Announcements: Professional & Personal Achievement

March 26, 2025

RILEY L. ARTER and ASHLEY L. CASE recently published an article with the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils Journal of Estate & Tax Planning, “Anatomy of an Informed Decision: Dissecting Client Organ Donation under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.” The article focuses on the myths and misconceptions surrounding organ donation and includes practical advice to estate planners on counseling clients to either choose or not choose organ donation.

JILLIAN A. BAUMAN was admitted to the 2024-2025 class of the State Bar of Arizona’s Bar Leadership Institute. The Bar Leadership Institute is a selective program designed to train the next generation of Bar members and community leaders. Jillian also co-moderated a panel for an American Bar Association webinar hosted by the Middle Market and Small Business Committee’s Young Lawyer Subcommittee that focused on client management in the context of a business transaction.

JODI R. BOHR participated as a panelist with other employment lawyers at an employment law conference in New Orleans. The panel discussed the FTC’s final rule banning non-competes, what the future may hold, and what recourse businesses have for protecting themselves in a landscape where non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements are being assailed on several fronts.

ASHLEY L. CASE released Arizona Estate Planning and Will Drafting with Forms, a comprehensive estate planning guide tailored for professionals in Arizona. This essential resource, published by Matthew Bender (LexisNexis), covers the attorney’s role, ethical obligations, legal document drafting, tax implications, and best practices for client interactions. With practical insights and real-world examples, the book serves as an indispensable tool for navigating the complexities of estate planning in Arizona.

DARREN T. CASE and ASHLEY L. CASE joined Forbes as contributing authors to the money section of Forbes.com, focusing on tax and estate planning. Forbes.com is part of Forbes Digital, a division of Forbes Media, whose websites reach more than 27 million visitors each month.

CLAUDIA L. GRAJEDA was accepted into the University of Florida Tax LL.M. studies program and began courses this fall. The program is recognized as a leader in the field, ranked among the very best annually in U.S. News and World Report.

CLAUDIA L. GRAJEDA and VANESSA R. HEIM participated in the Let ABC15 Know phone bank. The volunteer attorneys collectively answered 153 estate-planning calls over the span of 2 hours.

ALISA J. GRAY moderated a panel discussion at the State Bar of Arizona’s Advanced Probate Seminar entitled “Tribal Probate Law in Arizona.” The panel included two tribal judges and two attorneys who practice in tribal court. Alisa was also a faculty member at the Bar’s Annual Convention for a program called “The Compassionate Attorney – Bringing Mindfulness into the Courtroom and the Conference Room.” This program received the President’s Award due to its appeal to Bar members, diverse panel of speakers, and co-sponsorship among Bar entities.

VANESSA R. HEIM and NORA L. JONES hosted a presentation for Charles Schwab’s national Trust and Estate team regarding how to identify red flags of potential financial abuse or incapacity to consider when talking with clients and their families. The presentation highlighted key issues in the Elder Law arena, and potential pitfalls when selecting an individual to represent your interests in a fiduciary capacity. The discussion offered practical points, which will further conversations and help identify and avoid potential controversies going forward.

NORA L. JONES co-authored Arizona Probate and Trust Litigation and Administration with Forms published by LexisNexis. The book, authored by four experienced Arizona probate attorneys, explains the current state of the law in Arizona regarding trusts and estates. Many of the chapters are written as “how-to” guides for practitioners to apply the law, including all of the necessary forms. Nora also presented at the Trust and Estate Track of the CLE by the Sea program, which provided a comprehensive exploration of ethics, case updates, and practice pointers tailored for trust & estate practitioners.

CHRISTOPHER R. KAUP was a panelist for the Arizona Black Bar Association program entitled “Financial Inequity in the Legal Profession.” The program focused on expanding financial literacy for lawyers with the aim to bridge the financial gap. In addition, Chris moderated a program hosted by the State Bar of Arizona’s Council on Minorities and Women in the Law that focused on the Supreme Court’s landmark decision overturning its prior decision on affirmative action. The program was awarded the President’s Award, an award that gives special recognition to superior seminars.

MAY LU co-sponsored and co-presented a lunch & learn discussion entitled “Create a Dynasty Family: Continuation of Family & Business.”

J. LAWRENCE MCCORMLEY, EMILY S. FANN, and MINA C. O’BOYLE attended the grand opening for one of their client’s new Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) affordable housing developments, The Reserve at Thunderbird. This 242-unit apartment complex provides a mix of market and income-dependent 2, 3, and 4-bedroom units to accommodate families of all sizes. Our Tiffany & Bosco real estate team handled all of the legal aspects of the project from acquisition and financing to development issues.

JAMES P. O’SULLIVAN presented “Done & Done-er: Managing Legal Issues for a Successful Closing (and a Happy Ever After!)” at the Spring 2024 M&A Source Conference in May 2024.