Snell & Wilmer Partner Joe Kanefield Receives State Bar of Arizona’s 2025 Award of Special Merit

Phoenix – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce that Partner Joseph A. Kanefield has been selected by the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors as the recipient of the 2025 Award of Special Merit. This prestigious award recognizes a member of the bar for significant contributions to the public’s understanding of the legal system, the administration of justice, and confidence in the legal profession.

With nearly three decades of experience, Kanefield is a seasoned litigator and appellate counsel who has held prominent roles in Arizona state government, including serving as Chief Deputy and Chief of Staff to the Arizona Attorney General, General Counsel to Governor Jan Brewer, and State Election Director. At Snell & Wilmer, he advises clients on election law, campaign finance, constitutional law, government regulation, and public-private partnerships. His work often intersects with high-impact legal and policy matters affecting individuals, organizations, and public officials across Arizona.

Kanefield has appeared in dozens of federal and state appellate proceedings and has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is widely recognized for his work on election integrity, civil rights, immigration, and state constitutional issues. In addition to his practice, he serves as a Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Law, where he has taught election law since 2007. He has authored numerous articles and speaks frequently on legal issues affecting state and local governance.

Kanefield previously served as President of the State Bar of Arizona and is a past President of the State Bar Young Lawyers Division. He has been elected to the State Bar Board of Governors for four terms and has served on various civic and legal advisory boards throughout his career. In 2013, he was elected to the American Law Institute and currently holds an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. He was also recently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 guide for Administrative/Regulatory Law, Appellate Practice, and First Amendment Law.

Kanefield earned his J.D. from the University of Arizona and his B.S. in economics from Arizona State University.