Legal Elite: Attorneys Choose Top One Percent

Representing the top one percent of Nevada’s attorneys, the 100 lawyers included in the 2009 Legal Elite have earned the trust and endorsement of their peers. These attorneys have been recommended by the people that know them best, the lawyers they work with or see across a courtroom. Who better to determine an attorney’s merit than another attorney?

Out of the approximately 10,049 licensed attorneys in Nevada, 100 are being honored as this year’s top attorneys. Additionally, lawyers were asked to submit three names for the best up-and-coming attorneys and the best government attorneys in Nevada. This second annual Legal Elite list is the result of those recommendations.

Methodology

Balloting for Legal Elite began earlier this year when Nevada Business Magazine asked members of the Nevada Bar to nominated their peers. Attorney’s were sent email ballots as well as encouraged to nominate through the website. The response was outstanding.

We received hundreds of ballots and began the arduous process of determining this year’s Legal Elite. Each attorney was given a score based on the number of votes he or she received and whether the votes came from within their firm (one point) or outside their firm (three points). Only lawyers that are licensed in Nevada were eligible to participate.

After each vote was tabulated, our research team began to review the top 100 scorers and determine their eligibility. They also reviewed each of the top 20 best up-and-coming attorneys and the top 20 best government attorneys. The following pages highlight the top attorneys as chosen by their peers and will be an invaluable resource for anyone looking to retain an attorney.

Topping the list

Chris Kaempfer

with Kaempfer Crowell Renshaw Gronauer & Fiorentino received the most votes in the Legal Elite category and is this year’s number one Legal Elite.

Greenberg Traurig

received more votes than any other firm for both the Legal Elite and the Best Up and Coming Attorneys.

2009 Legal Elite Stats

The 100 Legal Elite come from 42 separate firms throughout Nevada.

The 20 Best Up and Coming Attorneys come from 9 different firms.

The majority of the 2009 Legal Elite focus on Litigation as their practice emphasis.

There are approximately 203 rules in the Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys. These rules govern all licensed attorneys throughout the state.

Approximately 10,049 attorneys are licensed in Nevada.

According to the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law’s Placement Statistics, in 2008:

• 93.6% of their students were employed nine months after graduation

• 83% of those employed were in Nevada

• A graduate’s average salary was $75,532

• 77.9% of graduates received a job offer before graduation

• 55% of the graduates went into private practice

Top 100 Attorneys

Tom Amick of Kaempfer Crowell Renshaw Gronauer & Fiorentino in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 11 years, with an emphasis in land use and government affairs.

Lyssa Simonelli Anderson of Fox Rothschild in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 15 years, with an emphasis in litigation and employment law.

Robert Armstrong of McDonald Carano Wilson in Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 29 years, with an emphasis in trust and estates.

Davis Arrajj of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 12 years, with an emphasis in corporate and business law.

Phillip S. Aurbach of Marquis & Aurbach in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 32 years, with an emphasis in commercial and partnership litigation.

Brett A. Axelrod of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 13 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy.

John R. Bailey of Bailey Kennedy in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 25 years, with an emphasis in business litigation and administrative healthcare law.

Joice B. Bass of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in commercial and business litigation.

Paul A. Bible of Bible & Mousel in Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 40 years, with an emphasis in gaming.

Todd Bice of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 16 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Michael J. Bonner of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 28 years, with an emphasis in corporate & securities, gaming.

Bradley N. Boodt of Holland & Hart in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 15 years, with an emphasis in real estate & banking law.

Dan C. Bowen of Bowen Hall Ohlson & Osborne in Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 33 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation.

John E. Bragonje of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 4 years, with an emphasis in commercial and business litigation.

John N. Brewer of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 25 years, with an emphasis in corporate & securities.

William H. Brown of Law Offices of William H. Brown in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 8 years, with an emphasis in corporate and criminal law.

Michael Buckley of Jones Vargas in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 34 years, with an emphasis in business & real estate transactions.

Linda Bullen of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 8 years, with an emphasis in renewable energy, environmental law and nepa.

Anthony N. Cabot of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 27 years, with an emphasis in gaming.

Donald Campbell of Campbell Williams in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 31 years, with an emphasis in catastrophic injury.

Candace Carlyon of Shea & Carlyon in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 23 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy law.

Janet Chubb of Jones Vargas in Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 35 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy law.

Mark Clayton of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 19 years, with an emphasis in gaming regulatory, corporate and commercial.

Terry A. Coffing of Marquis & Aurbach in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 16 years, with an emphasis in commercial and real estate litigation and 1st amendment defense.

