Russell “Rusty” Rea is of counsel to Murphy Cordier Casale Axel PLC specializing in the areas of eminent domain, real estate valuation and acquisition, easements and rights-of-way, land use and zoning, water-rights, and real estate-related, commercial, and personal-injury defense litigation.

Rusty has extensive experience counseling clients with respect to a wide array of legal issues and problems. Rusty’s primary focus is with real property-related matters. Rusty helps a variety of clients, including individuals and both private and governmental entities, with both litigation and pre-litigation activities. Rusty has experience litigating in both Arizona state and Federal courts as well as all manner of private arbitration proceedings.

Before joining Murphy Cordier Casale Axel PLC, in early 2016, for more than 15 years from 2000 through 2015 Rusty was with Jennings Strouss & Salmon, PLC, one of the oldest law firms in Arizona, including 14 years as a Member in Jennings’ Phoenix office. Rusty served on various committees with Jennings including as Chair of Jennings’ Associates Committee. Prior to his time with Jennings, Rusty for two years was an associate attorney with a small boutique litigation firm in Phoenix. Prior to his civil practice, Rusty also served more than five years as a prosecutor with both the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, including in MCAO’s Gang/Repeat Offender Bureau, through which public legal service Rusty developed extensive trial and court-room expertise.

Presently, and since January 2016, Rusty also serves as General Counsel for the Roosevelt Water Conservation District, an Arizona water conservation and irrigation district.

Rusty is rated AV®Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell and is included in Best Lawyers in America™ (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) in the categories of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law.

Rusty has resided in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area since 1969 and attended Scottsdale Unified School District schools. Rusty is married and with three school-aged children.

Representative Engagements

Representation of Arizona irrigation and water conservation district in all manner of activities including property and irrigation facility acquisition and protection activities and disputes.

Representation of Arizona electrical power utility in acquisition and protection of property issues, including through eminent domain and for electrical power substation sites, well-sites, and electrical transmission line rights-of-way.

Representation of Texas-based natural gas supplier for eminent domain acquisitions of property across Arizona for FERC-approved pipe line and related natural gas transportation and distribution facilities.

Representation of Arizona municipality in eminent domain acquisition of property for airport expansion.

Representation of Arizona utility applicant before the Arizona Corporation Commission, Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee, Case No. 166.

Representation of Arizona irrigation and water conservation district and major natural gas utility in defense of personal injury claims.

Representation of individual and legal entity owners in all manners of eminent domain actions by local, state, and federally authorized condemning agencies and entities, including but not limited to freeway and roadway projects, natural gas pipeline projects, and railway right-of-way projects.