Sonia Martinez, Esq. — Professional…

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Environmental Lawyer, Commercial Lawyer, General Defense, Multiple Tribal Jurisdictions

Ms. Martinez is a licensed attorney in Arizona and California. In 2004, Ms. Martinez graduated Magna Cum Laude from Southwestern Law School, located in Los Angeles, CA. In addition, Ms. Martinez graduated as a John J. Schumacher Minority Leader Scholar, and earned special United States Congressional recognition for her ‘Outstanding and Invaluable Public Service to the Community.' After graduation, in 2004, Ms. Martinez practiced complex environmental law in California until she moved to Arizona in 2006. In 2006, she began practicing law in Arizona, and worked as a Special Prosecutor for the Ak-Chin Tribal Nation. Later, she became a Litigation Associate at Jones Skelton & Hochuli P.L.C., handling complex environmental law, commercial and general defense work.

From working at the prestigious Jones Skelton & Hochuli P.L.C., handling complex litigation to opening her own practice in 2008, Ms. Martinez has represented clients large and small for nearly 15 years. She made headlines in late 2017 when her office secured recognition of same-sex marriage rights for tribal members a part of the Ak-Chin Tribal Nation. Ms. Martinez regularly takes cases in Indian Country, and is licensed to practice in multiple tribal jurisdictions. A large portion of her practice focuses on representing tribal members in their private family, dependency, criminal, and civil law matters.

Ms. Martinez practiced long before Arizona's passage of the 203 Medical Marijuana proposition, which occurred in 2010. Ms. Martinez' practice has stayed in front of the curve as she has regularly worked and continues to work with clientele faced with legal issues stemming from the Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Act. Also, Ms. Martinez worked with clients in anticipation, but ultimate rejection of the 'Yes on Prop 205' Campaign, and has done so since 2015. Moreover, Ms. Martinez is the Vice President of the Arizona Cannabis Lawyer’s Association.

Ms. Martinez has participated in numerous lawyer organizations, most notably, affiliated with the Arizona State Bar. Further, Ms. Martinez has presented as a panelist at dozens of education seminars and has been invited to teach as a guest lecturer related to her practice in Indian Country. Last, but certainly not least, she is the mother of two daughters.

SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL Juris Doctor, 2004, Magna Cum Laude

• Arizona, 2006 • California, 2004

Tribal Bar Admissions

• Ak-Chin Indian Community Court • Fort McDowell Indian Community Court • Tonto Apache Tribal Court • Gila River Indian Community Court • Hualapai Nation • Gila River Indian Community Court • Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Court • Hopi Indian Community Court

•Writing instructor for the Arizona National Bar Association Pipeline Program • Guest Lecturer at ASU's Indian Legal Program Clinical Program, where she teaches Rule 38(d) students about how to represent clients in Indian Country. •Guest Lecturer on cultural property and archaeology law for Archaeological Damage & Investigations Inc.

•State Bar Convention Committee, Panel Member since 2015 •Arizona State Bar Committee on Minorities and Women in the Law, Member & Past Co-chair •Selection Committee for the Arizona State Bar Leadership Institute, Panel Member •Maricopa County Superior Court Judicial Performance Review Commission, Team Member •Arizona Cannabis Lawyer’s Association, Vice Preside nt •Native American Bar Association of Arizona, Past Present •2015 State Bar Convention, Co-Chair •2013 Minority Bar Convention, Chair

•Selected as the Native American Bar of Arizona's 2013 “Member of the Year.” •John J. Schumacher Minority Leader Scholar, 2004 •United States Congressional recognition for ‘Outstanding and Invaluable Public Service to the Community,' 2004

•2009 Arizona State Bar Leadership Institute, Graduate . •National Hispanic Bar Association, Mentor . •Whisper & Thunder, Treasurer • United Food Bank, Board of Directors • MomForce USA, Member

•Authored the article, “Premises Liability, How to Protect Yourself and Others

Sonia Martinez Law, PLLC is a trusted law firm with locations in Mesa and Phoenix, AZ. We bring experience and professionalism to every case and customize our services to your individual needs and concerns. In 2009, Sonia Martinez opened her own firm after practicing law for 5 years and she has owned her own firm for the last 10 years. After 15 years of practicing law, Ms. Martinez has represented clients large and small. Ms. Martinez regularly takes cases in Indian Country, and is licensed to practice in multiple tribal jurisdictions. A large portion of her practice focuses on representing tribal members in their private family, dependency, criminal, and civil law matters.