Spotlight on Top Attorneys: Alexis and Mark Breyer of Arizona's Husband & Wife Law Team

To Mark and Alexis Breyer, owning one of the Valley’s most successful personal injury law firms is not only about obtaining the best result for clients while delivering an exceptional experience: It is also about giving back to the community.

The Husband & Wife Law Team stands by the community as well – through good and bad.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, “The Husband & Wife Law Team” hosted the HEART Campaign – helping excellent Arizona restaurants together. Acknowledging restaurant workers and owners were hit hard, the duo came together to raise up to $4,000 in one day for a local eatery.

“The HEART Campaign drew in thousands of nominations for different restaurants,” Mark says.

“We asked people to name some restaurants that were struggling because of COVID. We were flooded with nominations. We chose about three of them a week and paid for 50% of every takeout and delivery order from that day from anyone in the public.

“We were able to work with the public and drive a huge amount of revenue to businesses that were struggling.”

More than that, the Breyers helped people who can’t afford restaurant food to get takeout. David Najor, of Detroit Coney Grill, one of the beneficiaries, applauds the Breyers for their efforts.

“It was our busiest Monday we’ve had,” he says. “We more than doubled our business on a normal Monday. They covered up to $4,000 in sales.

“What wonderful people to do something like this. They’re not just helping the restaurant; they’re helping the community. It’s a win-win situation. It’s unprecedented. They’re pumping money back into the economy. They really deserve a big shoutout.”

Mark says the HEART Campaign goes beyond making money. The funds can be funneled to the workers’ salaries and to cover rent.

Mark and Alexis Breyer founded the HEART Campaign to help ailing restaurants. (Photos by Pablo Robles)

“We’re helping restaurants stay in business,” Mark says. “It was exciting and rewarding. We kept it going past the time of the shutdown, though, just to help make up for some lost revenue.”

Throughout the pandemic, The Husband & Wife Law Team also honored its peers through the Arizona BizGives awards. To achieve that goal, the firm promoted all winners with a day on approximately 65 billboards on Arizona highways, social media posts and, in some cases, radio and TV commercials.

“It’s innate for us to want to help people,” Alexis says. “Mark comes from a family of teachers. My family members are entrepreneurs. It’s embedded in the soul of who we are. Obviously, we can’t help everybody, but we try our best.

“At first, with the HEART Campaign, Mark wanted to have everybody order takeout and we would deliver it. I told him that wasn’t possible. It was obvious when the pandemic hit, the restaurant and small-business industries were hit hard. We were really happy to see how much we were able to work with the community to help restaurants.”

Strong work ethic

A native of Southfield, Michigan, Mark was born with a strong Midwest work ethic. When he was 11, he delivered The Detroit News with his sister, and then moved on to a hometown Dairy Queen. He studied at Michigan State University and then Syracuse University College of Law School, where he met Alexis.

"I left Michigan to study law at Syracuse with a clear goal to come back single," he says with a laugh.

Quickly, Alexis retorts, "He asked me why I was in law school. I said to get my MRS degree. He thought it was a joint degree program."

That said, Mark set her straight on the first date.

"Every six hours for the first year, I said she would never be my girlfriend," Mark recalls. "She said if I wasn’t going to be serious, she was going to move on. It went from ‘we’ll maybe never be together’ to ‘let’s be together forever.’"

The weather brought the couple to Arizona, and they started their practice in 1996. Honesty and hard work are two things the Breyers believe in. They both have the passion to fight for their clients to provide the results the clients need.

Mark is a "certified specialist" in injury and wrongful death law, a certificate of expertise granted by the State Bar of Arizona that has been earned by less than 1% of lawyers in the Grand Canyon State.

Originally from the Boston area, Alexis attended Boston University. The couple embrace their clients like family. Their first client became their babysitter, and they still keep in touch with the family.

"We’re invited to clients’ weddings, birthday parties, graduations and plays," Alexis says. "Mark used to joke we’re getting more holiday gifts from our clients than our families."

That has continued. The Breyers are accessible, freely giving out their cellphone numbers.

"Mark texts on the weekend," Alexis says. "We are still very involved in all the cases. We keep the case load very low for our staff to make sure we provide really good communication. Our staff is amazing, and many have been with us for over a decade now."

That says a lot. The couple has eight children – four boys and four girls, ranging from age 9 to 23.

"Tonight I could be coaching kids, but tomorrow I’m in a courtroom," Mark says. "It’s been an interesting ride. Working together, I can work until 2 a.m. and Alexis gets it. She understands why."

Mark says with a laugh that he "ignores the kids," but truly, they are just as embedded in their kids and careers. They volunteer in their classrooms, coach teams, etc.

"The kids have literally grown up in our office," he says. "I think they understand we have to help clients or talk to team members at night or on the weekends.

"Sometimes it is very hard to balance. We are passionate about work, and we have a lot of kids. We have done a pretty good job. It was definitely a lot harder the first 10 years in practice. I had six kids under 7."

They even take their kids to the courtroom, providing the perfect insight into the Breyers’ career.

"The kids all know we’re trying to help people," Mark says. "The courtroom gives them a perspective into why we put in all those hours."

The Breyers hope the public understands their passion for achieving the best results and protecting those injured by a third party.

"We are out there on TV to help educate people about personal injury law and what the public otherwise would not know," Mark says.

"Our message is not about money, but rather about how good people who have been hurt by the fault of another party need to have an understanding of their insurance coverage, legal deadlines and how to protect themselves. Injury laws are complex, and that is why we are always here to help. Not every case necessitates hiring an injury lawyer, but we encourage everyone to call to get guidance and always are here to answer questions complimentary."

The Husband & Wife Law Team has multiple Valley locations serving all of Arizona. For more information, call (602) 457-6222 or visit breyerlaw.com.