Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive to help others into a legal career. “The law is about representing the client’s best interest, being able to think on your feet, and being a master of language and persuasion,” he says. “It just felt like home to me.” Mushkatel graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2004 and has gone on to build a thriving law firm representing clients in the Sun Cities, Northwest Valley and the Phoenix metro region. Mushkatel brings a diverse array of legal expertise to his practice at Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker, PLLC. He started as a public defender before joining the law office of Henry Florence and Sherry Bell to work as a criminal defense attorney. In 2008, he joined forces with Mathis Becker to form Mushkatel and Becker. Throughout that period, he gained experience working in various practice areas, including personal injury, estate litigation, estate planning, guardianship and conservatorship work, probate, corporate litigation, real estate, and various civil matters. Mushkatel’s cross-disciplinary background provides for comprehensive counsel to clients to explore all possible legal avenues. Today, Mushkatel assists individuals throughout the Valley in personal injury, estate and civil litigation matters. Providing exceptional client service and producing results are his top priorities. “My job is to provide a lifeline to clients who feel stuck or helpless and to go to bat for them,” he says. Several of Mushkatel’s personal injury cases have resolved in excess of one-million dollars. He is the recipient of the 2020 Top-Rated Lawyer Award from Avvo and has been named a “Top 40 Under 40” by The National Trial Lawyers and a Premier Attorney by The National Academy of Jurisprudence. For Mushkatel, delivering maximum results does not mean sacrificing personal relationships. Success comes from taking the time to get to know each client’s individual needs and tailoring the legal approach to match his or her goals. Building those relationships results from creating an unpretentious yet professional environment that puts people at ease. “Most law firms run like businesses,” says Mushkatel. “The problem is that a business’s interests may not always run in stride with a client’s best interests. Our clients are our Number One priority, and the way we show it is by sitting back and listening quite a bit.” Community service is important to Mushkatel and every attorney the firm. Each lawyer is required to worki on at least two pro bono cases at all times. Mushkatel believes those services should be provided not for the accolades or to meet State Bar requirements, but simply because helping others is fundamental to the legal profession. Mushkatel is licensed in the State of Arizona, the Federal District Court of Arizona and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is on the board and a faculty member for the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, a program of the State Bar of Arizona’s Trial Practice Section. He is a past president and a member of the West Maricopa County Bar Association and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Sun Valley Lodge. A former semi-professional baseball pitcher, Mushkatel has coached his son’s Little League team for several years. When he is not working, he enjoys golf and spending time with his family.Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive to help others into a legal career. “The law is about representing the client’s best interest, being able to think on your feet, and being a master of language and persuasion,” he says. “It just felt like home to me.” Mushkatel graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2004 and has gone on to build a thriving law firm representing clients in the Sun Cities, Northwest Valley and the Phoenix metro region. Mushkatel brings a diverse array of legal expertise to his practice at Mushkatel, Robbins & Becker, PLLC. He started as a public defender before joining the law office of Henry Florence and Sherry Bell to work as a criminal defense attorney. In 2008, he joined forces with Mathis Becker to form Mushkatel and Becker. Throughout that period, he gained experience working in various practice areas, including personal injury, estate litigation, estate planning, guardianship and conservatorship work, probate, corporate litigation, real estate, and various civil matters. Mushkatel’s cross-disciplinary background provides for comprehensive counsel to clients to explore all possible legal avenues. Today, Mushkatel assists individuals throughout the Valley in personal injury, estate and civil litigation matters. Providing exceptional client service and producing results are his top priorities. “My job is to provide a lifeline to clients who feel stuck or helpless and to go to bat for them,” he says. Several of Mushkatel’s personal injury cases have resolved in excess of one-million dollars. He is the recipient of the 2020 Top-Rated Lawyer Award from Avvo and has been named a “Top 40 Under 40” by The National Trial Lawyers and a Premier Attorney by The National Academy of Jurisprudence. For Mushkatel, delivering maximum results does not mean sacrificing personal relationships. Success comes from taking the time to get to know each client’s individual needs and tailoring the legal approach to match his or her goals. Building those relationships results from creating an unpretentious yet professional environment that puts people at ease. “Most law firms run like businesses,” says Mushkatel. “The problem is that a business’s interests may not always run in stride with a client’s best interests. Our clients are our Number One priority, and the way we show it is by sitting back and listening quite a bit.” Community service is important to Mushkatel and every attorney the firm. Each lawyer is required to worki on at least two pro bono cases at all times. Mushkatel believes those services should be provided not for the accolades or to meet State Bar requirements, but simply because helping others is fundamental to the legal profession. Mushkatel is licensed in the State of Arizona, the Federal District Court of Arizona and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is on the board and a faculty member for the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, a program of the State Bar of Arizona’s Trial Practice Section. He is a past president and a member of the West Maricopa County Bar Association and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Sun Valley Lodge. A former semi-professional baseball pitcher, Mushkatel has coached his son’s Little League team for several years. When he is not working, he enjoys golf and spending time with his family.

