Welcome Back Kotter Bogden?

Ah, politics. It may be the only professional realm more ludicrious than Las Vegas law. One day, you're the top of the world and the best at your job; the next day, you're fired on a political whim.

So, it's nice to see when an attorney tossed in the political trash for a rationale completely divorced from his quality of legal work finds new life. Such may be the case of Daniel Bogden, who was recently (re)nominated by the Obama administration to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada

The NY Times has an interesting story on the background of the hiring, firing and potential re-hiring of Mr. Bogden, who is currently at partner at McDonald Carano Wilson:

[U.S. Senator (D-NV) Harry Reid] said in a statement that he supported Mr. Bogden because he was “a highly qualified and skilled lawyer who served Nevada well before being wrongly removed from office.” Mr. Reid’s spokesman, Jon Summers, said the senator was “trying to right that wrong.” . . .

The nomination provides an intriguing postscript to a controversy that erupted in 2006 when President George W. Bush, on the advice of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, fired nine United States attorneys. The inspector general of the Justice Department called the firings “unsystematic” and “arbitrary.” Mr. Gonzales resigned in late 2007.

While some of the United States attorneys fired in 2006 complained that they lost their jobs in a political purge because they resisted efforts by Republican lawmakers to encourage or discourage certain prosecutions, no explanation emerged as to why Mr. Bogden specifically had lost his job. As recently as 2005, he had been praised for his “outstanding work” in a letter to Mr. Gonzales from Mary Beth Buchanan, the director of the Executive Office of United States Attorneys.

Not everyone is thrilled with the re-nomination. Several A.U.S.A.s commented anonymously they were not excited with potentially having Bodgen back. (LV Sun). Others stated they just wanted U.S. Attorney Brower out and stated the office is disorganized under the current leadership. (LV Sun). Meanwhile, F. Travis Buchanan, the president of the Las Vegas chapter of the National Bar Association, "expressed concerns about the lack of diversity in the United States attorney’s office during Mr. Bogden’s tenure: 'Who else was considered? If no one else was considered, why wasn’t anyone else considered?'" (NY Times)

We here at WWL support Mr. Bogden's re-nomination on purely ideological lines: i.e. I love a man with a moustache.

Best Defense Firms to Work for in Vegas (Editors' picks)

WWL presents its inaugural list of the best defense firms to work for in Vegas.

These rankings are based on the most pristine, untouchable scientific polling methods, a number of beers at a weekend BBQ, and reader input. It is worth noting that while many young associates will follow the magic number (salary/billable hour requirement) to figure out what firms to lust after, the firms in town with the highest magic number did not top our list. The reason? The list takes firm culture, firm reputation and associate perks into consideration. Enjoy!

Best Defense Firms to Work for in Vegas
1. Marquis & Aurbach

Marquis & Aurbach (“M&A”) takes first in the inaugural WWL Best Defense firm to work for in Vegas based on a combination of its firm culture, perks for employees and professional reputation. The firm starts associates off at $102,500 before lucrative bonuses, contributes to employee 401k accounts and pays 100% of health insurance for its employees. WWL received several emails from associates praising the firm culture, the sense of camaraderie and the willingness of the firm’s well-known litigators to mentor younger attorneys. Seems that the partners take turns regularly treating for a round or two at Friday happy hour. Additionally, the firm has a private chef prepare a free lunch for the attorneys Monday through Friday and has catered to attorney caffeine addiction by installing a soda fountain. In terms of billable hours, M&A requires 2000 hours, but the associates swear that 2000 really does mean 2000 even if you want to be on the partnership track.

2. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
WWL ranks Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (“BHFS”) second in the Vegas Valley based on its impressive and rising reputation. The firm currently has 36 attorneys in Las Vegas and has a starting salary of $110,000. The firm has highly ranked Corporate/Commercial law, Gaming law, General Litigation, Construction Litigation, Labor & Employment, ERISA, Real Estate and Zoning/Land Use departments (Chambers and Partners). Additionally, the litigation partners are well-respected and there has been little to no trash talked about the firm on WWL. The firm also knows how to celebrate associate work, hosting its Christmas party at the Wynn casino with an open bar. Finally, the firm inspired one of our favorite comments to the blog, “I would get about a $15,000 raise if I got an offer at Lionel Sawyer, but I wouldn't consider moving to that firm. On the other hand, I would move over to Browstein Hyatt [] even if I took a $5,000 pay cut.”

3. Lionel Sawyer
The old school firm of Vegas, Lionel Sawyer (“LSC”), places third on the list based on its perks for associates and its outstanding reputation. The firm starts off associates at $110,000, but lists the very reasonable billable requirement of 1,800 hours. Reports are that many LSC partners were crowned with partnership simply by billing the minimum amount of 1,800. Associates suggest there is no pressure to broach 1,800, but bonuses await those attorneys to who do. One frequent criticism of the firm has been its low level raises for associates who stay with the firm. However, LSC consistently ranks in the top Nevada firms for Corporate/Commercial law, Gaming law, Labor & Employment law, Litigation and Real Estate. (Chambers and Partners) Associates also wrote in to say that partners at the firm take time to work with them and are frequently assigned real responsibilities in cases, rather than being stuck in document review.One knock on LSC is that firm culture can be curmudgeonly, with no elaborate parties and associates are expected to be in a suit and tie every day. However, partners are known to go out of their way to host open bars, provide snacks, cake or ice-cream on a fairly regular basis.

