Marsha Cotton, Associate at our Phoenix, and Dallas law offices
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Marsha Cotton

Associate
Biography

Marsha Cotton is a trusted confidant and advisor who helps her clients solve tough business problems.  Her practice focuses on commercial litigation and appellate issues, and Marsha has experience assisting clients through all stages of litigation. She regularly represents businesses in a variety of industries including manufacturing and wholesale distribution, financial services, travel and resort, nonprofit, automotive, healthcare, construction, and others.

Marsha also has a range of experience advising companies with non-traditional business dealings. For example, Marsha has represented gaming and manufacturing companies doing business with several of the sovereign tribes in Arizona. In addition, Marsha has experience with international disputes involving parties from countries around the world.

Previously, Marsha served as a judicial law clerk at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court, and the Arizona Court of Appeals. Her extensive background working as a clerk gives Marsha the depth of knowledge to truly understand the “nuts and bolts” of the state and federal court systems, which allows her to advise clients accordingly.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • Texas


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • Supreme Court of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona


Education

  • Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (J.D.)
    • Dean’s Award
    • William H. Pedrick Scholar
  • The University of Oklahoma, (M.Ed.)
  • Southern Nazarene University (B.S., magna cum laude)
    • 2013 NCCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship Team Captain
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law (2024-2025)
  • Pro Bono Trial Attorney of the Year, United States District Court, District of Arizona (2024)
  • Arizona Bar Foundation Top Pro Bono Attorney of the Year (2022)
  • Community Legal Services Volunteer Lawyer’s Program Remote Service Team Member of the Year (2021)

Representative Experience

  • Represented companies in various appeals before the Ninth Circuit, Arizona Supreme Court, and Arizona Court of Appeals
  • Represented multiple manufacturing and distribution companies in disputes involving breach of contracts and breach of service agreements
  • Represented individuals and companies in corporate governance and ownership disputes
  • Defended a nonprofit organization in a breach of contract dispute
  • Defended nonprofit board members in defamation and tortious interference with contractual relationship dispute
  • Defended several Fortune 500 companies against allegations of state and federal employment law violations
  • Counseled a national material handling company regarding its efforts to create a standardized waiver and release of liability agreement
  • Advised multiple gaming companies on compliance with Arizona’s sports betting, lottery, and games of chance laws
  • Represented multiple companies during regulatory disputes with tribal government agencies

Previous Professional Experience

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Judicial Law Clerk
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, Judicial Law Clerk
  • Arizona Court of Appeals, Division I, Judicial Law Clerk

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association, Phoenix Chapter
  • Arizona Black Bar
  • National Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • U.S. Young African Leadership Initiative Mandela Washington Fellowship
    • Volunteer Mentor (2019-Present)

Representative Presentations and Publications