A top law firm for Democrats based in Phoenix has acquired millions in government contracts under Gov. Katie Hobbs.
The firm, Coppersmith Brockelman, is most noted in recent years for representing the Katie Hobbs Inaugural Fund, a dark money nonprofit involved in the alleged pay-to-play scandal between Hobbs and a group home operator that received a unique and lucrative government rate increase.
The firm defended the inaugural fund amid a recently completed investigation by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, which cleared Hobbs of wrongdoing due to an alleged absence of evidence but was vague about the inclusion of critical records.
Coppersmith Brockelman has been Hobbs’ go-to outside counsel for years. The firm also represented Hobbs in multiple election-related cases while she was the secretary of state.
Now, the firm has followed Hobbs to the 9th Floor, where they’re making millions.
Since Hobbs took office, the state of Arizona has contracted with Coppersmith Brockelman for legal services to the tune of $7.4 million. About $5.9 million were identifiable as effectively no-bid arrangements in five of the six identified government contracts. These contracts were first reported on by FOIAzona.
The firm received two contracts in 2024 worth $5 million cumulatively, two contracts in 2025 worth $320,000 cumulatively, and one so far this year worth $600,000. A sixth contract worth $1.5 million that began in 2021 was extended under the Hobbs administration.
The contracts provided representation to the Arizona Department of Health Services concerning the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, Smart and Safe Arizona Act, and sober living assisted facilities; Arizona Department of Administration concerning civil claims related to the transfer of opioid-earmarked funds; Arizona Department of Water Resources concerning legal challenges to groundwater rules and regulations; and Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System concerning miscellaneous needs as required.
According to contract documents, the Hobbs administration determined that Coppersmith Brockelman had either specialized expertise or lacked relevant conflicts of interest, therefore justifying competition as impracticable for five of the contracts in question. These disclosures identified Hobbs’ office as the one who requested the agencies seek out Coppersmith Brockelman for outside counsel.
Coppersmith Brockelman did disclose numerous conflicts of interest in contract documents, including its representation of Hobbs’ inaugural fund, but those weren’t considered disqualifying for contracting purposes.
Several of the contracts had options to renew anywhere from one to five years — potentially amounting to millions more.
Andy Gaona, a firm partner key to several of those contracts, went on to receive an appointment from Hobbs to the Arizona Court of Appeals earlier this year. Bo Dul, previously one of Hobbs’ general counsel and pro bono counsel to Hobbs through States United Democracy Center, became a partner at Coppersmith Brockelman last year.
Hobbs also hasn’t hesitated to send government-backed payday boosts to those allied with her.
Last year, it was reported that Hobbs gave out pay raises amounting to around $200,000 each to staffers with lobbyist backgrounds. Her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff each received pay raises of around $200,000 that made them among the highest-paid employees by the state.
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