Rachael Peters Pugel, Associate at our Phoenix law office
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Rachael Peters Pugel

Associate
Biography

Rachael Pugel focuses her commercial litigation practice on intellectual property, technology, and complex business litigation. Her case experience includes trademark infringement and validity, patent licensing agreements, copyright infringement, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, and domain name disputes.  Rachael also has experience in TCPA, products liability, defamation, tortious interference, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and financial services litigation.

Rachael has litigated intellectual property and commercial matters before federal district and state courts, the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the American Arbitration Association.

Through her pro-bono activities, Rachael has experience in representing clients in juvenile adoption and immigration removal proceedings. Rachael has also contributed to Snell & Wilmer’s IP litigation blog, SWIPLit.com.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona


Education

  • University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude)
    • Note Editor, Arizona Law Review
    • CALI Award Recipient for the highest grade in Patent Litigation and Arizona Civil Procedure
    • Ares Fellow for Professor William K. Sjostrom
    • Senior Vice President, Business Law Society
    • Social Chair, Law Women’s Association
    • Volunteer, National Lawyers Guild Legal Referral Clinic
  • Arizona State University (M.Ed., Elementary Education)
  • Arizona State University (B.A., Political Science; B.A., Arts in History, summa cum laude)
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Moeur Award Recipient
    • National Society of Collegiate Scholars
    • Golden Key International Honour Society
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation (2021-2025)
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Intellectual Property Litigation (2022, 2024)
  • Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (2019)

Previous Professional Experience

  • United States District Court, District of Arizona, Judicial Extern to Hon. James A. Soto (2015)
  • Snell & Wilmer, Summer Associate (2013 & 2014)
  • Zeitlin & Zeitlin, P.C., Legal Assistant (2011-2012)
  • Teach for America/Desert Spirit Elementary School, 4th & 5th Grade Teacher (2009-2011)
  • Arizona State University, Department of Political Science, Junior Fellow (2009)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • American Bar Association
    • Intellectual Property Section
    • Litigation Section
  • State Bar of Arizona
    • Intellectual Property Section
    • Business Law Section
  • Maricopa County Bar Association
    • Litigation Section
  • Arizona Women Lawyers Association

Community Involvement

  • Teach for America, Phoenix Associate Board of Directors (2016-Present)
  • Homeless Legal Assistance Project

Representative Presentations and Publications