Robert J. Novak

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...

Carolyn (“CJ”) Johnsen has over 30 years’ experience representing debtors, creditor committees, and lenders in complex multi-million dollar reorganizations. Her expertise spans a wide-range of industries including healthcare, mortgage lending, real estate, manufacturing, retail, refining, hospitality, aviation and energy-related. She was lead counsel in one of the largest real estate bankruptcies filed in Arizona, has counseled Arizona’s largest utility company on bank...

Richard Mear is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Richard, who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ashley L. Case is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Ashley L., 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 Ashley L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Since 2009, Mark Worischeck has served as the firm's President and Managing Shareholder. Mr. Worischeck has earned Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV® Preeminent™ rating. He has been recognized as one of Arizona's Finest Lawyers and selected to be included in Best Lawyers in America for 2013-2022 for his work in aviation law, commercial and construction litigation, insurance law, insurance litigation, personal injury and product liability litigation. He was also named by Best Lawyers a...

Paul practices in the areas of significant personal injury, wrongful death, ethics, and professional malpractice. He previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Medical and Research Ethics at Midwestern University and the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine where he instructed health care providers and graduate students in the medical field. He also served as an Adjunct Professor with the Arizona State School of Law. Additionally, he authored the manual and taught attorneys and forensic ...

Shareholder David Villadolid is the senior partner in the firm’s Employment Law section and is recognized as an AV® Preeminent™* 5.0 out of 5 peer review rated attorney in Martindale-Hubbell. With more than 37 years of legal practice, David successfully advises companies, executives, and management on a broad spectrum of business and employment issues including compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. Clients express confidence in David’s ability to provid...

Helen R. Davis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Family Law. Helen R., who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Helen R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey O. Hutchins | Partner Jeff Hutchins is an Arizona native, growing up in Tucson before attending Vanderbilt University and graduating magna cum laude in 2003. Before attending the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona, Jeff spent one year in Seville, Spain. Jeff began his legal career in Texas before returning to Arizona for a position with the Office of the Attorney General. Jeff’s practice emphasizes insurance coverage litigation and commercial litigation ...

Mr. Brnilovich established roots in the western part of the Phoenix metropolitan area (referred to as the “West Valley”) in 1979 and has been representing the area’s businesses and individuals for more than 40 years. He has substantial legal experience with business clients in the areas of real estate, construction, corporate governance, small business formation, and succession planning.