Thatcher Government & Administrative Lawyers

Former Federal Prosecutor - Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice (Honors Program). Mr. Heurlin now practices in the areas of complex business and real estate litigation, securities arbitration (broker fraud), federal white-collar criminal defense, and security clearance litigation. Mr. Heurlin has tried approximately 50 jury trials and argued approximately 60 appeals, many in the federal courts.

Merle Joy Turchik is the owner of Turchik Law Firm, P.C. and has been representing employees and employers in labor and employment matters in both the public and private sectors for more than 28 years. She is experienced in handling matters before local, state, and federal administrative agencies (personnel boards, professional boards, ACRD/EEOC, etc.), discrimination cases (age, ADA – disability, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, sexual orientation, genetic testing), FMLA matters, wage and hour (FLSA) cases, drafting and reviewing employee handbooks/policies, non-competition agreements, severance agreements, wrongful termination and whistle-blower retaliation matters.

Legal Career:

Immigration Law and Federal Labor Law experience. Twenty years in the US Department of Justice. Trial Attorney, Assistant General Counsel, Chief Counsel (District Counsel). Last eleven years in the Department of Justice - Immigration Judge in Arizona.
Arizona county prosecuting attorney - Navaho County.
Arizona county defense attorney - Cochise County.


Military Career:
Regular Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve
Infantry combat veteran
Retired rank - Colonel.

My practice focuses largely on representing small businesses and startup companies, although I have represented major subsidiaries of publicly-traded companies such as Kroger Co. and the Hillman Group. I also have represented a number of financial institutions such as GE Capital Corporation, Colonial Bank, National Bank of Arizona, Western Alliance Bank and, more recently, Tennessee Commerce Bank. My smaller clients have benefitted from my counseling through their entire life cycles from formation through the moment they have been acquired or have filed bankruptcy, and I have represented executives in their companies' transitions to their children. More specifics...

I maintain a solo practice focusing on estate and family planning. I emphasize the need for young families to think through their wishes should the unexpected occur. My goal is to provide the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have provided appropriately and effectively for the loved ones you leave behind. I believe that everyone’s situation is unique, so everyone’s estate plan should be tailored to their situation. I’ve seen first hand the effects of families failing to plan and decided to craft a practice around helping them. I offer a 10% discount to military,...

John “Jack” Wilenchik is a litigation and trial lawyer who handles cases in areas including business and employment law, civil rights, law enforcement, victim’s rights matters, and tax audits/deficiencies. He has been named to the national Superlawyers list of “Top Rated Attorneys” by Thomson Reuters. In 2018, he obtained the largest jury verdict in Mohave County history (at $8 million, including $1.77 million in punitive damages), which was also the largest punitive damages verdict for the state of Arizona in 2018 (and second largest verdict overall). In 2017, the White House contacted him directly with the news that President Donald...