Brianna
Long

OVERVIEW

The opportunity to work on complex national litigation cases lured Iowa native Brianna Long to Arizona. Iowa and its people drew her back.

“I have the best of both worlds with a complex litigation practice based in Des Moines,” Brianna says. “I enjoy living and working with Iowans. It’s more rewarding to leverage my national commercial litigation experience to work through issues with clients that often directly impact Iowans and Iowa businesses.” The desire to help people in her home state—as well as raise her family in Iowa—brought her litigation practice back to the state.

Brianna primarily handles complex commercial litigation and employment litigation. She handles matters at all stages, from day-to-day advising to taking cases to trial and handling appeals.  

Her client’s business needs are at the forefront of Brianna’s approach. “I want clients to really see me as a trusted advisor—as an extension of them,” she says. “I want them to be comfortable with me and enjoy working together, despite the fact that oftentimes we are dealing with complex, high-stakes issues.”

With an undergraduate degree in finance and a certificate in risk management and insurance, Brianna applies her knowledge to understand the inner workings of her clients’ businesses. “The first thing I do is understand the issue from the client’s perspective,” she says. “I work with the client to determine what a win would look like for them.” Working in a variety of industries, Brianna explores her clients’ problems from different angles. She is always looking for the best way to achieve the client’s business goals.

Through upfront thinking, brainstorming, and research, Brianna finds solutions that make her clients happy. Often, that’s not the easy answer. “I look for a solution that pays dividends in the long-term for the client—even if it’s not the most obvious or quick-fuse solution.” 

That’s one of the main reasons Brianna wanted to be a lawyer and, specifically, a litigator. She values her ability to help people and to work directly with clients. She likes to forge solutions in a fast-paced, challenging environment. “I enjoy the process,” she says. “I enjoy digging into tough, complex legal issues and coming out on the other side, but the thing that always inspires me and keeps me going is the ultimate resolution for clients.”

RECOGNITION

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

• Commercial Litigation, 2021-2025
• Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2022-2025

Great Plains Super Lawyers
Rising Stars, 2022-2024

Order of the Coif

Boyd Service Award, University of Iowa College of Law

University of Iowa College of Law Merit Scholarship

Iowa Law Review
Note and Comment Editor

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

Volunteer Lawyers Program

Polk County Women Attorneys

• Basket Auction, Co-Chair, 2021

SPEECHES & PUBLICATIONS

“Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies Area Variance Standard; Property Owners May Obtain an Area Variance When Special Circumstances Existed at Purchase,” Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert, October 9, 2017 (co-author)

“New Model Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(g): Legislative History, Enforceability Questions, and a Call for Scholarship,” 41 J. Legal Prof. 201, 2017 (co-author)

“Arizona Supreme Court Changes the Law Governing Contractual Attorneys’ Fee-Shifting Provisions, with Immediate Implications for Arizona Businesses Both Inside and Outside the Courtroom,” Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert, March 27, 2017  (co-author)