PHOENIX/ALBURQUERQUE (April 22, 2025) – Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod Waterfall (JKW) announces that twelve attorneys with the firm’s Arizona and New Mexico offices were named to the 2025 Southwest Super Lawyers and Rising Stars rankings by Law & Politics Magazine. The attorneys recognized as top in their areas of practice include Thomas Bird, Jack Cunningham, Jorge Franco, Karen Gaylord, Sean Olivas, Paul Roshka, John Sinodis, Matt Sloan and Gary Van Luchene. In addition, Chris Marquez, Alana Porrazzo and Tyler Schwenke were named Southwest Super Lawyers 2025 Rising Stars.
Thomas Bird earned recognition by Southwest Super Lawyers for his work in appellate law. He practices in the firm’s New Mexico office and, having had numerous published opinions, is well-recognized for his extensive experience in appellate law matters. Tom has been recognized annually by Southwest Super Lawyers since 2009.
Jack Cunningham is recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers for his personal injury law practice in Phoenix, Arizona. He has extensive trial experience representing both plaintiffs and defense clients in cases ranging from personal injury and defense coverage to professional malpractice and uninsured motorist matters in Arizona. Jack has been recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers since 2007.
Jorge Franco was named by Southwest Super Lawyers for his litigation practice. He practices in the firm’s Phoenix office, representing clients in a wide range of litigation matters, including representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil litigation cases ranging from insurance bad faith to professional malpractice, nursing home negligence, catastrophic injury/wrongful death, Arizona Department of Child Safety negligence, as well as motorcycle, trucking and construction related injury cases.
Karen Gaylord is recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers for her work in environmental law. She practices in the firm’s Phoenix office, representing public and private entities in a wide range of environmental matters, including state and federal superfund law, hazardous wastes, solid waste and special waste, brownfields, water and air quality, NEPA compliance and environmental issues in Indian Country.
Sean Olivas earned recognition by Southwest Super Lawyers for his work in employment and labor law and litigation. His practice focuses on the defense of employment, tort and civil rights claims. Sean is experienced in defending employers in virtually all types of employment litigation and other civil litigation matters. He served as the chair of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Employment Specialization Committee for ten years.
Paul Roshka is being recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers for his work in securities litigation. His national practice representing companies, their directors, officers, and employees in securities law matters is based in the firm’s Arizona office. Paul is known as a bet-the-company litigator, having defended brokerage firms, investment advisory firms, and their financial advisors, and prosecuted financial claims by individual investors in federal and state courts, and in arbitrations and mediations in numerous jurisdictions.
John Sinodis earned recognition by Southwest Super Lawyers for his business and commercial litigation practice. He represents clients in their matters involving bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights, insolvency and reorganization, equipment leasing, commercial and business litigation in Arizona.
Matthew Sloan was named a top litigator by Southwest Super Lawyers for his work in business and commercial litigation. He practices in the firm’s Arizona office, handing matters involving complex business disputes, creditors’ rights, surety & fidelity matters, bankruptcy, construction law and real estate disputes.
Gary Van Luchene earned recognition in Southwest Super Lawyers for his work in civil litigation. His litigation practice primarily involves civil litigation, complex tort litigation, complex commercial litigation, and class actions. Gary practices in the firm’s Albuquerque office and has been recognized annually by Southwest Super Lawyers for over a decade.
The firm’s 2025 Rising Stars are Chris Marquez, Alana Porrazzo and Tyler Schwenke.
Chris Marquez was named a Rising Star by Southwest Super Lawyers for his work in construction law and litigation. He represents clients in New Mexico in a variety of construction disputes related to commercial and residential projects, including construction defect, products liability, contract claims, lien disputes, and licensure issues. He also advises construction clients on strategies to minimize the risk of future litigation.
Alana Porrazzo received Rising Star recognition for her work in surety law. Her practice focuses on fidelity and surety law and construction law with an emphasis in defending bond claims and bad faith allegations, litigation performance defaults, prosecuting subrogation and indemnity claims, and representing sureties in principal and Indemnitor bankruptcies.
Tyler Schwenke earned recognition as a Rising Star for his work representing both plaintiffs and defendants in litigation matters, including personal injury, insurance defense, and medical malpractice cases. Tyler practices in the firm’s Phoenix office and represents clients across the state of Arizona.
Super Lawyers 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. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
About Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod Waterfall
Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod Waterfall (JKW) is a full-service litigation and business law firm with extensive trial, litigation management, dispute resolution and complex litigation experience. The firm’s attorneys address a wide range of legal matters for businesses and individuals in the areas of business law and litigation, banking, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, civil rights, constitutional law, real estate, construction, corporate law, employment, environmental, estate planning, trusts and probate, family law, fidelity and surety, government relations, insurance defense and coverage, medical and professional malpractice, municipal law, personal injury and energy regulatory matters. JKW has offices in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico to serve clients in the Southwest and throughout the United States.
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