The founding partner of the firm, Mr. Penilla was a Dean’s Honor Roll student at the University of Arizona, graduating with a degree in Political Science in 1983. He went on to attend the University of Arizona College of Law, a top-tier law school, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1987.

After spending more than 3 years as a felony prosecutor where he gained extensive trial experience, including securing convictions of every class of felony offense, including first degree murder, Mr. Penilla began his career as a civil litigator.

Since 1992, Mr. Penilla has specialized in the areas of insurance defense and has been lead counsel in successfully defending numerous cases at jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations in Federal and State Courts. Mr. Penilla has prevailed at trials in United States District Court, Maricopa County Superior Court, Yuma County Superior Court, and Pima County Superior Court. Among his most significant trial victories have been verdicts in personal injury, wrongful death, and commercial litigation cases, and obtaining the first complete defense verdict in a mold case in Arizona history.

Mr. Penilla has twice been elected to represent Arizona as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1984 and 1992 and has previously been elected as a Precinct Committeeman, and the Republican State Committee. He has previously been asked to serve on the Rules Committee of the Arizona Republican State Convention. Arizona Governor J. Fife Symington appointed Mr. Penilla to a full term of the Arizona State Insurance Guaranty Fund Board.

Mr. Penilla is the former Chairman of the City of Glendale Planning Commission and has served on the Board of Directors of two homeowners associations.

Mr. Penilla is an active member of the Wildcat Club in Tucson, Arizona and has been a member of Arrowhead Country Club in Glendale, Arizona. He enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid sports fan.