Ed J. Hermes

Bar Admissions

• Arizona
• Navajo Nation

Court Admissions

• Gila River Indian Community Court
• Navajo Nation Supreme Court
• Oglala Sioux Nation Court
• San Felipe Pueblo Tribal Court
• Supreme Court of Arizona
• Tribal Court of the White Mountain Apache Tribe
• United States District Court, District of Arizona

Education

• Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law (J.D.)
  • Arizona State Law Journal, Associate Editor
  • Order of the Coif
  • Order of the Barristers
  • Dean’s Scholar
  • Ninth Circuit Judge Andrew Hurwitz (Civil Procedure I), Teaching Assistant
  • Professor Zachary Kramer (Property), Teaching Assistant
• University of Puerto Rico School of Law (Exchange Student)
• Arizona State University (B.S., Public Policy Advocacy; B.A., History)

Languages

Spanish

Awards & Recognition

• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year (2024)
• Arizona State Bar Foundation, Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys (2024)
• Snell & Wilmer Pro Bono Award (2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®: Ones to Watch
  • Commercial Litigation (2021-2026)
  • Native American Law (2021-2026)
• Snell & Wilmer COACH Award (2023)
• Southwest Super Lawyers^®, Rising Stars Edition, Native American Law (2018-2021)
• Phoenix Business Journal, 20 People to Know in Law (2016)
• Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, Top 50 Pro Bono Attorney (2017, 2024)
• Tempe Rotary Club, Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award (2012)

Representative Experience

• Represent contractors, subcontractors, and owners in complex construction disputes, including delay, defect, wrongful termination, change order, defect, breach of contract, and other disputes
• Represent taxpayers against the Arizona Department of Revenue and tribal taxing authorities in tax audits and tax appeals
• Handle complex and commercial and residential landlord-tenant disputes, including advising clients regarding lockout and eviction remedies and procedures
• Represent financial institutions in loan defaults, foreclosures, lender liability claims, lien priority disputes, and other loan-related litigation in state and tribal courts
• Represent clients in complex breach of contract and other commercial disputes in state, federal, and tribal courts
• Defend employers in litigation regarding compliance with tribal employment laws
• Represent contractors and owners in disputes before the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)

Previous Professional Experience

• Quarles & Brady LLP, Attorney (2013-2018), Summer Associate (2011, 2012)
• Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Attorney General’s Office, Summer Associate (2011)
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Legal Extern for Judge Mary Murguia (2012)
• Day Kavanaugh PC, Legal Assistant (2009, 2010)
• St. Michael Indian School, Dean of Students/Government Teacher (2008-2010)
• Arizona Department of Agriculture, Director of External Affairs (2007-2008)
• Office of the Governor of Arizona, Legislative Analyst (2005)

Professional Memberships and Activities

• National Preservation Lawyers Network
• State Bar of Arizona Leadership Institute (2020)
• Arizona Bar Association, Indian Law Section
• Native American Bar Association of Arizona

Community Involvement

• City of Phoenix Vision Zero Street Transportation Committee, Chair (2023 – Present)
• Osborn School District Governing Board (2021 – Present)
• Move Osborn Forward, Treasurer (2017 – 2018)
• Carnation Association of Neighbors, President (2021 – Present)
• Arizona Board of Regents, Student Regent (2005 – 2007)
• Sparky the Sundevil, Official ASU Mascot (2003 – 2005)

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “Ninth Circuit Clarifies Viability of Takings Claims Under Arizona’s Unclaimed Property Act,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (September 18, 2025)
• “Recent Developments in Tribal Court Litigation 2025,” Editor, Business Law Section of the American Bar Association (September 2, 2025)
• “Promoting Economic Development and Exercising Sovereignty,” Co-Author, Arizona Attorney Magazine (July/August 2024)
• “Recent Developments in Tribal Court Litigation 2024,” Author, Business Law Section of the American Bar Association (March 20, 2024)
• “Clear for Takeoff: Arizona Court of Appeals Upholds Sky Harbor’s Customer Facility Charge,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (June 27, 2023)
• “Arizona-Tribal 2021 Gaming Compact Amendments – What You Need to Know,” Co-Author, Arizona Attorney Magazine (July/August 2021)
• “Arizona Changes Its Laws Regarding Contractor Advertising,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction Newsletter (July 2021)
• “Can Schools Require Teachers to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine? Probably, But Most Aren’t – Yet.,” Quoted, USA Today (February 23, 2021)
• “Betting the Opening Line Is Sports Betting in the Cards for Arizona?,” Co-Author, Special Indian Law Edition, Arizona Attorney Magazine (July/August 2020)
• “Delay and Disruption Claims in the Time of COVID-19,” Co-Author, The Contractor’s Compass (July 2020)
• “Delay and Disruption Claims in the Time of COVID-19,“Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction Newsletter (July 2020)
• “The Increasing Use of Drones in Construction and Related Legal Issues,” Co-Author, The Contractor’s Compass (June 2019)
• “Post-Judgment Remedies and Domesticating Tribal Court Judgments” CLE Presentation, Navajo Bar Association Annual Conference (June 2018)
• “The Future of Native American Reserved Water Rights,” Co-Author, Journal of Water Law (2017)
• “Commercial and Residential Landlord-Tenant Litigation on the Navajo Nation” CLE Presentation, Navajo Bar Association Annual Conference (June 2017)
• “Law & Order Tribal Edition: How the Tribal Law and Order Act has Failed to Increase Tribal Court Sentencing Authority,” Author, Arizona State Law Journal (Summer 2013)