Robert Berk
Partner
Arizona
Bob Berk, Chair of the firm’s Commercial Practice Group, represents both plaintiffs and defendants in contract disputes, insurance coverage and bad faith, professional liability, environmental and toxic tort, construction defect, and real estate. During his 36-plus-year career, Bob has tried numerous cases to verdict. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, which requires, as a condition of membership, a minimum number of jury trials to verdict, and he has been consistently recognized as one of the top commercial litigators in Arizona.
Bob also provides ADR services. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) Commercial Panel, and he serves as both a mediator and an arbitrator. As both an advocate and neutral, Bob has participated in and conducted hundreds of successful mediations and settlement conferences. He has ADR experience in virtually every subject area, including multi-million dollar intellectual property disputes, auto accidents, multi-party construction cases, toxic tort class actions, eight-figure insurance bad faith claims, legal malpractice claims involving multiple firms, banking disputes, and cases arising out of real estate contracts. He has also arbitrated several cases.
- Represented international logistics provider in contract disputes with competitors and former employees, many of cases involved complex intellectual property issues.
- Represented multi-state homebuilders in disputes with other companies, buyers, and governmental entities.
- Represented largest title insurer in the world in several multi-million disputes with insureds and third-parties.
- Successfully litigated challenges to validity and reasonableness of multi-million settlements by insurers, including appellate invalidation, of stipulated $48 million judgment.
- Represented accounting firm in multi-million malpractice suit filed by a former professional athlete.
- Represented law firm accused of negligently drafting 50-year ground lease, resulting in millions of dollars in lost rent revenue.
- Represented company accused of TCE pollution of groundwater near Tucson Airport.
- Represented large city in class action arising out of City’s alleged failure to provide adequate drainage for contaminated water and sewage.
- Successfully defended renowned former political operative for a U.S. President in a three-week jury trial involving claims of defamation.
- Tried to jury verdict a dispute involving $60-million bad faith case arising out of disputed liens recorded against condominium tower.
- Arbitrated complex multi-family construction case with millions of dollars in dispute.
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Arbitration Association, Commercial and Consumer Arbitration Panels, Member
- National Association of Distinguished Neutrals, Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Member
- USLAW Network, Member
- American Bar Association, Member, Legal Malpractice Subcommittee
- Arizona State Bar, Board Member, Fee Arbitration Committee, 1993-2000
Professional Recognition & Awards
- Best Lawyers in America®, Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2014-2024; Commercial Litigation, 2021-2024; Construction Law, 2024
- Phoenix Magazine Top Lawyers, Professional Malpractice/Defense, 2022
- AV® Preeminent™ Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Presentations & Publications
Bob frequently speaks at conferences and seminars, including the State Bar of Arizona Convention, and USLAW Conferences. Additional presentations and publications include:
- “Living Through Change: How the New Civil Practice Rules Are Working, and How They Will Affect You,” Co-Presenter, State Bar of Arizona Convention, June 2019
- “Current Issues In Professional Liability,” Co-Presenter, February 2019
- “Legal Malpractice Strategies (And A Little Music Trivia),” Presenter, AADC CLE Retreat, June 2016
- “How to Avoid the Hot Seat: Good Claims Handling in Arizona,” Presenter, JSH Annual Seminar: It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt, November 2014
- “Arizona Court of Appeals Expands, Then Narrows, Anti-Deficiency Protection,” Author, JSH Reporter, Fall 2014
- “Advice For New Associates From a Partner’s Perspective,” Presenter, AADC YLD, April 2014
- “Rapid Fire Drill: AZ Case Law Updates,” Presenter, JSH Seminar, October 2013
Teaching Experience
- Arizona State Bar Professional Responsibility Course, Instructor, 2005-2009
Education
Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, J.D., 1985
Arizona State University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1982
Admissions
Arizona, 1985
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit