Ryley Carlock & Applewhite is a full-service law firm with offices in Arizona, Colorado and Michigan.
Title with Firm:
Shareholder
Years at Firm: 15
Law School:
University of Chicago Law School
Contact Phone:
(602) 440-4866
Jessica Benford Powell
Corporate and Securities
Jessica Benford Powell helps local entrepreneurs, startups, business owners, established companies and financial institutions navigate significant issues related to formation, governance, intellectual property, financing and securities compliance. Her extensive experience representing clients in business transactions includes mergers and acquisitions, private placements, stock purchases and much more, where she manages the entire process — from term sheets and letters of intent through closing. Powell is committed to understanding her clients’ business goals and challenges in order to deliver responsive solutions. She regularly writes and presents on these important business topics. Powell serves as practice group leader for the firm’s Corporate, Banking & Transactional Practice.
Title with Firm:
Shareholder
Years at Firm: 34
Law School:
Arizona State University
Contact Phone:
(602) 440-4831
John C. Lemaster
Commercial Litigation
John C. Lemaster is a commercial litigator with experience managing and trying complex cases. His practice has emphasized condemnation and real property, water rights, NEPA and environmental issues, and business disputes. He also handles insurance coverage and bad faith litigation matters, asbestos defense, and other complex litigation. He has been involved in a number of jury and non-jury trials. In addition, Lemaster heads up the firm’s eDiscovery & Managed Review practice, one of the first dedicated practice groups created to provide managed document review and eDiscovery services in litigation, investigations, and due diligence for clients and other law firms.
Title with Firm:
Shareholder
Years at Firm: 37
Law School:
University of Kansas
Contact Phone:
(602) 440-4824
Sheryl A. Sweeney
Water and Environmental Law
Sheryl A. Sweeney practices in the areas of energy law, water law, environmental law, electric-utility law, public power and special taxing districts. Sweeney has extensive experience representing both public and private energy interests. She acts as counsel to several entities that contract for hydroelectric power from the Western Area Power Administration and the Arizona Power Authority. She is involved in all aspects of the industry, including power supply contracting, rate setting, transmission access, interconnection agreements, renewable generation, conventional generation, distributed generation, siting and retail electric competition. Sweeney serves as practice group leader for the firm’s Water, Energy, Resources and Environmental Law Practice.
Title with Firm:
Shareholder
Years at Firm: 32
Law School:
University of Pittsburgh
Contact Phone:
(602) 440-4819
Other Practice-Area Expertise:
Creditors’ Rights & Public Finance
John J. Fries
Bankruptcy
John J. Fries has practiced bankruptcy law for more than 30 years. He is a certified business bankruptcy specialist by the State Bar of Arizona and nationally by the American Bankruptcy Board. He represents creditors, landlords and tenants, vendors, debtors, trustees and creditors’ committees in commercial bankruptcy cases. His experience includes restructuring debt, implementing “prepackaged” bankruptcies, enforcing loan documents, arranging debtor-in-possession financing, and buying and selling assets. Fries’ practice also includes public financing. He works with industrial development authorities, indentured trustees and special districts to bring community and economic development projects to life in Arizona and beyond.
About Ryley Carlock & Applewhite
Company Name:
Ryley Carlock & Applewhite
Main Local Office Address:
3200 N. Central Ave., Suite 1600,
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone:
(602) 440-4800
Website:
rcalaw.com
Number of Offices in Metro Phoenix: 3
City Nationally Headquartered:
Phoenix
Managing Partner:
James E. Brophy
Year Established Locally:
1948
Top Practice Areas:
Corporate and Securities, eDiscovery and Managed Review, Estate Planning and Trust Administration, Labor and Employment, Litigation, Water and Environmental Law
