Greg Gillis has over 35 years of trial experience in a wide variety of construction disputes, commercial litigation matters, and having litigated cases in 13 of 14 counties in Arizona.

Education

  • J.D., University of Nebraska (1986)
  • B.A., University of Nebraska (1982)

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training

  • State Bar of Arizona, ADR Section Critical Negotiation Skills and Tools for ADR (2022)
  • State Bar of Arizona, ADR Section, Case Law Update (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, ADR Section, Probate Mediations-Getting to a Signed Settlement Agreement (2021)
  • ACE 21-Impartiality:  Do You Know Where Your Biases Are?  American Arbitration Association (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, ADR Talks (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, Fly on the Wall:  Is this Okay?  Mediator and Arbitrator Technique and How to Use Them in Your Practice (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, ADR Section, Discovery In Arbitration:  Balancing Proportionality, Efficiency and Party Self-Determination (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, ADR Section, High Conflict Mediation-Dealing With High Conflict Personalities, (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, Mediation Preparation for Lawyers and Mediators, Including How Any Lawyer Can Become a Mediation Advocate (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, The History and Distinction Between Labor and Employment Arbitration and Powers of an Arbitrator Are What you Give the Arbitrator (2021)
  • State Bar of Arizona, Alternatives to the Typical ADR Process (2021)
  • American Arbitration Association, Best Practices for Arbitrators in Expedited/Fast Track Arbitrations (2021)
  • “Arbitration and Mediation Case Law Update,” (2022) State Bar of Arizona Alternative Dispute Resolution Section (2020)
  • “Video Arbitration: What to Consider Before Jumping In,” American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law (2020)
  • “Cyber Security: A Shared Responsibility,” American Arbitration Association (2020)
  • “Zooming into ADR: Mediations and Arbitrations,” State Bar of Arizona (2020)
  • “ADR in the Wake of COVID-19,” American Bar Association (2020)
  • “Private Arbitration Update,” State Bar of Arizona (2020)
  • “ACE 19-Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know,” American Arbitration Association (2019)
  • “Handling Righteous Indignation,” State Bar of Arizona (2019)
  • “Peering into the Arbitrator’s Brain,” State Bar of Arizona “ADR Talks” (2019)
  • “A Model Mediation Settlement Agreement” (with forms), State Bar of Arizona (2019)
  • “What Every Arbitrator Should Know About Receiverships in Arbitration,” State Bar of Arizona (2019)
  • “Can Freud Help? The 2018 Interplay of Psychology and Negotiation/Mediation Strategy,” State Bar of Arizona (2019)
  • “Drafting Effective Submission Agreements,” State Bar of Arizona (2018)
  • “Faith-Based Alternative Dispute Resolution: Alternatives to Secular Courts,” State Bar of Arizona (2018)
  • “Sexual Harassment Presentation for AAA Panelists,” American Arbitration Association (2018)
  • “Mediation Is the New Trial,” State Bar of Arizona (2018)
  • “Conducting Effective, Tone-Setting Pre-Hearings and Resolving Discovery Disputes,” Roundtable, American Arbitration Association (2018)
  • “Simplifying Your Case for Arbitrators and the Value of Formal Rules and Administration,” Advocates Program, American Arbitration Association (2018)
  • “2018 AAA Construction Conference,” American Arbitration Association (2018)
  • “Vocal Traits and Hidden Bias,” State Bar of Arizona (2018)
  • “Interim Awards, Partial Final Awards and Functus Officio: Tailoring Flexible Accessories to Suit a Strict Doctrine,” American Arbitration Association (2017)
  • “Best Practices in Employment Arbitration from the Arbitrator and Advocate Perspectives,” State Bar of Arizona (2017)
  • “Mediation Skills Across Practice Areas,” State Bar of Arizona (2017)
  • “Mediation in Evolution: Challenges and Opportunities,” State Bar of Arizona (2017)
  • “Arbitration Talks,” State Bar of Arizona (2017)
  • “Best Practices in Commercial Arbitration,” American Arbitration Association (2016)
  • “Private Arbitration Update,” Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University November (2016)
  • “Ethical Considerations for Arbitrators, Mediators and Advocates,” American Arbitration Association (2016)
  • “Essential Mediation Skills for the New Mediator,” American Arbitration Association (2015)
  • “Avoiding Ten Common Missteps Arbitrators Make,” American Arbitration Association (2015)
  • “Preparing for a Construction Mediation: A Mediator’s Perspective,” State Bar of Arizona (2014)
  • “Powerful Preparation and Persuasion: 12 Secrets to Mediation Success,” State Bar of Arizona (2014)
  • “AAA Arbitration Rules Update,” State Bar of Arizona (2014)
  • “Ethical Perils and Pitfalls for Arizona Mediators and Arbitrators,” State Bar of Arizona (2013)
  • “Best Practices in Construction Arbitration and Mediation” State Bar of Arizona (2012)

