Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, PLLC, has received the prestigious rating of “recommended” by Benchmark Litigation and four of the firm’s attorneys have been rated as local or future stars in ratings derived from interviews with peers and litigators.
Benchmark Litigation publishes an annual guide of top firms and attorneys after months of research and interviews with leading litigators in all 50 states. Firms and attorneys are rated from a national and state perspective.
Rusing Lopez & Lizardi was one of only 12 Arizona firms to earn a rating from Benchmark Litigation for the 2016 publication, and was the only firm from Tucson.
“Operating out of Tucson, Rusing Lopez & Lizardi has carved a respectable presence for itself in the increasingly crowded Arizona legal market,” the publication said in its rating of RL&L.
Partner and founder Mick Rusing and attorney Rebecca O’Brien each received the rating of “local litigation star,” and attorneys Edward Moomjian, and Patricia Waterkotte received recognition as “future stars.”
“The list of ‘local litigation stars’ for each state reflects only those individuals who were recommended consistently as reputable and effective litigators by clients and peers,” the publication says in describing its methodology. “The list of ‘future stars’ in each state reflects those partners who were consistently referenced by peers and clients as litigators who are likely to be become ‘local litigation stars’ in coming editions of the guide.”
The firm was cited for, among other cases, its representation of the Tohono O’odham Nation in its legal battle to open a resort and casino in Glendale. The case is still in litigation, however, the U.S. District Court has granted the Nation summary judgment on all claims, avoiding significant delay and a lengthy trial.
The guide goes on to recognize the “future stars” in the firm who are involved in significant litigation and who have received high praise from peers.
“Rusing Lopez is noted for the strength of its ‘future stars,’” including Edward Moomjian, who receives plaudits from clients for his ‘experience, knowledge of the legal community, and familiarity with business,’” the guide said. “Patricia Waterkotte is a new addition to this year’s future stars list with a vast practice encompassing school law, environmental litigation, and product liability. Waterkotte is on a team with Mick Rusing currently representing the Tucson Unified School District in a decades old lawsuit concerning a stipulated desegregation consent decree currently under court monitoring.”
The publication points out that firms cannot pay to be recommended for the guide and that research to come up with the recommended firms and top attorneys is a four- to six-month process.
“Our researchers conduct extensive interviews with litigators and their clients to identify the leading litigators and firms,” it states. “During these interviews, researchers examine recent casework handled by law firms and ask individual litigators to offer their professional opinions on peers.”