John R. "Jack" Cunningham

Senior partner and Best Lawyers® honoree Lisa Reilly Payton focuses her law practice on estate planning, tax planning, and federal and state tax controversy. Lisa is a popular speaker and has appeared multiple times on the Emmy Award-winning talk show The List. Lisa's estate planning experience includes helping individuals, couples, and business owners identify their planning options and tailoring their choices to their unique situations and goals. In guiding her clients through the plann...

Stephen R. Smith is a partner in the Phoenix law firm of FROMM SMITH & GADOW, P.C . where his practice is limited to complex family law litigation, mediation, and appellate matters. He has been a Certified Specialist in Family Law since 2000 and a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2011 . He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2015-16) in the field of family law. Admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 1994, Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Science de...

JIM O'SULLIVAN represents closely-held businesses, including law firms and other service professionals. Serving as general counsel and primary contact for businesses and their owners, Jim focuses on the ongoing legal needs of these clients, as well as strategic planning for growth and ownership succession opportunities. Jim leverages his considerable planning, negotiation and contract drafting experience to counsel clients through key events such as business formation, joint ventures, mergers...

Erica Erman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Health Care Law. Erica, who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Erica is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

P. Derek Petersen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental. P. Derek, who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which P. Derek is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Frank M. Placenti is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Frank M., who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Frank M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kristen is considered one of the nation’s leading “Big Data” and HIPAA compliance attorneys. She also has deep experience in data breaches, health information exchange, data sharing for research and clinical integration initiatives, clinical research compliance, clinical trials contracting, and biobanking and genomic privacy. Kristen is a sought-after national speaker on these issues and has been active in national healthcare policy. She is Past President (2013-2014) of the ...

Neil M. Alexander is a shareholder at Littler Mendelson in the Phoenix office and serves as Co-Chair of the Contingent Workforce Practice Group. He is a trial attorney who regularly defends companies against claims involving: Wrongful termination Unfair competition and trade secret violations Non-competition agreements Whistleblower and retaliation Harassment and discrimination Title VII The Age Discrimination in Employment Act The Americans with Disabilities Act The Family and Medical Leave ...

Scott B. Cohen is a Phoenix based commercial bankruptcy attorney who represents banks, lenders, landlords, guarantors, committees, and other creditors in bankruptcy, creditors’rights matters, loan workouts, business turnarounds, Chapter 11 reorganizations, receiverships, bankruptcy litigation, and commercial litigation. He regularly appears in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and state court proceedings involving liquidations, Chapter 11 reorganizations, receiverships, and commercial lawsuits. Sco...

Robert S. Kant has represented numerous large and small issuers of equity and debt securities in hundreds of securities transactions involving the sale of more than $20 billion of securities through virtually every major investment banking firm in the United States. He regularly represents national, regional and local investment banking firms, as well as a variety of investment banking, private equity and venture funds. He also serves as a director or member of advisory boards to public and p...