Coppersmith Brockelman co-founder and partner Andy Gordon has served as a pillar of Arizona’s legal community. Andy helped build one of the state’s most respected law firms and has had an illustrious legal career. Now, with his legacy firmly in place, Andy is turning the page from active law practice to his new chapter: retirement!

Powerful Seeds Are Planted

In early 1995, after returning to Phoenix from a stint together in Congress, Andy and his longtime friend Sam Coppersmith drew up a business plan for a new firm and launched the firm in a spare bedroom of Sam’s house. The firm has since grown out of the spare bedroom and has more respectable digs in a high-rise office building. Andy was key to the growth of the firm and bringing in top-tier talent.

“Andy was more than a friend and colleague,” said Sam. “He is the best strategic thinker I know, and as proud as I am about this law firm, I know that so much of what we have accomplished had less to do with me and far more from Andy’s intellect, guidance, and good sense (about most things, anyway).”

Partner Kristen Rosati reflected on her early days with the firm. “Andy changed my life in 1998 by asking me to be the first associate in the firm he and Sam had recently formed. I had just left a big law firm and decided to trust my gut that, despite being a law firm of two with the email handle sam-n-andy.com, Sam and Andy were a great team doing great work.”

Kristen remembers her discussion with the two partners after they approached her just three months later with the intention to join a bigger law firm instead of continuing to build this new firm. Kristen said, “While I don’t remember throwing a temper tantrum…”

“I did a full-court press to convince Sam and Andy they were building something unique and needed to stick with it. I’m glad they listened to me! But I’m even more glad I’ve had the honor of being Andy’s friend and partner for over 25 years.”

Career Milestones Make an Indelible Impact in Arizona and Nationally

Andy is widely known as a top legal mind in election law, business litigation, antitrust law, health care law, and government contracting and procurement. He’s worked with elected officials and campaigns for some of the state’s highest offices. Andy’s experience stretches to the national arena, including 18 months spent serving as Counsel to the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, where he worked on key national security issues related to the Southwest border and closing the Guantanamo Detention Center.

“Andy was a terrific lawyer who served his clients well. He was also a valued advisor and counselor when I served as Governor and as DHS Secretary,” said former Gov. Napolitano. “I always appreciated his intelligence, his judgment, and his friendship.”

Andy has been consistently ranked as a top lawyer locally and nationally, including with Best Lawyers and Southwest Super Lawyers. Best Lawyers named Andy “Lawyer of the Year” nine times for his antitrust and health care litigation work.

History of Giving Back to Future Lawyers and the Greater Community

Andy’s legacy extends far beyond his legal work. Andy taught health care law at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business from 2000 to 2002, and since 2011, he has inspired future lawyers at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law – educating the next generation in foreign relations, national security, and antitrust law.

He is also a dedicated community member, serving on multiple boards and committees across his career. Notably, Andy was President of the Board of Directors for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Arizona Chapter. He became involved with the organization after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009 – from which he has been in complete remission since 2015.

“I’ve been fortunate to know Andy as a mentor, partner, and dear friend for more than 40 years,” said Karen Owens, a partner at Coppersmith Brockelman. “Beyond being a brilliant, creative lawyer, he is a magnificent person.”

Andy’s Next Chapter

While retiring from active practice, Andy will continue to pass his wisdom on to the next generation of lawyers in his capacity as an adjunct professor at ASU. All of his colleagues at Coppersmith Brockelman also fervently hope he will remain an active social part of the firm.

“Despite being his law partner for 18 years, I never actually worked on a case with Andy,” said Kent Brockelman, partner at Coppersmith Brockelman. “I’m told he was a great lawyer. Whatever. My favorite thing about having Andy down the hall was that he was my go-to source for recommendations about recently read novels, recently viewed movies, recently heard music, and recently consumed beers. I’m sure there are other things I want in a partner, but none come immediately to mind.”

All of the lawyers and staff at Coppersmith Brockelman will miss Andy greatly, but look forward to many future conversations about books, movies, music, beer, and politics. But not in that order.