Overview

Mary has commanded a robust career guiding legal issues that have left lasting impacts on government authority, election campaign finance and election law. As a former Solicitor General for the State of Arizona, she has a mastery of public law issues and has led an extensive set of complex, high-profile lawsuits and appeals in state and federal courts. Her experience handling this complex litigation positions her well to get to the core of the issue in a dispute and provide critical strategic guidance.

Mary has worked on ten cases that the United States Supreme Court heard on the merits. In 2010, she was one of the lead attorneys on an important amicus brief on behalf of selected states in Citizens United v. FEC. Her experience includes election and campaign finance law, the Voting Rights Act, State constitutional law, government contracts, state legislation, open meeting, and public records laws, redistricting, and school finance. Mary has also worked extensively in the area of tribal-state relations, with a particular focus on tribal-state agreements.

An active citizen of her community, she currently is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Tempe Family Justice Commission and serves as Board Member for Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services. She has been recognized throughout her career with numerous awards and accolades, most recently named one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, a top-ranked appellate lawyer in Arizona by Chambers USA, one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation by Benchmark Litigation, and a Southwest Super Lawyer for Appellate practice. Mary is a fellow in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

Representative Matters

Significant Amicus Briefs

  • Amicus Brief on behalf of Selected States in Citizens United v. FEC, 130 S. Ct. 876 (2010)
  • Amicus brief on behalf of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns supporting the City of Phoenix at the Arizona Supreme Court in State ex rel. Mark Brnovich v. City of Phoenix 249 Ariz. 239 (2020)

Awards

  • Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: Appellate, 2020-2021
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, Appellate, 2016-2022
  • Phoenix Best Lawyers®, Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year, 2014
  • Benchmark Litigation: Top 250 Women in Litigation, 2014-2020
  • Best Lawyers®, Appellate Practice, 2013-2021
  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers
  • Counselor of the Year, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2000
  • Member of Outstanding Team, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2010
  • Appellate Lawyer of the Month, National Bar Journal, 2010

Activities

Professional Activities

  • Member, The American Law Institute 
  • Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Fellow
  • American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow, 2015-Present
  • American Bar Association, Public Contracts Section, 2014-Present
  • State Bar Appellate Section, Member, 2004-Present
  • American Bar Association, Judicial Division Amicus Committee, 2014-2019
  • Arizona Appellate Practice Institute, Faculty, 2005-2011

Community Activities

  • Greater Phoenix Leadership, 2020-Present
  • Board Member, Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services, 2018-Present
  • Tempe Family Justice Commission, 2018-Present