ASU Law grad Heather Boysel becomes Phoenix firm’s first female managing partner

Heather Boysel, a 2007 graduate of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, has been named managing partner at Phoenix law firm Gammage & Burnham. At age 37, she is one of the youngest managing partners in Arizona, and the first female to hold that title at Gammage & Burnham.

She interviewed with the firm when she was a second-year law student, was hired as a summer associate and has been there ever since. In addition to managing partner, she also leads Gammage & Burnham’s health care practice group.

“I’m grateful for the leadership roles that I’ve been given the opportunity to take on,” she said, noting that she is also thankful to be working at a firm with such a well-known and respected health care practice.

An Arizona native, she grew up in Tucson and attended ASU as an undergrad, majoring in biomedical engineering. Around her junior year, she decided that she wanted to go to law school — and that ASU, centered in Phoenix’s thriving legal community, continued to offer the best opportunity.

“I knew I wanted to stay in Arizona and loved ASU and being in Phoenix,” she said. “The majority of the legal jobs also seemed to be in Phoenix, so it made sense to be here for school.”

She didn’t know what to expect from law school, but right away, she discovered it was going to be very different from her undergrad experience.

“My first class was with Professor Michael Berch, who was a force of nature!” she said. “Certainly a change of pace from engineering classes!”

Boysel, however, says it was in her engineering studies that she began developing the analytical and problem-solving skills that turned out to be “good training for a law career.”

Throughout her time at ASU Law, she found the everyday classroom discussions fascinating. She had a dual interest in patent law and health care law but ultimately found the latter to be a better fit.

Her career achievements have landed her on the 2019 Phoenix Business Journal "40 Under 40” list, which recognizes 40 of the most accomplished young executives in the Phoenix metro area who are making a difference both in their organizations and the community. Boysel is one of two ASU Law alums on this year’s list, joining Ahron Cohen, a 2010 graduate who is now president and CEO of the Arizona Coyotes.

A Phoenix resident, she is married with two young daughters and enjoys traveling in her free time. In fact, she was just getting off a plane for a vacation in Amsterdam when she saw an email notifying her of the 40 Under 40 recognition.

“It was certainly unexpected and a great start to my trip!” she said. “It is such an honor to be in a list with so many other extremely talented individuals.”

Like others on the list, she is thankful for the opportunities that have allowed her to achieve what she has at a relatively young age. And she looks forward to continuing to grow with Gammage & Burnham.

“I’m focused on ensuring that this firm, which has given me so much, continues on for many decades to come.”