Meet Robert B. Zelms, the esteemed managing partner of the Phoenix office at Zelms Erlich & Mack. With a strong academic foundation, Mr. Zelms earned his BA in political science from the University of Arizona in 1993 and later attained his JD from Arizona State University College of Law in 1997.
As an accomplished attorney, Mr. Zelms specializes in a diverse range of legal areas, including professional liability defense litigation, lawyers' professional liability, miscellaneous professional liability, real estate errors and omissions (E&O), construction defect litigation, design professional E&O, financial services E&O, directors & officers cases, insurance agent E&O, accounting malpractice, complex general liability matters, aviation law, products liability, and trucking and transportation law. His expertise in Legal Malpractice has earned him national board certification by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA).
Recognized for his outstanding legal skills and professional accomplishments, Mr. Zelms has been consistently named a Southwest Super Lawyer from 2017 to 2022. This prestigious title is reserved for the top five percent of attorneys, as evaluated by their peers based on twelve indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.
In addition to his role as a managing partner, Mr. Zelms serves as an Adjunct Professor at the esteemed Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. In this capacity, he imparts his practical skills and knowledge through a course titled "The Litigation Experience."
Throughout his impressive career, Mr. Zelms has conducted over 30 jury trials in the State of Arizona, handling high-profile cases that have garnered national attention. Some notable instances include:
1. In 2020, Mr. Zelms represented one of the largest fitness companies in the U.S. in a groundbreaking case against the Governor of Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic. His successful argument highlighted the violation of his client's procedural due process rights, leading to the reopening of fitness centers in Arizona.
2.In February 2018, Mr. Zelms secured the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by "America's Toughest Sheriff," Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The victory was covered by major media outlets, including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Times.
3. In November 2017, Mr. Zelms obtained a favorable verdict in a severe trucking/bus accident trial, skillfully defending against high damages claimed by the plaintiff and securing a unanimous verdict for less than the claimed amount.
4. In March 2015, Mr. Zelms achieved a full defense verdict in a complex legal malpractice case involving corporate transactions, successfully navigating through an extensive array of documents and potential witnesses.
5. In August 2012, Mr. Zelms achieved an unprecedented defense verdict in a $20,000,000 trial related to a sexual assault at an Arizona high school, defending a Fortune 1000 company and a large school district.
Mr. Zelms' expertise extends to various legal matters, including aviation law, intentional tort lawsuits, construction defect claims, and complex real estate E&O cases. Notably, he has secured dismissals and defense verdicts for prominent clients across diverse industries.
Mr. Zelms is an esteemed member of the State Bar of Arizona and the U.S. District Court, District of Arizona. He actively contributes to the legal community as a member of the American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and LawForKids.org, an organization providing legal Q&A forums for Arizona's school children. Moreover, Mr. Zelms has served as the chair of the Southwest Chapter of PLUS (Professional Liability Underwriting Society).
As an expert in E&O insurance renewals, Mr. Zelms is frequently retained by insurance carriers and brokers to conduct Risk Management Audits and Peer Review Assessments of attorneys and law firms. He has also been an Instructor for the Arizona Association of REALTORS® rCRMS Risk Management Certification Program and has conducted seminars on risk management and claims issues for numerous insurance carriers and companies nationwide.
With an impressive track record of success, Robert B. Zelms stands as a legal luminary in Arizona, known for his unwavering dedication to his clients and unparalleled expertise across a broad spectrum of legal practice areas.
