Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, PLC is pleased to announce law clerks Michael Appel, Brendan Hecht, Andrew Morse, and Phillip Tomas have passed the Arizona bar exams and have been named associate attorneys at the firm.
Meet each of the firm’s newest associates below:
Michael Appel recently joined the firm’s Transportation Trial Group, focusing his work on defending clients in trucking, transportation, and logistics matters.
During his time at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Michael served as a research aide for a professor and at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, as well as a legal extern for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of General Counsel. In previous clerking positions, he drafted briefs, worked on asylum proceedings, and helped prepare family law Continuing Legal Education presentations. Michael earned his undergraduate degree in history and political science, also from ASU.
As a new member of the firm’s General Liability Trial Group, Brendan Hecht will focus on matters involving personal injury, damage to property, and commercial liability.
While at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona University, Brendan served as Secretary for the Jewish Law Student Association, and as an Executive Board Member of the Sports Law and Business Student Association. His professional experience includes assisting with client intake, drafting motions, and trial and witness preparation. Brendan also founded a lawncare/landscaping business in Winnipeg, where he received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Manitoba.
Andrew Morse joins the firm’s General Liability Trial Group and will focus his work on retail/hospitality, products liability, personal injury defense, and other matters.
Prior to attending the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Andrew gained experience working as a paralegal with a New York law firm. He has also served as a Capital Litigation Intern with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, a Student Attorney with the University of Arizona Innocence Project Clinic, and a Law Clerk with the criminal division of the Pima County Attorney’s Office. Andrew earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Fordham University Gabelli School of Business.
Phillip Tomas joins the firm’s General Liability/Construction Trial Group, where he will focus his work on civil and commercial matters, including construction defect, personal injury, and general liability cases for our many construction and manufacturing clients.
Prior to earning his Juris Doctor from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Phillip served as a legal extern for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the Arizona Senate Rules Office, as well as a judicial extern for the Honorable Clint Bolick of the Arizona Supreme Court. He gained experience with research, litigation strategy, drafting motions, witness interviews, and preparing for depositions. His undergraduate degree in psychology is from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.