Women lawyers in Arizona are reshaping the legal landscape through leadership, innovation and a growing influence across law firms, corporate legal departments, government and the judiciary. In 2026 and beyond, women attorneys are driving change by leading complex litigation, advancing business strategy, championing workplace equity and mentoring the next generation of legal talent. As more women rise to managing partner, general counsel and judicial roles, they are redefining what leadership looks like in law — bringing collaboration, resilience and fresh perspectives that are strengthening Arizona’s legal profession and business community alike.
Below, meet some of the women lawyers who are shaping policy, influencing business outcomes and redefining the future of leadership in law.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS: The Most Influential Women in Arizona for 2026
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Jessica America
Associate attorney // Rafi Law Group
Background: America is an Arizona native and associate attorney at Rafi Law Group. She is a dedicated professional who balances a successful career with a deep commitment to her family, whose unwavering love and support serve as the foundation of her achievements. With a background in civil litigation, she has built a career dedicated to helping injured clients pursue justice. Her practice includes trucking and motor carrier liability, vehicle accidents, premises liability, governmental liability and insurance bad faith claims. America has been selected to Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2023 through 2025.
Leadership strength: “Resilience has been one of the most important leadership qualities in my legal career. Litigation requires preparation, focus, and the ability to keep moving forward through challenges. Clients rely on their attorney for strength and guidance during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I believe strong leadership means staying steady under pressure, communicating clearly, and continuing to fight for the best possible outcome even when the path is difficult.”
Learn more: rafilawgroup.com
Jennifer Boldi
Chief operations officer and co-founding shareholder // Resnick & Louis
Background: Boldi focuses her practice on bad faith defense, first-party property defense, insurance appraisal issues, SIU and special coverage issues, employment defense and professional liability. In addition to the thousands of first-party property and bad faith matters she has handled, Boldi has handled hundreds of EEOC, wage and labor, and unemployment matters before administrative boards. Prior to co-founding Resnick & Louis, P.C., Boldi was a civil litigation attorney at a preeminent mid-size Southwest law firm. Before that, she was general counsel to a Los Angeles-based, 300-employee technology corporation. Boldi finished her undergraduate education in three years and law school in just over two years. She was one of the youngest students to have graduated from Pepperdine Law and has been practicing since she was 23 years old.
Leadership strength: “Over time I find more and more that having the confidence to be me and carve out my own style of doing this job has led to the greatest successes. People always have their opinions on what it takes to be a great litigator or a great business owner, but you ultimately have to carve your own path.”
Learn more: rlattorneys.com
Jenna Brownlee
Attorney // Cohen Dowd Quigley
Background: Brownlee represents clients from the public to private sector in complex commercial litigation and appeals. Brownlee’s cases have involved a wide spectrum of issues, ranging from breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, fraud, professional negligence, conspiracy, the Arizona Public Records Act, Section 1983 and Title IX. Brownlee has been named to the “Ones to Watch” list by Best Lawyers since 2021 and to the list of SuperLawyers Rising Stars since 2023.
Advice to young women: “Embrace confidence and be yourself. The legal profession can be intimidating, no less for young female lawyers. However, you should never be afraid to speak up, ask questions, and bring your own unique perspectives and qualities to the workplace.”
Learn more: cdqlaw.com/jenna-brownlee
Michelle De Blasi
Founder // Law Office of Michelle De Blasi, PLLC
Background: De Blasi is a prominent environmental and energy attorney who brings decades of experience and relationships assisting clients obtain successful results with their environmental and energy projects. She brings her many years of experience to provide effective and efficient client service. She focuses on business strategy by helping clients in a broad array of industries complete their projects from start to finish, overseeing all aspects of permitting, while assessing business risks and hitting milestones on time and on budget. De Blasi advises clients how to avoid disputes, and how to resolve them efficiently and effectively when they cannot be avoided.
Leadership strength: “The leadership quality that has mattered most in my successful practice is empathy. In a fast-paced field where high stakes and pressure are constant, taking the time to understand clients, colleagues and even opposing counsel makes all the difference. It has helped me build trust, guide clients and make decisions that are not just legally sound, but also practical and fair. Leading with empathy has been key to my most successful outcomes and my lasting professional relationships.”
Learn more: mdb-law.com
Kaysey Fung
Attorney // Cohen Dowd Quigley
Background: Fung’s practice focuses on commercial litigation. She has been recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” since 2021 and on the Super Lawyers lists since 2022. She serves as the Phoenix regional chair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s Judicial Internship Opportunity Program.
