Snell & Wilmer Announces New Partners and Counsel

PHOENIX (December 12, 2025) – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce 10 attorneys have been elected to join the firm’s partnership, effective March 1, 2026. Additionally, six attorneys were promoted to the counsel role, effective January 1, 2026.

Snell & Wilmer’s newly elected partners are:

James G. Florentine, Bankruptcy and Reorganization, Phoenix

Florentine focuses his practice in bankruptcy and related debtor and creditor rights matters. His experience includes representing parties in receivership and debtor-creditor litigation matters. Florentine also has significant experience representing creditors in judgment collection matters.

Christopher Franich, Intellectual Property, San Diego

Franich concentrates his practice in patent prosecution, intellectual property portfolio counseling and transactions, and USPTO proceedings. During his more than 10 years of practice, he has developed and executed intellectual property strategies for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Franich also has experience developing and managing domestic and international patent portfolios.

Molly J. Kjartanson, Bankruptcy and Reorganization, Phoenix

Kjartanson focuses her practice in bankruptcy and related state and federal court debtor and creditor rights litigation. Her experience includes representing secured creditors, unsecured creditors, and other parties in various bankruptcy matters. Kjartsanson has represented plaintiffs and defendants in various litigation matters including foreclosure, guaranty actions, and receiverships.

Anthony D. Marino, Intellectual Property, Phoenix

Marino is an attorney in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group whose practice focuses on patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Marino is a registered patent attorney specializing in patent and trademark preparation, filing, and prosecution across AI, eCommerce, biotech, agriculture, and medical devices, with extensive international experience. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to individual entrepreneurs in a variety of technological disciplines.

Rachael Motzkus, Real Estate, Salt Lake City

Motzkus is a real estate attorney focusing in commercial development, office and retail leasing, acquisitions and dispositions of real property, title insurance, entitlements and land use, partnerships and joint ventures, and real estate financing. She advises clients across the real estate spectrum, including developers, property owners, investors, landlords, and tenants, on large-scale commercial, mixed-use, and resort developments, including multi-property portfolio transactions, master-planned communities, major redevelopment projects, complex joint ventures, clean energy projects, and public financing initiatives such as PIFs.

Rachael Peters Pugel, Litigation, Investigations, and Trials, Phoenix

Pugel focuses her commercial litigation practice on intellectual property, technology, and complex business litigation. Her case experience includes trademark infringement and validity, patent licensing agreements, copyright infringement, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, and domain name disputes. Pugel has experience in TCPA, products liability, defamation, tortious interference, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and financial services litigation.

Timothy P. Scalo, Litigation, Investigations, and Trials, Denver

Scalo is a trial attorney who represents businesses and individuals in complex civil and commercial disputes. He regularly represents clients in all phases of litigation, including cases involving breach of contract, construction, real property, commercial leasing, product and premises liability, and a variety of other business issues. He also works with clients in the long-term care and senior housing industry on healthcare matters. Scalo has worked with the firm since graduating law school.

Daniel M. Staren, Litigation, Investigations, and Trials, Phoenix

Staren is a trusted advisor who helps his clients navigate and resolve complex intellectual property and technology, commercial, and real estate disputes inside and outside of the courtroom. He is a registered patent attorney whose practice focuses on patent, copyright, and trademark infringement and validity; computer fraud; domain name disputes; unfair competition; and trade secret misappropriation in a wide range of industries. He also has experience at all stages of complex commercial and real estate litigation, from inception to post-trial. As an active member of his community, Staren enjoys contributing time to his parish, pro bono initiatives, and local organizations.

Lynn A. Vaughn, Real Estate, Las Vegas

Vaughn is a member of the firm’s commercial real estate team. Her practice focuses on commercial leasing, as well as property operations and acquisition and disposition matters. She advises on a wide range of commercial real estate issues and her experience includes non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, purchase and sale agreements and vendor and service contracts. Vaughn also works with asset management and property management teams on investor and tenant relations, bringing a business-oriented perspective shaped by her in-house leadership background.

Amanda Z. Weaver, Ph.D., Litigation, Investigations, and Trials, Phoenix

Weaver focuses her practice in litigation, particularly appeals, free speech, and matters involving the equine industry. In her appellate practice, Weaver has been involved in appeals before the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, the Arizona Court of Appeals, and the Arizona Supreme Court. She currently serves on the Executive Council for the State Bar of Arizona’s Appellate Practice Section.

Snell & Wilmer’s newly promoted counsel are:

Gil Kahn, Litigation, Investigations, and Trials, Las Vegas

Kahn is an attorney in the firm’s Litigation, Investigations, and Trials and Appellate Practice Groups. In his appellate practice, Kahn has represented clients in complex appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and multiple state appellate courts. In his litigation practice, Kahn assists clients in business disputes, shareholder litigation, tribal law, constitutional claims, defamation/business disparagement, and debt collection including the recovery of collateral through repossession.

Lauren P. Merdinger, Real Estate, Phoenix

Merdinger is a trusted advisor who brings clarity and confidence to clients navigating the complexities of commercial real estate transactions. Her practice encompasses a wide range of matters, including acquisitions and dispositions, development projects, joint ventures, leasing arrangements, and financing transactions involving mortgage loans, mezzanine debt, and CMBS structures. Merdinger has significant experience with brokerage licensing issues, property management agreements and related matters involving the Arizona Department of Real Estate.

Mallory L.B. Satre, Bankruptcy & Reorganization, Seattle

Satre is a bankruptcy and trial lawyer. In her bankruptcy practice, Satre primarily represents creditors, buyers and investors, official committees, and trustees. She also has extensive experience in receivership actions in Washington. In her litigation practice, Satre has enjoyed wide-ranging experience in the areas of real estate, financial services, commercial disputes, and federal and state constitutional law. Satre has substantial trial and appellate experience, in both state and federal courts.

Lauren R.G. Talkington, Private Client Services, Tucson

Talkington’s practice is concentrated in private client services, specifically estate planning, probate, estate and trust litigation, and business succession planning. She has extensive experience in preparing estate planning documents, and provides advice regarding income, gift, and estate tax issues.

Michelle R. Thom, Corporate and Securities, Denver

Thom is a corporate attorney, dedicated to serving as counsel for businesses on a broad spectrum of legal matters. With extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions across various industries, Thom helps her clients navigate complex transactions. Her background in business and property management provides valuable insights, enabling her to offer strategic perspectives that benefit her clients.

Ashley Wiberg, Litigation, Investigations, and Trials, Phoenix

Wiberg practices in product liability litigation and commercial litigation matters. Her practice primarily focuses on product liability defense, representing the manufacturers of automobiles, medical devices, and other consumer products. Wiberg also has experience with personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, and toxic tort claims as well as recall and regulatory matters.