Profilo
Laura Sixkiller is an experienced litigator and trial attorney representing clients in high-stakes litigation and investigations across the United States. Her broad clientele encompasses public companies, financial institutions, insurers, franchisors, funds, and fund advisors and their portfolio companies, as well as corporate executives and other professionals. Laura’s approach to litigation and dispute resolution is business focused, ensuring that her client’s business needs and goals are at the core of all strategic legal decisions. This approach, combined with her deep trial and arbitration experience, makes her a trusted and valued advisor.
With a deep understanding of complex issues involving contracts, securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, financial services, insurance, ESG, and capital markets, Laura provides strategic counsel on high-profile lawsuits and government inquiries. She assists clients in identifying and addressing areas that carry the risk of litigation, enforcement, and reputational harm. Because business transactions can attract litigation, Laura works seamlessly with the transactional team and client team to anticipate potential issues from the outset through the life cycle of post-acquisition litigation.
Laura’s litigation practice spans a wide array of matters, including unfair competition, the fiduciary obligations of directors and officers, brand reputation defense, enforcement of non-compete and non-solicitation covenants, trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation, public offerings, private placements, breach of representations and warranties and related indemnification obligations, stock manipulation, securities fraud, material disclosures, stock sale practices, shareholder rights, partnership agreements, corporate dissolutions and business divorces, accounting improprieties, share dilution and freeze-outs, business torts, successor liability, fair value determinations, civil racketing, negotiable instruments, commercial contracts, and consumer protection statutes and regulations.
Laura’s experience in franchise and licensing litigation is demonstrated through her representation of franchisors and licensors in federal and state courts and alternative dispute resolution forums throughout the United States. She has a proven track record of enforcing arbitration agreements, dealing with franchisee terminations, enforcing system standards and post-termination covenants, defending against vicarious liability claims, and protecting brands from infringement and misuse.
Laura also has deep experience defending insurance companies and syndicates in cross-border, multijurisdiction litigation against claims of bad faith breach of contract and tortious interference with contract. She represents national banks, mortgage lenders, mortgage servicers, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions in various consumer protection litigation and regulatory matters involving unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices, fair and responsible lending and servicing, sales and marketing practices, debt collection, fair housing, credit reporting, and credit discrimination.
Concentrations
- M&A disputes
- Franchise and licensing litigation
- Securities litigation and investigations
- Consumer regulatory litigation and investigations
Competenze
Esperienze Professionali - Attività Accademiche
- Represents logistics company in lawsuit asserting cross breaches of various covenants, representation, and warranties, including alleged violation of a change of control provision, failure to satisfy foreign tax obligations, and failure to perform post-closing indemnification obligations. The seller in the lawsuit also raises various business torts, including alleged fraud in the inducement in connection with the pre-closing negotiations, and sought to void certain key agreements relating to both the acquisition and operation of the bustiness post-closing.
- Represents portfolio company in the design sector in post-acquisition dispute with seller affiliates, asserting claims for alleged unfair competition, violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, breach of contract and various business torts.
- Represented an international transportation company in multijurisdictional post-closing dispute raising a wide range of issues that touched on many aspects of a complex transaction, including issues relating to the working capital calculation/purchase price adjustment. Following success in securing a partial dismissal of the Delaware Chancery action, a global settlement of all lawsuits was achieved.°
- Represented portfolio company in childcare sector with post-acquisition dispute that spanned multiple forums and raised numerous pre-and-post-closing breaches of various covenants, representations and warranties, a challenge to the earnout calculation, and asserting business torts and contract breaches relating to an ongoing business relationship between the parties post-closing. After prevailing on summary judgment motions in one of the proceedings, a global settlement was reached.°
- Represented health care industry seller in earnout and purchase price adjustment dispute that also raised alleged disclosure violations and post-closing breaches of fiduciary duty. After achieving a partial dismissal of the buyer’s counterclaims, the parties settled.
- Obtained judgment in favor of youth enrichment franchisor after a two-week arbitration in a complex franchising dispute, establishing trade dress infringement and violation of post-termination covenants by former franchisee.°
- Prevailed at pleading stage in numerous lawsuits brought against hotel franchisor under vicarious liability theories and asserting direct claims for unfair competition and false advertising.°
- Represented a national health and wellness franchisor in disputes with former franchisees in both arbitration and court to stop unlawful competition, obtaining injunctive relief in each case.
