Phoenix law firm gives ASU Law grads meaningful opportunities to work where they studied

Students in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University not only gain an exceptional experience at the nation’s No. 24-best law school, they have numerous opportunities to stay and work for prestigious firms right here in the Valley of the Sun.

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C. is one of those firms. Among the largest and most distinguished law firms based in Arizona since its founding in 1942, Jennings Strouss is deeply rooted in the legal and business community, with its attorneys helping their growing list of clients succeed.

“The founders of this firm established a tremendous legacy for us at Jennings Strouss,” said managing attorney John C. Norling. “And we strive and work very hard to maintain that and will continue to do that in the future as we look forward to our next 75 years, and the only way we’re going to be able to do that is by hiring talented people out of law schools such as ASU.”

With Arizona offices in Phoenix, Peoria and Tucson, and a Washington, D.C., office, Jennings Strouss is well known for its rich heritage, commitment to community and long-lasting relationships. Backed by a deep understanding of business and law, the firm’s experts dedicate themselves to partnering with clients to achieve practical, strategic legal solutions.

“I’ve only practiced here (at Jennings Strouss) and in this day and age that’s a pretty unusual situation,” said J. Scott Rhodes, chair of the firm’s Legal Ethics Group, and a 1995 ASU Law JD and adjunct professor. “I think the reason for that is because this firm values people for what they are and lets them become the best that they can be.”

Almost a quarter of Jennings Strouss attorneys are ASU Law graduates, Norling said, with six graduates hired in just the past year. “The firm has had a strong history of supporting the (ASU) college of law. We’re very fortunate to have a very innovative, highly ranked law school right down the street from us.”

Video by ASU Law featuring managing attorney John C. Norling and ASU Law Adjunct Professor J. Scott Rhodes of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C., a Gold ‘n Gavel 2019 Law Firm Honoree

Consistently recognized as a top company to work for, Jennings Strouss has garnered several recent accolades including:

• Named one of the 2020 azcentral.com “Top Companies to Work for in Arizona” for the fourth year in a row. And for a second year in a row, Jennings Strouss is the only law firm ranked in the medium-sized company category of 100-999 employees.
• Named as a 2020 AZ Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ “Most Admired Company” for the fourth year in a row.
• Named one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Phoenix Business Journal from 2007–2010, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019.
• Jennings Strouss attorney Lindsay G. Leavitt selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of the Valley’s 2020 Class of “40 Under 40” up-and-coming business leaders.
• Jennings Strouss corporate and tax attorney, Brett D. Siglin, has been recognized by Opportunity Zone Magazine as a 2020 “Top 25 OZ Influencers” in the category of attorney.
• Jennings Strouss attorney John J. Balitis, chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Department, has been elected as a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and has been ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2020 as a top labor and employment lawyer.

Norma C. Izzo

Jennings Strouss attorney Norma C. Izzo, a 2005 ASU Law grad who chairs the firm’s Family Law and Domestic Relations Department and the firm’s Associates Committee, has been voted the “Best Divorce Attorney” in Arizona Foothills Magazine’s 2020 “Best of Our Valley.” Izzo concentrates her practice in the area of family law and domestic relations matters, including complex litigation and asset division, business dissolution, collaborative divorce, mediation, arbitration, parent coordination, child custody and child support, and spousal maintenance.

“I was drawn to Jennings Strouss because of the diversity of practice areas and wealth of experience,” Izzo said. “If there’s a novel issue that arises in a case, there’s someone in the firm who has experience with it. The firm encourages and strongly supports my business development, and my partners look for ways to help me grow my practice. Jennings fosters an entrepreneurial spirit in a way that aligns with our personal visions of the legal practice.”

Daniel J.F. Peabody

“We are very proud of our deep Arizona roots and our firm’s role not only in the growth of Phoenix, but the state of Arizona as a whole,” said Teresie Zmyslinski, Jennings Strouss director of marketing and communications. “Like many successful businesses, we firmly believe our success is a direct result of the quality of the individuals who make up our firm from the most junior file clerk to the most senior partner.”

Daniel J.F. Peabody, a 2017 ASU Law graduate and associate at Jennings Strouss, focuses his practice on labor and employment law with an emphasis on preventing and defending discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination cases, and wage and hour audits.

Ashley M. Mahoney 

“One of the reasons I was attracted to Jennings Strouss when deciding where I would start my legal career was the firm’s prestige that has been established through some of the firm’s notable alums, such as Arizona Court of Appeals judges and Supreme Court justices, a U.S. attorney general, and a U.S. senator,” Peabody said.

Jennings Strouss is also pleased to welcome back ASU Law JD Class of 2018 graduate Ashley M. Mahoney, who started at the firm last week. She worked for Jennings Strouss as an intern in 2018.