4. Jones Vargas
Jones Vargas (“JV”) comes in fifth based on a rock solid reputation and reasonable billable requirement. Associates start at $102,000 and are expected to make 1850 billable hours. Like LSC, JV consistently ranks as a top Nevada firm in the areas of Corporate/Commercial law, Gaming law, Labor & Employment law, Litigation, and Real Estate. (Chambers and Partners)Associates report that they interact with the firm’s partners on a regular basis. They also report that there’s no pressure for associates to exceed the minimum billable requirement.

5. McDonald Carano Wilson
McDonald Carano comes in fifth based on its solid legal reputation and quick opportunities for associates to gain experience. Associates start at $100,000 and have the reasonable billable requirement of 1850. Like LSC and JV, McDonald Carano consistently ranks as a top Nevada firm in the areas of Corporate/Commercial law, Gaming law, Labor & Employment law, Litigation, and Real Estate. (Chambers and Partners) Associates similarly report that they interact with the firm’s partners on a regular basis.

6. Hutchison & Steffen
Coming in at number six is the lesser-known Hutchison & Steffen (“H&S”) based on its employee perks and the genuine associate love for the firm’s culture. Associates start off at $86,000 and are expected to make 1900 billable hours. Every Friday, the attorneys at H&S dine out together on the firm’s dime. The firm is also incredibly family-friendly, paying for an annual firm vacation for attorneys, support staff and their immediate families in Disneyland (including lodging). The firm also offers casual Fridays and free breakfast on Fridays (bagels and donuts). Associates also report that the attorneys and staff genuinely like each other, have frequent firm-wide potlucks and a friendly atmosphere. And the icing on the cake that won H&S the spot at no. 6? If associates bill over 200 hours a month, they get an extra check called “combat pay” to compensate for the loss of free time.

Firms to Watch:
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker
Until recently, Wilson Elser had not really been a player in the Vegas market. It was previously just a satellite office of a national firm, but with the addition of new managing partner and Vegas rainmaker Michael M. Edwards, we think it’s a firm to look into for next year’s list.

Holland & Hart
This last year Holland & Hart ("H&H") gobbled up Nevada firm Hale Lane. We haven’t heard if the Vegas office has the same perks and culture of the H&H Colorado offices, but if skiing, hiking and party life is now a regular part of firm life (WSJ Blog), expect to see them on the list next year.

Howard and Howard
Say what you want about the voting process that led a firm with only 14 attorneys in Vegas to come in second in the poll of best places to work in Vegas. The fact that Howard and Howard employees like the firm enough to put together 118 votes says this firm may soon join the list of best defense firms to work for in Vegas.

Roundup on a Tues

What the hell is this state coming to?  I thought it was a libertarian paradise, but apparently you can't leave your baby outside the casino for an hour while you go in and gamble.  wtf?!? (RJ)

Advice for young attorneys from former politician and longtime Vegas litigator: "As Brian Wilson says, 'Hold onto your ego.'  Whenever you see an attorney performing in court, it’s not helping the client. The client might like it, but he’s really losing the case."  (LV Sun)  [advice for Mr. Callister: choose a job and stick to it]

Congratulations to:

Joe Schrage, who was hired as an associate by McDonald Carano Wilson.  (LV Business Press)

Brin Gibson, Greg Carlson and Abigayle Dang, who were hired as associates by Lionel Sawyer & Collins. (LV Business Press)

Thursday Roundup

An editorial suggests that the backslapping of the Vegas legal industry is coming to an end and attorneys will now be prosecuted for ethics violations. (Review-Journal) [ahem . . . did they forget about the outcome of the Gage trial?]

U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson gave a convicted sex offender a break at sentencing after the man’s lawyer suggested the treatment received by Defendant in federal custody at the North Las Vegas jail was “worse than Guantanamo Bay in some cases.” (Reno Gazette-Journal)

Hey new 1Ls, having trouble figuring out what constitutes an "offer"? Well you can study this multi-million dollar public utilities case where counsel for Nevada Power argued a proposal to sell his company a power plant did not constitute an offer. (Review-Journal)

Congrats to Ryan Works of McDonald Carano Wilson who was recently appointed by the American Bar Association to its Litigation Pretrial Practice & Discovery committee. (Las Vegas Business Press)

Finally, enjoying using Blockshopper.com, to see what kinds of properties in the Vegas valley have been purchased by lawyers? Live it up, because a lawsuit brought by law firm Jones Day is asking the court to require websites to seek permission from the linkee before posting a link to another site. (Prairie State 2.0) Come to think of it, this and every blog that attempts to cite to a source would be destroyed by such a ruling.

