Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie welcomes 4 attorneys

Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP announced four associates, Brooks Brennan, Yalda Godusi, Brandon Hellewell and Lucas Hickman have joined the firm’s litigation and business transactions practices in Phoenix.

Brooks Brennan, a member of the firm’s litigation practice, focuses on general commercial litigation matters. He has experience researching and drafting pleadings, motions, and memoranda in various areas of law, including construction, securities, insurance, trademark, and housing discrimination matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Brennan served as a legal intern for the Civil Rights Section of the Civil Litigation Division for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He also served as a legal extern for the Office of General Counsel under Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. Brennan received his J.D., cum laude, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Arizona State University.

Yalda Godusi is a member of the firm’s litigation practice providing experience drafting memoranda, motions, discovery requests and responses, as well as conducting document review, legal research and analysis for general commercial litigation matters. Godusi previously served as a law clerk at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee and worked as a Business and Legal Affairs Intern at Country Music Television, a Viacom Network. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, her M.Sc. from The London School of Economics and Political Science, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Arizona State University, Barrett, the Honors College.

Brandon Hellewell, a member of the firm’s Business Transactions practice, focuses on real estate transactions. Hellewell’s experience includes drafting title and survey objection letters, lease agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and other documents related to the leasing or sale of real property. He represents franchisors, drafting franchise agreements with franchisees, area development agreements, franchise disclosure documents, settlement agreements, and other documents related to franchise law.

Hellewell previously served as an intern at the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System with the Investment Counsel, reviewing and summarizing private equity deals. He also served as a legal extern for the Arizona Department of Education, where he drafted legal memoranda and agency rulings on education law issues. Hellewell received his J.D., cum laude, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University and his B.A. from Brigham Young University.

Lucas Hickman, a member of the firm’s litigation practice, focuses on construction and commercial litigation matters. He has experience researching and drafting memoranda in various areas of law, including construction law, intellectual property, environmental law and commercial litigation.

Prior to joining the firm, Hickman served as a legal intern for Avnet, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, and as a judicial extern for the Honorable Michelle H. Burns of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and the Honorable Lawrence F. Winthrop of the Arizona Court of Appeals gaining experience drafting judicial opinions and orders in various areas of civil and criminal law. He also completed trademark registration applications, responded to office actions and conducted infringement analyses while at the Lisa Foundation Patent Law Clinic. Hickman received his J.D., cum laude, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University and his B.A. from Michigan State University.

AFFCF appoints career development specialist

With the recent news that the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF), based in Phoenix, has teamed up with Yavapai CASA for Kids in Prescott to bring the Keys to Success Program to foster youth in Yavapai County, the AFFCF is pleased to announce the appointment of Helene Tonnemacher to the position of Career Development Specialist. Tonnemacher will lead the charge for Yavapai County’s Keys to Success Program, which is funded by Yavapai CASA for Kids and designed to provide supportive career development services such as education, employment and personal/independent living goals for youth ages 16 to 24 within the Yavapai CASA for Kids’ service area.

A resident of Prescott Valley, Tonnemacher’s educational background consists of family studies, secondary education, sociology and math for elementary educators with continuing education and addition training in adolescent brain development, trauma training, homelessness and mental health, understanding child trauma and more. She also serves as a Homeless Liaison and Family Resource Specialist with the Humboldt Unified School District as well as a Senior Advisor for the Knowledge to College not-for-profit organization that provides college and career advising for high school students. 

Benjamin Runkle joins Gammage & Burnham

Gammage & Burnham added Benjamin C. Runkle to its firm! A former firefighter/paramedic and police officer, Ben has been practicing law in Arizona for more than a decade and is well-positioned to bring a new perspective to our team of healthcare attorneys. When asked why he most looks forward to joining Gammage & Burnham, he replied that he is “excited to work with the firm’s outstanding lawyers and healthcare practice.”

Ben represents behavioral health providers, physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals in a variety of regulatory and enforcement matters, including compliance and litigation. Prior to returning to private practice, Ben advised Arizona’s Medicaid agency, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), and  served as an Assistant Attorney General representing the Department of Economic Security (DES), Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).

At Gammage & Burnham, Ben joins the Health Care, Government Relations & Administrative Law, and Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution practice groups. Ben enjoys practicing in the healthcare field because “It’s an honor to support our clients who provide critical healthcare services to our community.  Because we handle the complex legal issues, our clients can focus their attention on caring for people with medical and behavioral health concerns.”

About AZ Business Leaders

AZ Business Leaders is an annual business-to-business publication that combines the who’s who of Arizona business community with their valuable leadership advice and knowledge. The magazine is published by AZ Big Media. To learn more about Az Business Leaders, contact Sheri Brown, director of sales.