Attorney Andy Gaona

Washington Post Taps Andy Gaona for Insights into 2024 Arizona Abortion Ballot Measure

Major abortion rights groups are launching a bid to enshrine abortion protections into the Arizona Constitution through a voter initiative that would appear on the ballot in 2024. Andy Gaona, head of Coppersmith Brockelman’s nationally recognized elections, political, and public law practice and attorney representing the abortion rights effort, was called on by the Washington Post for commentary on this historic effort. Andy told the Washington Post that initiatives are a fundamental part of Arizona’s history, and that this recent effort fits squarely within the initiative power’s use when elected representatives fail to respond to their constituents. Indeed, a ballot measure approved shortly after statehood secured women’s suffrage rights. An experienced political, election, and constitutional law attorney, Andy has played a critical role in the practice’s biggest...

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Attorney Andy Gaona

Arizona Supreme Court Appoints Election Practice Leader Andy Gaona to Judicial Performance Review Task Force

With a deep-seated commitment to championing transparency in public processes and maintaining the integrity of elections,  Andy Gaona – head of Coppersmith Brockelman’s nationally recognized elections, political, and public law practice – was named to the Arizona Supreme Court Task Force overseeing reforms to the Judicial Performance Review system. Appointed by Chief Justice Robert M. Brutinel of the Arizona Supreme Court, Andy is one of 21 members called to develop recommendations to expand and improve the judicial performance review process, which currently evaluates the performance of all judges and justices who stand for retention. Andy is one of only three practicing attorneys appointed to the Task Force, and will join current and retired judges and others in helping the Arizona Supreme Court with this important task. He...

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Attorney Andy Gaona

Andy Gaona Leads Coppersmith Brockelman’s Political & Election Practice as Roopali Desai Exits for Ninth Circuit Judgeship

With Roopali Desai leaving to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Coppersmith Brockelman not only congratulates her on the appointment, but also announces that Andy Gaona will take up the mantle of the firm’s nationally recognized elections, political, and public law practice she helped build and ensure its important work continues and expands throughout Arizona. In her 15 years at Coppersmith Brockelman, Desai focused on defending election challenges, ensuring compliance with campaign finance laws and representing a variety of initiative and candidate campaigns. Most recently, she prevailed in 11 lawsuits related to Arizona’s 2020 General Election and successfully represented two statewide initiative campaigns. Additionally, she helped the firm's business clients resolve a variety of disputes. “President Biden and the U.S. Senate...

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Attorney Andy Gaona

40 Under 40 Honoree Andy Gaona Shares Top Personal & Professional Insights with Phoenix Business Journal

After earning a spot on Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list highlighting the Valley’s most outstanding young executives, Andy Gaona sat down with the paper to discuss his career goals, personal interests and pro bono efforts. In his profile, Andy shared that his most important career goal is to know he made a difference in Arizona. His service with Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest helps him do exactly that. A longtime board member and immediate Past President, he worked to expand the organization’s donor base, enabling better advocacy for vulnerable populations. His other pro bono efforts range from helping refugee farmers recover damages for destroyed crops to helping uncover the mismanagement of child abuse and neglect cases. Asked how he avoids burnout, Andy...

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Best Lawyers® Recognizes 17 Coppersmith Brockelman Attorneys and 2 Lawyers of the Year

Best Lawyers® has not only recognized 17 of our 21 attorneys for exceptional work in 19 categories, but also named Roopali Desai and Andy Gordon “Lawyer of the Year” in Civil Rights Law and Antitrust Law, respectively. The Lawyer of the Year designation is presented to only one individual in a given geographical region and practice area each year. Gordon previously won Lawyer of the Year five times, including in Antitrust Law in 2013 and 2018, Litigation – Antitrust Law in 2019, and Litigation – Healthcare in 2017 and 2021. Desai is a first-time Lawyer of the Year honoree and is the sixth attorney at the firm to have earned that recognition. Sixteen attorneys were honored as Best Lawyers in a wide range of practice areas. Additionally,...

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Andy Gaona’s Involvement in High Profile Cases Lands Him on Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40

Defending democracy, practicing law at the highest level, and serving the community led to Andy Gaona being selected as one of Phoenix Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40. Selected among more than 350 applicants, Andy’s work in helping draft important legislation and fighting back against unprecedented efforts to disenfranchise Arizona voters in the wake of the 2020 election caught the judges’ attention. He has also argued multiple high-profile cases in the Arizona Supreme Court, a feat most lawyers don’t achieve in their lifetimes. Community involvement is another criterion for the award, and Andy’s volunteerism is impressive. As the youngest Board President of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, he helped expand the organization’s donor base, attracted diverse board members, established a social media presence...

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