Sign In Free Sign Up
Atty. Rick Bistrow

Atty. Rick Bistrow

Rick has focused his practice on civil litigation, insurance defense and construction litigation for over 40 years. In the early 1980s, he formed a partnership known as Horne, Bistrow, and Kaplan, P.C., which soon became one of the leading boutique construction law firms in Arizona.Throughout his long and varied career, Rick has handled numerous complex construction matters for owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.

Scottsdale Scottsdale 57 yrs experience 57 year
Call (602) 726-2313 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Rick Bistrow at a glance

Rick Bistrow is a Partner based in Scottsdale, Arizona, practforg at Resnick And Louis P C. They haand 57+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1969. Admitted to practice in Arizona (1969). Educated at Arizona Law School J.D. (—) and University of California - Berkeley B.S. (—). Serands clients in Scottsdale, AZ and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Rick has focused his practice on civil litigation, insurance defense and construction litigation for over 40 years
  • In the early 1980s, he formed a partnership known as Horne, Bistrow, and Kaplan, P.C., which soon became one of the leading boutique construction law firms in Arizona.Throughout his long and varied career, Rick has handled numerous complex construction matters for owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers
  • Early in his career he successfully prosecuted as lead counsel a construction case involving a hotel in downtown Phoenix that resulted in a judgment against a contractor for $1.6 million
  • Over the years, he successfully defended the State against road builders who sought multi-million dollars in damages
  • He has handled many matters involving mechanics liens, construction defects, delays, damages, contract integrations, Miller act and Little Miller Act suits, licensing, surety and bad faith suits
  • Rick has also acted as first chair in several jury trials and has been lead counsel in many arbitrations and court trials.In 2011, Mr. Bistrow became Chief Deputy of the Arizona Office of the Attorney General
  • In this capacity, he was in charge of some 400 lawyers and oversaw five separate divisions, including the Civil Division
  • The Liability Management Services Section of that division defends the State on all tort claims brought against it
  • One of Rick’s duties was to evaluate these claims and approve any settlement offer made by the State
  • He ended his duties as Chief Deputy in 2014 and joined Resnick & Louis thereafter.In 2005, he was asked by the Arizona Department of Education to defend it after a Federal District Court fined Arizona $2 million dollars a day for failure to properly fund English Language Learning programs in violation of prior judgments of the Court
  • Rick secured a stay of the fines at the 9th Circuit Court of appeals and later successfully argued that the prior contempt orders should be vacated
  • This resulted in three separate complicated trials between 2007-2010, proceeding an argument before the 9th Circuit, and a trip to the United States Supreme Court, which adopted Rick’s position in a 5-4 vote
  • The case, known as Horne vs
  • Flores (2009) is perhaps the leading case in the country on Rule 60(b)(5) remedies involving governmental institutions

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Arizona

Practforg law in Arizona. Legal matters in Arizona are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantiand law. Cases originating in Scottsdale are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Arizona state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Arizona brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantiand law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Arizona courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Arizona attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Scottsdale or all attorneys in Arizona.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Rick Bistrow

Where is Rick Bistrow's law office located?
Rick Bistrow's law practice is located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The firm is Resnick And Louis P C. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
How long has Rick Bistrow practiced law?
Rick Bistrow has 57+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1969.
Where did Rick Bistrow go to law school?
Rick Bistrow earned their education at (—); (—).
How can I contact Rick Bistrow for a consultation?
You can contact Rick Bistrow directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Education

Arizona Law School J.D.
- In Progress
University of California - Berkeley B.S.
- In Progress

Bar Admissions

Arizona
Admitted: 1969

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.