Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm with more than 450 attorneys practicing in 15 locations.
Title with Firm:
Partner
Years at Firm: 31
Law School:
University of Iowa
College of Law
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6235
Other Practice-Area Expertise:
Internal Investigations / International / Government Regulations
Barbara J. Dawson
Commercial Litigation
Barb Dawson is a senior investigations and litigation partner. She serves on the firm’s elected Executive Committee and Compensation Committee. Dawson’s practice concentrates on assisting Fortune 500 businesses and boards of directors with internal investigations, complex litigation and regulatory compliance. On a national basis, Dawson is Chair Emeritus of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation. On an international basis, Dawson has served as chair of the board of directors for Lex Mundi, an international affiliation of 160 independent law firms world-wide. Her experience has included legal engagements, law-related presentations, projects and board of directors’ duties on six continents.
Title with Firm:
Chair
Years at Firm: 38
Law School:
Notre Dame Law School (1983)
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6239
Matthew P. Feeney
Corporate & Securities
As chair of Snell & Wilmer, Matthew Feeney’s practice is concentrated in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, SEC reporting and compliance, and corporate governance matters, including advising corporate boards and board committees. In June, Feeney completed his term as chair of Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society, Ltd., a mutual insurance company that insures approximately 40% of AmLaw 200 firms. He continues to serve on that board. Feeney has also been involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations and currently serves on the boards of directors of Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Musical Instrument Museum and the Valley of the Sun United Way and chairs the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy and the Arizona Equal Justice Foundation.
Title with Firm:
Partner, Practice Group Leader
Years at Firm: 10
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6305
Other Certifications Supporting this Area:
AV Preeminent Lawyer, Band 1 Chambers Listed Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America
Other Practice-Area Expertise:
Native American Practice, Energy, Nonprofit Governance
John Lomax
Labor and Employment
John Lomax counsels companies on a wide range of labor and employment matters. Companies hire Lomax to defend them in complex, class and sensitive litigation and to handle internal investigations. Lomax also regularly advises companies on traditional labor matters and how to handle difficult and sensitive senior executive transitions. In addition to his background, the Snell & Wilmer’s Labor & Employment practice group has been at the forefront of helping employers manage the pandemic-produced changes in the workforce.
Title with Firm:
Partner
Years at Firm: 18.5
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6595
Other Practice-Area Expertise:
Executive Compensation
Anne Meyer
Employee Benefits
Anne Meyer’s practice is concentrated in employee benefits, including compliance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Meyer counsels clients on all aspects of qualified retirement plans, including pension and 401(k) plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, equity plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and health and welfare plans. Meyer also advises employers on benefits and compensation issues in connection with corporate transactions and regularly assists clients in correction of violations under Department of Labor and IRS correction programs.
Title with Firm: Partner
Years at Firm: 25
Law School:
University of Michigan School of Law, 1983
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6290
Other Practice-Area Expertise:
Commercial Litigation, Class Action Defense
Patricia Lee Refo
Professional Liability Litigation
Trish Refo is the president of the American Bar Association. Her practice is concentrated in complex commercial litigation and internal investigations, with extensive experience in professional malpractice defense, commercial and business torts, financial institutions litigation, class actions and trade secret litigation. She chairs the firm’s Professional Liability Litigation group. Refo is a thought leader on litigation and trial issues and has been named one of the most influential women lawyers in the country by the National Law Journal (2007). She served on the Arizona Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence and is a former member of the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Evidence of the United States Judicial Conference.
Title with Firm: Partner
Years at Firm: 21
Law School:
Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 1996. (J.D.); University of San Diego College of Law, 1998 (LL.M. in Tax)
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6257
Other Practice-Area Expertise:
Fund Formations, LLC and Partnership Agreements for Real Estate and other Complex Transactions
Bahar Schippel
Tax
Bahar Schippel chairs the firm’s Tax Group. Her practice is concentrated in complex transactional tax planning, including mergers and acquisitions, fund formations, and equity compensation for pass-through entities. She also regularly negotiates LLC and partnership agreements. Schippel is a nationally renowned tax attorney, and has served in leadership positions on the ABA Tax Section and the American College of Tax Counsel. Schippel is also the past chair of the Tax Section of the State Bar of Arizona and the Arizona Tax Advisory Commission. Schippel frequently speaks at national and regional tax conferences and contributes articles to top-tier tax publications.
Title with Firm: Partner
Years at Firm: 12
Law School:
New York University School of Law, 2002
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Law, 1998
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6335
Other Certifications Supporting this Area:
Admitted to Practice Law in AZ and throughout Mexico
Carlos A. Sugich
Real Estate
Carlos Sugich’s practice is concentrated in real estate development, hospitality, financing, leasing and cross-border business transactions in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America. Sugich led the firm in opening its first international office in Los Cabos, Mexico, and currently represents some of the most exclusive master-planned and resort communities in the area. In addition, Sugich regularly advises domestic and foreign companies in the establishment and operation of foreign subsidiaries and has written extensively in the areas of foreign investment and cross-border transactions. Sugich manages the Los Cabos Office and is a member of the firm’s Expanded Executive Committee.
Title with Firm: Partner
Years at Firm: 3
Law School:
Howard University School of Law
Contact Phone:
(602) 382-6355
Other Practice-Area Expertise:
Native American Affairs, Whistleblower Liability
Marian Zapata-Rossa
Labor and Employment
Marian Zapata-Rossa defends employers against discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, represents employers in disputes involving employment and arbitration agreements and restrictive covenants not to compete, and helps employers resolve administrative matters before state and federal government agencies. She also advises employers on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship with a focus on providing clients with business-oriented solutions to identify and mitigate risk and support diversity, equity and inclusion. To this end, Zapata-Rossa counsels employers on handling day-to-day employment issues, routinely conducts workplace investigations, and has trained thousands of managers and employees on preventing harassment and best practices in the workplace.
About Snell & Wilmer
Company Name:
Snell & Wilmer
Main Local Office Address:
400 E. Van Buren St., Suite 1900, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone:
(602) 382-6000
Website:
swlaw.com
Number of Offices in Metro Phoenix: 1
City Nationally Headquartered:
Phoenix
Managing Partner:
Matthew P. Feeney, Chair
Year Established Locally:
1938
Top Practice Areas:
Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment, Real Estate, Employee Benefits, Corporate and Securities, Special Litigation and Compliance
