Barb Dawson co-chairs the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group and its International Practice Group. She also serves on the firm’s expanded Executive Committee comprised of representatives of the firm's offices throughout the Southwestern U.S.
Barb has more than 20 years of experience representing companies in complex business litigation involving class actions, consumer and securities claims, tax issues and other matters adverse to governmental entities. Her litigation experience includes several wins before the Arizona Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Federal District Court, as well as service as a Judge Pro Tempore and mediator for the Maricopa County Superior Court.
Barb has led internal investigations for Fortune 500 corporations and boards of directors and has experience in circumstances requiring crisis management. She has handled matters related to qui tam and whistleblower claims, SEC and other regulatory inquiries, corporate governance, officer and director liability, Foreign Corrupt Practice Act claims, and shareholder and derivative litigation.
Barb recently completed a term as Chair of the Board of Directors for Lex Mundi, an international affiliation of 160 independent law firms located in 100 countries. She frequently assists clients with matters involving non-U.S. parties and venues and international compliance issues and investigations.
Education
- University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., with distinction, 1988)
- Senior Note and Comment Editor, Journal of Corporation Law (1987-1988)
- Iowa State University (B.S., with distinction, 1985)
- Senior Class President (1985)
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of Arizona
- United States District Court, District of Arizona
- United States District Court, District of Columbia
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- United States Tax Court
Professional Memberships & Activities
- Lex Mundi
- Board of Directors, Chair (2009-2010), Member (2006-2011)
- Global Program Committee, Member (2011-present)
- Dispute Resolution Committee, North American Chair (2008-2009)
- Diversity Taskforce Coordinator (2005-2010)
- Women and the Law Committee, Chair (2003-2005)
- International Bar Association, Member (2004-present)
- Annual Meeting, Program Co-Chair (2006)
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
- Member of Leadership (1998-present)
- Valuing Litigation Taskforce, Co-Chair (2010-present)
- Commercial and Business Committee, Co-Chair (2008-2010)
- International Committee, Co-Chair (2007-2008)
- American Bar Foundation (2005-present)
- Arizona Bar Association
- Access to Justice Taskforce, Member (2011)
- State Bar Convention Committee, Co-Chair (2006)
- Legal Services Committee, Chair (1993-1995), Member (1991-1997)
- Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education (formerly known as Arizona Bar Foundation)
- Board of Directors, Chair (2004), Member (1998-2005), Fellow (2004-present)
- Arizona Tax Research Association
- Board of Directors, Member (2000-present)
Representative Presentations & Publications
- Controlling Costs in Litigation and Arbitration Around the World, Panel Chair, ACC New York Chapter/Lex Mundi (December 2011)
- Dukes v. Wal-Mart & AT&T v. Concepcion: Strategies for Avoiding Class & Collective Actions, Presenter, ACC Arizona Chapter (November 2011)
- Obtaining Evidence for Use in U.S. Litigation and Arbitration, Faculty, Lex Mundi Institute (August 2011)
- Valuing Litigation: Lessons Learned from Collaboration, Co-Author, ACC Docket, pp. 127-131 (May 2011)
- Attorney-Client Privilege: The Implications of Bevill and United States v. Graf for Corporate Counsel and Personnel, Presenter, ACC Arizona Chapter (April 2011)
- Risk Factors for the Away Team in US Litigation, Co-Author with Dr. Martin Wagener, ACC Docket, pp. 25-28 (December 2010)
- Bringing Value to Litigation, Co-Chair, ABA Section of Litigation/ACC, Valuing Litigation Symposium (December 2010)
- Update on Internal Investigations and Related Cross Border Litigation, Program Chair, Lex Mundi Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution North America Regional Meeting (November 2010)
- The Anatomy of the Director-Led Investigation and the Role of Special Counsel to the Board, Co-Author with Joseph Adams and Andreea V. Micklis, Snell & Wilmer Financial Services Litigation Bulletin (October 2010)
- Unclaimed Property: Understanding and Navigating this Trap for the Unwary, Presenter, Arizona Tax Executives Institute (September 2010)
- Ethical Issues in Internal Investigations, Presenter, ACC Ethics Series (April 2009)
- Unchartered Waters: Ten Considerations to Crafting the International Mediation Clause, Co-Author with Mark Rogers, ACC Docket, pp. 78-85 (October 2008)
- Elements of a U.S. Action, Program Chair, Lex Mundi Institute (July 2008)
- Considerations in Creating an International Dispute Resolution Clause, Presenter, Lex Mundi Institute (July 2008)
- Efficiency in Litigation: Electronic Discovery, Co-Author with Jason Vanacour, ABA Section of Litigation Pretrial Practice and Procedure Newsletter (Spring 2007)
- Global Impact on Arizona Soil: Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments In Arizona, Co-Author with Nate Kunz and Andrew Hardenbrook, Arizona Attorney, pp. 24-51 (February 2007)
Professional Recognition & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation (2008-2012), Bet-the-Company Litigation (2008-2011)
- The International Who's Who of Commercial Litigators (2008-2011)
- Lawdragon Top 3000 Leading Lawyers in America (2010-2011)
- Arizona's Finest Lawyers (2011)
- Southwest Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2007-2012)
- Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation - Business Edition (2011)
- Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation - Corporate Counsel Edition (2008-2010)
- Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Attorneys, Commercial Litigation; International Trade & Finance Law (2010-2011)
- Women in Business Honoree, Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Inc. (2011)
- Arizona's Top Lawyers, AzBusiness Magazine (2010)
- Top Lawyer for Complex Commercial Litigation, Arizona Business Magazine (2008-2009)
- Athena Award-Business Woman of the Year, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (2009)
- Greater Phoenix Attorney at Law Magazine feature story, "The Women of Snell & Wilmer" (December 2009)
- Forty Under 40 Award, Phoenix Business Journal
- Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Lawyers Program
Community Involvement
- Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, Chair (2009-2010), Member (2006-present)
- Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, Sponsor (2004-present)
- Homeward Bound
- Board of Directors, Member (1997-2002)
- Legal Committee, Chair (2000-2001)
- Phoenix Public Defender Review Board Member (1994-1998)
- Valley Leadership Class XVI Member