Community Leadership

  • American Subcontractors Association of Arizona: Associate Member (2025)
  • Arizona Builders Alliance: Associate Member (2025)
  • Children’s Cancer Network: Director (2013 – 2019)
  • North Bible Church: Elder (2016 – 2020)
  • SAE Phoenix Alumni Inc.: Director (2015 – 2025)
  • Southwest Business Credit Management Association: Associate Member (2025)

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Arizona (1987)
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (1987)
  • Nebraska (1988 Inactive)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (1995)
  • U.S. Supreme Court (1996)

Honors & Awards

  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell® 2010-present
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law (2013 – 2025); Construction Litigation (2021 – 2025); Arbitration (2023 – 2025), Mediation (2024)
  • Super Lawyers: Construction Litigation (2014 – 2025)
  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers Foundation
  • Arizona’s Top Lawyers, AZ Business Magazine (2010, 2016)
  • AzBusiness Leaders (Law: Construction), AZ BIG Media (2015 – 2018)

Professional & Industry Memberships

  • American Bar Association: Forum on Construction Law (Division 7, Insurance, Surety & Liens, Steering Committee Membership and Marketing Committees; Division 1, Alternative Dispute Resolution)
  • American Arbitration Association: Construction, Commercial and Consumer Panel of Neutrals
  • National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
  • State Bar of Arizona: Alternative Dispute Resolution Section (Chair, 2021-2022; Executive Council Member 2019 – 2025); Member, Construction Law Section; Member, Bankruptcy Section
  • Maricopa County Bar Association: Construction Law Section
  • Scottsdale Bar Association
  • Judge Pro Tempore, Maricopa County Superior Court (2014 – 2025)

