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Overview
Scott Rhodes provides trusted counsel to attorneys, law firms, legal departments, in-house counsel, and government agencies on highly sensitive ethical, professional responsibility, and business matters to identify and address any legal issues related to professional conduct.
With an extensive and distinguished background in legal ethics, Scott regularly advises clients in matters relating to state bar complaints, fee disputes and arbitrations, disciplinary matters, bar admission, and other licensing, ethics, and professional responsibility issues. His previous experience includes serving as managing attorney and general counsel for a Phoenix law firm in addition to his private practice.
Scott also serves as an expert witness in legal malpractice and other cases related to the practice of law.
In addition to his work in professional conduct, Scott has experience in the areas of general commercial, local government, and professional corporate governance and structure litigation. He provides collaborative legal service to advocate for clients in front of mediators, arbitration panels, judges, and juries utilizing all manners of traditional and alternative dispute resolution.
Even in professional conduct matters, Scott understands that legal strategy and tactical decisions must incorporate a business perspective and align with each client’s goals.
Prior to entering private practice, Scott served as a law clerk for the Hon. Robert Corcoran and the Hon. Charles E. Jones in the Arizona Supreme Court. He also previously owned and operated a private business in Paris for nine years and speaks fluent French.
Credentials
Education
- Arizona State University – Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 1995 (J.D.), cum laude
- Yale University, 1980 (B.A.), cum laude
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Adjunct Professor, Professional Responsibility, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Spring 2019, Spring 2020
- Arizona Town Hall, Chair, 2013-2015
- Acting Honorary Consul for France, 2001-2003
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- Phoenix Magazine, Top Lawyer, Professional Malpractice – Defense & Plaintiff, 2022
- Best Lawyers in America, Phoenix, Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2009-2023; Arbitration, 2016-2023; Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, 2009-2023; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2011-2023; Litigation – Municipal, 2016-2023; Mediation, 2016-2023; Municipal Law, 2016-2023; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2019-2023
- Best Lawyers in America, Phoenix Lawyer of the Year, Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2011; Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2022; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2019, 2023; Litigation – Municipal, 2021
- State Bar of Arizona CLE Department, Volunteer of the Month, February 2019
- Southwest Super Lawyers, Administrative Law and Politics, 2007, 2011-2019
- Arizona State Law Journal, John S. Lancy Distinguished Alumni Award, 2018
- State Bar of Arizona, Member of the Year Award, 2010
- Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite National (Knight of the Order of National Merit, Republic of France)
- Arizona Supreme Court
- Attorney Regulation Advisory Committee, 2011-2022
- Attorney Discipline Task Force, 2009-2010
- American Bar Association, Center for Professional Responsibility
- State Bar of Arizona
- Ethics Committee, 2002-2014
- Ethics Committee, Chair, 2009-2011
- Mesa Judicial Advisory Board, 2007-2010
- Chairman, 2009-2010
Articles
- Appellate Handbook 2.0, State Bar of Arizona, 2020
- Arizona Legal Ethics Handbook, Third Edition, State Bar of Arizona, Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2015
- “Conflicting State and Federal Marijuana Laws Create Ethical Complications for Lawyers,” ABA Member E-newsletter, 2014
- “Change on the Horizon,” Attorney at Law Magazine, 2010
- “Exploring the Unthinkable in Lawyer Discipline: Disbarment, Suspension and Reinstatement,” Advocate, the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, 2008
Podcasts
- “Before The Show #150 – Ethics Guide For Lawyers,” The Knowledge Group, April 23, 2020
Presentations
- “Ethics Tune-Up: Reminders and Recent Developments,” Yavapai County Bar Association, February 27, 2024
- “Ethical and Professional Conduct Challenges Faced by Administrative Lawyers,” State Bar of Arizona Webinar, March 24, 2023
- “Advanced Legal Ethics: Thorny Issues and Current Events,” Banner Health Annual Defense Counsel Seminar, January 20, 2023
- “The Ethics of Difficult Times: Common Opportunities and Facing Challenges if They Occur,” Association of Legal Administrators – AZ Chapter, January 17, 2023
- “Ten Deadly Sins of Conflict,” State Bar of Arizona, November 18, 2021
- “Advancing Social Justice – Bankruptcy in 2021,” State Bar of Arizona Virtual Convention, June 18, 2021
- “How Not to Commit Malpractice During a Pandemic,” Arizona Association for Justice, August 6, 2020
- “Ethics Guide for Lawyers: Significant Trends and Best Practices,” The Knowledge Group Webinar, May 20, 2020
- “Representing an Entity in an Internal Investigation: Ethical and Practical Issues,” Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys, 2019
- “Regulation Year in Review,” College of Estate Planning Attorneys, 2018
- “Ethical Morning at the Movies,” State Bar of Arizona, 2018
- “Braving the Storm: Dealing with Opposing Counsel and the Court,” State Bar of Arizona, 2018
- “Lawyers and Non-Profit Boards: An Ethical Review,” Planned Giving Roundtable of Arizona, 2018
- “Twenty-First Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar / HR Summit,” Arizona Counties Insurance Pool, the Arizona State Civil Deputies and AMRRP, 2018
- “Lawyer Regulation in Arizona: A Review of Recent Trends,” West Maricopa County Bar Association, 2018
- “Intellectual Property Ethics,” 21st Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar / HR Summit, State Bar of Arizona, 2018
- “2017 State Bar Convention Ethics Game Show,” State Bar of Arizona, 2017
- “Third Annual CLE in the Gardens: Practical Lessons for the Intellectual Property Practitioners,” State Bar of Arizona, 2017
- “Out of the Shadows: The Impact of Substance Abuse,” State Bar of Arizona, 2016
