadership podcasts.. Jake is a self-proclaimed "adventure junkie" and loves to try out new and exciting things. He has scaled volcanoes in the Philippines, backpacked through 11 National Parks, rock climbed on two continents and scuba dove with sharks. With his family, he spent time living in 12 countries from Bagan, Myanmar to Paris, France, overcoming robbery, redeye flights and Haggis while learning to love the rich cultures of the world.. Jake and his wife have 3 kids (two daughters and a son) and live in Gilbert, AZ. They all love travel and spending time creating family traditions.

Jacob R. Podolsky is a managing partner and founding member of the firm. Mr. Podolsky has dedicated his entire career to assisting those injured by others. He has experience in the Federal Courts of the United States, has handled cases from the pre-litigation stage through arbitration, and has successfully tried numerous cases to jury verdict. Mr. Podolsky works diligently to ensure his clients receive fair compensation quickly.

Jack Skousen has practiced law for over two decades with a special interest in both personal injury law, including motor vehicle accidents and civil litigations claims, as well as criminal law. Jack's work in these two areas of law has revealed a winning specialization for protecting the rights of clients and securing fair and equitable settlements. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Jack took a brief detour to Washington, D.C. before law school to work as an aide to Arizona Senator John McCain. Following his time in Washington he was accepted to the California Western School of Law, where he graduated with a law degree. A current member of the Arizona Association for Justice and American Association for Justice, Jack takes pride in being an advocate for clients in need. He approaches each case with a firm attention to detail and a commitment to compassion.

I  was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 1978. After spending several years with a downtown Phoenix law firm,  I moved my practice to the suburbs, namely, Mesa, in 1981. My practice has regularly consisted of approximately 2/3 commercial litigation, and 1/3 representing and advising small and/or closely-held businesses in all aspects of commercial law and practice. Areas of special experience and expertise include Corporate/LLC & Other Business Organizations, Construction, Buying and Selling of Businesses, Real Estate (including Foreclosures), Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Business Torts, Representation of Registered Professionals, Probate-Probate Avoidance and Probate Litigation.. I am proud of Arizona, its history, and its past development and am excited about Arizona’s future, its future growth and development, and its business opportunities. A fourth generation Arizonan on both paternal and maternal ancestral lines, I was born in Mesa in 1951, and raised in Phoenix, graduating from Cortez (Phoenix) High School and Arizona State University. Obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting (cum laude, ASU 1975), I was anxious to develop additional skills to represent and advise the owners of small and closely-held businesses. I attended Brigham Young University Law School, graduating with honors (cum laude 1978). While at Law School, I served on the Board of Editors of the prestigious BYU Law Review from 1976-78. My favorite areas of study in law school were Contracts, Advising Closely Held Businesses, Federal Taxation, Administrative Law, and Civil Procedure. My professional practice since graduation has incorporated my interests and successes in those same areas of specialty and emphasis.. I am licensed to practice in both Federal and State Courts in the State of Arizona as well and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. I have been a past Director of the East Valley Bar Association and a past Director of the Arizona Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, have been actively involved in community and youth programs, and am a member of the Mesa Rotary Club.. Regarding non-professional matters, I consider my greatest accomplishments in life to include my relationship with his wife, Carol; the successes of our ten adult children (and spouses); the joy of thirty-five-plus (and counting) grandchildren; and service in our church/religious activities and functions.

Injury  and wrongful death victims need a compassionate advocate to right the wrongs others have caused them.  It is not an easy job but my clients know I care about them and, just as important,  I get the job done.  WWW.GOODAZLAWYERS.COM

In every engagement, I bring a passion for connecting with people, a keen eye for detail, and a deep commitment to helping others create and achieve their goals.. After earning my undergraduate degree in philosophy and music (trumpet performance), I attended law school focusing on business and tax law and community development while also completing more than 20 hours of graduate-level urban planning courses. I spent the first decade of my legal career in large national and international law firms. I established up my own law practice in 2010 and later established a separate consulting firm focused on organizational development.

I was born in San Diego, California, and received my Juris Doctorate from the J. Ruben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1979.  I have been with Udall Shumway since 1979, however, in 1981-1982, I served as counsel for the Subcommittee of Mines and Mining for the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.. -. I have been given an “AV” rating by the national rating service of Martindale Hubbell.  This rating is based upon lawyer peer review and is the highest rating for legal abilities and ethics, a rating which is given to only approximately the top 5% of lawyers nationwide.. -. I have extensive experience in the areas of personal injury, insurance issues and land use litigation.  I am attorney of record for various clients including Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa, Arizona.  I am involved with insurance issues and successfully argued the landmark case in Arizona: Darner Motor Sales v. Universal Underwriters, 140 Ariz. 383, 682 P.2d 388 (1984).. -. I am licensed to practice in all Arizona courts as well as the United States District Court of Arizona.  I am the past President of the East Valley Bar Association and am fluent in Spanish.  I am a board member of A New Leaf, Inc., a non-profit organization and am currently co-chairman of the 2010-2011 Mesa United Way Campaign.. -. I am also the resident partner in Arizona for CLC cases.  CLC or Consolidated Legal Concepts, Inc. provides legal services for major employers within the State of Arizona.  I and the firm of Udall Shumway have represented CLC clients since 2002.  The firm handles legal matters involving personal injury, insurance claims, family law, probate, estate planning and bankruptcy issues.  I handle the personal injury matters and travel throughout the State of Arizona to provide consultation and advice on cases involving significant injuries or loss of life.

