Austin Yost Featured in ASU Alumni News Article for Advocacy on Abortion Access Ballot Initiative

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU) featured Austin Yost in a recent article about alumni paving the way for democracy during the 2024 election season. Austin, who earned a J.D. from ASU in 2017, represented Arizona for Abortion Access (AAA), the political action committee that sponsored Proposition 139, the statewide ballot initiative that established a fundamental right to abortion in Arizona’s Constitution. To secure Prop 139’s placement on the ballot, Austin helped draft the initiative, navigated ballot access complexities, and litigated cases for AAA involving Prop 139’s publicity pamphlet language and petition sheet description. Throughout his career, Austin has exhibited a passion for political law. He advises candidates, political action committees, nonprofit organizations, and others on issues involving ballot access, campaign...

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Attorney Jill Chasson

Jill Chasson Presents at Arizona State Bar Webinar on Domestic Violence Law & Issues

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. In recognition of this important topic, the State Bar of Arizona hosted a continuing education program for its members to take a deeper look at domestic violence law across multiple practice areas in Arizona. As one of the panelists for the program, Coppersmith Brockelman’s Jill Chasson shared her expertise with respect to ways in which domestic violence can raise legal issues in the workplace.  Jill’s presentation helped educate seminar attendees on injunctions against workplace harassment, employers’ obligations to provide a safe workplace, state and federal laws that can provide leave rights to domestic violence victims, and the impact that domestic violence can have on eligibility for unemployment benefits. Other panelists reviewed rules and procedures regarding protective order hearings and firearms...

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Mel Soliz joins SHARES Advisory Board as Group Awarded National Institute of Health Grant

Mel Soliz has joined the Substance use HeAlth REcord Sharing (SHARES) Advisory Board as it kicks off its $3.2 million, five-year National Institute of Health (NIH) grant. Formed under ASU’s College of Health Solutions, SHARES uses feedback from patients and providers on substance use disorder (SUD) data sharing and health care to inform policies on data privacy and confidentiality. The board also analyzes the implementation and impact of automated SUD data segmentation to improve data sharing and interoperability between healthcare institutions and service delivery. Mel ― who is also recognized by Chambers USA©️, Best Lawyers©, and Southwest Super Lawyers: Rising Stars© ― practices regulatory health law, focusing on compliance with health data privacy, access and interoperability laws (such as the Information Blocking Rule and CMS interoperability mandates,...

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Attorney Michael Aguirre

Three-time Graduate Michael Aguirre Elected to the ASU Foundation’s Board of Directors

A prominent member of the legal community and active participant in several leadership organizations, Coppersmith Brockelman’s Michael Aguirre has been elected to the ASU Foundation’s board of directors. In this role, he will work to unite people, increase philanthropic support, and boost investment in advancing the Foundation’s mission of building an environment focused on inclusion, student success, and development. Known for his extensive work in corporate and business law — and leader of the firm’s Cannabis Law practice — Michael is a three-time ASU alumnus who earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with Honors from Barrett, The Honors College (2000), a Master of Education in Higher and Postsecondary Education (2002), and a Juris Doctor (2005). He has been actively involved with the university and currently...

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Roopali Desai Brings Cannabis Law and Social Equity Experience to National Cannabis Roundtable Advisory Board

Looking to advance cannabis reform priorities, the National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) invited Roopali Desai to join other prominent cannabis industry thought leaders from around the nation on a new Advisory Board. Serving alongside notable members like John Boehner, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Kathleen Sebelius, former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Roopali will assist the advisory board in nurturing the growing cannabis industry, protecting consumers, and fostering social equity. Roopali was instrumental in the construction and passage of Smart and Safe Arizona (Prop. 207) that legalized the adult use of cannabis in the State of Arizona and continues to provide legal assistance to cannabis dispensaries, cultivators, transporters, and testing laboratories. “Roopali’s leadership of Arizona’s of adult use legalization efforts, and her deep commitment...

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Sam Coppersmith Extends Decades of Helping Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center by Joining Board of Directors

Sam Coppersmith Extends Decades of Helping Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center by Joining Board of Directors

Already a fixture in the Arizona nonprofit community, Sam Coppersmith expanded his involvement by accepting an invitation to join the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) Board of Directors. Sam is deeply passionate about conservation and proud to support the nonprofit’s mission to protect and rehabilitate the region’s native animals.  Sam and Coppersmith Brockelman have a longstanding relationship with SWCC, helping the organization with zoning issues, permits, concession agreements, litigation, and contract negotiation since 1998. Established in 1994, SWCC is the state’s leading sanctuary and veterinary science facility for injured or displaced wild animals. They played a prominent role in the recovery of the endangered Mexican gray wolf. In addition, the Center serves a valuable educational resource for the community.  Sam has more than three decades of experience providing counsel to nonprofit...

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