Ryley Carlock & Applewhite

Managing Shareholder: James E Brophy, III  
Number of shareholders: 30
Total number of lawyers: 125

Firm Overview:
Founded in 1948, Ryley Carlock & Applewhite (‘RCA’) is a full-service law firm focused on offering integrated legal solutions to regional, national and international clients. The firm represents all segments of the business community, including banks and financial institutions, utilities and energy providers, oil and mining companies, real estate developers, tech start-ups, retailers, manufacturers, public and private companies, and small businesses and individuals. The firm has built a reputation for high-quality legal work that provides cost-effective solutions.

Main Areas of Practice: 

Business & Finance:
RCA’s business attorneys advise large and small clients in all aspects of business planning and formation, including: executive compensation and employee benefits; intellectual property; mergers and acquisitions; exit strategies and business succession plans; and documenting the ownership, governance, management and financing for every form of business entity. RCA lawyers are experienced in public and private offerings, federal and state securities laws, and SEC reporting requirements.

Lending, Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy:
Banks and other financial institutions rely on RCA’s banking team for documenting loans and for enforcement when loans default. RCA’s banking attorneys have substantial experience helping clients with loan defaults, restructurings, reorganizations, liquidations and compliance in today’s highly regulated environment.

Labor & Employment:
RCA’s labor and employment attorneys advise business owners, management, and in-house counsel in all aspects of labor and employment law. RCA’s team represents employers dealing with claims of wrongful discharge, sexual harassment, disability, gender, age, race, national origin and religious discrimination, unionization campaigns, unfair labor practice charges, and collective bargaining matters. The team conducts training for clients to help them address unionization campaigns, harassment avoidance, and disability discrimination. RCA attorneys help clients develop effective, preventive workplace policies and employee handbooks.

Water, Energy, Natural Resources & Environment:
The firm’s water and environmental group provides clients with assistance on regulatory compliance and permitting issues associated with air and water quality, line siting, hazardous and solid waste disposal, underground storage tanks, contamination cleanup, asbestos abatement, water rights, and environmental real estate due diligence. The team has extensive experience in all aspects of water law and water rights, including obtaining, perfecting, and litigating water rights, water legislation, and related rulemaking proceedings in Arizona, Colorado, and the Southwest.

Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution:
The firm’s litigation practice focuses on complex commercial disputes and business litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, trade secrets, intellectual property, products liability, class actions, condemnation and real property disputes, partnership disputes, insurance defense, labor and employment, water and environmental litigation, and administrative proceedings. Where feasible, the firm’s lawyers use alternative dispute resolution to achieve exceptional results.

Real Estate & Lending:
The firm provides comprehensive legal advice in all aspects of real estate development, ownership, construction, and financing. RCA attorneys are experienced in federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting real estate, including commercial leases, land use controls, acquisition, development, property rights, subdivisions and lot sales, business planning and ownership, entity structuring and taxation, construction law, and title insurance. The team advises on large projects including master-planned communities, golf courses, redevelopment projects, high-rise condominiums, hotels, farmland, dairies, state land leases, shopping centers, office buildings, industrial parks, apartment projects, leasehold loans and assisted-living facilities.

eDiscovery & Document Review:
The firm’s Document Control Group (DCG) assists public and private companies and law firms in successfully reviewing massive volumes of paper and electronic data in preparation for litigation, government investigations, due diligence review and regulatory inquiries. Since 2004, the DCG has managed more than 1,000 document reviews involving a billion pages of electronic and paper information. The DCG’s success is built on making document review cost-effective by adding strategic and tactical value at the start of every project. With offices in Phoenix, Denver and Grand Rapids, Michigan, the firm’s DCG serves clients throughout the country.

Estate Planning & Tax:
The firm’s estate planning and tax group advises clients on trust administration and related documentation, estates, wills, succession planning, and estate, gift and income tax planning. In addition, RCA’s team works with clients on charitable remainder trusts and other charitable taxplanning methods, as well as organizing family businesses, private foundations, and public charities.