I was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona and attended Arizona State University where I received a degree in business administration.  I then attended the University of Arizona College of Law and received my Juris Doctorate in 1975. I began practicing in Mesa with a local law firm specializing in Personal Injury Litigation and tried my first jury trial one week after admission to the Arizona Bar in 1975. In 1977 I moved back to Tucson and worked for a prominent trial lawyer, Paul G. Rees, Jr., until 1981, also specializing in Personal Injury Litigation.. -. In 1981 I returned to my home town of Mesa where I opened my own law practice. I continued to specialize in Personal Injury Litigation and was given the highest rating by an attorney rating service in 1986. This rating is based upon lawyer peer review and is the highest rating for legal ability and ethics, a rating that is given to approximately the top 5% of lawyers nationwide.. -. In 1985 I was awarded Certification as a Specialist in Injury and Wrongful Death by the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization with the first group of lawyers given the opportunity to be recognized as having specialized knowledge and experience in this field of practice.. -. In 1985 I formed a partnership with J. Robert Tolman and continued practicing in Personal Injury Litigation. In 1991 I was hired to serve as lead trial counsel for the firm of Solomon, Relihan & Blake in Phoenix where I practiced until May, 2000 when I returned to private practice in Mesa. I became a shareholder with the firm of Udall Shumway in May of 2001. In 2003 I was appointed a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.. -. Over my 35 years of practice, I have handled many types of cases, including cases involving product liability, medical malpractice, insurance bad faith, vehicular collisions, defective premises design and construction, defective highway design and maintenance, and many other types of cases. I have developed special expertise in brain and spinal injury, accident reconstruction, hazard and risk assessment and have been invited to speak at many seminars for trial lawyers over the years. I have served as an expert witness in legal malpractice cases and as a Judge pro tempore for the Superior Court. I have been on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association since the early 1980s. I have also published several papers on issues related to Personal Injury litigation, including such subjects as: “The Intentional Act Exclusion,” Summation, March 1981; “Determining Damages Under the Seatbelt Defense,” Trial, Fall, 1993; “Recognizing Liability in Nursing Home Cases,” Advocate, Nov. 1999; “The Lawyer’s Role in Diagnosing Injuries,” Advocate, March 1993; “The Non-Party at Fault Defense,” Arizona Attorney, Jan. 1995; and “Use Reasonable Care in Referring to the Standard of Care,” Advocate, Nov. 2002.  “Overcoming a Speculative New Defense in Pressure Ulcer Cases”, National Nursing Home Litigation Group newsletter, 2010; “Pressure Ulcer Claims”, a presentation at the American Ass’n for Justice National Nursing Home Litigation Group annual seminar, 2010.. -. I have handled over one hundred trials in personal injury cases, along with many Arbitrations and other types of hearings, and have represented well over a thousand personal injury plaintiffs over the past 35 years. For the past several years I have developed expertise in handling Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect cases and remain heavily involved in such work and speaks regularly to lawyers’ groups about such claims.. -. My long career, expertise and professional manner have won the respect of fellow lawyers, both on the plaintiff as well as the defense side. I am recognized for my substantial knowledge in medical and safety matters. I remain devoted to the highest purpose of the law: to promote safety and to obtain fair redress for victims of negligence and defective products and practices. I am a lawyer on the side of people.

I studied mathematics at Renssealaer Polytechnic Institute before transferring to SUNY Oneonta to become a teacher.  While searching for my first permanent teaching position, my father suffered a heart attack and I went to work in his custom woodworking business.  That was intended to last only until he got back on his feet.  Ten years later, I was still at it.  Then, for family reasons, my wife and I moved to Arizona.  The initial plan was for me to get a masters degree and return to teaching, until my father-in-law suggested that I consider law school, which at the time in Arizona was very affordable.  "Besides," he argued, "even if you did not like law, you would still have an advanced degree to use to get back to teaching."  As it turns out, the practice of law was a perfect fit.. While custom woodworking and the practice of law might appear to have nothing in common, both require patience, exacting standards, and attention to detail.  My father and I never worried about satisfying a customer becuase invariably my father's standards and expectations were much higher than the customers.  If he was satisfied, the customer was satisfied.  That is the same work ethic I apply in my practice.. Obviously, my background in education is relevant to my current role as Director of Legal Services for the East Valley Institute of Technology.. I am admitted to practice in Arizona, the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

I joined Udall Shumway PLC in 2009. My practice primarily focuses in the area of education law, representing school districts and charter schools throughout the State.. -. I came to Udall Shumway PLC uniquely qualified in the area of education law. Prior to joining Udall Shumway, I taught behavior disordered students. During my teaching career, I was involved in the development and implementation of IEPs and behavior plans and attended several trainings on special education interventions and strategies. Additionally, I earned my Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2004.. -. While in law school, I provided in-home ABA services for autistic children under the age of three. I also participated in the Whittier Law School Special Education Clinic, which provided special education advocacy services for children with developmental disabilities. In addition, I was a panel speaker for the 2007 Whittier Law School Special Education Symposium and the 2006 11Q Deletion Syndrome Conference.

