NEVADA - Key Persons
Audrey Damonte counsels clients on a full range of commercial and transactional matters, including entity formation, business counseling, contracts, asset purchases and sales, real estate transactions, title issues, vendor agreements, tax audits, and joint ventures. Audrey also advises on real property, time share matters and associations, water law, and administrative law issues, including licensing for gaming establishments, lending, and debt collection agencies. She has represented clients in litigation including disputes involving trusts, wills, probates, contracts, real property, water rights, title issues and other matters.
Audrey also has extensive experience in estate planning and administration including handling probate matters throughout the state of Nevada. She is well-versed in complex estate issues involving various forms of trusts, wills, and intestate succession. Audrey has deep experience in government relations - especially legislative and regulatory affairs - having worked in multiple jurisdictions in the drafting, education, consideration and passage of key legislation. She has provided government relations counsel to clients on gaming regulations and campaign finance, and she is a registered lobbyist in several jurisdictions.
Branden Jung is a commercial litigator licensed to practice law in Nevada and New York. Branden has extensive experience in civil litigation and has practiced in the areas of general liability, medical malpractice, insurance defense, and commercial litigation. Branden is an advocate of doing what's best for his clients and is skilled in mediation and arbitration.
Branden proudly grew up in Southern Nevada and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas-William S. Boyd School of Law. During law school, he earned multiple CALI awards for earning the highest grades in his classes in Transactional Drafting, Judicial Writing, Public Health Law, and Educational Law Advocacy Clinic.
Education:
B.A. in Economics, University of Nevada, Reno
M.A. in Economics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
J.D., William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Brian Boschee is a shareholder and experienced trial lawyer who advises clients in Nevada and across the United States in the areas of complex construction and commercial litigation. He has extensive experience handling contract and other business disputes, including partnership disputes. He has represented clients in more than 75 arbitrations and trials, including trials in state and federal court, and has argued several times before the Nevada Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His clients have included companies in the construction, banking, health care and health services, and marijuana sectors. Brian and his team also handle drafting and negotiating construction agreements for developers, general contractors and subcontractors, as well as representing parties before the Nevada State Contractor's Board.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Brian worked primarily in politics, including positions running a North Dakota Supreme Court campaign and working with United States Senator Byron Dorgan in both North Dakota and Washington, D.C. Outside of the office, Brian enjoys playing golf, attending sporting events and coaching baseball. Brian also spends time supporting local organizations dedicated to helping people in Southern Nevada like Girls on the Run and the Good Deeds Project.
Brian has been recognized by Super Lawyers in the Mountain States (Nevada, Utah, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming) for 2013 - 2018 and 2020. Additionally, he was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2009 and 2011-2012.
Tom Edwards is a shareholder with extensive experience advising clients on litigation. His work on complex business and commercial litigation includes handling breach of contract claims, disputes between business partners, collections, insurance disputes, deficiency actions, receiverships, and business dissolution matters. Advising on real estate disputes, he has represented clients with regard to evictions, easements and access disputes, landlord-tenant disputes (both commercial and residential), and disputes related to property management and maintenance.
Tom also handles a full range of employment litigation matters, including disputes arising out of wage and hour issues, discrimination and hostile work environment claims, union grievances, trade secrets, and non-competition matters. Tom's clients include banks, real estate developers, medical providers, and property management companies, among others.
Additionally, Tom is an NFL Players Association Certified Player Agent specializing in NFL prospect and player contract negotiations, endorsements, sponsorships, corporate partnerships, personal brand protection, related business and charity formation, and other player agent-related legal services. Tom leads the Firm's sports practice through a specialized division of the Firm, HD Sports Agency.
Tom served as a law clerk for the Arizona Office of Homeland Security, the Pima County Attorney's Office, and the Honorable James C. Carruth, Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
Frank Ellis is a transactions and trial lawyer who has advised clients on business law and litigation for more than 38 years. He provides counsel on a wide variety of corporate and commercial matters, including entity formation and general corporate counseling, contracts, the purchase and sale of real estate and businesses, commercial leases, construction law, commercial transactions, gaming law, and regulatory matters. Frank has represented clients in a full range of commercial litigation including disputes involving contracts, contractor and construction disputes, real estate purchase and sale agreements, business purchase and sale agreements, tenants and landlords (commercial), and lenders and borrowers. He also has extensive trial experience.
