- Quickdraw McLaw
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Today’s topic is simple. Which is the most prestigious firm in town and why? Is it just your opinion or do you think it is a widely held opinion? Is it a Nevada firm or a national firm with a presence in Nevada? Do they pay well? Do you wish you worked there? Do they hire Boyd grads? Does the prestige of a firm make any difference in the grand scheme of things?
Alverson Taylor. ALL. DAY. LONG!
Everyone knows the firm with the most prestige is the Law Firm of Debble, Keck, Standinnia Face, Chtd.
Eglet's firm.
821 is the boss of us. Period.
After all these years it's still LS&C.
Brownstein Hyatt > LSC
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I can't believe no one nominated the obvious choice – Gerry G. Zobrist, Ltd. Look, they even have a website with a picture of a gavel and everything!
http://zobristlaw.com/home/
In over 7 years of practice, I've never once dealt with anyone from LSC. I don't know whether that says more about them or me. That might be part of their charm though, you hear things but never see them.
Another vote for Brownstein Hyatt.
8:21 – freaking awesome
The most prestigious firm in town?
Has to be Troy Fox & Associates
I'd say Campbell & Williams for sheer excellence. Prestige? That's a funny quality. Probably for pure prestige I'd go with Boies (local lawyer Rick Pocker).
In terms of pay, Vegas appears to have a Big Eight:
Miami-based:
1. Greenberg Traurig
2. Akerman Senterfitt
Philadelphia-based:
3. Ballard Spahr
4. Fox Rothschild
Denver-based:
5. Holland & Hart
6. Brownstein Hyatt
Phoenix-based:
7. Snell Wilmer
8. Lewis & Roca
I heard Fox Rothschild was leaving town.
It looks like Boies' Las Vegas office doesn't have any associates or even junior partners, but I wonder what associates at Boies' smaller outpostings get paid. It seems unlikely they get paid the $174k for first years that Boies lists on its Nalp multi-office form. Unfortunately, I never received a response to the application I sent there, so I'll probably never know.
2:01 pm, did you hear where their managing partner is bringing her massive book of business?
I don't know why it bothers me so much, but it seems like LS&C tries too hard to be known as the most prestigious firm in Nevada. Everything down to their stuffy 1970's Playboy mansion decor in the reception area just screams faux-prestige. But that's just me.
Pisanelli Bice deserves a mention.
Lewis Brisbois?
I assume 3:17 is joking.
For 2:42, LSC has always considered itself the most prestigious, so much so that it was responsible for the old rules that kept out-of-state firms from setting up shop since the name of the firm could only include Nevada-licensed attorneys. I would say the prestige factor went down quite a bit once the bigger fish could move in.
The Associates from Akerman show up to court with thousand dollar shoes and two thousand dollar brief cases. At a minimum they must have prestige at Neiman Marcus
I don't think I've ever heard of Campbell & Williams–which must make them very elite and prestigious.
There's good attorneys and good opportunities to learn at many firms that are not well known. I think the value of working at a big name firm is ease of lateraling in case the big name firm isn't where you want to spend your career.
Campbell & Williams is similar to Pisanelli Bice – a powerhouse boutique law firm. Although I would give the edge to PB based on its track record in big stakes cases. They just don't seem to lose…to my constant chagrin.
LSC and Brownstein may have had their days but they are nothing like they used to be. My guess is they will soon follow the path set by Jones Vargas. Just too top heavy.
Snell is decent.
Off topic, has the Nevada State Bar website stopped working for everybody else? I swear I have not been able to access it for at least two weeks
Depends on what you want use it for. I've been checking job postings (don't want to eat those depo cookies forever), and it has worked fine for me.
I'd say, in no particular order, Holland & Hart, LS&C, Pisanelli Bice, Brownstein and Campbell Williams are all contenders. All are great litigation firms, but LS&C's gaming and political/lobbying groups are to. p notch. Brownstein has a really solid gaming practice as well.
What about Gordon Silver? They seem to think they are pretty sweet.
LSC lost quite a bit of luster several years ago when a partner, one of the Whittemores, was convicted and sent to federal prison for kiddie porn. I believe they even found some on his computer at the office.
I honestly figured the national firms with their shiny name brand recognition and larger than normal first year salaries would get more mention on here. E.g., Boies, Ballard Spahr, Greenberg Traurig, Fox Rothschild. It seems like the regional firms (Holland and Hart and Brownstein) are getting a bigger response. I'm also surprised Snell and Lewis and Roca aren't discussed more. I thought they were at least as respected as Holland and Hart and Brownstein. Also, congrats to Pisinelli Bice. They had the guts to strike it out on their own, and now it seems like they're getting a ton of respect on here.
Fox Rothschild is hiring, so doubt they are leaving town.
Good post and discussions. May I suggest a similar post in the future discussing Plaintiffs firms? Most prestigious/best to work for/best reputation, something to that effect? I have my own thoughts and opinions but would be interested to hear what others around the proverbial "water cooler" have to say.
@7:17- What in WORLD are you talking about? I mean I havent seen that degree of slanderous erroneous information since WWL.
9:36 a.m.: do some research. http://www.rgj.com/article/20060226/NEWS01/602260420/Las-Vegas-lawyer-pleads-guilty-child-porn-charge
Gordon Silver is the only true full practice firm — bankruptcy & reorganization, gaming & administrative, commercial litigation & appeals, intellectual property, criminal defense, sports & entertainment, among other emerging practices. Additionally, they have an amazing lobbying affiliation with Jon Porter. While firms have been downsizing and facing implosions, Gordon Silver has grown in Reno, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.
9:36. Fact. Believe. You either didn't live here then or you live like an ostrich. He is doing 5 years in federal prison. Apology accepted byaaaaatch!!!
He might be out by now.
@ 9:36 Federal Magistrate Nancy Koppe was the prosecutor who handled it back then. Just ask her if you have any questions about the accuracy of the earlier post. You should do a bit of research before you falsely accuse someone of slander.
2:42 – I used to work there. It's not faux. There are a lot of old decisionmakers who don't realize how outdated the decor is. Plus they don't want to spend money to remodel. And while I would disagree that the Whittemore thing really affected LSC, it is indeed true and he is indeed out.
@ 3:36
After you take off your knee pads, you can pick up your bonus check from Greg Garman.
What about Hutchison & Steffen?
I thought H&S was one of the firms that only hired mormons. True?
H&S is the one true and living law firm upon the face of the Las Vegas Valley, with which I, Glenn Lerner, am well pleased.
In the name of Gladys Knight, Brandon Flowers, Mark Hutchison and Jim Gibbons (sort of), AMEN!
H&S has not only a lot of Mormons, they have about five or six Bishops. I honestly don't know how those guys even sleep with all those duties.