Ian Joyce

Bar Admissions

• Arizona

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of Arizona

Education

• Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D.)
  • Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology, Managing Editor
  • Stanton Foundation First Amendment Clinic, Student Practitioner
  • Moot Court Board, Associate Problem Editor
  • Branstetter Summer Fellow
• University of Missouri (B.J., magna cum laude)
  • Honors College

Awards & Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America^®: Ones to Watch
  • Corporate Governance and Compliance Law (2024-2026)
  • Government Relations Practice (2026)

Representative Experience

Government Litigation

• Represented government entity in state constitutional challenge to municipal water ordinance, including in state appellate courts
• Defended against constitutional and state law challenges to county-level voting procedures, including in state appellate courts
• Defended against constitutional challenges to state executive orders during COVID-19 pandemic, including in state appellate courts
• Defended against constitutional challenge to state’s capital finance system for K-12 public schools
• Defended against constitutional challenge to state statute relating to tribal gaming
• Represented government entity in challenge to U.S. Treasury guidance relating to COVID-19 grant funds
• Represented elected officials in challenge to adverse employment action
• Represented numerous political candidates in challenges to nomination papers and in recounts
• Represented industry groups in challenges to referendum and initiative petitions
• Authored amicus curiae brief on behalf of industry groups in connection with challenge to municipal ordinances
• Authored amicus curiae brief in connection with challenge to legislative budget bills
• Authored amicus curiae brief on behalf of industry groups in connection with medical malpractice procedural rules
• Authored amicus curiae brief on behalf of industry groups in connection with litigation raising constitutional due process issues

Government Transaction

• Part of attorney team that conducted post-election, full-service, review of election machines and voting processes used by county; authored report detailing findings
• Part of an attorney team that conducted forensic analysis into data breach of government agency website; authored report detailing factual and legal findings
• Observed elections procedures on general and primary election days on behalf of political parties
• Advised political entities regarding executive orders and pending state legislation
• Advised candidates and political parties on campaign finance issues, including reporting and expenditure limitations
• Advised health professionals on state law advertising rules and regulations

Government Investigations and Regulatory Actions

• Represented government contractor in Department of Justice investigation into alleged violations of False Claims Act in connection with grant funds
• Represented private party in Environmental Protection Agency investigation into alleged violations of the Clean Air Act in connection with auto part sales
• Represented licensed professional in regulatory board investigation in connection with billing issues
• Represented criminal defendant in connection with dispute over warrantless search of private property

Defamation

• Defended against defamation claim in connection with comments relating to misuse of charity monies
• Represented elected official in defamation action related to accusations of improper sexual conduct
• Successfully moved to quash subpoenas seeking to identify client accused of defamatory statements
• Represented private person in defamation action relating to statements made in campaign advertisements
• Represented former elected official in defamation action relating to accusations of criminal conduct
• Represented professional athlete in connection with allegations of improper sexual conduct
• Successfully petitioned website to remove defamatory posts made about client

Land Use

• Represented landowner in challenge to municipal re-zoning decision
• Represented landowner in dispute with neighbor relating to Covenants, Conditions, and Restriction (CC&R) violations
• Represented developer in dispute with municipality over preliminary zoning decisions
• Represented organization in connection with dispute with government entity relating to mining rights
• Represented various developers in challenges to municipal zoning or taxation decisions

*Results do not predict the same outcome for others.

Previous Professional Experience

• Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P., Summer Associate (2018)
• U.S. District Court, District of Puerto Rico, Judicial Intern to the Hon. Francisco Besosa (2017)
• MSB Textbooks, Shipping Clerk (2016)
• Lift Division, Digital Consultant (2015)

Community Involvement

• Nourish PHX, Board Member (2024-Present)
• UMOM New Day Centers, Young Professionals Board (2024-Present)
• Volunteer with Writing Program at the Arizona State University Law School (2023-Present)
• Vanderbilt University Alumni Association (2019 – Present)
• University of Missouri Alumni Association (2016 – Present)

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “Defamation Update: Will the Anti-SLAPP Statute Get Slapped Down?” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (November 11, 2025)
• “City Lawsuit Nullified Based on Open Meeting Law Violation,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 11, 2025)
• “The Streisand Effect in Action: Drake Files Defamation Lawsuit Over ‘Not Like Us’,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (January 21, 2025)
• “The Ninth Circuit Holds That the FCA’s First-To-File Rule Is Not Jurisdictional: Implications for Practitioners,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (October 21, 2024)
• “Supreme Court Clarifies First Amendment and Standing Standards Applicable to Social Media Content Moderation Policy Challenges,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (July 18, 2024)
• “Scope of FCA Liability Illustrated In Recent Actions Against Higher Education Institutions,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (January 22, 2024)
• “The Legal Consequences of Election Official Errors Involving Referendums,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (August 17, 2023)
• “What’s Up Dox? Arizona Passes Law Criminalizing ‘Doxing’,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (October 5, 2021)
• “Fighting Defamation: What To Do When the Online Mob Comes for You,” Co-Author, InBusiness Phoenix (August 2021)
• “The Anti-Corruption Chapter in United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: A First for North American Trade Deals, But Unlikely to Have a Practical Impact,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Global Connection Newsletter (March 15, 2021)
• “Nonessential Mexico-Canada-U.S. Travel Restricted at Land Ports of Entry,” Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 20, 2020)
• “No Prosecution, No Fine Presumption for Companies that Voluntarily Self Disclose Potentially Willful Violations of Export and Sanctions Laws,” Author, Snell & Wilmer Global Connection Newsletter (February 18, 2020)