Kristen Curry has been certified as a Criminal Law Specialist through the State Bar of Arizona for the past 25 years and has extensive jury trial and litigation experience. Kristen handles criminal cases, including both felony and misdemeanor matters, DUI cases, criminal appeals and post-conviction relief. Since 1998, Kristen has been teaching other attorneys statewide how to effectively challenge illegal searches in criminal cases. Her written materials on the subject have also been provided to Superior Court judges during judicial training. Kristen, along with the firm, has been given the highest rating by her legal peers, AV, in the Martindale-Hubbell national legal directory. In addition, Kristen is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. The Bar Register is a unique guide to the legal community's most eminent professionals. It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating (AV) in the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory and that have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field. Kristen has been named as a Southwest Superlawyer and is listed in the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers for Arizona. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys singing rock-n-roll with her band, traveling, playing pickleball and golf, and spending time with her family. She was raised in Arizona and attended Moon Valley High School. She earned her law degree from University of Arizona in 1993.

When you are looking for a lawyer to help you resolve a legal matter, you want to know that your attorney has what it takes to handle your case with efficiency and professionalism. You also want to know that your attorney has the experience, the commitment, and the passion needed to protect your interests. At the Phoenix, Arizona law offices of Kanu & Associates, P.C., we help clients with many legal problems, from immigration concerns to criminal defense to small business issues. We bring experience and know-how to every matter we handle, and we zealously protect our clients' interests. Solomon O. Kanu graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan in 1999. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Economics from M.D. University Rohtak, India, and a Master's degree in Business Finance from M.S. University of Baroda, India. While in law school, Mr. Kanu gained invaluable experience working as a law clerk for the Presiding Judge of the 54th District Court in Lansing, Michigan, and with the California Attorney General's Office in the Licensing Division. Mr. Kanu handled cases dealing with license revocations of registered nurses, pharmacists, dentists, general contractors, auto mechanics, and others. Mr. Kanu was admitted to the practice of law in October 2001 by the Arizona Supreme Court. Since then, Mr. Kanu has focused on immigration law and related matters. He has represented individuals from at least 20 different countries in immigration and related matters. He represents individuals and organizations before the United States Citizenship Immigration Service across the United States and in immigration courts nationwide. Mr. Kanu also represents clients in criminal matters pending in Arizona as well as helps clients with small business concerns. Our Phoenix immigration attorney is a first-generation immigrant. He understands the hurdles involved in moving to and settling down in the United States. His goal is to make the journey easier for those coming after him.

David Lish defends clients in all types of criminal cases in all courts throughout Arizona. A former misdemeanor and felony prosecutor, he has extensive courtroom and trial experience in both juvenile and adult court. As a Deputy Maricopa County Attorney for over six years, David prosecuted cases with charges ranging from drug possession and forgery to violent crimes, including shootings, aggravated assaults, and attempted murder. He also worked extensively in the Sex Crimes Bureau, where he prosecuted nearly every kind of sex offense. As a sex crimes prosecutor for more than four years, David received comprehensive training in all areas related to sex crimes investigations. This training included forensic interviewing of children, the use of DNA, analyzing medical evidence, and forensic computer analysis. David later joined the City of Scottsdale Prosecutor’s Office, where he focused on DUI prosecution and underwent extensive DUI training and Standardized Field Sobriety testing, including courses required of police officers to conduct DUI investigations. David then took his vast experience as a prosecutor to fight for the accused. He worked for nearly six years at one of Arizona’s largest criminal defense law firms, eventually becoming the lead attorney and handling the most serious cases while training other attorneys. In doing so, he obtained excellent results for countless clients by dismissal, favorable pleas, as well as numerous trials at every level. Now, as a partner and owner at Grand Canyon Law Group, David uses his legal knowledge and skill in a smaller setting to provide customized help to those accused of committing crimes. He has found the perfect home where he has all the resources of the larger firms, combined with the freedom to attack every case the way he knows is best. David focuses all of his attention on getting the best result for every client. He knows that the justice system can be heavily weighted against criminal defendants, which is why he fights hard for each and every person he represents.

