Cottonwood Lawyers

Go to my website, to the right, to view details about my practice. I focus exclusively on estate planning and asset protection. I work with clients from all walks of life, with all sorts of needs.

Carissa whizzed through law school in just 2-1/2 years. She attended Hamline University School of Law in her home state of Minnesota for 1-1/2 years and then completed her law education as a “visiting student” at Arizona State University School of Law. Her status as an overachiever started long before law school, though. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University in 2002 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Justice Studies and a minor in psychology. She won the CALI award for excellence in Torts II in law school, was a recipient of a Richard P. Erickson...

Tom Dean has been a criminal defense attorney for over 25 years. Early in his career. His passion is defending persons charged with all manner of criminal offense, although he has developed a very strong focus in drug crimes in general and marijuana related crimes in particular. He has been a member of the NORML Legal Committee since 1995. In 2016 NORML honored his achievements by inducting Tom into the organization’s Distinguished Counsel’s Circle. He is also a founding member of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association (ACBA), an organization that seeks to help other lawyers develop an understanding...

Austin is an associate attorney whose practice includes representing and advises small business owners on the legalities of structing their business and the drafting of agreements. He also represents clients who have been personally injured, and helps them recover from their loss. Austin attended undergraduate school at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, where he studied Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management and competed on the track team in the 200m and 400m dash. During college Austin worked for a small business where he learned the importance of properly structuring your entity and having valid agreements in place. After college, Austin...

Attorney Focused on Family Law, Probate, Litigation and Wrongful Death Law Joseph has been practicing law since 1997. A graduate of Oklahoma City University School of Law, with honors. He attended Brigham Young University where he received his Bachelors Degree. Joseph is licensed to practice law before the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California, and the Federal and State Courts in Arizona. Joseph has also appeared and practiced before various Indian Tribal Courts. Joseph has concentrated his practice in litigation focused in Family Law, Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury and...

Nick Verderame was born in Phoenix. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in 2008, with a major in broadcast journalism and a minor in Sports, Commerce and Culture. After working for CBS Network News and ESPN, he graduated from law school with his Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona in 2013. After working for two of the United States’ largest law firms, Nick came to Plattner Verderame, P.C. in 2016 to represent individuals who are injured and need assistance in their pursuit of justice and just compensation.

Robert Lockhart is a founding member and serves as the managing partner of the Sacramento, California and Scottsdale, Arizona offices of Lockhart Park, LLP. Mr. Lockhart has more than 20 years experience litigating personal injury, construction defect and commercial matters. Mr. Lockhart has special expertise in the representation of subcontractors, manufacturers and material suppliers in construction related disputes. Mr. Lockhart was a partner at LaMore, Brazier, Riddle & Giampaoli before founding Lockhart Park, LLP with JuLyn Park. He has litigated complex construction cases through arbitration and trial in both state and federal courts. Lockhart Park, LLP's construction litigation practice...

Susan's 40+ years of practice include mergers and acquisitions and securities at large law firms in Phoenix and New York City, as well as several years as a solo practitioner. That breadth of experience provides Susan the knowledge and experience necessary to assist clients with their complex transactions, while appreciating their entrepreneurial need for an attorney that offers practical advice in a cost-effective manner. Susan's corporate and business practice encompasses all aspects of general business matters and commercial relationships in numerous industries, including contracts, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, leases, regulatory compliance, choice of business entity, corporate governance and day-to-day...

Lance Entrekin is managing partner for The Entrekin Law Firm headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Lance Entrekin's practice focuses on legal malpractice in Arizona.

Former Prosecutor

Mark D. Bogard is a partner with the Arizona law firm Jaburg & Wilk, P.C., where his practice focuses on construction related matters and disputes, with an emphasis on construction payment rights and remedies including private and public payment bonds, mechanics'/materialmen's liens, stop notices, prompt pay law, and 'no-pay' claims before the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Mr. Bogard regularly appears before the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and Arizona Superior Court, with civil trial court experience that includes jury and bench trials. He also serves as an arbitrator for the Maricopa County Superior Court. For the past eight years, he has...

Lauren Garner is a partner with the law firm of Jaburg Wilk, P.C. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in May, 1982 and to the Arizona Bar in May, 1999. Her practice emphasizes probate and trust litigation as well as guardianships and conservatorships. Lauren is a Judge Pro Tem for Maricopa County Superior Court in the Probate and Mental Health Division. She was Chair of the Executive Council of the Probate and Trust Committee for the State Bar of Arizona (2008-2009), and Chair of the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Maricopa County Bar Association (2007). Lauren was...

Litigation: I help clients resolve disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and courtroom trials. I take cases involving business disputes, protection of religious liberty, employee rights, employer defense, intellectual property (especially internet related disputes), insurance defense, pest control regulation, and firearms law.

Kathi Sandweiss is the lead attorney in Jaburg|Wilk's Appellate Department and past chair of the Arizona State Bar Appellate Practice Section. Kathi has the ability to merge technical expertise with stylized legal prose.

Dan Garrison is the founder and managing member of the firm and of its sister firm, The Turnaround Team™, which focuses on consumer bankruptcy matters. For two decades, Dan has assisted clients with corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, commercial and real estate litigation, and corporate and real estate transactions. He holds an AV® Preeminent™ rating, the highest designation awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, the primary professional rating organization for attorneys. He also has been listed in Southwest Super Lawyers®, a designation limited to the top 5% of attorneys in the southwestern United States, has been named to Best Lawyers in America®, and been named...

