Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

McDonald Carano received the Law Firm of the Year Award from the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association in recognition of our contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Nevada legal community. LVNBA is an association of predominantly Black lawyers, judges, law professors, and other legal professionals. The award was presented to McDonald Carano at LVNBA’s November 2024 Scholarships & Awards Gala. The presentation of the award included playing a video (view here) of congratulatory remarks from McDonald Carano alumni and Karyna Armstrong, an attorney in our Las Vegas office who is Vice Chair of our DEI Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of LVNBA.

Firm Managing Partner George Ogilvie accepted the award on behalf of McDonald Carano. As George stated in his acceptance remarks, “We are very proud to be honored with this award in our 75th anniversary year. While we formed our DEI Committee in 2020, the genesis of the Committee’s success is in the institutional values that have been the foundation of our Firm for 75 years. Those values have at their core doing the right thing. We are proud to receive this award for doing what’s right for the members of our Firm, the legal profession, our clients, and our communities.”

McDonald Carano received the first Partner in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion medallion from the State Bar of Nevada when it launched the new DEI recognition program in 2023. McDonald Carano also proudly received DEI recognition medallions in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The medallion is awarded to firms that complete at least five DEI initiatives in the categories of recruitment, retention, pipeline and community programs, and coaching and training. McDonald Carano completed more than 10 initiatives and additional DEI programs are underway. “Diversity in Practice” is the cover story of the June 2023 issue of Nevada Lawyer magazine published by the State Bar of Nevada. The feature article describes the launch of the State Bar’s DEI medallion program, recognizes McDonald Carano as the first medallion recipient, and explains that the program was created to recognize firms that have already incorporated DEI initiatives into their law practices and to share their success stories to inspire others.

In 2025, McDonald Carano received two recognitions in the inaugural Best Places for Women to Work in Northern Nevada survey created by the Nevada Women’s Fund. McDonald Carano is recognized in the categories of Empowerment Through Mentorship and Empowerment Through Purpose Driven Work, “demonstrating a true commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive, and equitable workplaces for women.” McDonald Carano is the only law firm recognized in the results of the survey of employers representing more than 33,000 employees across Northern Nevada. More information about the survey results and our recognition is available here.

McDonald Carano proudly shares the awards and recognitions our women lawyers and government affairs professionals have received for their professional leadership, career accomplishments, and community service. The numerous awards and recognitions, along with speaking engagements and authorships, led to the Male Ally of the Year award in 2025 from the Meritas Women’s Leadership Congress for “encouraging, advancing, sponsoring, and championing the progress of women in law firms” and “raising their profile among current and potential clients and referral sources.”

• Please click here to learn about the awards and recognitions received by our women lawyers and government affairs professionals.
• Please click here to meet all the women at McDonald Carano who are making a difference for our firm, our clients, and our communities.

McDonald Carano’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee was formed in 2020. The State Bar of Nevada’s Board of Governors meeting in January 2023 included a presentation to update the Nevada Supreme Court on the State Bar’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives. McDonald Carano co-hosted the meeting and shared our DEI programs. One of the initiatives we discussed was our Cultural Celebrations Subcommittee which was also featured in the State Bar’s December 15, 2022 e-newsletter in an article titled “McDonald Carano Values Diversity in All Functions.” (provided below)

McDonald Carano has an active DEI Committee, the membership of which spans every level of the firm. McDonald Carano’s DEI Committee includes several working groups, each with a targeted goal. For example, the Cultural Celebrations subcommittee recognizes the contributions and histories of our diverse communities, unifies the firm around heritage days/months, and publishes identity acknowledgments throughout the year. The Cultural Celebrations subcommittee provides an opportunity for firm members to learn more about colleagues’ lived experiences, traditions, religion, history, and culture. Some recent examples include the firm’s recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Juneteenth, and Chinese New Year.

