Gust Rosenfeld announced that nine of its lawyers have been selected for inclusion on the 2013 Southwest Super Lawyers list.  Each year, no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in Arizona and New Mexico receive this honor.

The following Gust Rosenfeld attorneys received this honor in 2013:

Peter Collins Jr. (Insurance Coverage) ­ Mr. Collins, based in Gust Rosenfeld’s Tucson office, concentrates his practice in general litigation with an emphasis on insurance defense and coverage, on construction, personal injury, aviation, medical malpractice and products liability claims, including wrongful death.  He represents insurers, manufacturers, contractors, and a variety of businesses and individuals.  He also represents people with serious injury claims.  Mr. Collins has represented trucking and construction companies in wrongful death and injury litigation since 1990.  He earned his law degree from Ohio State University College of Law in 1978.

Gerald L. Jacobs (Real Estate) ­ Mr. Jacobs has focused almost his entire 47-year legal career on real estate transactions and related areas.  He regularly handles all aspects of the acquisition, financing and development of commercial, multifamily residential, large land parcels and mixed-use real estate projects worldwide. From 1990 through 1992, he served as General Counsel and Senior Vice President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) in Washington, D.C.  Beginning in 1998, he spent 19 months in Prague, Czech Republic, as a partner in U.S. law firm, focusing on his international real estate and business practices and handling matters throughout Europe.  Mr. Jacobs is a 1963 graduate of University of Arizona College of Law.

Scott A. Malm (Real Estate) ­ Mr. Malm handles litigation and dispute resolution for businesses and individuals.  He advises and represents title insurance companies and their insureds, escrow companies and escrow agents, lenders, developers, brokers, contractors and similar clients in trial and appellate courts at the state and federal level.  Mr. Malm earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Arizona in 1997.

Christopher M. McNichol (Real Estate) ­ Mr. McNichol’s practice emphasizes commercial and real estate transactions, including sale and purchase, development, lease, title insurance and construction issues, and related litigation in these areas.  He is co-chair of the firm’s real estate section.  Also, he handles creditors’ rights matters, including loan workouts, judicial and non-judicial foreclosures, deeds in lieu, receiverships, deficiency and guarantor actions, and bankruptcy.  He represents banks, savings and loans, mortgage lenders and brokers, title and escrow companies, real estate brokers and agents, developers, contractors, and individuals.  Mr. McNichol writes and lectures frequently at bar and industry seminars on real estate, litigation and creditors’ rights topics, and is a teacher at the Arizona School of Real Estate and Business.  He graduated from Villanova University School of Law in 1986.

Sean P. O’Brien (Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights) – As Chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and Co-Chair of the Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights Practice Groups, Mr. O’Brien focuses his practice on bankruptcy, restructuring, creditors’ rights, and related litigation and appeals.  Mr. O’Brien represents institutional clients, corporations, partnerships and individuals in all areas of creditor and debtor relations.  Mr. O’Brien is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification, an American Bar Association-accredited program.  He graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1985.

Richard A. Segal (Business Litigation) – Mr. Segal concentrates his practice on commercial, insurance, and antitrust litigation. He represents insurance companies, financial institutions, businesses and individuals. He possesses extensive experience in both jury and non-jury trials of tort and antitrust cases, mediations, arbitrations, and appeals. Mr. Segal graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1956.

Madeleine C. Wanslee (Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights) – Ms. Wanslee is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. Her practice focuses on creditors’ rights and related state and federal court litigation, including commercial and consumer bankruptcy, foreclosure, replevin, deficiency and guarantor actions, collections, and loan workouts.  She has handled numerous appeals and argued United Student Aid Funds, Inc. vs. Espinosa before the United States Supreme Court in 2009.  She is Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification, an American Bar Association-accredited program.  Ms. Wanslee graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1988.

Richard H. Whitney (Estate Planning & Probate) – Mr. Whitney’s practice includes estate planning, probate and trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships and nonprofit organizations.  In particular, he represents clients with intergenerational family issues.  Mr. Whitney received his MBA and law degrees from the University of Arizona in 1963.

Charles W. Wirken (Appellate) – Mr. Wirken concentrates his practice on two areas: appeals in all areas and business litigation, much of the latter involving disputes in the franchising context. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth, Tenth and Federal Circuits. Wirken has been a judge pro tem of the Maricopa County Superior Court since 1986, and has also served as a judge pro tem of the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One.  He is a former president of the State Bar of Arizona, a former chair of the State Bar’s Trial Practice Section, and was a founder and officer of the State Bar’s Appellate Practice Section.  Mr. Wirken is a 1975 graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law.

Founded in 1921, Gust Rosenfeld provides legal counsel to individuals, businesses, and governments. Our firm’s attorneys enjoy thriving practices in public law, litigation, finance, real estate, corporate, environmental, employment, creditors’ rights, franchise law, estate planning, and tax. We maintain offices in Phoenix and Tucson.