Phoenix Magazine names 11 G&K attorneys to its 2024 Top Lawyers list.
Melissa F. Benson - Family Law
Melissa is a dedicated advocate for justice. Primarily working with families and individuals, she brings over 17 years of experience working in Arizona’s criminal justice system as a victim advocate, a probation officer, and a sex crimes and domestic violence prosecutor. Melissa is a certified mediator, often helping resolve her client’s most personal disputes before they go to trial.
Robert W. Boatman – Personal Injury
Bob is tireless in his dedication and resolve to seek justice for each and every one of his clients. Bob’s easygoing manner engenders trust because he is naturally compassionate and sincere and has a unique ability to understand and communicate with clients from all walks of life. This same direct, common-sense approach has proven to be extremely effective in cases ultimately heard by juries.
Stephen R. Boatwright – Securities Law
Steve handles public and private business mergers and acquisitions for buyers and sellers of businesses of all kinds and advises companies in raising private equity and public financing. Whether seeking initial funding, expanding the business through follow on funding or acquisition, or pursuing an exit strategy through an asset/stock sale or public offering, Steve’s clients rely on his practical judgment and seasoned know-how gained over three decades to realize even their most lofty goals in all phases of financing, growth, and sale.
Shannon L. Clark – Personal Injury & Product Liability
Shannon is an advocate for victims of negligent and wrongful conduct in Arizona and beyond. With fortitude, experience, and “fire in the belly,” he resolves serious injury cases involving motor vehicle crashes, aviation disasters, commercial trucking wrecks, professional negligence, product liability, and consumer safety issues. Shannon is a champion for his victims and ultra-sensitive to the human element of each case he handles.
Kevin D. Neal – Aviation
Kevin practices in the area of civil litigation, with an emphasis on aviation law, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death and personal injury. Kevin has handled cases for clients in some of the largest lawsuits litigated in Arizona. He represents clients in claims and suits arising out of a variety of issues.
Kevin E. O'Malley - Sports Law
Over his 43 year career, Kevin has managed many high profile, complex commercial litigation matters, including securities, environmental, governmental liability, construction, professional liability and insurance coverage cases. He has significant class action and appellate experience and heads the firm’s litigation and public bidding and procurement practice. Kevin has represented public and private companies and individual clients in many industries. He is widely known within the local and national legal communities for his depth and breadth of experience, consistent track record of success and ability to aggressively litigate when necessary or pursue settlement when deemed the optimal course for his clients.
Michael R. Ross – Civil Law Litigation
A formidable trial lawyer with 28 years of experience, Mike has represented individuals and companies of all sizes with integrity, common sense, and consistent success. He has pursued and defended a broad spectrum of disputes, from small to complex, multi-million dollar claims, in both federal and state courts and private arbitrations, earning the trust and loyalty of his clients and the respect of his peers.
Dominick San Angelo - Civil Law Transactional
Dom is an attorney at Gallagher & Kennedy and practices in the areas of business law and transactions, focusing primarily on mergers & acquisitions, securities, and corporate governance matters for clients across a broad spectrum of industries.
Eleanor J. Shaffer - Personal Injury
Ellie focuses her practice in the areas of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases involving product liability, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, and premises liability.
J. Tyrrell "Ty" Taber - Personal Injury
Ty has dedicated his 45-year career to plaintiffs personal injury, wrongful death, and general civil litigation. A Certified Specialist in Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation, Ty represents plaintiffs in cases involving insurance coverage and bad faith, burn injuries, construction site accidents, defective road design, dog bites, small engine and helicopter crashes, motor vehicle accidents (including motorcycle, tractor-trailer and truck, bicycle, and pedestrian-involved MVAs), premises liability, and product recalls.
Woody C. Thompson – Criminal Defense
Woody is a criminal defense attorney who advises a myriad of clients on all types of felony and misdemeanor offenses and government investigations. For nearly two decades, he has concentrated his practice in criminal law, representing individuals faced with a wide range of criminal offenses ranging from misdemeanor DUI to homicide, sex offenses, and Federal Investigations.
About Phoenix Magazine
PHOENIX magazine generates its Top Lawyers list via an online survey of practicing attorneys in the Greater Phoenix area. Partnering with Colorado Springs-based information research firm Data Joe, PHOENIX disseminates emails to each of the roughly 16,000 active attorneys licensed with the State Bar of Arizona, directing them to an online portal managed by Data Joe. The survey, which takes place over six weeks, asks respondents to provide the names of up to three attorneys they deem the best in 39 legal specialties. To spread the votes democratically, respondents are asked to nominate at least one attorney in each category who works in a firm other than their own.
At the conclusion of the voting, Data Joe tallies the votes digitally and verifies that vote recipients are in good standing with the State Bar. PHOENIX editors then set the vote thresholds in a manner that ensures the top 10 to 20 percent of vote-getters in each category make the Top Lawyers list. PHOENIX fact-checkers then call each attorney on the final list to confirm their affiliation with a Valley-based firm and obtain accurate contact information.