Back Bio

John J. Bouma

John J. Bouma

Partner| Phoenix

John Bouma's practice is concentrated in complex commercial litigation, including antitrust, commercial and business torts, professional malpractice defense and alternative dispute resolution.

Education

  • University of Iowa (J.D., with highest honors, 1960)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Editor-in-Chief, Iowa Law Review 
  • University of Iowa (B.A., with high honors, 1958)
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
    • Special Problems in the Administration of Justice Committee (1988-1994, 2006-2008)
    • Access to Justice Committee, Chair (1994-1997)
    • State Chairman for Arizona (1989-1990)
  • American Bar Association
    • Arizona Delegate (1989-1998, 2014-present)
    • Delegate-at-Large (2001-2013)
    • Board of Governors (1998-2001)
    • Litigation Trial Attorney Advisory Board (2010-2016)
    • Standing Committee on Meetings & Travel (2008-2011)
    • Section of Litigation
      • Resource Committee, Co-Chair (2013-2014)
      • Professional Liability Litigation Committee (2010-2012)
    • Corporate Counsel Committee, Billing and Budgeting Subcommittee, Vice Chair (1983-1998)
    • Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, Chair (1991-1993)
    • Special Committee on Governance (1993-1995)
    • Ad Hoc Committee on State Justice Initiative (1995-1997)
    • Dispute Resolution Section, Mediation Committee, Vice Chair (1993-1998)
    • Pro Bono Council (1996-present)
    • Task Force on Image of the Profession (2004)
  • ABA Journal, Editorial Board (1996-1998)
  • Attorneys' Liability Assurance Society (ALAS)
    • Board of Directors (1986-2007), Chairman (2002-2004)
  • American Law Institute, Life Member (1994-present)
  • National Conference of Bar Presidents, President (1989-1990)
  • Western States Bar Conference, President (1989-1990)
  • State Bar of Arizona, President (1983-1984)
  • Arizona Bar Foundation, President (1987-1988)
  • Maricopa County Bar Association, President (1977-1978)
  • Phoenix Association of Defense Counsel, President (1970-1971)
  • American Inn of Court XVIII, Master Member
  • Arizona State University Law Society, Board of Directors, President (1997-2000)
  • Iowa Law School Foundation, Board of Trustees (1986-2003), Vice-President (1996-2003)
  • CPR Institute
    • Panel of Distinguished Mediators/Neutrals
    • Editorial Board, Alternatives
  • American Arbitration Association
    • Complex Cases Panel and Roster of Neutrals (1992-2012)

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • "Serving at the Pleasure of My Partners: Advice to the New Firm Leader," Contributing Author, Thomson Reuters (2011)
  • "Practices of a Successful Negotiator," Chapter Author, Inside the Minds: Preparing for Alternate Dispute Resolution Cases, Aspatore Books (2007)
  • "Investigation of the Case," Chapter Co-Author, Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, 2nd Edition (2006)
  • "Alternative Dispute Resolution," Arizona Business Magazine (Fall 1993)
  • "ADR Part of the Practice at Snell & Wilmer," Corporate Legal Times (September 1993)
  • "Summary Judgment in Arizona: A Call for a New Standard," Co-Author, Arizona Attorney (March 1990)

Feature Articles

Professional Recognition and Awards

  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business®, Litigation: General Commercial (2005-2018)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Arbitration, Antitrust Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Mediation, Real Estate Litigation, Securities Litigation (1983-2019)
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, AZ Business Magazine (2018)
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2007-2018)
    • Top 50 in Arizona (2007-2009, 2011, 2017)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star – Arizona, Antitrust, General Commercial, Appellate, Professional Liability, Product Liability, Energy and Natural Resources, (2013-2018)
  • Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2005-2006, 2010-2016)
    • Hall of Fame (2016)
  • AZ Business Leaders in Law, AZ Big Media (2016)
    • Lawyer of the Year, Phoenix Banking & Finance Litigation (2013)
  • Judicial Branch Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, Arizona Supreme Court (2015)
  • Gold 'n Gavel Amicus Award, ASU Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (2015)
  • Iowa Law's 150, University of Iowa College of Law's Top 150 Alumni (2015)
  • Distinguished Service Award, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (2014)
  • Ranking Arizona: The Best of Arizona Attorneys, Alternative Dispute Resolution; Commercial Litigation (2010-2011)
  • America's Most Honored Professionals, American Registry (2011)
  • Foundation for Justice Award, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education (2011)
  • Most Admired CEOs, The Business Journal (2010)
  • Distinguished Honorary Alumni, The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (May 15, 2010)
  • Arizona's Top Lawyers, Arizona Business Magazine (2010)
  • Iowa Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award (2009)
  • Maricopa County Bar Association Hall of Fame, Inaugural Induction (2008)
  • Center of Influence Award, Arizona Business Magazine (October 2008)
  • John J. Bouma Scholarship, established by University of Arizona College of Law (2008)
  • Power Players, The Business Journal (November 17, 2006)
  • Leading Lawyers, The Business Journal (January 20, 2006)
  • Arizona Business Hall of Fame, Junior Achievement of Arizona (2005)
  • University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Service Award (2003)
  • "The Valley of the Sun King," American Lawyer (August 2000)
  • Walter E. Craig Distinguished Service Award (1998)
  • Community Legal Services Decade of Dedication Award (1998)
  • Arizona State University College of Law's Distinguished Achievement Medal (1998)
  • 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, National Law Journal (April 28, 1997)
  • The Business Journal, Profile (October 23, 1989)
  • Certificate of Merit, Iowa State Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, Chair (2015-present)
  • Valley of the Sun United Way, Board of Directors (2004-present)
  • Valley of the Sun United Way Foundation, Board of Directors (2006-2011)
  • Partnership for a Drug Free America, Arizona Chapter, Board of Advisors, Founder (2002-2016)
  • Arizona Equal Justice Foundation, Co-Founder, Co-Chair (2001-present)
  • Greater Phoenix Leadership (1998-present), Board of Directors (2013-present), Arts & Culture Committee, External Relations Committee
  • Phoenix Art Museum, Board of Trustees (1994-2000, 2002-present), President (1996-1998)
  • Arizona Opera Company, Board of Trustees (1986-2001), President (1989-1991)
  • Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors (1988-1996)
  • Arizona Economic Council, Board of Directors (1989-1993)
  • Wildlife for Tomorrow (formerly Foundation for the Conservation of Arizona Wildlife), Founder, Board of Directors, President (1990-1998)
  • Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Board of Directors (2010-2014)
  • Phoenix Community Alliance (1991-2011)
  • Mountain States Legal Foundation, Board of Litigation (1977-1995)
  • Institute for the Support of Educational Excellence, Board of Directors (school-industry project) (1985-1990)
  • Phoenix Human Relations Commission, Chairman (1973-1975)
  • Maricopa Legal Aid, Board of Directors (1969-1975)

Other Professional Experience

  • Snell & Wilmer, Chairman (1983-2015)
  • Foley, Sammond & Lardner, Associate, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1960)

Military Service

  • United States Army Captain JAGC (1960-1962)

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • Iowa

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • Supreme Court of Iowa
  • Supreme Court of Wisconsin
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals