Robert G. Schaffer

Education

  • J.D., Duke University School of Law, 1996
  • B.A., with Highest Distinction, University of Kansas, 1993

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona, 1997

Clerkships

  • Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, U.S. Supreme Court, 1998-1999
  • Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1996-1997

Robert G. Schaffer

Partner
40 North Central Avenue
Suite 1900
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Phone 602.262.0271
Fax 602.734.3777

About Robert Schaffer

Mr. Schaffer is a partner in the Phoenix office of Lewis and Roca LLP. His main practice and experience focuses on commercial and corporate disputes, defense of class actions, and appellate matters. He has managed a substantial number of complex litigation matters involving contract, business torts, fiduciary breach claims, professional liability, RICO, products liability, lender liability, real estate, water rights, probate, and shareholder and partnership disputes. He also has extensive experience representing clients in antitrust and other trade regulation matters including restrictive covenants, dealer terminations, and hospital staff privileges, and regularly advises business clients on litigation risk and avoidance in these areas.

Mr. Schaffer has argued many appeals in the Arizona appellate courts and the Ninth Circuit. Most recently, he successfully argued an appeal before the Arizona Supreme Court, obtaining reversal of a lower court decision that would have stripped the firm’s client of water rights alleged to be valued in excess of $20 million.

Before joining the firm, Mr. Schaffer served as a law clerk to the Hon. William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the United States.

Representative Cases/Matters

  • Counsel to financial institutions on a variety of business litigation matters
  • Counsel to national franchisor in a nationwide class action alleging claims of consumer fraud and racketeering
  • Successfully represented national franchise lender in case in which the plaintiff sought in excess of $15 million for alleged failure to fund a loan commitment, and obtained resolution of asserted claims
  • Retained to represent national homebuilder in EEOC class action alleging age discrimination after client’s pretrial motions were denied. Upon completing focused damages-related discovery and motion practice, the matter was successfully resolved shortly before trial
  • Successfully represented solar generating company in water rights dispute with irrigation district
  • Successfully represented commercial real estate tenants in a variety of disputes, including shopping center lease exclusives and breach of repair obligations
  • Representation of Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in appeal involving scope of attorney-client privilege in grand jury proceedings
  • Pro bono representation of Albanian immigrant whose family was persecuted for their pro-democracy views. Obtained writ of habeas corpus and recovery of attorneys’ fees after government’s litigation position was found not substantially justified

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Maricopa County Bar Association, Member
  • Antitrust Section of the Arizona State Bar, Past Chair
  • Community of the Blessed Sacrament, Pastoral Council Member

Publications

  • Author, "Davis v. Agua Sierra Resources: Bringing Some Clarity to Groundwater Rights In Arizona," Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, November 2010
  • Co-author, "Arizona’s New E-Discovery Rules," Arizona Attorney, February 2008

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, Water Rights Litigation in Arizona, 17th Annual Arizona Water Law Conference, August 14, 2009
  • Speaker, “Managing Electronic Discovery Costs,” Association of Corporate Counsel - Arizona Chapter, Nov. 2007
  • Moderator, “Honoring the Judiciary as a Co-Equal Branch of Government: A Dialogue with Distinguished Federal and State Judges,” The Directors’ Roundtable, January 2006
  • Speaker, “Antitrust and IP in the Supreme Court’s 2005-06 Term,” Joint Meeting of the Antitrust and Intellectual Property Sections, State Bar of Arizona, December 2005
  • Panelist, "Personal Jurisdiction and other Significant Civil Litigation Issues Arising From the Internet," Arizona Federal District Court Conference, February 2003

Court Admissions

  • Arizona Supreme Court, 1996
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1997
  • U.S. District Court, Arizona, 1997
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1999
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 2005
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2010

Other Distinctions

Mr. Schaffer has an “AV/Preeminent Attorney” rating with Martindale-Hubbell. He is listed in "Top Lawyers in Arizona 2008" in Arizona Business Magazine in the category of Antitrust Law. Mr. Schaffer is also listed in the 2012 and 2013 editions of The Best Lawyers in America®, by Woodward/White, Aiken, S.C. in the categories of Antitrust Law, Antitrust Litigation and Appellate Law. He is listed in the 2012 and 2013 edition of Southwest Super Lawyers in the category of Business Litigation.

He was recently recognized for his commitment to pro bono service at the firm's annual John P. Frank Awards Luncheon.