Quality that leads to success: “The leadership style that feels authentic to me is endeavoring to lead by example and model the work ethic and habits I would like to see from my teammates.”
Source of pride: “Becoming a mom. Having a daughter who looks up to me has raised the stakes of nearly every decision I make in my life, from my career ambitions to the time I leave work each day.”
Learn more: cdqlaw.com/kaysey-l-fung
Madison N. Garrey
Associate attorney // Rafi Law Group
Background: Garrey is an associate attorney at Rafi Law Group and a Phoenix native dedicated to helping people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. She earned her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University, a master’s degree in leadership and management from Western Governors University, and her juris doctorate from Willamette University College of Law. Before law school, Garrey worked in higher education as an academic advisor and mentor, developing a strong foundation in relationship building, advocacy, and service. Her lifelong commitment to helping others continues to guide her work with personal injury clients across Arizona.
Leadership strength: “Empathy has been one of the most important leadership qualities in my legal career. Clients often come to us during overwhelming and uncertain moments, and being able to listen, understand their concerns, and build trust makes a meaningful difference. I believe strong leadership starts with making people feel heard and supported. Whether working with clients, colleagues, or community members, empathy helps create stronger relationships, clearer communication, and better outcomes.”
Learn more: rafilawgroup.com
Betsy J. Lamm
Partner // Cohen Dowd Quigley
Background: Lamm’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and appeals. Handling a wide spectrum of issues ranging from breach of contract, defamation and business disputes to Section 1983, Title IX and Title VII claims, Lamm has handled oral argument on novel legal issues before the Arizona Court of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Quality that leads to success: “Treating others with kindness and comradery, and not being afraid to get into the weeds and do the heavy lifting as an equal member of the team. Treating others as equal, valuable team members and leading by example builds trust, fosters common goals, and inspires colleagues to go the extra mile.”
Learn more: cdqlaw.com/betsy-j-lamm
Madison Leake
Associate // Burch & Cracchiolo
Background: Leake focuses her practice on land use and zoning, guiding developers and property owners through the entitlement process for a wide range of projects, including single-family, multifamily, mixed-use and commercial developments.
Leadership strength: “The leadership quality that has been most important to my success is being a team player and always being willing to do whatever needs to be done to help the team succeed … Whether that means taking on a challenging project, helping a colleague, or stepping in where support is needed, I don’t think any task is too small if it helps move things forward.”
Learn more: bcattorneys.com/professionals/detail/madison-leake
Veronica Manolio
Partner and owner // Manolio & Firestone
Background: Manolio is a passionate litigator who fights as hard for her clients as she does for her family and friends. She loves the courtroom and especially trial work. “Win or lose,” she says, Manolio loves “the preparation, the exhaustion, the surprises and the overall excitement of trial.” Though her practice has evolved over time, Manolio has spent the past 26 years in high-stakes commercial litigation and now focuses primarily on clients in the construction industry. Manolio says she has been honored to work with high-powered clients on massive residential construction matters and recently has worked alongside Kinella Capital on the newly-resuscitated One Camelback project in Phoenix.
Leadership strength: “Loyalty. I have remained loyal to my roots, never forgetting the humble beginnings of my childhood. I have remained loyal to my firm. Mostly, I have remained loyal to my sense of right and wrong. That loyalty has allowed me to develop as a lawyer and to grow better relationships with colleagues, judges and clients who all know they can trust my word.”
Source of pride: “Though I started as an entry-level associate at Ronan & Firestone in 2000, I eventually became a partner, then named partner and now the sole owner of this legacy firm. Having the tenacity to keep this firm alive, even when money could have been better elsewhere, is what makes me most proud. I wanted to honor the man who professionally mentored me, Merrick Firestone, as much as I wanted to honor the man who raised me — my father, Frank. Both taught me loyalty and fierceness and I am very proud to say this firm still exists because of the hard work they instilled in me.”
Changes in industry: “The industry, as a whole, has progressed tremendously as more women have entered the law and entered into litigation roles. Since I have spent the majority of my litigation career embedded in construction and contractor matters, I have seen even this niche change to be more accepting of women as strong opponents. I never led my career with an understanding that women were less than our male colleagues, but it sure is nice to see more and more female presence in the litigation and construction worlds.”
Learn more: mf-firm.com
Katelyn Morgan
Partner and managing attorney – Family Law Division // The Valley Law Group
Background: Morgan aspired to become an attorney at a young age and has built her career around strong advocacy, leadership and client-centered representation in family law matters. As a partner and managing attorney, she has played a key role in firm leadership and mentorship while continuing to pursue her passion in advocating for families with diligence and compassion, guiding clients through some of the most stressful and emotional times of their lives.
