Trish Stuhan

Trish Stuhan is a recognized leader in Arizona municipal law representing cities, towns, special districts, and other public entities in governance, transactional, and litigation matters. She serves as lead counsel for more than six Arizona municipalities and regularly acts as special counsel to in-house attorneys. In 2025, she received the Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award from the Arizona City Attorneys Association for her service and contributions to the practice of municipal law in Arizona.

Trish is frequently called upon to guide elected officials, executive staff, and in-house counsel through legally and politically sensitive issues requiring practical judgment and strategic advice.

In litigation, Trish represents public entities in state and federal courts in constitutional, contract, nuisance, condemnation, and general litigation matters, with experience from trial through appeal. She served as lead drafter of an amicus brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court in a landmark constitutional case involving municipal enforcement authority; the brief was cited in the Court’s opinion reversing Ninth Circuit precedent affecting cities across the western United States.

Her transactional practice includes development agreements, intergovernmental agreements, real estate and easement documents, construction and procurement documents, and municipal contracts, with regular work on land use, infrastructure, code enforcement, and operational compliance issues.

She also conducts workplace investigations, assists with high-conflict personnel matters, facilitates mediations, and trains public officials and staff on governance, ethics, public meetings, and records compliance. She leads her firm’s prosecution practice, mentoring younger attorneys in courtroom advocacy, charging decisions, and municipal prosecution.

Clients value Trish for her responsiveness, practical advice, and ability to navigate high-profile, high-conflict, and legally sensitive matters as a trusted advisor to public officials and leadership teams. Honors and leadership include:

Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award, Arizona City Attorneys Association (2025)
Best Lawyers® Recognition for Municipal Law (recognized since 2024)
Top Pro Bono Attorney, Arizona Bar Foundation (2024)
Southwest Super Lawyers® Rising Stars – State, Local & Municipal Law (2018–2019)
President, Arizona City Attorneys Association (2021–2022)
Coach, ASU New York City Bar Moot Court Competition (2017–2026)

Trish earned her J.D., cum laude, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in 2009, where she received a certificate in Law, Science & Technology and the Janet S. Mueller Oral Advocacy Award for best graduating oral advocate. She also holds a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Utah and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from Northern Arizona University, with advanced academic focus on mediation, advocacy, and dispute resolution. She is admitted to practice in Arizona, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.