Sherwood N. Cook of Bollick & Boyer in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 21 years, with an emphasis in securities, business and corporate law.

L. Joe Coppedge of Coppedge Emmel & Klegerman in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 16 years, with an emphasis in business litigation.

Laurel E. Davis of Fennemore Craig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 22 years, with an emphasis in business bankruptcy, debtor’s rights, creditor’s remedies and commercial litigation.

Karen Dennison of Holland & Hart in Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 37 years, with an emphasis in real estate law.

Kathleen Drakulich of McDonald Carano Wilson in Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 23 years, with an emphasis in energy and public utility.

Lance C. Earl of Holland & Hart in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 20 years, with an emphasis in real estate, financing and lending, commercial and residential development and commercial leasing.

Elliott R. Eisner of Kolesar & Leatham in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 23 years, with an emphasis in real estate, banking, secured and unsecured transactions and gaming law.

Robert Faiss of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 37 years, with an emphasis in gaming law.

Michael N. Feder of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 9 years, with an emphasis in commercial and business litigation.

Cam Ferenbach of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 29 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation.

Mark E. Ferrario of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 28 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Jason Firth of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

John P. Fowler of Woodburn & Wedge in Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 15 years, with an emphasis in corporate and business law and real estate law.

Lynn Fulstone of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 16 years, with an emphasis in healthcare, insurance and general business law.

Gregory E. Garman of Gordon Silver in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 12 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy law.

Greg Gledhill of Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 2 years, with an emphasis in construction, contract and surety law.

Mark Goldstein of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 27 years, with an emphasis in real estate and corporate law.

Andy Gordon of McDonald Carano Wilson in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 21 years, with an emphasis in litigation, construction law and business law.

Gerald M. Gordon of Gordon Silver in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 36 years, with an emphasis in chairman of the business restructuring and bankruptcy department.

James Greene of Rice Sibley in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 23 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy law and commercial litigation.

Bob Gronauer of Kaempfer Crowell Renshaw Gronauer & Fiorentino in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 12 years, with an emphasis in administrative law, land use and zoning, construction, real estate.

Joseph “Joe” Hardy Jr. of Gordon Rees in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 9 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation.

Paul Hejmanowski of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 37 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation.

Justin S. Hepworth of Woods Erickson Whitaker & Maurice in Henderson has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in business litigation and commercial litigation.

Matthew W. Hoffman of Arin & Associates in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in plaintiff’s personal injury.

Eric D. Hone of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 6 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation/sports and entertainment law.

Philip M. Hymanson of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 26 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

John C. Jeppsen of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 18 years, with an emphasis in corporate and securities.

J. Randall Jones of Kemp, Jones & Coulthard in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 28 years, with an emphasis in civil trial practice; business, construction, real estate, mass tort and other litigation claims.

Chris Kaempfer of Kaempfer Crowell Renshaw Gronauer & Fiorentino in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 33 years, with an emphasis in land use litigation and government affairs, real estate, construction, sports law.

Gregory Kamer of Kamer Zucker & Abbott in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 23 years, with an emphasis in employment law.

Kevin Kelly of Kelly & Sullivan in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 30 years, with an emphasis in criminal defense.

Dennis L. Kennedy of Bailey Kennedy in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 34 years, with an emphasis in business litigation and professional liability.

David R. Koch of Koch & Scow in Henderson has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in business litigation/intellectual property litigation.

James Kohl of Howard & Howard in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 14 years, with an emphasis in business and corporate law, commercial litigation, financial services, real estate.

Jennifer Lazovich of Kaempfer Crowell Renshaw Gronauer & Fiorentino in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 11 years, with an emphasis in land use and government affairs, legislative affairs.

Nile Leatham of Kolesar & Leatham in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 23 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy, insolvency, secured transactions, commercial law and commercial litigation.

Paul Lemke of Jones Vargas in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 21 years, with an emphasis in domestic relations.

Kirk Lenhard of Jones Vargas in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 34 years, with an emphasis in complex litigation.

Samuel Lionel of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 49 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation.

Pat Lundvall of McDonald Carano Wilson in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 20 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation.

Michael J. McCue of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 13 years, with an emphasis in intellectual property.

Leon F. Mead II of Snell & Wilmer in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 14 years, with an emphasis in construction law and litigation.

Steve Morris of Morris Peterson in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 40 years, with an emphasis in contract litigation, corporate securities litigation, derivative litigation and utilities regulation issues.

John Naylor of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 10 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation with an emphasis on construction law.

Linda Marie Norcross of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in intellectual property.

