Sun City, AZ

Zachary Mushkatel

Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive to help others into a legal career. Mushkatel graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2004 and has gone on to build a thriving law firm representing clients in the Sun Cities, Northwest Valley and the Phoenix metro region. Mushkatel brings a diverse array of legal expertise to his practice at Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C.. He started as a public defender before joining the law office of Henry Florence and Sherry Bell to work as a criminal defense attorney. In 2008, he joined forces with Mathis Becker to form Mushkatel and Becker. Throughout that period, he gained experience working in various practice areas, including personal injury, estate litigation, estate planning, guardianship and conservatorship work, probate, corporate litigation, real estate, and various civil matters. Mushkatel’s cross-disciplinary background provides for comprehensive counsel to clients to explore all possible legal avenues. Today, Mushkatel assists individuals throughout the Valley in personal injury, estate and civil litigation matters. Providing exceptional client service and producing results are his top priorities. “My job is to provide a lifeline to clients who feel stuck or helpless and to go to bat for them,” he says. Several of Mushkatel’s personal injury cases have resolved in excess of one-million dollars. He is the recipient of the 2020 Top-Rated Lawyer Award from Avvo and has been named a “Top 40 Under 40” by The National Trial Lawyers and a Premier Attorney by The National Academy of Jurisprudence. For Mushkatel, delivering maximum results does not mean sacrificing personal relationships. Success comes from taking the time to get to know each client’s individual needs and tailoring the legal approach to match his or her goals. Building those relationships results from creating an unpretentious yet professional environment that puts people at ease. “Most law firms run like businesses,” says Mushkatel. “The problem is that a business’s interests may not always run in stride with a client’s best interests. Our clients are our Number One priority, and the way we show it is by sitting back and listening quite a bit.” Community service is important to Mushkatel and every attorney in the firm. Each lawyer is required to work on at least two pro bono cases at all times. Mushkatel believes those services should be provided not for the accolades or to meet State Bar requirements, but simply because helping others is fundamental to the legal profession. Mushkatel is licensed in the State of Arizona, the Federal District Court of Arizona and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is on the board and a faculty member for the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, a program of the State Bar of Arizona’s Trial Practice Section. He is a past president and a member of the West Maricopa County Bar Association and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Sun Valley Lodge. A former semi-professional baseball pitcher, Mushkatel has coached his son’s Little League team for several years. When he is not working, he enjoys golf and spending time with his family.

Jordan Brunner

Jordan Brunner is passionate about litigation and vindicating the rights of his clients. He developed an interest in the law at an early age-one of his middle school teachers would loan him Time magazines and copies of the Wall Street Journal, which he read from cover to cover. He was fascinated by how the law impacted everything from war to economic policy. Brunner decided to attend community college while still in high school, graduating with his associate’s degree shortly before he received his high school diploma. He went on to graduate summa cum laude from Arizona State University in 2015, and received his law degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 2018. Besides being the youngest graduate in his law school class at twenty-two years old, Brunner also served as the president of the Jewish Law Students Association; vice president of the Black Law Students Association; the Senior Executive Editor of Jurimetrics-ASU’s science and technology law review-and a national security law intern at the Brookings Institution, writing for Lawfare. He also received many accolades, including the Alan A. Matheson Service Award for outstanding service to the law school, the Jurimetrics Best Note Award for his article examining cybersecurity and national emergencies, and several CALI awards for receiving the highest grade for specific courses. After law school, Brunner worked for the Justice Department before joining Doug Zanes & Associates to work on personal injury litigation. While there, Brunner worked on civil rights, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, and premises cases, as well as probate matters. Today, Brunner continues assisting clients with personal injury and probate litigation matters. He also periodically contributes to Lawfare on national security topics. His work for Lawfare and other outlets has been cited by academics, national security practitioners, media outlets, military officers, and government officials. Brunner is licensed in the State of Arizona and the Federal District Court of Arizona. He is a graduate of the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, a program of the State Bar of Arizona’s Trial Practice Section. He frequently volunteers with the State Bar and the Arizona Bar Foundation to teach the next generation of lawyers, particularly through mock trial programs. When he is not working, Brunner enjoys hiking, visiting museums, playing with his dog, and spending time with his family.

Emily Kile

Emily B. Kile is a graduate of the Northeastern School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Colorado, Boulder and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology from Boston College. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NEALA), past President of the Arizona Chapter (2008), a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), and a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, the Special Needs Alliance, and the Board of Directors for the Special Needs Alliance (2023-2024). Emily is a member of the Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the Maricopa County Bar Association. She has been a guest lecturer at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University regarding public benefits and special needs trusts. She is licensed to practice law in Arizona. She has been licensed to practice law since 1993. She practices in the areas of: estate planning, guardianship, conservatorship, ALTCS planning, probate and trust administration, and special needs planning. She formed her law firm in Arizona in 2004. Emily’s niece, Marisa, has Down Syndrome; this allows Emily some insight into issues faced by people with special needs and their families.

