Benjamin’s practice focuses on complex litigation and appeals involving business disputes, real estate agreements, claims against government entities, public records, and Federal Indian law. An experienced advocate, Ben brings a strategic and creative approach to complex legal problems, with a focus on achieving practical solutions tailored to his clients’ goals.

Ben has built his career as an attorney representing individuals and businesses in complex cases against powerful actors, including government entities. He has extensive experience litigating cases in the State, Tribal, Appellate, and Federal courts of Arizona and has also led cases on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and United States Supreme Court. Benjamin’s work focuses on complex legal issues arising from business separations and ownership disputes, contracts and commercial transactions, real estate transactions, and governmental policies and practices that infringe constitutional rights.

Ben also maintains an active Federal Indian law practice, representing tribal entities and individuals in matters involving tribal governance, ICWA, civil and commercial litigation, administrative proceedings, economic development, employment law, and appeals. A graduate of the Indian Legal Program at ASU and former Chair of the Indian Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, Ben has worked closely with Indigenous communities throughout Arizona and has represented tribal and individual interests in State, Federal, and Tribal courts. He currently serves as a Judge for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in Northern Arizona.

Ben also has significant experience litigating matters under Arizona’s Public Records Law and has taught other attorneys on the subject. His practice includes appeals involving public records and other complex legal issues. In 2022, Ben successfully argued before the Arizona Court of Appeals in Smith v. Town of Marana, obtaining a published opinion confirming that public entities cannot “create a ‘black box’ of information that might render government activity impervious to public scrutiny.” Smith v. Town of Marana, 254 Ariz. 393, 397 ¶ 15 (Ct. App. 2022).

Experience

Prior to joining Zwillinger Wulkan, Ben was a Senior Staff Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona where he led high profile impact litigation cases against municipal and state entities.  Before that, Ben was a founder of a small a private firm handling, among other things, civil rights cases, general civil and commercial litigation, and Federal Indian law.

In addition to his work as an attorney, Ben serves on the board of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, the Arizona District Court’s Civil Litigation Panel, and the District Court’s Volunteer’s Lawyer Program – Advice Only Clinic.

Ben is a 2014 graduate of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and holds a BA from Arizona State University in Anthropology and Political Science.