There are numerous characteristics that you want and expect in your criminal lawyer. Integrity, intelligence and an unfailing devotion to his clients are paramount. But those traits alone are not enough – you need a lawyer with significant experience defending clients charged with crimes. And that is exactly what David Black has been doing for the past seven years. Before entering private practice, Mr. Black served as a prosecutor in the Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office. That experience allowed him the unique opportunity to see first-hand how the prosecutors put their cases together, how they assemble their evidence, and how they formulate charges against criminal defendants. By seeing the process from the inside, Mr. Black gained significant insight that taught him how to spot weaknesses in the prosecution’s case; what to do in cases in which the prosecutor inflates the charges; how best to secure a dismissal or a reduction in charges; and how to negotiate the best possible results for his clients. A veteran of the criminal justice system, David is also an experienced trial attorney. The fact is that in some cases, the best alternative for a client is to proceed to trial, and if that is the case, Mr. Black will move forward unafraid. At all times, the essential principal is that every one of his clients is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Attorney Brian Sloan is one of only a handful of Attorneys in Arizona that focuses SOLELY on & Specializes in DUI Defense Representation. Mr. Sloan is a founding member of The Arizona DUI Team; and has been solely focusing on DUI Defense Representation for the past 18+ years. Mr. Sloan has successfully defended more than 4,100 clients on DUI cases; is rated 10-out-of-10 on AVvo.com; 4.9-out-of-5.0 on Martindale Hubbell; and was the recipient of the SuperLawyers Southwest Rising Star Award for five years in a row. Mr. Sloan was named one of the Top Lawyers in 2013, and 2017 - 2021 by North Valley Magazine; named one of the Top 100 Lawyers by Arizona Finest Lawyers; acknowledged as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer Nationally by National Trial Lawyers;, and previously named one of Arizona's Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by both National Trial Lawyers and American Society of Legal Advocates. Mr. Sloan was also named one of the Top 10 DUI Lawyers in Arizona by the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and named one of the Nation's Top One Percent of Lawyers by National Association of Distinguished Counsel. In 2019 -2021, he was named one of less than ten Super Lawyers in DUI Defense amongst all attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico. In 2022, he was the only DUI Defense Lawyer featured as a 'Power Lawyer' in USA Today. However, he prides himself on being the ‘Best Value in the State’ when it comes to DUI Defense Representation, due to his years of experience, sole focus on DUI Defense, and added-value benefits. He has also created a type of contract called Bifurcated Representation, which ensures that people pay a reasonable flat fee for excellent and experienced representation, without paying unnecessary fees for busy work. Mr. Sloan often refers to himself as “The Best Value in the State” when it comes to DUI Defense Representation; considering his years of experience, focus on DUI Defense, and extremely reasonable rates. Hire anyone else, and you will pay a lot more money, and/or get a lot less experience! Mr. Sloan offers a Free ‘In Depth’ Consultation, Reasonable Flat Rates, and Payment Plans are available. If you, or someone you know, has been charged with a DUI Offense in Maricopa County, Arizona, call Mr. Sloan on his personal cell phone number: 480-720-7839.

Leslie has dedicated her career to protecting the rights of others through her expansive criminal defense practice; handling all types of cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. With compassion and understanding, Leslie takes the time to really learn about her clients and their unique circumstances, allowing her the opportunity to determine all possible outcomes and what defense will best suit their needs. Additionally, Leslie has represented clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. When Leslie has a client that has been charged with a criminal offense and is not a citizen of the U.S., she has the hybrid knowledge to advise them on all possible collateral consequences. Prior to relocating to Arizona, Leslie grew up in the mountains of Colorado. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado where she received her B.A. in Political Science and History. After she received her undergraduate degree, she moved to Virginia Beach, VA to attend law school at Regent University School of Law. Leslie spent over a decade practicing law in Colorado prior to moving to Arizona. She currently holds licenses in the states of Arizona, Colorado and Tennessee. When Leslie is not in the office zealously advocating for her clients, you can find her giving back to the community. Leslie has regularly volunteered with community legal clinics helping those that cannot afford regular representation. She also enjoys mentoring youth and traveling internationally to provide aide for refugees and children living in some of the most impoverished areas of the world. She is an avid reader and sports fan cheering on the CSU Rams, Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Avalanche.