Leadership strengths: “The leadership qualities that have been most instrumental to my success as an attorney are a strong work ethic, leading by example, effective communication, and the ability to motivate and support others. Throughout my career, I have earned the trust of clients and colleagues by demonstrating professionalism and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes. I believe leadership begins with setting the standard through hard work, preparation and dedication. I strive to motivate those around me by maintaining a positive attitude, remaining focused under pressure, adaptable when confronted with unpredictable scenarios, and consistently delivering high-quality work. Effective communication is also essential to my success. I take pride in listening to client concerns and responding with an understandable explanation on complex legal processes, evaluating potential outcomes, and providing clear guidance so they can make informed decisions. Equally important is collaborating with colleagues, sharing knowledge and perspectives, and working together to develop effective legal strategies. By fostering trust, teamwork and open communication, I have been able to achieve successful results while delivering meaningful value to clients and organizations.”
Advice to next generation: “One piece of advice I would give to women entering the legal profession is to remember that law is, by its nature, an adversarial field. You will encounter challenges, opposing viewpoints, and moments when your abilities are questioned. In those situations, it is important not to let your own self-doubt become the biggest obstacle.”
Learn more: thevalleylawgroup.com
Helen Pauly-Hice
Associate // Burch & Cracchiolo
Background: Pauly-Hice focuses her practice on civil litigation, employment law and litigation and general business matters.
Women in law: “I have been extremely lucky to have strong women leaders as role models in my legal career. However, we in the legal community still have work to do to improve representation at the partnership level and in leadership roles.”
Source of pride: “I am proud of my volunteer work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). As a CASA, I advocate for a child in the foster care system in Maricopa County by working with the child’s providers, their placement, and the judicial system.”
Learn more: bcattorneys.com/professionals/detail/helen-pauly-hice
Katie Towe
Associate // Burch & Cracchiolo
Background: Towe primarily focuses on construction defect litigation and defense. She has experience defending large, national homebuilders, custom builders and contractors; pursuing additional insurers for defense obligations; and pursuing indemnity claims against subcontractors.
Leadership strength: “Having a high emotional intelligence has been helpful in my success so far in law. The legal profession can be highly demanding and is frequently high-conflict. Emotions can run high. Having a high emotional intelligence has helped me navigate stressful situations with clients, perform under pressure, handle difficult/varied personalities, and achieve the best results I can for my clients.”
Learn more: bcattorneys.com/professionals/detail/katelyn-e-towe
Amy R. Wilson
Co-managing attorney // Gottlieb Law
Background: Wilson is a co-managing attorney at Gottlieb Law PLC with a practice focused on representing and advising clients in a wide range of litigation and transactional real estate matters. A Phoenix-area native, she combines a strong technical background and knowledge with legal expertise. Wilson has handled complex matters ranging from water rights and environmental litigation to construction defect and commercial disputes, and has contributed to successful appellate outcomes, securing favorable summary judgment rulings and high-value arbitration awards for her clients. Her unique interdisciplinary experience allows her to deliver strategic, results-driven representation to clients across Arizona.
Leadership strength: “I believe one of the most important leadership qualities is the ability to listen. Taking the time to truly understand clients, colleagues, and even opposing counsel fosters meaningful connections and builds trust. By listening carefully, I gain insight into what matters most to each person, which allows me to communicate more effectively and navigate challenges collaboratively. This approach not only strengthens relationships but also leads to more thoughtful and practical solutions.”
Source of pride: “I am particularly proud of the reputation I developed a few years ago for effectively resolving complex and challenging matters. During my first year at Gottlieb Law, I handled several cases involving nuanced and difficult issues, and I successfully guided them to resolution through strategic, often informal, settlement negotiations. While the firm’s founder lightheartedly referred to me as the ‘Settlement Queen,’ I regard it as a meaningful acknowledgment of my ability to achieve practical, client-focused outcomes — which is a standard I work hard to sustain.”
Advice for the next generation: “At the risk of sounding cliché, I believe finding the right mentor is essential. The key, however, is identifying someone who truly aligns with your values and goals. A strong mentor is not necessarily the most senior attorney or the one at the largest firm, but someone willing to invest time in understanding who you are and what matters to you. The right mentor can provide meaningful guidance and help you grow into the kind of lawyer — and person — you aspire to become.”
Learn more: gottlieblawaz.com