I joined Udall Shumway in 1987 and currently head the firm’s Transactional and Estate Planning Group. I completed  my undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University where, in 1980, I received a B.S. in Accounting with a minor in English. I am a Certified Public Accountant (Texas, 1982). I received my Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1987. During law school, I was a Member (1985-86) and Editor-in-Chief (1986-87) of the BYU Journal of Public Law. Prior to law school, I worked with an international accounting firm and with the corporate accounting group of a Fortune 500 company.. -. Since joining the firm, I have used my tax and accounting background to good advantage. My practice focuses on business formation, purchases and sales of business assets and interests, loan documentation and financing arrangements, business succession planning, security arrangements, purchases, sales and leases of commercial property and business dissolution. I also assists clients with tax planning for large estates and routinely provide tax and business planning advice in such diverse areas as probate, marital dissolution, deferred compensation and dispute resolution.. -. I am licensed to practice in the courts of the State of Arizona, the Federal District Court of Arizona, and the United States Tax Court. I am currently a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the East Valley Bar Association. I am also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. I am actively involved in the community and am, or have been, a member of the Mesa Museum & Cultural Advisory Board, Maricopa Association of Governments Blue Ribbon Committee on Regional Growth, Mesa Arts & Entertainment Alliance Committee, Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, Mesa Baseline Rotary, and Arizona Regional Medical Center.  I am also a member of the executive committee of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Phoenix Chapter.

I help people. Specifically, I help people recover from damages caused by other’s negligence. My typical client is you. Every year there are over 6 million car crashes with more than 40,000 fatalities linked to those accidents. In 2018, an estimated 4.5 million people were seriously injured in car crashes. I help the innocent victims of those crashes receive compensation for their injuries. Life is hard. Being injured complicates life. I take very seriously my role as an advocate for your rights.. I graduated Brigham Young University in 1983 (B.S., accounting) and the University of Arizona College of Law in 1991 (J.D.).. I was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 1991 and the State Bar of Colorado in 1994 (inactive). I am admitted to practice in the Arizona Supreme Court, the Colorado Supreme Court, the United States District Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.. I am a member of the Arizona Association for Justice, Maricopa County Bar Association and West Valley Bar Association (past president).. I was born in Germany, grew up in Idaho, and moved to Arizona in 1983. I am married, have four children (Chase is my second) and a growing number of grandchildren.

I have  been practicing law at Udall Shumway since 1987 and have been a partner of the firm since 1993. I head the firm’s education law practice group and am very pleased to devote my practice entirely to representing school districts, charter schools and other public educational institutions.. -. I provide daily advice and assistance to school districts and other public educational institutions. I represent and defend educational institutions in administrative and court proceedings. I advise and represent school districts and charter schools in matters that include: student disciplinary hearings, personnel issues, student records, governing board liability and open meeting issues. I have also given numerous in-service workshops to district personnel on a wide range of topics of importance to the educational operations of the districts and am a regular speaker to state-wide conferences.. -. I have been named a “Top Education Attorney” by Phoenix Magazine and have been selected by my peers as a “Best Lawyer in America” in the specialty of Education Law.. -. I have been a regular presenter at State-wide conferences and conduct a great many in-service and training programs for school personnel on a variety of topics relating to education law.  I have also authored articles for National and State publications on a variety of topics of interest to educators. Most recently, an article I authored on Report Cards and Transcripts for Students With Disabilities was published in the “Attorney’s Corner” of NAU’s eJournal of Education Policy.. -. I am a member of the National School Board Association, Arizona School Boards Association and Arizona Council of School Attorneys. I have also been an adjunct faculty member for Arizona State University, teaching graduate level Education Law classes for the College of Education, Division of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.  I have been on the steering committee for the Arizona School Administrators “Principal and the Law” conference for approximately 14 years.   I have also been a regular speaker at the annual law conferences sponsored by the Arizona School Boards Association and the Arizona Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE).  In March 2009, I was presented with the Laura Ganoung Award, which is CASE’s highest award recognizing leadership in the area of special education.

I have been practicing law as a commercial litigator for over 30 years in a broad spectrum of cases, including business and partnership disputes, contract claims, mineral leases, farm and crop leases, trade secrets, commercial leases, receiverships, employment contracts, and probate and trust controversies.