In the realm of criminal defense, one name stands tall: Joe Tobler. This legal powerhouse is not just an attorney; he’s a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. With an unparalleled track record of success and a wealth of experience, Joe is undeniably one of the top criminal defense trial attorneys in Arizona. When it comes to defending against serious criminal accusations, Joe Tobler is in a league of his own. From drug cases to rape cases, and even murder cases, he has triumphed in countless jury trials. His courtroom prowess is legendary, and he has achieved multiple full Not Guilty verdicts, a feat that speaks volumes about his skill and dedication. Joe’s experience in capital murder litigation is nothing short of awe-inspiring. For six years, he fought tooth and nail to keep his clients off death row, and he succeeded every single time. This is a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice and his ability to navigate even the most complex and high-stakes cases. But it’s not just about winning for Joe. He genuinely loves criminal defense and the thrill of a jury trial. His passion for his craft is palpable, and it’s this drive that sets him apart from the rest. Licensed to practice law in Arizona, Joe has made his mark in every corner of the state. His reputation precedes him, and prosecutors and judges alike know and respect his name. Joe’s journey began in Arkansas, where he laid the foundation for his illustrious career. He served as president of the Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and earned his Juris Doctor from The Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. During his time there, he received the Dean’s Certificate of Distinguished Service and even interned for Chief Justice Jim Hannah of the Arkansas Supreme Court. But Joe’s achievements don’t stop there. He holds a B.A. from Brigham Young University and spent two years on a mission in Japan, where he became fluent in Japanese. This global perspective and linguistic prowess add yet another dimension to his already impressive skill set. In short, Joe Tobler is a force of nature in the courtroom. With his unrivaled experience, passion, and track record of success, he is the attorney you want in your corner when the stakes are high. If you’re facing serious criminal accusations, there’s no better choice than Joe Tobler.

John Oyas blends legal instincts with strategic advocacy and a human-first mindset—bringing both heart and heat to every defense. He earned his B.S. in Economics from Arizona State University, where he served in student government and led Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. While earning his J.D. at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, John was elected student body president and completed externships with both the Arizona Attorney General’s Office (Special Prosecutions Division), and the Arizona Supreme Court, gaining early experience in criminal litigation and legislative strategy. After graduation, where he received the J.D. Dean’s Award, John hit the ground running, handling Arizona’s highest volumes of commercial trucking cases and advocating in over 150 limited jurisdiction courts statewide. While his practice now spans everything from misdemeanors to complex felonies, juvenile justice remains his deepest calling. John approaches representation with empathy and vision, fighting not just for outcomes, but for futures. What sets John apart is his ability to connect: whether in court or negotiating with prosecutors and law enforcement, his advocacy is as relational as it is results-driven. Born in Cebu, Philippines, John is fluent in multiple languages and guided by a passion for culture, equity, and community, on and off the record.

Victoria is a passionate advocate. She believes everyone deserves a chance to be heard, and she takes pride in finding creative legal solutions. After completing her undergraduate studies, Victoria moved to Phoenix to attend law school at Arizona State University. During her time as a student, she contributed to the legal community as a Note and Comment Editor for Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology. Her interest in the intersection of these topics led her to study the impact of Neuroscientific Evidence in courtrooms. Through these endeavors, Victoria earned her school’s Law, Science and Technology Certificate. In addition to her studies, Victoria gained practical experience as a Limited Practice Student Attorney in ASU’s post-conviction clinic. There, she investigated claims of wrongful conviction and manifest injustice and drafted petitions for post-conviction relief. During her time at the clinic, she was proud to work on a successful clemency case, where she helped reunite a man with his family after over a decade of incarceration. As an attorney, Victoria approaches each case with determination and optimism. She is committed to advocating for her clients with integrity and empathy, and she strives to make a positive impact in every case she handles. Victoria’s diverse background in law, science, and technology enables her to offer innovative solutions to even the most complex legal challenges.