In addition to his work for business clients, Frank has represented receivers who have been appointed in state and federal court, and he has been appointed as a receiver by such courts at the behest of, among others, the Federal Trade Commission.
Frank's clients include business of all sizes, from sole proprietors to publicly traded multinational companies. He counsels clients in a variety of industries including gaming, hospitality, gas stations, contractors, relators, real estate investors, lenders, printing companies, convenience stores and auto dealerships. Some of his current and previous clients include Ellis Island Casino, Hotel and Brewery, Village Pub taverns, Edmond Warehouses Holding, Vegas Materials, Fire Protection Provided By Mesa, JMS Investments and Properties, Joe's Stone Crab, Harshman Excavating, R. D Prabhu M.D., Red Rock Medical Center, AMA Air Conditioning & Heating, Airport Concessions, Swarts & Swarts, CPAs, Concord Finance, Black Mountain Golf & Country Club, D & D Steel, Electrostatic Painting, The Lakes Lounge and Gardenia Lane Photography.
Greg Walch advises on environmental, water, land use, mining, eminent domain, and administrative law matters in the Southern Nevada area. He currently serves as general counsel for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Prior to entering the practice of law, Greg engineered water supply and groundwater systems with Layne Western Company for industrial and municipal clients for five years.
Holley Driggs is fortunate to have one of Nevada's most experienced and complete business law practices. Our team practices in business organization and operation, corporate governance and board representation, mergers and acquisitions, limited liability company and partnership issues, licensure and regulatory matters, and many other legal and business issues that confront decision makers while operating in Nevada's unique business environment. The Firm's business law practitioners routinely advise international, national, and local businesses, and although the Firm concentrates on Nevada based transactions, our attorneys regularly advise our clients on business transactions centered throughout the United States and elsewhere. To fully serve our clients, our business attorneys frequently interact with the Firm's tax, property, employment, water, and intellectual property attorneys to provide our business clients with full-service support for their organizational needs.
Holley Driggs business attorneys are at the forefront of the Nevada business law community and serve as leaders and members of the State Bar of Nevada Business Law Section, as well as the Tax Law Section. In those capacities, our attorneys frequently contribute to the Nevada Legislature in fashioning revisions and additions to Nevada statutory law. In short, Holley Driggs is a preeminent business law firm in Nevada, and we look forward to serving your business.
Holley Driggs Law Firm is proud to be a Nevada-based law firm focused on making positive contributions to the local and regional communities through the dedicated leadership of its team of more than 25 experienced attorneys.
With offices in Las Vegas and Reno, our general practice law firm represents national and international clients on a wide spectrum of business and corporate practice areas including commercial litigation, real estate, natural resources, eminent domain, employment law, bankruptcy, construction, gaming, and technology and intellectual property. The Firm's shareholders also have broad experience in administrative law, estate planning, probate, and tax law.
In addition to its strong internal team of seasoned legal professionals, Holley Driggs is the only Nevada law firm that is a member of Law Firm Alliance, an exclusive global network of full-service law firms that further extend our combined experience and enhance our service to clients through high quality and cost-effective legal services in jurisdictions worldwide. A rigorous member selection policy is in place and, since its establishment, membership has grown to 50+ law firms with close to 3,000 attorneys practicing nationwide and internationally. For more information, go to www.lawfirmalliance.org.
Holley Driggs shareholders have a firm-wide commitment to public service and community involvement and it is a culture that we live everyday through political and charitable activities as well as through serving on various professional associations. Last year we were awarded the prestigious Leid Award for Cases for Law Firm. We are honored to be engaged with several non-profit organizations focused on supporting children and empowering women. Lear n more about our diverse community service and stewardship initiatives here.
AFFILIATIONS
Holley Driggs is a member of the following affiliations to further extend our network and enhance our service to clients and the law profession:
Doug has been rated by Super Lawyers as one of the top lawyers in the Mountain States (Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming) for 2009-2019 and Best Lawyers in 2021 in the area of Real Estate. Additionally, he is peer-review rated "AV®Preeminent™" by Martindale-Hubbell, 2020.