Presentations

  • “My Customer Filed Bankruptcy: Now What?” Southwest Business Credit and Construction Conference (webinar) July 2020, Maricopa Country Bar Association (webinar) April 2022
  • “Zooming into ADR: Mediations and Arbitrations,” State Bar of Arizona, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, June 2020
  • “Stop Notices: Securing Payment on Arizona Commercial Construction Projects” (webinar) May 2020
  • “COVID-19: The Intersection of Lien Law and Bankruptcy” (webinar) April 2020
  • Project Manager Development Program, Arizona Builders Alliance, February 2020
  • “Unique Issues in Arizona Construction Law: What Credit Managers Need to Know,” Southwest Business Credit Services October 2019
  • “The Intersection of Bankruptcy Preferences and Mechanics’ Lien Waivers: A Wrong Turn Can Be Costly” (co-presenter), American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law August 2019
  • “Payment Issues: Prompt Payment, Mechanic’s/Materialman’s Liens and other Collection Issues,” Arizona Builders Alliance April 2019
  • “My Customer Files Bankruptcy: What Must I Do?” Southwest Business Credit and Construction Conference, April 2019
  • “Model Mediation Settlement Agreement” (with forms), State Bar of Arizona, Alternate Dispute Resolution Section, January, 2019
  • “A Model Mediation Settlement Agreement (with Forms)” (panel moderator), State Bar of Arizona, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section January 2019
  • “Stop Notices: The Little-Known Way to Get Paid on Commercial Construction Projects,” Southwest Business Credit Services October 2018
  • “Preliminary Notices to Mechanics’ Liens: Fact from Fiction” (co-presenter), Arizona Builders Alliance Webinar May 2018
  • Project Manager Development Program, Arizona Builders Alliance February 2018
  • “Commercial General Liability, Additional Insured Coverage, and Completed Operations Issues,” Arizona Subcontractors Association of Arizona October 2017
  • “ABCs of ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution),” Arizona Builders Alliance October 2017
  • “A ‘Legal Audit’ of Your Business Practices” (panelist), Arizona Builders Alliance Legal Roundtable October 2017
  • “Risk Management: Roles of Preliminary Notices and Mitigating Risk,” Arizona Minority Contractors of America June 2017
  • “The Importance of Pre-Construction Property Identification and Assigning Risk” (webinar), Arizona Builders Alliance June 2017
  • “Uniform Commercial Code and Other Secured Transactions,” Southwest Business Credit and Construction Credit Conference April 2017
  • “My Customer Filed Bankruptcy — What Must I Do?” Southwest Business Credit and Construction Credit Conference April 2017
  • “Arizona Mechanic’s and Materialmen’s Liens,” American Subcontractors Association of Arizona March 2017
  • “Contract Administration and Legal Issues,” Arizona Builders Alliance Project Managers Development Program March 2017
  • “ABCs of ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution),” Southwest Business Credit Services Legal Insights Educational Series March 2017
  • “Arizona Lien Law,” Southwest Business Credit and Construction Credit Conference April 2016
  • “Personal Guarantees,” Southwest Business Credit and Construction Credit Conference April 2016
  • “Preventing and Resolving Construction Disputes: An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure,” Arizona Builders Alliance January 2016
  • “50-State Lien Law Pamphlet” (Arizona Contributor), American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law 2016
  • “Arizona Lien Laws: What You Need to Know,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2016
  • “Personal Guarantees,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2016
  • “Contract Administration and Legal Issues,” Arizona Builders Alliance, Project Manager Development Program February 2016
  • “Preventing and Resolving Construction Disputes: An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure,” Arizona Builders Alliance January 2016
  • “Construction Arbitration: What You Need to Know Now,” National Business Institute 2016
  • “Legal Implications of Same-Sex Marriage on Your Credit Decisions,” Southwest Business Credit Services, Legal Insights Educational Series September 2015
  • “Arizona Lien Laws: What You Need to Know,” The Weitz Company, September 2015; Arizona Builders Alliance (webinar) May 2015
  • “Construction Lien Law in Arizona,” Southwest Business Construction Credit Conference April 2015
  • “Lien Foreclosures and Lien Priority Issues for Credit Managers,” Southwest Business Construction Credit Conference April 2015
  • “Yes, No or Maybe So? Drafting Effective Mandatory ADR Provisions,” Scottsdale Bar Association 2015
  • “Understanding and Protecting Your Payment Rights” (Legal Roundtable), Arizona Builders Alliance November 2014
  • “Construction Lien Law in Arizona,” Lorman Education Services September 2014
  • “Arizona Lien Law and Judgment Enforcement Remedies,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2014
  • “Arizona Lien Laws: What You Need to Know” (webinar), Arizona Builders Alliance February 2014
  • “Reclamation and Preference: When the Bankruptcy Court Wants You to Give Money Back to a Debtor,” Southwest Business Credit Services Legal Insights Educational Series September 2013
  • “An Overview of Issues Related to Personal Guarantees,” Southwest Business Credit Services Legal Insights Educational Series September 2013
  • “Post-Judgment Collection Remedies,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2013
  • “Prescription for Healthy Subcontracts” (Legal Roundtable), Arizona Builders Alliance March 2013
  • “Reclamation and Preference Issues in Bankruptcy: When the Bankruptcy Court Wants You to Give Money Back to the Debtor,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2012
  • “Foreclosure of Personal Property Liens and Other Non-Cash Alternatives of Getting Paid,” National Association of Credit Management Executive Forum April 2012
  • “Reclamation and Preference Issues in Bankruptcy,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2011
  • “Collecting from Bankrupt or Insolvent Contractors,” National Association of Credit Management, “Good Morning Credit!” September 2010
  • “Preference Issues and Abuses in Bankruptcy,” Southwest Business Credit Executives Forum August 2010
  • “Collecting from Bankrupt Contractors,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2010
  • “Effective Collection Methods,” Southwest Business and Construction Credit Conference April 2010

Articles & Presentations