Heather Baker-Mushkatel

Heather Baker-Mushkatel graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001, and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 2004. Heather is an Arizona native who left the state for school but returned home to practice law in 2004 with her primary area of focus being family law. Heather also has substantial criminal law experience. Prior to joining Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., Heather practiced criminal defense with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, where she handled a wide variety of criminal matters, ranging from the simplest of infractions to the most severe and complex cases. Heather is a seasoned trial attorney who has significant experience litigating criminal jury trials, family bench trials and many other types of evidentiary hearings. Heather serves as faculty at the State Bar of Arizona College for Trial Advocacy instructing attorneys on all aspects of trial practice. Heather is devoted to serving the legal community and held several leadership positions with the State Bar of Arizona and West Maricopa County Bar Associations. Heather currently serves on the Board of Governors where she is also a member of the Rules Review Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She is heavily involved in the West Maricopa County Bar Association and has acted as the organization’s President, Co-Vice President, and Secretary. Heather previously served on the executive board of the Young Lawyer’s Division and is a graduate of the Bar’s 2012 Bar Leadership Institute. Heather also served on the Criminal Practice and Procedure and Mentor Committees and is a member of the Arizona Women’s Lawyer Association. Heather also volunteers within the community. She previously acted as the professional Mock Trial coach for Maryvale High School and has participated in several panels to educate young lawyers and law students on various aspects of law. Heather is a member of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce and volunteers at her children’s school. Heather enjoys spending her spare time with her family and two dogs.

Matthew Gobbato

Throughout his legal career, Matthew A. Gobbato has served clients in the areas of probate, estate planning and trust administration developing skills and insights that serve his clients well. “Everyone’s situation is unique. So, it is important that people engage in estate planning to ensure their wishes and intentions are fulfilled,” Matthew says. “People should work with a lawyer when creating an estate plan to ensure that what they are creating will effectively address their needs and concerns,” he adds. Matthew has lived in Arizona for most of his life, primarily residing in the Northwest Valley. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in 2006 and his Juris Doctor degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 2011. Prior to joining Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, PLLC, Matthew worked as an attorney at a small firm, where he established himself as a professional dedicated to providing personal attention to his clients and their objectives. He works closely with local professionals such as fiduciaries, financial advisors and certified public accountants (CPAs) to ensure his clients’ needs are met and protected. In addition to probate, estate planning and trust administration, Matthew assists clients with the formation of business entities. “I believe my clients need someone who is detail-oriented and able to provide them with direction,” Matthew says. “It is important to listen to their needs and address their concerns - to be someone who is truly there for them.” Matthew takes much pride in his professional aspirations, but he believes that supporting his local community is just as significant. Matthew has previously been involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a fundraiser and volunteer and has also volunteered with the Valley View Community Food Bank. He also serves on the West Valley Board for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “I personally feel it is important to give back to the community in which you live,” Matthew says. “It is important to make time to help others.” When he is not in the office, Matthews enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, hiking and mountain biking.

Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Hall knows what’s it like for families when a child has special needs, or when a parent’s physical and cognitive health starts to fade. As an attorney at Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., Rebecca uses those insights to help her clients with their estate planning needs and many related issues. Rebecca believes it is important to be sensitive to clients, their emotions, and their family dynamics, and to recognize they may be going through a very difficult time in their lives. The experience of raising two children, including a child with special needs, inspired Rebecca to become a lawyer. Initially, she earned her undergraduate degree at Arizona State University. After the birth of her oldest child, Rebecca found herself continuously advocating for her child to receive inclusive and appropriate supports and services in school. Rebecca found it frustrating that school officials she dealt with often seemed to defer to her lawyer and not to her recommendations. Rebecca then attended and graduated from Drake University Law School, which is located in her home state of Iowa. (She is also a graduate of Texas Partners in Policymaking, a leadership training program for children with developmental disabilities and their parents.) After Rebecca was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, Rebecca practiced in a variety of different areas and handled a range of cases, including successfully arguing a habeas corpus petition before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit regarding a defendant who was alleged to have been deprived of his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel. However, the personal experience of serving as the primary caregiver for her aging parents and helping them navigate issues ranging from coordination of doctors, healthcare, medications, hospitalizations and rehabilitations, ultimately inspired Rebecca to choose the focus of her legal career. Utilizing her personal experiences, Rebecca went on to earn a Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Elder Law from Stetson University College of Law, with Distinction. Today, at Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., Rebecca focuses her estate planning, guardianships, conservatorships, special needs planning, and Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) planning. To help Rebecca stay updated on changes in federal law and Arizona law that may affect her clients, Rebecca serves as an active member of several legal organizations, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Rebecca currently serves on the Executive Council of the Elder Law, Mental Health & Special Needs Planning Committee for the State Bar of Arizona, and as a member of the Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the Maricopa County Bar Association. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys reading, doing Pilates, traveling, and spending time with her family.