Question 1

What is Rai Fink Ebner?

Accepted Answer

Rai Fink Ebner is a civil defense litigation firm representing individuals, businesses, and insurers across Arizona, Nevada, and California. We bring together more than 110 years of collective trial experience in high-exposure civil matters.

Question 2

What kind of law firm is Rai Fink Ebner?

Accepted Answer

We are a defense-side civil litigation firm — we represent the parties defending against claims, from single-incident matters to complex, multi-party disputes.

Question 3

What makes the firm’s experience notable?

Accepted Answer

Our attorneys bring more than 110 years of combined trial experience across construction, general liability, personal injury, premises, professional and products liability, insurance coverage, and complex commercial litigation.

Question 4

What sets Rai Fink Ebner apart from a larger firm?

Accepted Answer

We’re a mid-size firm by design: deep enough to handle high-exposure, multi-jurisdictional litigation, but structured so senior attorneys stay personally involved in every matter — the bench strength of a larger firm with the attention of a smaller one.

Question 5

Who leads the firm?

Accepted Answer

The firm is led by its partners, including founding partner Rina Rai. You can meet the full team on our Attorneys page.

Question 6

What areas of law does the firm handle?

Accepted Answer

We defend construction defect, general liability and personal injury, premises/hospitality/transportation, commercial and business litigation, products liability, professional liability, class actions and complex litigation, insurance defense and coverage, subrogation and risk transfer, title insurance defense, business transactions, and wrongful death and catastrophic loss. See our Practice Areas.

Question 7

What is civil defense litigation?

Accepted Answer

It means representing the defendant — an individual, business, or insurer — in a civil lawsuit, rather than bringing the claim. We defend clients from the first notice of a claim through resolution or trial.

Question 8

Does the firm handle construction defect matters?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We defend subcontractors, general contractors, developers, and their insurers in single-family, multi-family, and large multi-party construction-defect matters, from early investigation and expert discovery through resolution or trial.

Question 9

Does the firm handle personal injury and premises liability defense?

Accepted Answer

Yes — general-liability, personal-injury, and premises-liability claims, including hospitality, retail, and transportation matters, for businesses and their insurers.

Question 10

Does the firm handle complex or high-exposure cases?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We defend catastrophic-loss, class-action, and other complex, multi-party matters where the exposure and stakes are significant.

Question 11

Does the firm try cases, or focus on settlement?

Accepted Answer

Both. We prepare every matter as though it will be tried — that readiness lets us resolve cases efficiently through negotiation or mediation when it serves the client, and try them decisively when it does not.

Question 12

Who does the firm represent?

Accepted Answer

Individuals, businesses, and insurers. Much of our work is on behalf of carriers and their insureds, and we also defend companies and individuals directly.

Question 13

Do you serve as panel counsel for insurers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We serve as panel and coverage counsel for insurers, defending insureds and evaluating coverage across our practice areas.

Question 14

Do you accept referrals from other attorneys?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We welcome referrals and regularly work with referring counsel, keeping them informed as appropriate throughout the matter.

Question 15

Do you work within carrier reporting and billing guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We are accustomed to working within insurer reporting requirements and billing guidelines.

Question 16

How do we send you a new assignment, tender, or referral?

Accepted Answer

Call any of our offices or send us the matter directly, and it will reach the right attorney. New assignments, tenders, and referrals are always welcome.

Question 17

How does the firm approach a new matter?

Accepted Answer

We start by understanding the facts, the exposure, and the client’s objectives, then build a defense strategy from the first notice of the claim.

Question 18

How does the firm staff a file?

Accepted Answer

Matters are staffed to fit their size and complexity, with senior attorneys involved throughout — not handed off — so the people advising on strategy are the people who know the case.

Question 19

What should I have ready when I reach out about a matter?

Accepted Answer

The basics help: the parties involved, the jurisdiction, key dates, and any relevant documents or notices. If you’re an insurer or referral source, your usual assignment information is welcome.

Question 20

How does the firm keep clients and carriers informed?

Accepted Answer

We provide the reporting and updates clients and carriers expect, tailored to each matter’s requirements.

Question 21

Which states and courts do you practice in?

Accepted Answer

Our attorneys are admitted in multiple states, including Arizona, Nevada, and California, and appear in state and federal courts across those jurisdictions.

Question 22

Can the firm handle matters in more than one state?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With offices in Arizona, Nevada, and California and attorneys admitted in multiple states, we regularly handle multi-jurisdictional matters and coordinate defense strategy across state lines as one firm.

Question 23

Where are your offices located?

Accepted Answer

We maintain four offices across the Southwest and West — Phoenix, Las Vegas, Irvine, and San Francisco. See our Offices page.

Question 24

Do I need to be near an office to work with the firm?

Accepted Answer

No. We serve clients throughout our jurisdictions and coordinate matters across our offices regardless of where you’re located.

Question 25

How does the firm bill?

Accepted Answer

Fees depend on the nature and scope of the matter. We discuss the appropriate structure at the outset so expectations are clear.

Question 26

How does an engagement begin?

Accepted Answer

An attorney-client relationship is established through a signed written engagement with the firm.

Question 27

Can we discuss a matter before formally engaging the firm?

Accepted Answer

Yes — reach out and we’ll talk through whether the firm is the right fit. Please hold any confidential details until an engagement is in place.

Question 28

Does contacting the firm create an attorney-client relationship?

Accepted Answer

No. Contacting Rai Fink Ebner — by phone, email, or through this website — does not create an attorney-client relationship, and information sent before an engagement is signed is not treated as a client confidence.

Question 29

Should I send confidential information through the website?

Accepted Answer

Please don’t send confidential or time-sensitive information until an attorney-client relationship has been established in writing.

Question 30

What if my matter is outside the areas the firm handles?

Accepted Answer

Let us know — where a matter isn’t a fit for the firm, we’ll try to point you in the right direction.

Question 31

How do I contact the firm?

Accepted Answer

Call any of our four offices or email us, and your inquiry will reach the right attorney. Details are on our Contact page.

Question 32

How do I reach a specific attorney?

Accepted Answer

Find each attorney on our Attorneys page, then call the relevant office and ask for them by name.

Thomas Duer

Thomas Duer

Discuss a matter with our team.