Bob Olson of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 20 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy.

Jefferey D. Patterson of Goold Patterson Ales & Day in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 28 years, with an emphasis in commercial real estate.

J. Stephen Peek of Holland & Hart in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 37 years, with an emphasis in trial lawyer specializing in commercial litigation.

James Pisanelli of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 18 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Daniel F. Polsenberg of Lewis & Roca, LLP in Las Vegas & Reno has been practicing in Nevada for 27 years, with an emphasis in appellate practice and complex litigation.

Zachary Redman of Snell & Wilmer in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for years, with an emphasis in real estate and commercial finance.

Brandon E. Roos of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 8 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Micaela Rustia of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 4 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy.

Frank Schreck of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 40 years, with an emphasis in gaming law, corporate and business department.

Ellen Schulhofer of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 14 years, with an emphasis in corporate and business law.

Thomas Sheets of McDonald Carano Wilson in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 27 years, with an emphasis in energy and administrative law.

Ambrish Sidhu of Sidhu Law Office in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 9 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy law and commercial litigation.

Alan Sklar of Sklar Williams in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 18 years, with an emphasis in commercial transactions including real estate, healthcare and securities.

James Smyth II of Kaempfer Crowell Renshaw Gronauer & Fiorentino in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 12 years, with an emphasis in construction, real estate and litigation.

Daniel Stewart of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 1 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

William Stoddard Jr. of Albright Stoddard in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in commercial transactions.

Craig Stone of Fox Rothschild in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for years, with an emphasis in tax and estates.

Scott Swain of McDonald Carano Wilson in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 16 years, with an emphasis in trust and estates.

Mark G. Tratos of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 30 years, with an emphasis in intellectual property, entertainment, media and art law.

William R. Urga of Jolley Urga Wirth Woodbury & Standish in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 39 years, with an emphasis in business & real estate litigation, transaction & commercial law and gaming & administrative law.

Gregg Vermeys of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 17 years, with an emphasis in real estate.

Dan R. Waite of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 19 years, with an emphasis in commercial and business litigation.

Justin L. Watkins of Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in civil and construction litigation.

James E. Whitmire of Santoro, Driggs, Walch, Kearney, Holley & Thompson in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 11 years, with an emphasis in business litigation.

Ryan Works of McDonald Carano Wilson in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in commercial and business litigation.

William Wray of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 14 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Richard A. Wright of Wright Stanish & Winckler in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 35 years, with an emphasis in criminal defense and government investigations.

Jay Young of Marquis & Aurbach in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 15 years, with an emphasis in arbitrator of business disputes, litigation of business disputes, all civil litigation and real estate litigation.

Carol Zucker of Kamer Zucker & Abbott in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 25 years, with an emphasis in labor and employment law.

Jeffrey Zucker of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 28 years, with an emphasis in real estate and corporate law.

Best Up & Coming Attorneys

In order to qualify as a Best Up and Coming Attorney, each attorney must have been either under 40 years of age or in practice for less than 10 years.

Peter H Ajeman of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 4 years, with an emphasis in intellectual property.

Eric T. Blum of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in corporate and securities.

Jennifer Braster of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation, business disputes, mechanic’s liens and construction law.

Pearl Gallagher of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in business and real estate.

Leslie S. Godfrey of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Joseph A. Gutierrez of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Albert Z. Kovacs of Brownsten Hyatt Farber Schreck in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 2 years, with an emphasis in corporate & business law.

Anne M. Loraditch of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 7 years, with an emphasis in bankruptcy.

Jason R. Maier of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 6 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Christopher R. Miltenberger of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Terry A. Moore of Marquis & Aurbach in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 8 years, with an emphasis in real estate litigation, title insurance and escrow law.

Linda Marie Norcross of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in intellectual property.

Jennifer Roberts of Lionel Sawyer & Collins in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 6 years, with an emphasis in gaming, liquor and land use/zoning law.

Brandon E. Roos of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 8 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Marni Rubin of Mainor Eglet Cottle in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 4 years, with an emphasis in mass tort law.

Damian Sheets of Damian R. Sheets in Henderson has been practicing in Nevada for 2 years, with an emphasis in criminal defense and family law.

Daniel Stewart of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 1 years, with an emphasis in litigation.

Franchesca Van Buren of Lewis & Roca in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 3 years, with an emphasis in commercial litigation/sports and entertainment law.

Justin L. Watkins of Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 5 years, with an emphasis in civil and construction litigation.

Lisa Zastrow of Greenberg Traurig in Las Vegas has been practicing in Nevada for 4 years, with an emphasis in litigation.