Doug Driggs is a leading expert in real estate and corporate law, assisting local, regional and national clients with their transactional and business needs. His practice includes real estate acquisition, disposition, financing, development and leasing of master planned communities and office, industrial, multifamily and retail properties as well as entity formation and structuring. Doug has extensive experience in representing sellers, buyers, lenders and borrowers in complex real estate projects in Nevada and regionally. Doug has also been involved in structuring development and joint venture projects and assisting clients with their organizational strategies.
Many clients look to Doug as their primary legal counsel, with Doug assisting those clients with a wide range of business issues, often teaming with other attorneys at the firm to provide specialized legal services.
Doug has represented many of Nevada's premier developers of residential and commercial properties, including high-rise condominiums on the Las Vegas Strip, Lake Las Vegas (a major resort-style master-planned residential, hotel, shopping and golf community), large multi-family projects, and first-class office developments. Doug also has extensive retail experience, assisting his clients with both acquisition and disposition of retail centers and leasing.
Doug works with national and local banks and other lenders and has participated in the financing of many of Nevada's major projects. Doug also assists clients with structuring and restructuring their business entities, including work-outs of distressed projects.
Doug received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in Economics (1982) and his law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law (1985) where he graduated with honors. Doug is licensed to practice in Nevada and Arizona.
Jim Boyle is a shareholder who advises clients on intellectual property litigation and dispute resolution, as well as brand and IP asset protection. He has represented clients before state and federal trial and appellate courts, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, administrative agencies, and in arbitration. Jim's clients include small businesses and entrepreneurs, start-up entities, and newly incorporated entities, as well as national brands such as Marker Trax, LLC and KOIN Mobile, LLC, Switch Ltd., Petroglyph Games, Inc., and Nothing Bundt Cakes®.
Jim has deep experience advising companies on how to address IP brand and asset protection in the context of transitioning a start-up business from the hands-on administration of its founders, to the corporate structure necessary to manage large IP asset portfolios. He has worked with clients in a variety of industries including hospitality and gaming, online video gaming, reality world ventures, and franchising entities.
In addition, Jim advises pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies on regulatory compliance matters.
Jim Puzey is a shareholder and an experienced trial lawyer who advises clients in commercial litigation, construction law, gaming law, water law, land use, and alternative dispute resolution. He has counseled clients in a full range of commercial and business disputes, including casino ownership disputes, shareholder derivative actions, land development disputes, water rights forfeiture issues, disputes involving real estate owners and general contractors, wrongful termination actions, landlord-tenant disputes and foreclosures (commercial and residential), collection actions, premises liability claims, condemnation proceedings, as well as personal injury and wrongful death cases. Jim has appeared in courts throughout Nevada, before the Nevada Supreme Court, and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
In addition, Jim has served as an arbitrator in more than 50 arbitrations. He is an arbitrator in the First and Second Judicial District Court ADR Program, and he serves as a mediator in the State of Nevada Foreclosure Mediation Program. Jim also represents clients before the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the Nevada State Board of Accountancy, the Nevada State Contractors Board, and the Office of the State Engineer of the Nevada Division of Water Resources.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Jim played professional baseball for several years with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and was chosen as a member of the 1983 USA National Baseball team which medaled in the Pan American Games and several international competitions. Jim is also a member of the Reno High School and University of Nevada Athletic Halls of Fame.
Jason Smith is a shareholder in the Firm and has experience in a wide variety of commercial, contract, business, tort, and civil litigation matters in state and federal court, including matters before the Nevada Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jason has experience handling matters involving commercial contracts, landlord/tenant (residential and commercial), personal guarantees, corporate governance disputes, partnership and limited liability entity disputes, shareholder derivative actions, tort, real estate, professional malpractice and liability, defamation, and business disparagement, mechanic's liens, employment discrimination, premises liability, and medical malpractice. Jason has assisted out-of-state firms as local counsel in numerous matters including intellectual property litigation, shareholder derivative cases, and class action matters in state and federal court.
Martindale-Hubbell has designated Jason as an AV-rated lawyer and he has been repeatedly selected as a Mountain States Super Lawyer. Jason was selected as a Rising Star by the Super Lawyers Mountain States magazine in 2010, 2011, and 2012. He has been repeatedly selected as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern Nevada by the Nevada Business Journal in its Legal Elite edition (now Top Rank Attorneys) and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his work in Commercial Litigation.
