THE CAVANAGH LAW FIRM, P.A. - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Law School ( Adjunct Professor
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Senior Partner
Debora Verdier serves as a senior partner at the firm. In all kinds of labor and employment disputes, Ms. Verdier represents employers in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state and federal courts, and private arbitrators. She has experience defending businesses, including municipalities, from allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation made in accordance with Title VII, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the whistleblower provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Ms. Verdier has represented a number of Arizona companies in EEOC and employment-related litigation cases, including private charter schools, medical facilities, fitness clubs, vacation resorts, car dealerships, law offices, and multi-family housing managers. She has reviewed policies and made required revisions to meet with legal changes. She has also given in-service and training on ADA, FMLA, and Title VII themes to management staff in those same businesses. Ms. Verdier counsels businesses with a view toward averting disputes and offering pre-litigation remedies, in addition to defending business clients in court.
Ms. Verdier has defended insurance companies in cases involving reimbursement problems and insurance coverage disputes as well as corporations in liability and insurance matters. Her work in this area has included drafting opinions on insurance coverage, letters reserving rights, and, if required, resolving coverage issues through litigation and negotiation.
Ms. Verdier was admitted to membership in the International Association of Defense Counsel in 2012. The only way to join this group of 2,500 people is by invitation. In several areas of legal reform and professional advancement, the IADC takes the lead.
From 2012 until 2020, Ms. Verdier worked as a judge pro tem in the Maricopa County Superior Court. She has been an adjunct faculty member at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University since 2012, where she teaches a practical skill course called "The Litigation Experience." Ms. Verdier joined Cavanagh as an equity partner in June 2020 and joined the Cavanagh Board of Directors in 2022.
Practice Areas
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Job Titles:
- Senior Member and Coordinator
Kelton is a Senior Member and coordinator of the firm's 24-Hour Emergency Response Team. He has significant experience defending trucking and transportation companies and manufacturers of all sorts of products, including recreational vehicles, commercial trailers, technical climbing equipment, home appliances, and automobiles in high stakes litigation. Kelton also has experience representing hotels and retailers in premises liability actions, municipalities in road use claims, and contractors in construction defect litigation, some of which involved claims of more than $20,000,000.
Kelton is a frequent presenter at litigation seminars. In recent years, he has presented at seminars in Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Tennessee on a wide range of topics. Kelton is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, Utah State Bar, J. Reuben Clark Law Society and The Harmonie Group, an international affiliation of independent law firms.
Mr. Godfrey joined the firm as a litigation associate in 2024. His practice is primarily focused on construction defect and general liability matters.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at the Cavanagh Law Firm
Logan Reasonover works as an associate at The Cavanagh Law Firm, P.A. He practices almost entirely in insurance coverage, representing and advising insurance carriers as to their coverage obligations on all types of insurance claims. This representation can take many forms, whether through declaratory judgment actions or negotiation and settlement. Logan received his law degree in 2020 from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, Logan participated in the Lodestar Mediation Clinic and served as a mediator in the Arizona Justice Courts, externed in the Office of General Counsel for USA Track and Field, and externed in the Office of General Counsel for Arizona State University. Before joining Cavanagh, Logan worked in insurance coverage at another Phoenix area firm.
Practice Areas
Insurance
Job Titles:
- Inn of Court, Member
- Inn of Court, Member, 2018 to Present
Job Titles:
- Rated Attorney in Litigation, Products Liability, and Construction Law
Michael Clancy is a Senior Member, with an exclusive practice in family law matters. Michael has handled nearly every kind of family law matter and has achieved great success in the process. Since his admission to practice law, Mr. Clancy has developed a reputation as a relatable and reasonable advocate. Michael is also involved in community and civic organizations; Michael has taught Continuing Legal Education seminars. Michael was also elected by other family law attorneys to the board of the Family Law Section of the Maricopa County Bar Association. Michael has also been recognized by national publications as a top family lawyer in Arizona.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Ms. Lewin grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2019 with a B.S. in Family Studies and Human Development. She then went onto attend law school at the University of Arizona and graduated in 2022. During her time in law school, Sydney was an active member of the Family and Juvenile Law Association and a writer for the Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy.
Ms. Lewin works as a litigation associate for the firm, where she represents clients in a variety of situations. Her practice is focused on general liability matters.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Association of Defense
- Senior Member at the Cavanagh Law Firm, P.a.
Parker Bunch is a Senior Member at The Cavanagh Law Firm, P.A. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, specifically insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. Parker advises clients on complex insurance matters across multiple coverage lines, including personal and general commercial general liability, auto, and professional liability. He often represents insurers in declaratory judgment actions and defends them in bad faith lawsuits. He also advises on and litigates matters involving Damron and Morris Agreements and other consent judgments. He has represented clients in Superior Courts around the state, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, the Arizona Court of Appeals, and the Arizona Supreme Court.
Parker is a member of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel.
Parker graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. While in law school, he was a member of the Arizona Law Review, captain of the Jessup Moot Court team, and received awards for oral and written advocacy. He graduated magna cum laude from Pointe Loma Nazarene University.
Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation
Committed to community service, Randy is a 1990 graduate of Scottsdale Leadership. He has volunteered for that organization for more than 30 years, serves on its Advisory Board, and is a recipient of the prestigious Frank W. Hodges Alumni Achievement Award. Randy serves on the advisory boards for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Historical Society, and Scottsdale Community College. He served as a Sterling Awards Jurist, Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, and received the Chamber's 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award. Recognized for his life-long commitment to community service, in 2018 Randy joined the distinguished roster of honorees inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame.
Richard Mear's litigation approach is motivated by his wish to gain helpful and efficient results for the people he serves. His realistic way of thinking is built upon a thorough involvement in his customers' companies, aspirations, and products. Richard's practice covers defending businesses in areas of responsibility matters, product liability circumstances (including medical equipment), as well as "toxic tort" cases involving asbestos and benzene exposures. He also has a rich practice in regard to transportation/trucking claims, construction defect allegations, professional responsibility, medical negligence, and disputes concerning officer and director liabilities occurring among commercial entities.
Richard has substantial experience in various litigation matters including trial, mediation and arbitration activities. He was in charge of or secondary-chaired numerous jury and nonjury trials which yielded victorious outcomes for the defense. Richard first chaired a month-long products liability trial in Federal Court, despite the high demand by plaintiffs amounting to $30 million initially and $12 million pre-trial. Moreover, he finalized a two-week jury trial with a defense verdict in February 2017 - it also came with Rule 68 sanctions.
Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Arizona
- Senior Member
Tonya is a member of the Arizona, New Mexico (inactive), Nevada (inactive), and the U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Arizona and New Mexico. Tonya is a litigator able to balance the cooperative approach necessary to facilitate agreements while maintaining the attention to detail and strong advocacy necessary for trial. Whether its a new divorce or re-working the parenting plan, Tonya is prepared to be your advocate.