Gallagher & Kennedy Criminal Defense Lawyers

Happy National Paralegal Day! Today, we’re celebrating the hard work and dedication of our incredible team of paralegals who help make everything possible. A big shoutout to: Yolanda Baca, Monique Bernauer, Alyssa Cook, Karen Duckworth-Barnes, Taryn Hernandez, and Mary Hooker! Your expertise, attention to detail, and unwavering support are invaluable to the firm's success. Thank you for all that you do every day! #NationalParalegalDay

Arizona Attorneys: Join G&K attorneys, Shannon Clark, Kevin Neal, Ty Taber and Jonathan Litster, at this year's Arizona Association for Justice Sidney T. Marable Annual Conference. Hosted at the Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains, this incredible two-day event includes up to 11.25 CLE hours and will cover topics from AI in litigation to the art of storytelling in court. G&K is proud to support the AzAJ. To learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/gB9vbACn.

#TBT to last Friday's Arizona Diamondbacks game when Sarah Myers hosted The Secret Sauce Society in the G&K Suite. We're so proud of the athleticism and energy our #azdbacks brought this year! Only 174 days until #OpeningDay when the D-backs take on the Cubs! #LetsGoDbacks Thanks to Secret Sauce founder Andrew Kolikoff for another great event and to Gilead Hernandez at Grafobox Media for the amazing photography. #dbacks #mlb #arizona #diamondbacks #arizonadiamondbacks #baseball

Meet Joseph J. Perotti Jr.! Joe brings extensive experience in commercial real estate and telecommunications law to Gallagher & Kennedy. He advises landlords and tenants in office and retail lease negotiations, commercial real estate transactions, and zoning matters. With a deep background in the telecommunications industry, Joe represents wireless and infrastructure providers in everything from zoning and land use appeals to environmental due diligence and broadband deployment issues. His impressive career spans from Pittsburgh to Phoenix, where he’s helped national clients navigate complex regulatory, legislative, and FCC Orders on wireless siting and broadband access.

We're thrilled to announce that our Managing Partner, Kevin O'Malley, has been named a 2025 Benchmark Litigation Star! This prestigious honor highlights Kevin’s 43 years of litigation and public bidding and procurement prowess and leadership at Gallagher & Kennedy. https://lnkd.in/gKSWSSKA Recognized for his ability to craft winning strategies tailored to each client's needs, Kevin has been regularly recognized by Benchmark Litigation since 2011. Congratulations, Kevin!

This month, we celebrate the employment anniversaries of six G&K attorneys and professional support staff! Thanks for being on our team: Guillaume Aime (2020), Candice Beeson (2021), Estela Santamaria (2004), Patricia (Patti) Marshall (1990), Lidia Martinez (2021), and Laura Messner (2006). #WorkAnniversary #Teamwork #WorkFamily #AppreciateYou

Meet Melissa Benson, Esq.! A dedicated advocate for families and individuals, Melissa strives to resolve domestic disputes before they reach trial, providing compassionate and personalized legal representation. She is #YourFiercestFamilyFriend, handling all types of #FamilyLaw matters. She brings 17 years of experience working in Arizona’s criminal justice system as a victim advocate, probation officer, and sex crimes and domestic violations prosecutor. Melissa earned her law degree magna cum laude from Arizona Summit Law School and her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Virginia Wesleyan in Virginia. Her work has earned her recognition from The National Trial Lawyers among the “Top 25 National Women Trial Lawyers” and the “Top 30 Matrimonial and Family Trial Lawyers”.

Meet Samantha Catalano, Esq.! Samantha focuses her practice on civil litigation, environmental and natural resources law, and oil and gas law, where she excels in trial preparation, motions, and representing clients before regulatory bodies like the Oil Conservation Division. With a background in medical administration and research, she brings a scientific perspective to her legal work, offering innovative solutions to complex cases. Samantha is also passionate about animal advocacy and serves as the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Liaison for the Animal Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico. Samantha joined our Santa Fe office in April 2024. She earned her JD summa cum laude from The University of New Mexico School of Law School of Law, her BS in Biology with honors from New Mexico State University, and studied Neuroscience with an emphasis in Cell Biology, Minor in Spanish, at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.

Meet James Connor! With over 43 years of experience in corporate finance and real estate law—and 31 years at G&K—Jim represents developers, lenders, and investors in complex commercial real estate transactions, including apartments, office spaces, master-planned communities, and shopping centers. He is a skilled negotiator, handling national retail leases, securitized loans, joint venture agreements, and secured loans. Jim’s significant contributions to the field have earned him consistent recognition by Best Lawyers in America® for #RealEstateLaw for almost two decades.

Today, we pause to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The beams of light remind us of the resilience, unity, and strength that emerged from tragedy. We stand together, never forgetting the courage of first responders and the impact on families and communities across the nation. #NeverForget #September11 #Unity #Remembrance