A Record of Success
Extraordinary Trial Experience
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Preventive Advice
Industry and Substantive Expertise
Exceptional Service
Every dispute has a context; every client has a goal. Whether litigation involves personal or business issues, no lawyer can craft a successful strategy without first understanding what the client hopes to accomplish.
At Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, we have a deep appreciation and respect for our clients’ business goals and objectives. Our litigation strategies are formulated in concert with clients, based on an intimate understanding of their unique business issues and a reasoned assessment of their risks. Armed with this knowledge, we can offer creative solutions to problems, from trial to alternative dispute resolution forums.
Ryley Carlock & Applewhite litigation attorneys have achieved great success for clients through a combination of integrity, ability, intellectual capacity, commitment and tenacity, in settings ranging from informal mediation to the United States Supreme Court. At the core of our litigation practice is a philosophy that minimizes duplication of effort and maximizes results: Typically the lawyer assigned to the initial intake of a new case will handle it through trial and any subsequent appeal. This allows for seamless and efficient representation of a client’s interests.
A Record of Success
Our results for clients range from successful defenses to million dollar-plus judgments. A sampling of our cases includes:
- Successfully represented a bank client in a $100,000,000+ lending liability case.
- Served as co-counsel in a contested multi-billion dollar attempted acquisition of a public utility.
- Obtained a verdict of $1.5 million in a condemnation action where the state offered $20,000.
- Represented a zoning client in obtaining a text amendment to allow use of a multi-million dollar service facility.
- Successfully retrieved through litigation corporate trade secrets taken by former employees in multiple industries.
- Successfully defended antitrust claims involving hundreds of millions of dollars of potential liability.
- Successfully prosecuted a “bet the company” software license arbitration for a third party logistics provider.
- Successfully resolved claims against Ford and others for injuries in a single vehicle Explorer rollover incident.
- Successfully defended an oil company in a suit under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act.
One reason for our tremendous success in litigation is the diverse backgrounds of our lawyers, resulting in a diversity of substantive expertise and knowledge of myriad industries. Among our litigators are:
- Former Attorney General for the State of Arizona, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney in charge of the Phoenix office.
- Former Assistant United States Attorney.
- Four Former Deputy Maricopa County Attorneys.
- Team Member for the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review.
- Former Two-Time Chairman of the United States Magistrate Judge Selection Committee.
- Former Member of the American Arbitration Association Advisory Roster Selection Committee.
Ryley Carlock & Applewhite litigation attorneys also are members of prestigious organizations, such as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the American College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and the American Employment Law Council. Our litigators have also argued appeals before many state and federal courts throughout the United States, including the United States Supreme Court.
Extraordinary Trial Experience
If a dispute requires a trial, Ryley Carlock & Applewhite’s litigation group possesses a track record unlike most others. Our litigation attorneys collectively have conducted hundreds of civil and criminal trials in state and federal court, before juries, the court and administrative and arbitration forums, in most cases as lead counsel or first chair. We have represented our clients’ business interests throughout the United States and, in some cases, internationally. Our litigation group is experienced and versatile enough to handle large, complex cases, including “bet the company” commercial litigation matters.
Alternative Dispute Resolution and Preventive Advice
For some disputes, clients may be better served by alternative dispute resolution processes than a trial. Our lawyers have achieved exceptional results through ADR, and have experience conducting scores of arbitrations and administrative hearings and mediations. Our attorneys include a Certified Arbitrator for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
In addition, because we have a solid understanding of our clients' business objectives, we are strategically positioned to counsel them on preventive measures. Our litigation attorneys can offer creative advice to help clients avoid litigation in similar situations in the future.
Industry and Substantive Expertise
By integrating with other traditional practice areas, our attorneys have added depth to their substantive skills while providing litigation capabilities for other firm practice groups. The depth and breadth of our litigation experience includes familiarity with industries such as:
- Banking, financial institutions and financial services
- Insurance
- Service
- Retail including National Chains
- Oil/Mining
- Transportation
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Real estate
- Construction
- Utilities
Their substantive areas of expertise include:
- Complex commercial litigation
- Environmental and water law
- Employment law
- Bond financing
- Trademark and copyright law
- Contract litigation
- Trade secrets
- Automotive products liability
- Class actions
- Political subdivision litigation
- White collar criminal defense
- Construction defects
- Insurance contracts
- Corporate disputes
- Partnership disputes
- Condemnation actions
- Business tort litigation
- Antitrust litigation
- Securities fraud litigation
- Environmental law claims under CERCLA, RCPA and UST statutes
- Federal and state civil rights and Constitutional claims
- Government contract litigation
Our lawyers have particular expertise in managing large complex litigation cases, aided by our willingness to embrace technology. In fact, Ryley Carlock & Applewhite was cited as one of the 63 most “tech-savvy law firms” in a recent survey of corporate counsel at Global 1,000 companies.*
Exceptional Service
Finally, and very importantly, our attorneys understand that in litigation, accessibility, communication and responsiveness are every bit as important as the legal process. Our clients rely on us and have great confidence in our advice, due in no small measure to the close relationships we develop with them.
Whether we are working with outside counsel, in-house lawyers, business owners or business executives, we are open to discussing our respective roles in each case. For example, we have loaned one of our litigators to serve in an in-house counsel role, and also serve as general counsel for a publicly traded client. Our flexibility and ability to listen help us form successful collaborations with clients.
For more information on the capability of Ryley Carlock & Applewhite’s Litigation Group, please contact the Chair of the Litigation Group, John Lemaster. His direct dial telephone number is (602) 440-4831, and his e-mail address is
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
*Conducted by BTI Consulting Group, Boston, Massachusetts, 2003.
 
|
Litigation