Former State Elections Director and General Counsel to Arizona Governor Joins Coppersmith Brockelman to Co-Lead Elections and Public Law Practice

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coppersmith Brockelman is pleased to announce that Sambo “Bo” Dul, one of Arizona’s most prominent attorneys in election, political, and public law, is joining the firm to co-lead its nationally recognized elections and public law practice alongside Andy Gaona. Working with their colleague Austin Yost, they will guide the next phase of that practice’s continued success. The former top legal advisor to Gov. Katie Hobbs and a former Arizona state elections director, Dul will strengthen the firm’s litigation, election, and public law capabilities for clients navigating the most challenging, sensitive, and complex matters.

Dul’s career spans work both in leading national law firms and high-level government offices. After nearly a decade in private practice, she left the partnership at Perkins Coie LLP to serve as state elections director, then general counsel and senior advisor to Hobbs during her tenure as Arizona Secretary of State. In those roles, Dul’s leadership secured free and fair elections in Arizona in a time when the country faced the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, efforts to undermine public confidence in election processes and results, and increasing threats and harassment against election officials. After Hobbs was elected governor, Dul stepped up to build and lead the governor’s legal team, serving as the office’s chief legal advisor on a broad range of high-stakes issues touching on nearly every aspect of Arizona government.

Dul’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law – and to excellence, integrity, and service in the practice of law – is rooted in her lived experience. Born in Cambodia, she was only a year old when her family fled the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge genocide. They lived in a refugee camp for four years before rebuilding their lives here in Arizona.

“Because of this experience and perspective, I don’t take our country or state for granted. In each step of my career, I’ve worked to pursue justice and strengthen our democracy, and joining Coppersmith Brockelman is a natural extension of that,” Dul said. “The spotlight on Arizona has grown increasingly bright in national conversations about elections and democratic governance, and I care deeply about the integrity of those systems. Coppersmith Brockelman has long been my go-to partner on high-stakes legal matters confronting the state, and I’m excited to continue working in this arena from this new role, while still serving the causes and communities I care about.”

At Coppersmith Brockelman, Dul will work with clients ranging from government agencies and officials to advocacy organizations to campaigns, voters, and others with an interest in the democratic process, advising on matters such as election administration, policy strategy, internal and government investigations, and litigation. Her addition builds on the firm’s growing local and national reputation as a leader in this space. She’ll also bring deep experience to the firm’s litigation practice, having managed a broad range of significant litigation in her former role as general counsel to both a governor and secretary of state and led complex election and commercial litigation in private practice.

“This is a huge moment for our practice and for the firm,” said Gaona. “Bo’s been the real deal for a long time. We’ve worked closely together for years, and her decision to join us speaks volumes about the mutual trust and shared purpose we’ve built. And on top of all that, she’s an incredible human being. We are elated to call her our colleague.”

In a statement, Governor Hobbs applauded the news.

“Bo Dul and the lawyers at Coppersmith Brockelman have been trusted advisors for many years,” Gov. Hobbs explained. “Throughout her time at the Secretary of State and Governor’s Office, Bo proved herself an extraordinarily capable and knowledgeable attorney who provided critical guidance on the state’s most pressing issues. I wish Bo all the best and am excited to see all of her contributions to the state and the legal profession going forward.”

Coppersmith Brockelman’s elections and public law practice provides expertise across a wide range of matters, including litigation, appeals, committee and corporate formation, campaign finance, ballot initiatives and referrals, regulatory compliance, and public records. The firm is widely recognized as one of the state’s most active and well-respected firms in the litigation of election, political, health care, and employment disputes. The team has deep expertise representing plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of commercial litigation and arbitration matters, including securities-related claims, contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts, legal malpractice cases, and more.

About Coppersmith Brockelman PLC

Coppersmith Brockelman is a Phoenix law firm providing services in the areas of data privacy and security, health care, administrative law, business litigation, corporate transactions and finance, election, political, and public law, employment and labor, government contracts, mediation and arbitration services, nonprofit organizations and governance, and real estate law. For more information, visit cblawyers.com.