Robert C. "Bob" Bates

Miranda Preston is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law and Health Care Law. Miranda, 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 Miranda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James is a first-chair trial lawyer with the insight from serving as an Arizona trial judge for more than seven years. He focuses his practice on trial and appellate representation in complex commercial litigation and elections disputes. He also serves as arbitrator, mediator, and special master. Before joining the firm, James served as a judge on the Arizona Superior Court, where he presided over hundreds of jury trials, bench trials, evidentiary hearings, and oral arguments. The civil trial...

Susan lived in Argentina as a child and is fluent in Spanish. While living in Argentina, she travelled often to Brazil to visit family and eventually learned to also speak Portuguese. Her multilingual proficiency led Susan to volunteer by assisting Spanish speaking individuals at the Family Court Facilitator’s Office in Orange County, California. Susan also worked as a Spanish translator in the telecommunications industry. In her practice, Susan is privileged to represent many Spanish-s...

Thayne has developed significant experience in Indian law. He represents Native American tribes in transactional matters, both on- and off-reservation. In addition to his work with Native American tribes, Thayne represents real estate investors, a Fortune 100 company, an international industrial data management company, and a wide variety of other clients in commercial real estate transactions. A trusted advisor, most of Thayne’s client relationships have existed for more than a decade....

A Certified Tax Law Specialist, Best Lawyers ® honoree, CPA, and senior partner in the firm, Brandon Keim combines litigation experience and a strong understanding of accounting and business concepts in tax matters to represent clients in defense of taxing authorities and provide strategic tax advice before a dispute arises. Brandon joined Frazer Ryan after serving as a senior trial attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. At the IRS, he received the Chief Counsel National Award for Su...

Jordan Green, a partner in the firm's Litigation practice, focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, corporate compliance, internal investigations and commercial litigation. Jordan has represented individuals and businesses in governmental investigations relating to tax, the environment, OSHA , MSHA , securities , mail and wire fraud, antitrust, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, government contracting, immigration and political contributions. He has authored corporate compliance...

Ms. Villanueva is an attorney in the firm’s Intellectual Property Department. She practices in the areas of domestic and international trademark and copyright prosecution, licensing and enforcement. Ms. Villanueva assists clients with brand development and with identifying various protectable aspects of the clients’ products, services and concepts. She also helps clients with clearing all aspects of advertising, promotional and marketing materials and products, including trademark...

John DeStefano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. John, 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 John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hillary P. Gagnon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Hillary’s practice is devoted exclusively to probate, trust, estate, guardianship, and conservatorship matters, as well as estate planning and the mediation of probate and trust disputes. Hillary has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hillary is held by...

Dean Formanek offers experience in a vast array of real estate law-related issues. In his law practice and numerous speaking engagements, Dean demonstrates in-depth knowledge of topics that include business and real estate, including leasing, title insurance, mixed use developments, options, financing, lien enforcement and purchasing assets from bankruptcy estates. Dean is listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, is a Super Lawyers honoree, and is a member of the American College of Mortga...