A native of Bettendorf, Iowa, Jason received B.B.A. degrees in Finance and Marketing from the University of Iowa in 2001 where he was a member and captain of the Hawkeye basketball team that won the 2001 Big Ten Tournament Championship. Jason was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, and was selected as the basketball team's representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Board. Jason received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa's Willard S. Boyd College of Law in 2005 where he was a member of the Journal of Corporation Law.
Prior to law school, Jason was a commercial real estate leasing associate for developer Equity Growth Group, LLC, in Bettendorf, Iowa. During law school, he was one of two students chosen by the University Provost to serve on the College of Law Dean Search Committee in 2003-04. Jason studied abroad in the College of Law's Iowa-Bordeaux Comparative Law program in Arcachon, France, in 2004. Jason is a member of the Nevada Bar Association, the Clark County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. His personal interests include playing golf, attending concerts, travel, and following all sorts of professional and college sports, especially his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes.
Education:
J.D., University of Iowa William S. Boyd College of Law
B.B.A., University of Iowa
Jessica Lujan is a shareholder at the firm and a third-generation Las Vegas native with a passion for resolving complex legal issues for Nevada businesses. Jessica's clients benefit from her devotion to personalized service, as she works to find the most efficient and cost-effective route to victory in any legal dispute with open and responsive communication at every turn. Her areas of focus include corporate governance disputes, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, employment discrimination defense, breach of contract actions, breach of fiduciary duty matters, and other business torts. Jessica has successfully defended and prosecuted appeals to the Nevada Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, often-times without the need for oral argument as the result of her exemplary research and writing skills. Jessica is also a first-chair trial attorney, deftly navigating every stage of litigation when the need arises.
As a former clerk to the Honorable James C. Mahan, federal District Judge for the District of Nevada, Jessica navigates the complicated federal court system with ease and familiarity. Jessica's comprehensive knowledge of the federal and state courts' procedural rules makes her an ideal attorney to assist out-of-state firms as local counsel in any Nevada lawsuit.
Jessica was recognized on the Best Lawyers 2024 "Ones to Watch" list. This recognition is reserved for attorneys who have demonstrated early career success and remarkable potential in their legal careers.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys concerts, cooking, and stand-up comedy, and she also practices aerial silks and other circus apparatuses. Aside from her commercial law practice, Jessica is passionate about Constitutional law, American history, and political philosophy. She is a published Second Amendment scholar. Jessica is also an advocate for individuals with autism and other mental and physical disabilities.
Margarita Elias is a commercial litigator advising clients on contract disputes and a variety of business legal matters. Prior to joining the firm, Margarita attended the William S. Boyd School of Law, where she served as a student attorney in the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic and articles editor of the Nevada Law Journal.
Following law school, Margarita clerked for the Honorable Gloria M. Navarro in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. During her two-year clerkship, Margarita worked on hundreds of civil and criminal cases, researched complex legal issues, drafted bench memoranda, and assisted in conducting trials.
Margarita obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she majored in political science and minored in history. When away from work, Margarita enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and traveling.
Education:
J.D., William S. Boyd School of Law
B.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Martindale Hubbell has designated James as an AV-rated lawyer, which is its highest rating. He has been recognized in Super Lawyers as one of the top lawyers in the Mountain States (Nevada, Utah, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming) for 2013-2015, and he has been selected to join the Corporate America Legal Elite of 2015.
Education:
B.S., University of Nevada, Reno
J.D., McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
McKay Holley is a dedicated business attorney representing creditors, receivers, trustees, and others in bankruptcy, restructuring, and non-bankruptcy insolvency matters. McKay has a strong background in commercial litigation, adeptly handling disputes and legal matters related to business transactions, contracts, and commercial disputes. Whether representing individuals or businesses, McKay is committed to delivering tailored solutions for his clients. McKay also has experience representing clients in matters before Nevada administrative agencies, including the Nevada Board of Pharmacy. McKay is admitted in Utah and Nevada.
McKay enjoys spending time with his wife, Starlee, and his children, Harper, Jackson, and Hudson. He is also a social golfer who strongly believes in mulligans.
