Leo Beus and Paul Gilbert met in the Netherlands when they were just 19 years old while serving as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became fast friends. That friendship has been nurtured for over 50 years. Each served in the military and attended Brigham Young University, where they were officially debate partners and unofficially intellectual sparring opponents, leading both to work harder and achieve more. While Leo attended the University of Michigan School of Law, Paul was drawn to the West Coast to attend Berkeley’s Boalt Hall Law School. Their friendship continued throughout law school and both were recruited to a major Phoenix law firm by former U.S. Solicitor General and BYU President, Rex Lee. In 1982, the two joined forces to start their own firm – Beus Gilbert PLLC. Paul and Leo built the firm and instilled a client-focused culture in the areas of both commercial litigation and land use/real estate law.

In 2018, Patrick J. McGroder III, a well regarded and nationally recognized attorney, joined the firm. Shortly after joining forces with Leo and Paul, the firm’s name changed to Beus O’Connor McGroder PLLC. Mr. McGroder is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Arizona College of Law and has practiced in Phoenix, Arizona for 45 years, specializing in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Mr. McGroder is an architect of social change through the law. His work has led to HMO reform, road design improvement, motor vehicle and aviation safety changes, and nursing home regulation.

Today, Beus O’Connor McGroder is ranked among Arizona’s top law firms with local, national, and international clients and recognition. The firm attracts attorneys who are results oriented and care about the success of their clients.