Mid-Week Roundup

Bad news for the Hep-C victims of Dr. Needles Desai and Endoscopy Clinic: Judge Earl ruled this week that the victims could not sue Endocscopy's insurance company for failing to police the company's injection policies. (Las Vegas Now)

Congratulations to Stephen Mayfield, who was hired as an Associate by Hutchison & Steffen. (Review-Journal) and congratulations to Michael Dayton, named Vice President of Government Affairs by McDonald Carano Wilson. (Review-Journal)

Harmful Error profiles the race for the seat in Family Court Dept. I between Cheryl Moss, Gregory Gordon and Greta Muirhead (Harmful Error) and the race for the position in Family Court Dept. J between Jamie Kent, Lisa Kent, Michele Mercer, Kenneth Pollock and Morrisa Schechtman. (Harmful Error)

Meanwhile, the state Judicial Selection Commission chose attorneys Bryce Duckworth, Charles Hoskin, and Robert Teuton as nominees to fill the Family Court seat left vacant by retiring Judge Gerald Hardcastle. (Review-Journal)

Chambers and Partners rankings for Nevada Environmental law firms

Who doesn't love a good ranking of law firms? Chambers and Partners has come out with its 2008 rankings of the top attorneys in each major area of practice. WWL will be posting the top Nevada firms/attorneys for each category of legal practice in a separate post.

Here, for your reading pleasure is the ranking of Environmental practice firms in Nevada:

Environmental Law

Top Tier (Gold Medal)
Parsons Behle & Latimer
-citing the work of Ross de Lipkau and Earl Hill

Tier 2 (Silver Medal)
Allison, MacKenzie, Russell, Pavlakis, Wright & Fagan
- citing the work of Karen Peterson
McDonald Carano Wilson
- citing the work of Sylvia Harrison
Santoro, Driggs, Walch, Kearney, Holley & Thompson
-citing the work of Greg Walch
Woodburn and Wedge
-citing the work of Gordon DePaoli

Other Notable Practitioners
Linda Bullen of Lionel Sawyer & Collins

Nevada Business Journal Announces List of Legal Elite

Nevada Business Journal has released its list of the Top Nevada Lawyers. The list was compiled from the polled opinions of members of The Nevada Bar who were asked to name the lawyers they hold in the highest regard, the best up-and-coming attorneys in the state, as well as two government attorneys.
And the results are in:

Top Attorneys
Bruce T. Beesley - Lewis & Roca (Bankruptcy & Workout)
Todd L. Brice - Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Commercial Litigation)
Kurt Bonds – Alverson, Taylor, Mortensen & Sanders (Business Law)
Anthony Cabot – Lewis & Roca (Government & Administrative)
Donald J. Campbell – Campbell and Williams (Civil Trial)
Laurel E. Davis – Fennemore Craig, P.C. (Bankruptcy & Workout)
Robert T. Eglet – Mainor Eglet Cottle (Civil Trial)
John Frankovich – McDonald Carano Wilson (Commercial Litigation)
Andrew Gordon - McDonald Carano Wilson (Commercial Litigation)
Michael D. Haight – Henness and Haight, Injury Attorneys (Personal Injury)
Israel “Ishi” Kunin - Kunin & Jones (Adoption, Marital & Family)
Charlie H. Luh – Luh & Associates (Insurance)
George F. Ogilvie – McDonald Carano Wilson (Commercial Litigation)
Nathan Reinmiller – Alverson, Taylor, Mortensen & Sanders (Insurance)
LeAnn Sanders – Alverson Taylor, Mortensen & Sanders (Civil Trial)
Frank A. Schreck – Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Government & Administrative)
Ellen L. Schulhofer – Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Business Law)
Ambrish S. Sidhu – Sidhu Law Firm (Bankruptcy & Workout)
Richard M. Trachok – Bruce & Trachok, P.C. (International Gaming & Regulatory Law)

Top Up and Coming Attorneys
Stephen Dixon – T. James Truman & Associates (Business Law)
Michael V. Infuso – Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Commercial Litigation)
Josephine Binetti McPeak – McDonald Carano Wilson (Commercial Litigation)
Michael Pagni – McDonald Carano Wilson (Real Estate Transactions)
Karie Wilson – Alverson Taylor, Mortensen & Sanders (Transportation Law)

Top Government Attorneys
Mark A. Clayton – Nevada Gaming Control Board
Mike Davidson – City Attorney for North Las Vegas
C.W. “Bill” Hoffman – Clark County School District
Carie Torrence – City Attorney for North Las Vegas
Robert T. Warhola – Clark Co. Deputy District Attorney

In Case you weren't keeping count, here's the list by firm:
McDonald Carano Wilson--3 Top Attorneys, 2 Up and Coming
Alverson Taylor, Mortensen & Sanders--3 Top Attorneys, 1 Up and Coming
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck--3 Top Attorneys, 1 Up and Coming
Lewis & Roca--2 Top Attorneys
(and several others with 1 named associate or partner)

Congratulations to all the named top attorneys.