Az Business Magazine’s 2014 top lawyer list was created after the editorial department asked Arizona law firms to nominate their two best attorneys from more than 20 different categories for consideration. Those nominees were vetted and considered by a panel made of the editorial team and industry experts to determine the exclusive 2014 Az Business Magazine Top Lawyers List.


Thomas Campbell
Thomas Campbell
Partner
Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP
Company Website
Campbell’s practice is concentrated in the areas of regulatory and administrative law, particularly energy, telecommunications, water and utility regulation. He often represents energy companies in regulatory and contractual matters.


Norman D. James
Norman D. James
Director
Fennemore Craig
Company Website
James practices natural resources and environmental law, including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, mining and public lands. His work involves litigation in the federal courts and rulemaking, permitting and other regulatory matters.


Rita P. Maguira
Rita P. Maguire
Founding member
Maguire & Pierce
Company Website
Maguire served as director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources from 1993 through 2001, represented the state’s interests in the Colorado River Basin, was a key figure in the development of the Arizona Water Bank Authority, and played a central role in Indian water rights negotiations in Arizona.


Court S. Rich
Court S. Rich
Senior partner
Rose Law Group
Company Website
Rich is senior partner and chair of the firm’s renewable energy department. Rich appears regularly at the Arizona Corporation Commission often representing the nation’s largest solar installers and national solar industry groups.


Lee A. Storey
Lee A. Storey
Partner
Ballard Spahr LLP
Company Website
Storey leads Ballard Spahr’s water law practice and counsels clients on energy, Indian law, and natural resources issues. She has extensive experience with complex water rights litigation
and settlement negotiations involving multiple parties.


Joe Drazek
Joe Drazek
Partner
Quarles & Brady LLP
Company Website
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated and honored annually since 2008 by The Best Lawyers in America, Drazek’s practice focuses on regulatory, litigation matters within Quarles’ Environmental Group and spans a variety of industries.


Margaret LaBianca
Margaret LaBianca
Shareholder
Polsinelli
Company Website
LaBianca counsels clients on regulatory compliance and strategic considerations with respect to natural resources and water law including NEPA, endangered species, natural resource damages, Clean Water Act 404, land use, waste management, and the allocation of risk and liability for contamination.


Michael Patten
Michael Patten
Member
Roshka DeWulf & Patten
Company Website
Patten practices in the areas of public utilities, electricity, water/wastewater, energy, gas and telecommunications regarding matters involving policy issues, rate cases, rulemakings, financings, line sitings, service area extensions, formal complaints and various ACC proceedings.


William Staudenmaier III
William Staudenmaier III
Partner
Snell & Wilmer
Company Website
Staudenmaier represents private/ public sector clients in acquiring and protecting water rights for industrial, agricultural and municipal uses.


Kenneth C. Sundolf
Kenneth C. Sundlof
Member
Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC
Company Website
Sundlof focuses his broad experience and expertise on a wide variety of issues facing the energy and utility industries, including industry trends and structure, and regulatory, business, contract, environmental, legislation and litigation issues.