Charles Surrano is a Phoenix, Arizona based lawyer who specializes in bad faith insurance, insurance law, commercial litigation, and complex litigation.

J. Blake Mayes is a criminal defense attorney in Phoenix and a partner at MayesTelles PLLC. Known for his relentless advocacy and exceptional communication ability, Mr. Mayes is dedicated to helping his clients overcome all types of misdemeanor and felony charges. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, where he graduated cum laude. He is licensed to practice in all Arizona state courts as well as the Ninth Circuit Court, the Arizona Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court of Arizona, and others. Mr. Mayes is AV®Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and has been included in...

Attorney Eric W. Schmidt, a seasoned litigator who has dedicated over 15 years to practicing exclusively in the area of personal injury law and insurance claims, Eric has helped many injured victims and families who have been injured by the negligence or wrongful acts of others.

Over the course of his career, he has gained experience practicing personal injury law in both California and Arizona. He was also the founding Partner of two law firms. During this time, he effectively translated his legal abilities and passionate approach into more than $30 million in compensation recoveries for his clients.

Attorney Schmidt will...

Matthew Thomas is the managing attorney of Thomas Law Firm, PLC. Our firm provides immigration legal services in a cost-effective and client-centered environment. Our office specializes in family-based immigration applications, waiver cases, consular processing, immigration court cases, detained cases, BIA Appeals and Federal court litigation and appeals. We work with individuals and families throughout the United States and abroad to find innovative solutions to complex immigration and nationality issues.

Billie Tarascio is a family law attorney focussing on divorce and the efficient practice of law. Her firm, Modern Law, practices exclusively Arizona divorce and family law. We work with Husbands and Wives, Mothers and Fathers who are facing stressful and uncertain times. Our clients are looking for answers. They want to protect themselves and their children from unnecessary costs and delays. We do not work with clients who are simply looking to drag out litigation and increase costs. We zealously, efficiently and effectively represent our clients to secure their objectives.

I advise exclusively companies and management on employment and labor relations issues. I do not represent individual clients, except executives in conjunction with employment/compensation agreements. My corporate clients range from local start-ups to fortune 500 companies with international operations, and public entities. They seek my advice primarily for issues relating to claims of wrongful termination, wage and hour laws, restrictive covenants, international employment, secondment and consultancy contracts, union organizing and labor relations. I try to reach out to businesses and public entities to inform them of important legal issues in my field of expertise and to provide cost-effective means...

Mr. Burns has practiced in Arizona in excess of 20 years. He is well versed in many forms of litigation within the Municpal, State and Federal court systems. His practice puts an emphasis on quality of representation with a caring attitude and an open-line of communication with his clients.

Max Mahoney practices mainly Family Law with Keith Berkshire, but also has experience in the areas of business, construction, real estate, and collections law. Before coming to Berkshire Law Office, Max practiced civil litigation at Rose Law Group and was a litigation file clerk with Cantelme & Brown, PLC and the Goldwater Institute. Max graduated cum laude from Arizona State University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing in Anthropology, History, and Political Science. Max attended Phoenix School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2011. While at Phoenix School of Law Max was the Administrative Editor for...

Since 1969, Harlan Crossman has practiced Workers' Compensation law. Since 1972, he has devoted his legal practice to representing Arizona workers injured on the job. Mr. Crossman is an Arizona State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Worker's Compensation Law and has been since 1978. He has taught law school courses on the subject at Arizona State University School of Law. Mr. Crossman is a member of the State Bar and State Bar Committee on Workers' Compensation. He served a number of years on the Compensation Rules Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee of the Industrial Commission of Arizona. He was...

Mr. Kadish assists individuals and businesses with a wide range of Business and Real Estate matters. He has helped organize and form dozens of business startups, including LLC's, corporations and limited partnerships. Mindful of saving time and money for his clients, Mr. Kadish promotes resolving disputes through negotiated settlements instead of litigation. In addition to serving his business clients, Mr. Kadish has extensive experience negotiating, documenting, and closing real estate transactions, both simple and complex. Mr. Kadish is often called upon to counsel with fellow lawyers, escrow officers, and other real estate professionals concerning complicated real estate transactions....

Since 1975 Alan M. Schiffman has been representing injured and disabled workers and their families regarding claims for workers' compensation, Social Security, long-term disability and personal injury matters. He and the other attorneys in the firm are dedicated to providing the highest quality service to those in need. So, if you find yourself in need of legal assistance, contact us - we are here to help. Check out our website at www.schiffmanlaw.com for detailed background information regarding us.

Ian is a seasoned Trial and Appeal Attorney with 10 years of experience in the legal field. He has a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances of both family and juvenile law. Ian earned a Juris Doctor degree from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and is a member of the Arizona Bar Association. Over the years, Ian has successfully represented clients in a wide range of family and juvenile law matters, including appeals, high-net worth divorces, high conflict child custody disputes, spousal maintenance issues, decree enforcements, decree modifications, and property division cases. Ian’s approach to law is marked by compassion,...

Joey Hamby is a criminal defense attorney in practice in Arizona since 1994. Over the years he has personally been counsel of record on hundreds of felony and misdemeanor cases in state and federal courts. Joey represents clients in all stages of their cases, from pre-charge investigation through jury trial.

Joey began working on death penalty cases over twelve years ago. In that time period he represented approximately 16 defendants charged with first degree murder and facing the possibility of capital punishment. He has also been a Rule 32 expert on a capital case. Joey...