Husch Blackwell adds four partners in Phoenix

Husch Blackwell announced that a four-attorney team specializing in complex commercial litigation, class action, antitrust and construction defense has joined the firm’s Phoenix office. The group’s arrival marks a major expansion of the firm’s presence in Phoenix and adds significant commercial litigation capabilities. The incoming group includes Dan Goldfine, Josh Grabel, Jamie Halavais, and Ian Fischer, each of whom enter the firm as partner.

Dan Goldfine focuses on class actions and complex commercial litigation, including antitrust, RICO, healthcare, government and consumer fraud, and business disputes. He regularly handles class action litigation with multi-billion-dollar exposures. In addition, Goldfine has developed a significant practice representing businesses and individuals in grand jury proceedings, government investigations, and internal investigations. He is ranked in both the Chambers USA and Benchmark Litigation directories as being among leading lawyers in the areas of commercial litigation, antitrust litigation, and class actions. He began his career as a clerk for the Hon. Gerald W. Heaney in the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, and also served as a Trial Attorney in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Josh Grabel is a highly regarded litigator focusing on class action defense work, particularly matters involving antitrust, RICO, and insurance defense. He also maintains established practices in complex commercial litigation, government contracts, and construction litigation, where he represents owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, insurance companies, and lenders in litigation, negotiations, arbitration, and mediation matters involving public and private projects. Grabel has been recognized since 2015 in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Construction Law and Construction Litigation.

Jamie Halavais practices in the areas of complex commercial litigation, financial services litigation, and class action defense, including matters involving antitrust, RICO, insurance defense, and securities law. She has represented clients in state and federal courts across the country, including proceedings before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). She also adds significant experience in the areas of internal investigations and electronic discovery and routinely counsels clients in connection with document retention practices and other areas of e-discovery that enhance efficiencies and reduce liability.

Ian Fischer focuses on complex litigation, including class actions and matters involving antitrust and business disputes, insurance coverage and bad faith claims. Ian also maintains a white-collar criminal defense practice, advising individuals, businesses and executives against criminal allegations before they have been charged through trial. He served as Judicial Law Clerk to Chief Justice Ruth V. McGregor of the Arizona Supreme Court prior to entering private practice.

Burch & Cracchiolo welcomes Frank M. Fox

The law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. announced Frank M. Fox has joined the firm Of Counsel. Fox is a commercial litigator who has been practicing law for 36 years. He has an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating of 5.0 from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available. His practice focuses on insurance defense, bad faith claims and commercial litigation.

Prior to joining Burch & Cracchiolo, Fox was with The Cavanagh Law Firm for 34 years.   He graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in 1980 and earned his J.D. from the University of Nebraska in 1983.

Fox is admitted to U.S. District Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth District; U.S. District Court, Arizona; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit and the Northern District of Iowa.  Fox is licensed to practice in Arizona, Iowa and Nebraska. 

Paul S. Kular joins Burch & Cracchiolo

The law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A., announced Paul S. Kular has joined the firm Of Counsel. Kular is a commercial litigator who has been practicing law for 16 years. In addition to insurance defense, his areas of concentration are in construction defect, all vehicular accidents to include trucking, auto, and motorcycle, and fire/water losses involving residential and commercial properties.  

Prior to joining Burch & Cracchiolo, Kular began his career at Travelers Insurance (Arizona) rising to senior counsel in the construction defect and subrogation practice areas. Subsequently, he practiced with a private law firm primarily in insurance defense for over a year. Kular received his B.A. in social sciences from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut in 2000. He earned his J.D. from Northeastern in 2003. 

Kular is admitted to practice in Arizona.

Industry veteran Rick Francis joins Velocity Retail Group

Commercial retail veteran Rick Francis has joined Velocity Retail Group as a Vice President for the firm.

As a top producer in the retail arena, Rick has a deep background that is focused on servicing the needs of retail shopping center owners, retailers and investors.  He has established a reputation for getting results in successfully leasing a number of high-profile lifestyle, power and neighborhood centers in the Phoenix area.  He is known by his clients and peers as a top performer in the retail marketplace who facilitates negotiations in the interests of his clients.

“Rick is a great compliment to our office where we currently have a strong group of sales professionals focused on landlord and tenant services,” said Dave Cheatham, President of Velocity Retail Group. “His experience on the leasing side as well as his understanding of tenant expansion strategies will play a key role in helping to serve our clients,” he added.

In addition to Rick’s work with leasing and analyzing shopping center portfolios for REIT’s, he has also developed the expansion strategy for over 150 locations of various restaurant groups.  Previous retailer consulting clients include Chili’s Bar & Grill, Maggiano’s, Corner Bakery, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Del Taco and Aaron’s to name a few.  Rick is a graduate of Arizona State University with a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in Business Law.  He can be reached at: rick.francis@velocityretail.com, or at (602) 682-8133.  

 

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