Partner
Phoenix, Arizona
Phone: 602-650-2465
Fax: 602-285-1516
Email: [email protected]
GUIDING PHILOSOPHY
Throughout my career, I have been guided by the principle that every person deserves justice, dignity, and protection under the law, regardless of their circumstances. The most vulnerable among us—children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities—often face the greatest challenges in accessing justice. It is my professional calling and personal mission to stand with them, give voice to their experiences, and fight tirelessly for accountability and justice on their behalf.
As one of my clients described me: "A bulldog with a heart of gold." That is exactly what I strive to be—fierce in the pursuit of justice, but with compassion and humanity at the center of everything I do.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
I began practicing law in 1979. My practice focuses on medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases. Since 1991 I have been a State Bar Certified Specialist in Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation. I am fortunate to have been recognized as one of the nation's most accomplished trial lawyers by fellowship in the country's two most prestigious invitation-only trial lawyer organizations: the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers.
As a founding partner of Beale, Micheaels, Slack & Shughart, P.C., I am part of a firm that has been named one of America's Best Law Firms and has recovered over $400 million on behalf of clients through jury awards and settlements. Our firm's attorneys are recognized as being among the most skilled trial lawyers in Arizona, dedicating themselves to cases involving the most serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths.
Our firm's representation of a profoundly disabled woman who was sexually assaulted and gave birth at a Phoenix healthcare facility—the Hacienda case—exemplifies our unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. This high-profile case brought national attention to safety concerns for institutionalized patients with severe disabilities and prompted significant reforms in long-term care facility oversight in Arizona.
EDUCATION
J.D., University of California, Davis School of Law, 1979
Moot Court Board
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1974
With Highest Honors
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- United States District Court, Arizona
- Arizona Supreme Court
PROFESSIONAL HONORS & RECOGNITION
National Recognition
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (membership limited to top 500 trial lawyers in the U.S.)
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (membership limited to only 1% of trial lawyers in the U.S.)
- Fellow, International Society of Barristers
- Best Lawyers in America (Listed for over 20 years)
- Super Lawyers (Selected 2007-2025)
Lawyer of the Year Awards
- Arizona Association for Justice – Lawyer of the Year (2019)
- Best Lawyers – Arizona Plaintiffs Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year (2017, 2021)
- Best Lawyers – Phoenix Lawyer of the Year in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2024)
- American Board of Trial Advocates – Phoenix Chapter Lawyer of the Year (2017-2018)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & SERVICE
Bar Associations & Professional Organizations
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) – Associate; President, Phoenix Chapter (1995-1997)
Judicial & Legal System Service
- Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Member (1992-1999)
- Commission on Trial Court Appointments for Maricopa County, Commissioner (1987-1991)
- Maricopa County Superior Court, Judicial Civil Study Advisory Committee (1983-1986)
- Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, Chairman (1987-1989; 1994-1995; 1996; 1999)
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State Bar of Arizona
- 1989 State Bar Convention, Chairman
- Trial Practice Section, Chairman (1985-1986)
- Committee on Jury Instructions, Member (1988-1989)
- Civil Practice and Procedure Committee, Member (1983-1984)
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & PHILANTHROPY
Advocacy for Individuals with Disabilities
My wife, Mary Lou, and I are passionate advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our now 40-year-old special needs daughter was born with a rare congenital defect. Doctors told us Carrie wouldn't live past age 12, but she has defied all expectations. For the last 15 years, both our firm and family have proudly sponsored One Step Beyond, the nonprofit Day Program Carrie attends. Started in 2003, One Step Beyond now serves over 700 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Greater Phoenix area.
Nikki's Next Step Residential Project
Mary Lou and I are spearheading an innovative residential project in Phoenix to help create what Mary Lou affectionately calls a "forever home" for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Nikki’s Next Step will provide individually owned residential units designed to offer independence, safety, and community for adults with IDD and peace of mind for their aging family caregivers.
Nikki's Next Step represents our commitment to ensuring that adults like our daughter Carrie have a safe and sustainable residence where they can thrive as they age, surrounded by peers and with access to quality day programming.
Support for Legal Education
In 2021, our firm contributed $50,000 to the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in support of the A New Day in Court initiative to reconstruct student courtrooms and expand the advocacy program.
This donation established the Beale, Micheaels, Slack & Shughart Plaintiff's Table in the Trial Courtroom, providing future trial lawyers with state-of-the-art facilities to learn and practice their advocacy skills. This investment reflects our commitment to training the next generation of attorneys who will stand up for injured clients and fight for justice.
In 2021, Mary Lou and I established the Micheaels Family Scholarship at my law school alma mater, the University of California, Davis School of Law. This scholarship fund is specifically intended to enable those who are qualified but do not have the financial means to obtain a law degree.