Education:
Dual B.A. in Political Science and Spanish, Magna Cum Laude, Southern Utah University
J.D., Cum Laude, William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Michael E. Kearney is a renowned transactional attorney and Holley Driggs shareholder based out of the Las Vegas office. His nationally recognized reputation and experience in taxation include federal income taxation, including partnership taxation, and he has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for ten consecutive years (2013-2023) for his work in mergers and acquisitions, being named "Lawyer of the Year" for M and A in 2021 and "Lawyer of the Year" in 2023 for tax law. In addition, Michael has substantial experience in state and local tax issues; gaming law matters; real estate acquisition, finance, and development and health care law.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Nicholas J. Santoro is an accomplished Nevada commercial litigator. He has been lead counsel in numerous trials and arbitrations.
Nicholas has extensive experience in a wide variety of matters, including corporate/partnership disputes, class action defense, shareholder derivative cases, non-compete litigation, commercial real estate and lease disputes, construction litigation, and professional liability claims.
He regularly represents hotel/casino and gaming technology companies, utilities, government agencies, homebuilders, real estate developers, and law firms.
Nicholas has consistently been recognized for his excellence in commercial litigation by Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business-Band 1; The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation); Benchmark, America's Leading Litigation Attorneys; and Super Lawyers (Mountain States). He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Nicholas is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the premier association for the Trial Bar in North America, which is reserved for the top one percent of trial lawyers in any state or province. He currently serves as a faculty member with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (Nevada Deposition Skills Program) and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
An active participant in local bar and professional organizations, he served for many years on the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of Nevada and previously was a member of the State Bar's Fee Dispute Committee; he also served as a Mentor for the State Bar of Nevada's Transitioning into Practice Program. In addition to his selection as a Colleague of the Nevada Law Foundation, Nicholas was also actively involved in the Nevada American Inns of Court.
Oliver Pancheri is a business law attorney and litigator. A shareholder at the Firm, Oliver is known for his determined and professional approach, tireless work ethic and unwavering dedication to his clients. He treats his clients' cases and legal issues as if they were his own and works to create strategies to achieve his clients' objectives quickly and cost effectively.
Oliver has litigated a wide array of complex business and commercial cases in state and federal courts in Nevada. He has handled matters involving commercial disputes, civil RICO claims, business torts, corporate derivative suits, professional liability, gaming matters, partnership disputes, banking, contracts, real estate, and construction law. His clients include commercial and consumer lenders, medical providers, casinos, large and small businesses, management companies, real estate developers, contractors, manufacturers, entertainers, law firms and insurance providers.
Oliver has been recognized by publications such as The Best Lawyers in America and Mountain States Super Lawyers for his work in commercial litigation. These are recognitions given to only 5% of all attorneys and based upon rigorous peer-review surveys. He has also been recognized as one of Nevada's Legal Elite in commercial litigation by Nevada Business magazine and as one of VEGAS INC magazine's Top Lawyers. Oliver has further been awarded an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell through its peer review program. The AV-rating is the highest rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell. Oliver is a member of the Nevada State Bar's Disciplinary Committee and has served on numerous panels as Chair.
Education:
University of Idaho School of Law, J.D.
Brigham Young University, B.A.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Holley Driggs Executive Management Committee
- Member of the Pro Bono Committee of the American College of Bankruptcy
Richard Holley is an experienced business lawyer, helping clients throughout Nevada and elsewhere in the U.S. with difficult bankruptcy and related commercial litigation matters. His primary focus is bringing value to the clients he serves. Open communication, collaboration, transparency, assigning the right lawyer with precisely the right skill-set and reducing client frustrations are the foundation of the enduring and successful relationships Richard has with clients. He recognizes that litigation is often the action of last resort and rarely adds profit to the bottom line. For this reason, Richard views litigation on a continuum, believing that cases have natural breaking points at which strategy can and should be reevaluated in order to maximize recovery where possible and minimize loss where appropriate.
Regardless of the location of his clients' operations or aspects of the case, Richard has a trusted reputation among banks and lenders, creditors, receivers, charter schools and others facing insolvency and adversarial claims and disputes. In addition, he is known in the real estate sector, particularly for matters involving thorny landlord-tenant issues and retail properties.
