Rusing Lopez Lizardi & Saffer, PLLC

05/01/2026

We are thrilled with the selection of John Smith, Oscar Lizardi, Jonathan Saffer, and Mick Rusing to the 2026 Arizona Super Lawyers list. This exclusive list recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in Arizona. Super Lawyers is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Congratulations!

02/20/2026

We are privileged to announce the expansion of our ownership group! Please join us in congratulating our newest equity partners, Patricia V. Waterkotte and Gerd Stabbert, Jr. "As equity partners, Patricia and Gerd will be vital to our firm's strategic growth," said fellow owner Jonathan Saffer. "Their dedication to their work and the guidance they offer our associates is unparalleled. We are a more robust firm with them at the helm."

08/21/2025

Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, PLLC is proud to have 14 lawyers recognized in the 32ⁿᵈ edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and the sixth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
https://rllaz.com/rusing-lopez-lizardi-pllc-is-proud-to-have-14-lawyers-recognized-by-best-lawyers-in-2026-in-america/

08/15/2024

Rusing Lopez & Lizardi, PLLC is proud to have 13 lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2025 in America. Rusing Lopez & Lizardi has proudly been the home to attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers® for the past 19 years. RL&L attorneys have been recognized in all 3 recognized categories in the 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Patricio P. Lopez III was named the Best Lawyers® 2025 Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Tucson. This award is particularly impressive as it is presented to only one individual in each geographical region and practice area each edition. RL&L’s Michael Rusing, Oscar Lizardi, Timothy Reckart, Jonathan Saffer, Mark Lammers, Janet Betts, Brian Mueller, Theodore P. Witthoft, and Patricia Waterkotte were also recognized in the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. RL&L is also very proud to have 3 attorneys; Daniel Bernardone, Alexander Valentine, and Robert S. McManimon recognized in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

05/08/2024

RL&L Alert: FTC is sued over its Final Rule banning most employment non-compete agreements. What’s the bottom line?

By now you have read that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its Final Rule (Rule) banning most employment non-compete agreements with limited exceptions. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others have since sued the FTC arguing that it is not empowered to police such contracts. The Rul...

04/08/2024

17th Consecutive Years That RL&L Lawyers Have Received Super Lawyer Recognition!

Mick Rusing, Oscar Lizardi, and Patricio Lopez III have been selected to the 2024 Arizona Super Lawyers list. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. This is the 17th consecutive year that the firm’s lawyers have been named to the list. Equity Partner Mick Rusing has made the list each year consecutively since 2007!!

RL&L Scottsdale Partner, Daniel Bernardone have been selected to the 2024 Arizona Rising Stars list. Bernardone has been recognized for the last 4 years. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

"For over 30 years now, it has been the firm's goal to employ dynamic attorneys and great people," said Rusing. "Honors such as inclusion in the Arizona Super Lawyers list for the 17th consecutive year, certainly illustrates the number of incredible people we have in our firm."

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

09/20/2023

RL&L Associate Robert McManimon, J.D., LL.M., M.B.A., M.S.F. is honored to have served as a guest lecturer for the University of Arizona's Veterans' Advocacy Law Clinic again this year. "Each year, this experience allows me to share my expertise on the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Military Administrative Procedures, particularly those relating to the discipline and separation of servicemembers," said McManimon. "Furthermore, I have the privilege of acting as a supervising attorney to the students who advocate on behalf of veterans in the Pima County Veterans Treatment Courts. Through this role, I am able to guide and mentor the next generation of legal professionals, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to make a significant impact in the lives of our servicemen and women."

The Veterans' Advocacy Law Clinic is a unique, multi-disciplinary legal clinic at the James E. Rogers College of Law that provides an invaluable service to the more than 150,000 veterans in Southern Arizona, as well as their families and communities. The clinic gives law students the opportunity to represent veterans before local Veterans Courts and on administrative cases, and work on pertinent policy issues relating to military service.

The Veterans' Advocacy Law Clinic operates right at the heart of our community, providing pro bono legal services on a wide range of issues. These include representing veterans in local Veterans Treatment Courts, assisting with discharge upgrade cases, and working on benefits cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The clinic also provides referrals to specialized lawyers and organizations for issues outside its expertise, ensuring that every veteran gets the help they need.

"I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to be a part of this important initiative," McManimon stated, "and look forward to continuing to contribute to the important work being done by the Veterans' Advocacy Law Clinic."

08/17/2023

Rusing Lopez & Lizardi has proudly been the home to attorneys honored by Best Lawyers® for the past 18 years!

Congratulations to Bill Brammer, Mark Lammers, Mick Rusing, Oscar Lizardi, Tim Reckart, Jonathan Saffer, Pat Lopez III, Janet Betts, Brian Mueller, Corey Foley, Patricia Victory Waterkotte, Charitie Hartsig, Timothy Burr, Dan Bernardone, and Alexander Valentine!!

Rusing Lopez & Lizardi has proudly been the home to attorneys honored by Best Lawyers® for the past 18 years. RL&L attorneys have been recognized in all 3 recognized categories in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. RL&L's J. William Brammer, Jr. (Appellate Practice) and Mark D. Lammers (Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants) received the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” designation. This award is particularly impressive as it is presented to only one individual in each geographical region and practice area each edition. RL&L has 13 attorneys, Michael Rusing, Pat Lopez III, Oscar Lizardi, Timothy Reckart, Jonathan Saffer, J. William Brammer, Mark Lammers, Janet Betts, Brian Mueller, Corey Foley, Timothy Burr, Patricia Waterkotte, and Charitie Hartsig receiving Best Lawyers® recognition in 18 practice areas. RL&L is also very proud to have 2 attorneys, Daniel Bernardone and Alexander Valentine recognized in the fourth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. RL&L attorneys were listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 edition in 18 separate practice areas including: Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Banking and Finance Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Appellate Practice, Mediation, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Insurance, Litigation - Securities and Corporate Governance and Compliance Law.

04/10/2023

RL&L Partner Matthew Bailey was proud to support Dayson Judd (third from the right) and participate in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation "Aiming for a Cure Event" on Saturday, April 8, 2023.

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity
to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.

The full father/son team included (L-R) Collin Frarer, Bud Frarer, Chet Judd, Dayson Judd, Matthew Bailey, and Dylan Bailey.