After years of partnership and one of the founding members of our firm, we are sad to inform you that Mr. Villarreal passed away abruptly on October 1st, 2022.

Arturo I. Villarreal is a founding partner of the firm of Garcia & Villarreal, PLC. Mr. Villarreal's primary practice area is civil litigation. Mr. Villarreal's cases have involved issues ranging from administrative law to zoning. He also practices in the areas of collections, construction, contracts, corporations, criminal law, estate planning, guardian and conservatorships, landlord tenant and real estate law. Mr. Villarreal is fully bilingual, being fluent in both English and Spanish.

Mr. Villarreal was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations. He remained in Los Angeles and the surrounding communities until he went to law school at the University of Arizona.

Mr. Villarreal previously worked with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom, a nationally known and pre-eminent law firm, and the firm of Ochoa & Sillas, which was voted the number one Hispanic firm in the United States by the American Bar Association in 1989. While in Yuma, Mr. Villarreal worked at the law firms of Westover, Choules, Shadle & Noble, P.C. (1994-1996), as well as Byrne, Benesch, Garcia & Villarreal, P.L.C. (1995-2009).

Civil Litigation

Mr. Villarreal's practice primarily focuses on civil litigation. He is dedicated to counseling clients and vigorously pursuing and defending litigation matters. He has obtained successful verdicts and has submitted successful briefs to the Arizona Court of Appeals Mr. Villarreal practices in all Arizona Courts. He also practices before a wide range of administrative agencies, including the Arizona Department of Banking, Registrar of Contractors, the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses, the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles, and the United States National Security Board.

Real Estate

Mr. Villarreal handles cases involving complex real estate issues. Mr. Villarreal has represented large developers (4,000 acres) in negotiating the web of bureaucratic entanglements in securing entitlements to the properties being developed. Mr. Villarreal has processed cases dealing with both major and minor General Plan Amendments, Annexations, preparation of complex Development Agreements, Shopping Center Leases and zoning applications. Mr. Villarreal was also part of the City of Yuma team to reform the City Zoning Code for ultimate use of by the public. Mr. Villarreal’s political skills provide a client with added benefits in forecasting and securing positive outcomes to publicly made decisions.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:

• Business and Corporate Law
• Civil Appeals
• Civil Litigation
• Collections
• Construction
• Contracts
• Estate Planning and Probate
• Guardian& Conservatorships
• Real Estate Law
• Landlord Tenant

EDUCATION:

University of Arizona, Juris Doctorate· 1992

University of Southern California, Bachelor of Science· 1987

HONORS & DISTINCTIONS:

Yuma Leadership Graduate -1997

Trial Advocacy College Arizona Graduate ·1998

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

State Bar of Arizona

Yuma County Bar Association

Phi Alpha Delta

LANGUAGES:

Spanish