- Secured mandatory injunctive relief for personal care franchisor in connection with its exercise of its post-termination right to purchase certain items from former franchisee.°
- Counsel for global licensing brand to protect its brand, trademarks, trade dress, and related intellectual property from infringement.
- Defended a food manufacturer, officers, and directors in putative securities class action and derivative actions, obtaining a settlement°
- Defended various entities, officers, directors, trustees, and managers against claims asserting violations of the Arizona Securities Act, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate veil piercing, and fraudulent participation relating to investments made for the production and distribution of a motion picture. Obtained a with prejudice dismissal on all claims against 11 of the 12 defendants, with the claims against the lone remaining defendant dismissed with leave to amend, after which a settlement was reached.°
- Defended officers and directors in lawsuit brought by 120 individual plaintiffs concerning at least 12 different equity or debt offerings for alleged violations of the Exchange Act of 1934 and breach of fiduciary duty. Obtained a with prejudice dismissal of all but one 10b-5 claim brought by a married couple against just two of the officer defendants concerning a single investment, after which the parties entered a settlement.°
- Represented an energy company in putative securities class action and related derivative actions, obtaining a settlement.°
- Represented a corporation in SEC investigation concerning alleged lack of internal controls, and the alleged issuance of offering documents that included false statements of material fact or omitted material information.°
- Enforced agreement to arbitrate in multiple lawsuits against a Fortune 100 financial services company, and obtained full defense verdicts in each arbitration.
- Defended a pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple actions brought in state and federal courts asserting nuisance, RICO, and consumer fraud claims.°
- Represented a Fortune Global 500 company in attorney-general investigation for alleged failure to disclose and alert consumers of product risks, false advertising, unfair practices, and consumer fraud.°
- Represented national student housing company in resolving alleged discrimination in complaints filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.°
- Secured numerous dismissals and summary judgments for mortgage lenders and servicers in lawsuits initiated by borrowers under various federal and state consumer protection statutes and regulations.
- Awarded seven figures in damages plus attorneys’ fees and costs following a week-long bench trial related to a commercial sublease transaction.°
- Represented an intervenor in action brought by investors against green energy company for appointment of receiver following alleged misappropriation of $37 million in investor funds.°
- Defended a real estate firm and an individual broker against civil racketeering, fraudulent misrepresentation, and negligent misrepresentation claims as well as claims for alleged violation of the Securities Act of 1933, Colorado Consumer Fraud Act, and Interstate Land Sales Act. The Securities Act claim was dismissed with prejudice, the civil racketeering claim dismissed for lack of standing without prejudice, and the remaining claims subsequently resolved through a settlement.°
- Defended various individuals in lawsuit brought by receiver over an alleged fraudulent Ponzi scheme that purportedly raised at least $52.9 million through the sale of charitable gift annuities.°
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Sixkiller prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Riconoscimenti e Premi
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025
- Commercial Litigation, 2023-2025
- Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), 2025
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, M&A Litigation: Defense, 2020
- Listed, Phoenix magazine, “Top Lawyers,” 2022
- Listed, AZ Big Media, “Most Influential Women in Arizona Business,” 2019
- Member, American Bar Association, 2008-Present
- Member, American Bar Foundation, 2022-Present
- Member, Arizona Women Lawyers Association, 2020-Present
- Member, Maricopa County Bar Association, 2016-Present
- Member, Pima County Bar Association, 2016-Present
- Member, State Bar of Arizona, 2002-Present
- Member, TGen Foundation Ambassadors, 2021-Present
- Board of Governors, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, 2012-2016
- Board of Directors, Law College Association for the University of Arizona College of Law, 2014-Present
- Mentor and Volunteer, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Hike for Discovery, 2007
- Co-Chair, Arts & The Avenues, 2003-2007
- Co-Chair, Volleypalooza, 2003-2007
- Volunteer, Lawyers for Literacy, 2000-2002
Formazione
-
Laurea magistrale in Giurisprudenza, University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
- Member, Moot Court Board
- Diploma di maturità, University of Washington
- Arizona
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit