Lynne C. Adams

Lynne C. Adams

Phoenix, AZ recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2015
Osborn Maledon PA

30 Best Lawyers awards

Osborn Maledon PA logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Education Law

Biography

Lynne is a strategic advisor and confidante to many of Arizona’s educators, navigating the everyday challenges faced by learning institutions so that they can focus on providing quality attention and scholarship to students

Lynne leads the commercial litigation group’s education law practice. She focuses on regulatory matters and litigation and provides ongoing legal advice to her school clients, including compliance with all aspects of education law, Arizona’s Open Meeting Law, and Arizona’s public records law. Among other things, she has provided advice regarding constitutional law issues, student discipline matters, Title IX, statutory requirements, parent issues, student enrollment, school finance, and responses to complaints filed with the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and Arizona Department of Education. She also assists prospective charter schools with their applications and organization.

Some of her most notable cases include providing amicus briefs to the Arizona Supreme Court regarding public schools’ duties to their students in Dinsmoor v. City of Phoenix, No. CV-20-0214-PR (Aug. 6, 2021, Ariz. Supreme Court); defending the Maricopa County Community College District over its in-state tuition policy for DACA students; and challenging the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools’ practice of adopting rules without following the required legal process in Legacy Education Group v. Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, No. 1 CA-CV 17-0023 (June 8, 2018, Ariz. Ct. App.).

An advocate for education outside her practice, Lynne is a respected member of the local community. She is a member of the committee that selects Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioners, was an active member of the Phoenix Collegiate Academy governing board and has offered pro bono services to several community arts and nonprofit arts organizations. She has been named one of Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers by AZ Business Magazine and Education Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers® on numerous occasions.

Osborn Maledon PA

30 Best Lawyers awards

Osborn Maledon PA logo

Overview

  • Columbia University, J.D., graduated 1987
  • Brigham Young University, graduated 1984

  • Arizona, 1987

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1988
  • Arizona, 1987
  • Columbia University, J.D., graduated 1987
  • Brigham Young University, graduated 1984
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1988

Client Testimonials

I can't say enough positive things about Lynne's legal services! Her legal advice is practical, actionable, and candid. I trust her to provide solutions that take reflect organizational goals and objectives and what's best for schools.

I shared with Lynne Adams once that she was "one of the best" for all levels of public education law in Arizona. I thought about it since. She's more than "one of the best." She is the best.

Dr. Amy Schlessman (Rose Charter Schools)

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Education Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Education Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Education Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Education Law, Phoenix (2021)
  • Education Law, Phoenix (2018)
  • Education Law, Phoenix (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Education Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Government Relations Practice
Awards:
  • AZ Business Magazine, Most Influential Women in Arizona Business, 2025

  • Southwest Super Lawyers, “Top 25 Women Arizona”, 2022-2024

  • Southwest Super Lawyers, Schools & Education, Business Litigation, 2012-2025

  • Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business”, Litigation: General Commercial, 2021-2025

  • Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona – AZ Business Magazine, 2019, 2024

  • ALM: Women Leaders in the Law, 2015

  • Best Lawyers®, Education Law, 2015-2026

  • PHOENIX magazine, Top Lawyers, Education, 2022-2025

  • Volunteer Lawyers Program, Volunteer Attorney of the Month, January 2016

  • Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona Award Recipient, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, 2013

  • AV/Preeminent Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell

  • Advocate of the Year, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2002

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