- “State Bar of Arizona Course on Professionalism,” ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 2016
- “New Lawyer Boot Camp Day 2,” State Bar of Arizona, 2016
- “A Lawyer’s Day in Court,” State Bar of Arizona, 2016
- “Nineteenth Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar,” ACIP & Arizona Counties Civil Deputies Association, 2016
- “Managing the Conflict of Interest Maze for Public Lawyers,” 19th Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar / HR Summit, 2016
- “Managing the Conflict of Interest Maze for Public Lawyers,” Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council, 2015
- “Hypos and Hippos: Survival on the Ethical Savannah,” U.S. District of Arizona Conference, 2015
- “Ethical Considerations for Tribal Prosecutors,” Tribal Prosecutors’ Association, 2015
- “What Hat Are You Wearing Today?” Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, 2015
- “The Wild World of Cannabis: A Quick Trip Through the Civil Law Issues of Medical and Legal Marijuana,” American Bar Association, 2015
- “State Bar of Arizona Course on Professionalism,” ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 2015
- “How to Work Effectively and Ethically with Investigators,” Maricopa County Bar Association, 2014
- “New Lawyer Boot Camp Day 1,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2014
- “Challenges and Tools in Estate Planning: Ethics and Liability Concerns in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Probate,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2014
- “Lawyer Ethics and the Business of Marijuana,” American Bar Association, 2014
- “What All Estate Planning Professionals Should Know About Legal Ethics,” Central Arizona Estate Planning Council, 2014
- “Ethical Morning at the Movies,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2012 and 2014
- “Fee Simple,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2013
- “Let’s Talk Fees,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2013
- 16th Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar, ACIP & Arizona Counties Civil Deputies Association, 2013
- “Candor, Courtesy & Confidences: Common Courtroom Conundrums,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2013
- “Ethical Tune-Up Seminar,” City of Phoenix Law Department, 2012
- “Ethical Tune-Up Seminar,” City of Glendale City Attorney’s Office, 2012
- 15th Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar, ACIP & Arizona Counties Civil Deputies Association, 2012
- “Ethics and Public Lawyer,” State Bar of Arizona, 2012
- “The Lawyer Discipline System: How is it Working?” State Bar of Arizona, 2012
- “Dial ‘E’ for Ethics,” State Bar of Arizona, 2012
- “Conflict of Interest Restriction After Carrigan: Legislative Voting and First Amendment,” American Bar Association, Section of State and Local Government Law, 2011
- “Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls: Navigating the Ethics Rules,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2005-2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
- “Moving On: Closing, Selling or Otherwise Leaving Your Practice,” State Bar of Arizona, 2010
- “Ethics Seminar,” West Maricopa County Bar Association, 2010
- “Changes to Arizona’s Attorney Discipline System,” Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2010
- “A Lawyer’s Day in Court: The Mechanics of Arizona’s Attorney Regulation System,” State Bar of Arizona’s CLE By the Sea Conference, 2010
- “Game Show Ethics!” U.S. District Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona AUSA Symposium, 2010
- “Minding the Store: Internal Ethics and Liability Management for Law Firms of All Shapes and Sizes,” State Bar of Arizona, 2010
- “Arizona State Bar Ethics Training, Yavapai County Public Defender’s Office CLE, 2009-2010
- “Are We All In the Same Sandbox? The Various Facets of a Multi-Jurisdictional Practice,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2009
- “Real World Negotiation Ethics,” State Bar of Arizona’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section 2009
- “2009 Course on Professionalism,” State Bar of Arizona, 2009
- “Minding the Store: Internal Ethics and Liability Management,” State Bar of Arizona’s CLE by the Sea, 2009
- “Ethical Estate Planning and Administration: The Devil’s in the Details,” Maricopa County Bar Association, 2009
- “Lawyer Discipline – And 20 Tips on How to Avoid It,” Lorman Seminars, Legal Ethics in Arizona, 2009
- “Balance in Life and Law Practice,” State Bar of Arizona, Minority Bar Convention, 2009
- “Changes to Ethics Rules and Trust Account Audits: Lawyers Who Represent Lawyers Explain What You Need to Know,” Maricopa County Bar Association CLE, 2009
- “Ethics Café,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2008
- “The Ethics of Dealing with Difficult People,” City of Glendale, City Attorney’s Office, 2008
- “Double Trouble: Concurrent Disciplinary Actions and Legal Malpractice Suits,” American Bar Association, 2007
- “The Ethical Challenges and Opportunities of Public Representation,” City of Glendale, City Attorney’s Office, 2007
- “Annual Ethics Game Show!” State Bar of Arizona, 2006
- “Twenty Ways to Avoid Discipline!” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2006
- “Confessions for the Pocketbook as Well as the Soul?” American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility National Conference, 2005
- “Due Process and Ethical Considerations in Probate Litigation and Estate Planning,” Maricopa County Bar Association Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section, 2005
- “What to Do When the Bar Comes Knocking at Your Door: What You Should Know About the Discipline Process,” Arizona Attorney General’s Office, 2005
- “How to Open and Keep Open a Profitable Law Firm,” State Bar of Arizona CLE, 2004
- “Professional Responsibility,” Guest Lecturer, ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Professional Responsibility Course, 2004
- “Ethics and Professionalism Seminar,” Salt River Project, 2003
- “2003 Amendments to Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct,” Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Arizona, 2003
- “Lawyer Discipline System: Introduction,” State Bar of Arizona, 2002-2003
- “Fifth Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar,” ACIP & Arizona Counties Civil Deputies Association, 2002
- “Fourth Annual Public Practice Legal Seminar,” ACIP & Arizona Counties Civil Deputies Association, 2001