Clients appreciate the depth and variety of Richard's practice. When the economy is strong, Richard actively supports his banking and other clients in realizing their goals and objectives. In a downturn, creditors and receivers seek Richard's representation in contentious bankruptcy proceedings and related state court litigation. For example, the receiver for the first charter school in Nevada to be placed into receivership turned to Richard and his team to navigate and address difficult financial, employment and administrative issues. This resulted in a second appointment as receivership counsel for another Nevada charter school. These representations have positioned Richard and his team to assist charter schools outside of the receivership context with their operational, employment and administrative needs and challenges.
In his bankruptcy practice, Richard - with time served as a fellow of the prestigious American College of Bankruptcy - focuses on creditor representation, including financial institutions, in complex Chapter 11 cases and in pre-bankruptcy workouts. He also represents bankruptcy trustees in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases. The pre-bankruptcy workouts frequently involve state court enforcement actions, such as:
Actions to appoint receivers for commercial real estate and businesses
Actions to recover personal property collateral
Breach of contract related claims
Deficiency actions against borrowers and guarantors
Richard is a member of the Holley Driggs executive management committee. He also writes and speaks on current business law topics, serves as a volunteer lawyer for Legal Aid of Southern Nevada, where he frequently represents low-income individual debtors and serves as a child advocate in family court. He is a founding member of the Pro Bono Project Mid-Case Bankruptcy Committee and serves as a member of the Pro Bono Committee for the American College of Bankruptcy, which administers and awards of $300,000 in annual grants to qualified organizations throughout the U.S.
Richard received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in International Relations with a minor in Japanese (1984) and his J.D. degree from the J. Reuben Clark School at Brigham Young University (1987) where he was a member of the Order of Barristers.
Richard was admitted to practice in Nevada in 1987. He is licensed to practice before all state courts of the State of Nevada, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Richard was a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 2003 through 2005. During this time he served as Co-Chair of the Nevada Delegation and member of the Lawyer Representative Coordinating Committee, the Admission Fund Committee and the Federal Court Security Committee. While serving as a Lawyer Representative, Richard made presentations to the annual Circuit Bankruptcy Judges Conference and to the Ninth Circuit Committee on Pro Hac Vice Representation regarding representation of pro se litigants in contested matters and adversary proceedings before bankruptcy courts.
Richard is a 2006 graduate of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Las Vegas, and was voted by the members of his class as the Class Valedictorian.
In 2010, Richard was a member of the Magistrate Selection Committee for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. He worked with other Committee members to screen applicants and submit recommendations to the Court to select replacement Magistrate Judges for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.
In 2010 and 2011, Richard served as the Treasurer for the Bankruptcy Section of the Nevada Bar Association and served as Finance Co-Chair in 2012.
Richard currently serves as a member of the Pro Bono Committee of the American College of Bankruptcy. The Committee evaluates applications and awards grants for pro bono projects throughout the United States. He is also an Affiliate Member of the Special Assets Management Association (SAMA).
Richard maintains membership in the State Bar of Nevada, the Clark County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
As an active member of the Las Vegas community, Richard served as a Board Member for The Shade Tree, a homeless women and children shelter, from 1999 through 2006. During his tenure as a Board Member, he also served as the Treasurer of The Shade Tree from 2003 to 2006. Richard was an inaugural officer of The Shade Tree Endowment Board and has served as a Board Member for the Endowment since 2006. He also serves as a member of the Advisory Board for The Shade Tree. Finally, he has been an active leader with the Boy Scouts of America.
Richard has been an avid road and mountain biker and a serious hiker, having tackled Mount Kilimanjaro and the Inca Trail.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nevada Bar Association
Ron is a member of the Nevada Bar Association, the Clark County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Stacy H. Rubin is an experienced business lawyer, helping clients across the country in both state and federal jurisdictions with difficult bankruptcy and related commercial litigation. She represents financial institutions, creditors, and related entities on commercial litigation matters involving consumer finance, mortgage banking, bankruptcy, and real estate finance.
Tom Driggs advises clients in the areas of water transactions and regulation, real estate and corporate transactions, and related government relations issues in Nevada, Arizona and Utah. He defends the water rights of clients against the State Engineer's declarations of forfeiture or curtailment and works to maintain water rights in good standing by advising clients on compliance with water regulations. Tom counsels clients on legislative matters related to water rights, including lobbying at the Nevada State Legislature and drafting legislation. He also represents clients in the purchase and sale of water rights and testifies as an expert witness in litigation involving water rights.