• McDonald Carano participates in programs that can help improve the diversity and inclusion pipeline in the legal profession. For example, we participate in the Professional Development Fellowship Program of the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The program was established to pair 2L/3LPT students with local legal employers. Students work approximately 15 hours per week during the spring semester and are compensated by the employer. Through our annual participation in the program, we provide law school students with paid law clerk internships at McDonald Carano, including Mary Shamon (2026), Racaiim McKain (2025), Kendrea Roby (2024), and Anahita Rodriguez (2023).

• McDonald Carano is a Day Sponsor of the PreLaw Fellowship Program that supports students from under-resourced communities who are interested in law school. The in-residence fellowship provides undergraduate students one week of simulated law school classes in substantive areas of law, legal writing and analysis, and LSAT preparation. Karyna Armstrong participates on a panel of lawyers sharing their insights and experiences on succeeding in law school and exploring career options for lawyers.

• The Clark County Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Equity (DICE) provides monthly CLE educational programs supporting its mission to facilitate constructive discussion and enhance understanding of diversity issues. The committee promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and the removal of barriers to success within the Clark County legal professional and communities served. McDonald Carano has both financially sponsored the series and provided speakers. McDonald Carano attorney Karyna Armstrong and DEI Consultant Kenadie Cobbin-Richardson presented a program on October 2024 on the topic of Bystander Intervention.

• McDonald Carano sponsors the annual Kick Up Your Heels fundraiser hosted by Global Gaming Women. The event raises funds to support the Global Gaming Women organization as well as its Charitable Education Fund, which provides women throughout the gaming industry with educational scholarships. Our support includes providing complimentary attendance tickets to law students who are members of the Gaming Law Society of UNLV Boyd School of Law. Kelci Binau serves as General Counsel on the Board of Directors of GGW and is the Moderator of a GGW professional mentorship and career development Lean-In Circle.

• McDonald Carano is an annual sponsor of the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys and we support SNAWA events throughout the year, including the annual Miriam Shearing Gala to honor the accomplishments of trailblazing women in our legal community and to raise funds for scholarships for female law students at William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We also sponsor events hosted by the Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association, including the annual Women’s History Month social event and the Outstanding Woman Lawyer Gala which supports the NNWLA Scholarship Fund created to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree at the University of Nevada, Reno who intend to attend law school. In November 2025, we sponsored a luncheon CLE program hosted by NNWLA titled “Updates from the 2025 Legislative Session.” Lindsay Knox was a panelist. Also in November 2025, Chelsea Latino participated on a panel discussion at a CLE hosted by the State Bar of Nevada titled “Voices from the Partner Track: Women Share Their Journeys.” In honor of Women’s History Month 2024, McDonald Carano sponsored a panel discussion on the topic of “Women in Law” hosted by the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association. Karyna Armstrong served as the Moderator, and the speakers were Judge Nancy Allf (ret.), Justice Patricia Lee, and Judge Cristina Silva. In honor of Women’s History Month 2023, the Organization of Women Law Students and the Black Law Students Association at UNLV Boyd School of Law hosted a panel discussion titled “Conversations with Black Women in the Law.” The speakers included McDonald Carano litigation attorney Karyna Armstrong. In 2023, McDonald Carano also sponsored “Breaking Barriers: Insights from Leading Women Attorneys” hosted by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and ACLU of Nevada. A panel of women attorneys shared their stories, insights, and strategies for success and overcoming obstacles in the legal profession. The presenters included Judge Belinda T. Harris, Claudia Aguayo (City of North Las Vegas, Assistant City Attorney), Melissa Corral (UNLV Community Advocacy Office, Staff Attorney), and Karyna Armstrong. McDonald Carano also sponsors the annual Salute to Women of Achievement event in Reno hosted by the Nevada Women’s Fund, and our recent honorees include Chelsea Latino (2022), Kelci Binau (2023), Lindsay Knox (2024), and Jane Susskind (2025). Amanda Yen is a mentor in the Women’s Leadership Mentoring Program at Meritas. The mentoring program was created by the Meritas Women’s Leadership Council to help women across the global Meritas network advance to leadership roles in law firms. Amanda also serves on the Meritas U.S. Leadership Committee and, since 2015, has held numerous leadership roles on the Meritas Board of Directors and the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board. McDonald Carano is a 1990 founding member of Meritas, the premier global alliance of more than 170 law firms in over 90 countries.

