Overview
Bob is an experienced trial lawyer representing regional and national corporations, Arizona-based businesses, and individuals. His practice is concentrated in commercial litigation and providing general legal counsel in disputes arising out of a wide array of commercial relationships in various industries. He appears in both state and federal trial courts and in various alternative dispute resolution forums. He has tried numerous matters to verdict or award including through multi-week jury trials and arbitrations.
While his general practice is commercial litigation, Bob has particularly adept experience in disputes arising out of real estate development projects, transactions, and the professional relationships and duties involved in such matters.
Bob also has significant appellate court experience in both Arizona’s appellate courts and the Ninth Circuit. He was co-counsel in one high profile matter that proceeded ultimately to the United States Supreme Court.
Bob also serves as a mediator, arbitrator, and neutral.
Education & Admissions
University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1993), magna cum laude; Associate Editor, Michigan Law Review
University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (B.A., Honors English, 1990)
Admissions
- Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
Clerkships
- Arizona Supreme Court, Vice Chief Justice James Moeller, 1993-1994
Experience
Representative Experience
- Significant experience and background in all aspects of real estate development projects and disputes relating to the ownership, use and sale of real estate, including purchase and sale agreements, leases, development agreements, condemnation/eminent domain, property management, CC&Rs, quiet title, receiverships, partition, liens, adverse possession/prescriptive easements, title insurance, broker/agent matters, and foreclosure/trustee’s sales. *
- Represented a multi-national real estate developer in a federal court class action lawsuit relating to the development of a master planned community in Mesa, AZ (successful motion to dismiss). *
- Represented an Arizona municipality in an eminent domain lawsuit relating to its condemnation of water rights (successful motions to dismiss adverse claims in trial court; lead appellate counsel in successful appellate court rulings by the Arizona Court of Appeals and Arizona Supreme Court). *
- Represented an Arizona water conservation district in a dispute with an Arizona municipality relating to water rights (reversal of trial court in district’s favor). *
- Represented (on appeal) a Scottsdale, Arizona master developer in a dispute relating to the modification of CC&Rs at a prominent north Scottsdale shopping/office center (reversal of trial court in developer’s favor). *
- Represented a California based real estate developer (seller) in a dispute about the return of a million-dollar earnest money deposit (successful motion for summary judgment). *
- Lead trial counsel in Keg Restaurants, Inc. v. Jones, 375 P.3d 1173 (App. 2016). *
- Co-counsel in Arizona v. United States, 567 U.S. 387 (2012) and related proceedings. *
- Lead counsel in the defense and prosecution of claims and counterclaims in numerous private arbitrations between former owners and managers of businesses. *
- Lead counsel in numerous proceedings involving the prosecution and defense of claims for breach of contract, good faith and fair dealing, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, consumer fraud, fiduciary duty, agency, alter-ego, receiverships, restrictive covenants, injunctive relief, and related claims. *
*Certain experiences occurred prior to joining Dorsey.
Industries & Practices
Banking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceDevelopment & Infrastructure
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Class Action Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Development & Infrastructure
- Real Estate Litigation
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Judge Pro Tempore, Maricopa County Superior Court (2007-2025, in passim)
- Adjunct Professor, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Real Estate Litigation (2014-2024)
- Guest Lecturer for the Masters in Real Estate Development Program at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (Real Estate Litigation/Dispute Resolution) (2015-2024)
Community Involvement
- Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Board of Directors (2008-2024)
- Executive Committee (2014-2021)
- Real Estate & Community Development Subcommittee Chair (2014-2021)