Tom's clients include farmers, ranchers, dairies, power companies, mining and industrial companies, golf course owners, real estate developers, individual homeowners, and a multinational resource-efficient agricultural producer working to grow blueberries in the Nevada desert.
Tyler Thomas is a dedicated commercial litigator and intellectual property attorney who strives to assist with the most complex business issues. During his young career, Tyler has already assisted in multiple litigation cases and arbitration disputes involving highly complex commercial matters. At Holley Driggs, he also lends his expertise to the Sports Agency division.
Tyler has spent the majority of his life here in Las Vegas, Nevada and his path to becoming a legal authority took shape at the esteemed William S. Boyd School of Law, where he earned his juris doctorate with distinction, with a focus on Intellectual Property. During his time at Boyd, Tyler taught legal education classes to young, upcoming musical artists in UNLV's Fine Arts program, helping them to better understand their image, copyright and trademark rights.
Before joining Holley Driggs, Tyler served as a law clerk throughout his entire time at Boyd, gaining valuable experience simultaneously in the field and the classroom. Now an integral part of the team, he continues to elevate Holley Driggs' legal practice.
Tyler is an alumnus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he majored in Criminal Justice, showcasing his commitment to the principles of justice and relentless advocacy both inside and outside the courtroom.
Beyond the legal arena, Tyler finds solace in the world of sports, passionately engaging in activities like softball and soccer. He treasures moments spent with his beloved family.
Education
J.D., Cum Laude, William S. Boyd School of Law
B.A., University of Nevada Las Vegas
William P. Volk has had a distinguished career as a civil trial attorney spanning four decades. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of interesting and diverse cases throughout California and Nevada, William has successfully handled litigation involving serious personal injuries/wrongful death, construction defects, product liability, business losses, defective drugs/supplements, class actions, multi-district litigation, mass torts, environmental claims, casino/hotel/nightclub security, assault and battery, breach of contract, professional malpractice, insurance coverage, defective medical devices, and employment and wrongful termination.
With over 56 jury trials, William has been lead counsel in major litigation and important appellate court decisions, including published decisions involving contractual indemnity (Time for Living, Inc. v. Guy Hatfield Homes (1991) 230 Cal.App.3d 30) and "Dram Shop" or liquor law liability (Cardinal v. Santee Pita, Inc. (1991) 234 Cal.App.3d 1676), as well as many unpublished appellate and Supreme Court decisions. Many of the cases also involved significant insurance coverage issues such as "coverage triggers," horizontal and vertical exhaustion, excess and umbrella coverage, reformation, rescission, prior acts, consent to settle, "Montrose" endorsements, broad-form property damage, subsidence and soil movement exclusions, pollution exclusions, S.I.R.'s and deductibles.
As a result of his trial experience and reputation, William was elected by his peers in 2003 to become a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a nationally recognized professional trial lawyer organization in which he has held the rank of "Advocate"(2003 - 2021). Known as a dogged and aggressive cross-examiner, William has demonstrated trial techniques to other lawyers in ABOTA's annual "Masters in Trial" program.
ADR has been an important part of William's legal practice for years. Beginning in the late-1980's, he became a panelist for the American Arbitration Association specializing in the resolution of complex construction defect, breach of contract, personal injury, wrongful death and product liability claims. He has received formal ADR training through the American Arbitration Association, the San Diego Superior Court, the San Diego Municipal Court, the Clark County, Nevada, District Court and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University. He served as a voluntary member of the Judge Pro Tempore panel of the San Diego Municipal Court, where he heard and decided hundreds of small-claims cases. He also volunteered his time as a settlement judge for the Superior Court and helped resolve many cases, which helped relieve the case burden of the Court.
William is frequently appointed by the Clark County District Court, as well as privately retained by the parties, to mediate or arbitrate complex construction defect, business, personal injury, insurance, product liability and other interesting and diverse matters. He is also frequently appointed by the court to serve as Special Master on complex cases.
Mr. Volk has been an invited speaker in professional seminars sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the National Business Institute and has demonstrated trial techniques in the "Masters in Trial" mock trial programs sponsored by the American Board of Trial Advocates.