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Martin, Kerrick & Bell Phoenix represents property owners exclusively in eminent domain and condemnation matters, led by a specialist certified since 1987.
A NOTE TO READERS. This profile was researched and written independently by Awesome Attorneys’ editorial team. Martin, Kerrick & Bell, L.L.C. did not pay for, request, or review this article prior to publication, and placement on Awesome Attorneys’ editorial pages cannot be purchased. Nothing in this article is legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict the outcome of any future case.
At a Glance
| Firm | Martin, Kerrick & Bell, L.L.C. |
| Lead Attorney | Douglas G. Martin |
| Other Attorneys | Robert V. Kerrick (retired); Leonard M. Bell |
| Certification | State Bar of Arizona Board-Certified Specialist in Real Estate Law (Martin), since 1987 |
| Focus | Eminent domain and condemnation, quiet title, real estate partition, zoning and variance, and real property sales — exclusively |
| Office | 357 E. Catalina Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85012 (Camelback Corridor) |
| Contact | mkblawaz.com |
Sources: mkblawaz.com, Martindale, Avvo, azbar.org Real Estate Law Certified Specialists roster. Compiled August 2026.
Origin
Martin, Kerrick & Bell Phoenix: Forty Years in One Niche
Douglas G. Martin has practiced Arizona real estate law for more than 40 years and was certified as a Real Estate Law Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona in 1987, a credential Awesome Attorneys confirmed directly against the Bar’s own public roster. His now-retired partner, Robert V. Kerrick, practiced for 50 years and authored the State Bar-published text “Eminent Domain in Arizona” — the definitive practitioner reference on the subject in the state. Leonard M. Bell rounds out the firm’s current attorney team.
Practice
An Exclusively Eminent Domain and Condemnation Practice
Unlike general real estate firms, Martin, Kerrick & Bell concentrates exclusively on representing property owners against government takings: eminent domain and condemnation, quiet title actions, real estate partition, zoning and variance disputes, and real property sales connected to those matters. The firm’s own materials state that its eminent domain cases have consistently resulted in final judgments greater than the government’s initial offer, and that Kerrick achieved two of the three largest condemnation awards in Arizona history during his career.
Track Record
The firm’s own materials cite a 100% record of eminent domain cases resulting in final judgments greater than the government’s initial offer, and credit Kerrick with two of the three largest condemnation awards in Arizona history. Awesome Attorneys did not identify an independent, itemized, case-by-case results table corroborating these aggregate claims beyond the firm’s own account.
Past-Results Disclaimer: Every case is different, and no past result guarantees a similar outcome in any future matter.
Client Voice
A reviewer identified as Yesenia Rodriguez described her case as complex and credited Martin and a colleague, Sierra, with working hard to obtain the best possible results. Awesome Attorneys did not identify a large volume of independently sourced reviews beyond this and similar firm-hosted testimonials.
Community
Robert Kerrick’s authorship of the State Bar-published “Eminent Domain in Arizona” text is a genuine contribution to the practicing bar’s understanding of the subject, distinct from client-facing marketing.
Recognition
Martin’s Real Estate Law board certification (since 1987) was confirmed directly against the State Bar of Arizona’s own certified-specialist roster — among the longest-held real estate certifications of any Phoenix attorney profiled in this category. The firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell (2021 and 2026). Awesome Attorneys did not identify a Best Lawyers or Super Lawyers selection for Martin in the sources reviewed.
The Arizona Legal Backdrop
What follows is general legal information, not legal advice.
Arizona eminent domain and condemnation proceedings are governed by A.R.S. Title 12, Chapter 8, Article 5, and both the U.S. and Arizona constitutions require the government to pay “just compensation” for a taking of private property. Quiet title actions, another named focus, are governed by A.R.S. § 12-1101 et seq. Zoning and variance disputes typically proceed through municipal boards of adjustment before any court appeal.
The Awesome Attorneys Assessment
Martin, Kerrick & Bell Phoenix’s clearest differentiator is genuine, decades-deep specialization in a single niche — eminent domain and condemnation — backed by Martin’s nearly-40-year board certification and Kerrick’s authorship of the state’s standard practitioner text on the subject.
The honest trade-off: this firm’s exclusive focus on eminent domain and condemnation means it is not a fit for general real estate transactions, leases, or title work outside that niche, and the firm’s aggregate results claims (100% above-offer judgments, historic condemnation awards) rest on the firm’s own account rather than an independently published, itemized case list.
Methodology & Sourcing
This profile was researched in August 2026 from mkblawaz.com, Martindale, Avvo, and the State Bar of Arizona’s Real Estate Law Certified Specialists roster (azbar.org). Awesome Attorneys did not identify a competing “Douglas Martin” practicing real estate law elsewhere that could create identity confusion. Martin, Kerrick & Bell, L.L.C. did not commission, review, or pay for this profile.
Publisher Disclosure & Independence Notice
This profile is an independent editorial article published by Awesome Attorneys. Awesome Attorneys does not endorse, recommend, or warrant any lawyer or law firm profiled on this site, and inclusion in this series is not paid placement.