• McDonald Carano is an annual sponsor of the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association’s Annual Scholarships & Awards Gala to help fund scholarships to law students at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. LVNBA is an association of Black lawyers, judges, law professors, and other legal professionals. McDonald Carano also sponsors events hosted by LVNBA throughout the year, including a March 2024 panel discussion of the topic of “Women in Law.” McDonald Carano attorney Karyna Armstrong served as the Moderator and the speakers were retired Judge Nancy Allf, Justice Patricia Lee, and Judge Cristina Silva. Karyna Armstrong is a member of the Executive Board of LVNBA and serves as Recording Secretary. As noted at the top of this web page, at the November 2024 Scholarship & Awards Gala, McDonald Carano received the Law Firm of the Year Award from LVNBA in recognition of our contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Nevada legal community. In 2026, Karyna Armstrong received a “40 Under 40: Nation’s Best Advocates Award” from the National Bar Association recognizing her advocacy to advance the causes of justice, equality, professionalism, and community service.

• McDonald Carano regularly sponsors events hosted by the Black Law Students Association of Boyd School of Law. For example, McDonald Carano sponsored BLSA’s Black History Month celebration in February 2026 which included a luncheon panel presentation titled “The Importance of Black Attorneys.” In March 2026, McDonald Carano was the only law firm that made a substantial donation to help cover transportation, lodging and other trip expenses for BLSA’s Mock Trial team to compete in the national competition in Portland. The team placed 1st at the Western Region Mock Trial Competition and advanced to the semi-final round (Final Four) out of a field of 18 competing schools at the National Competition. In April 2025, McDonald Carano sponsored a BLSA lunch program to help students pass the bar exam. BLSA alumni, including Karyna Armstrong, shared their insights and advice on studying and test taking strategies. In 2024, McDonald Carano sponsored BLSA’s first Black History Month celebration luncheon program. In 2023, in honor of Women’s History Month, McDonald Carano sponsored an event co-hosted by BLSA and the Organization of Women Law Students titled “Conversations with Black Women in the Law.” The speakers included Karyna Armstrong. Karyna received prominent recognition as one of ten women honored by Vegas Inc. in its 2025 Women Inspiring Nevada awards.

• McDonald Carano supports the Asian Bar Association of Nevada and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Nevada. For example, we sponsor the Asian Bar Association of Nevada’s annual AAPI Heritage Month Celebration. Also, in April 2024, McDonald Carano sponsored the inaugural meeting of more than 45 lawyers, judges, law students, and leaders from the National Filipino American Lawyers Association who came together to officially establish the Nevada Chapter of the Filipino American Lawyers Association. FALA NV is the 18th Affiliate Chapter of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association and an Affinity Bar Organization of the Nevada State Bar. McDonald Carano’s involvement in FALA NV is led by Dan Aquino who is an Advisory Board member of FALA NV. In July 2024, McDonald Carano also sponsored an event organized by the Asian Bar Association of Nevada, the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Nevada, and the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada to recognize the appointment of Micaela Moore as the City Manager/CEO of North Las Vegas. Prior to her appointment, Micaela served as the City Attorney/Chief Legal officer since joining the City of North Las Vegas in 2017. Born in the Philippines, Micaela is the first Filipina-American to serve North Las Vegas as City Attorney and City Manager.

• McDonald Carano attorneys and professional staff participate in a variety of Veterans Day activities in our local communities in Reno and Las Vegas. In 2024, John Fortin was one of only 12 recipients from across the U.S. of a Veteran Leadership Award from Profiles in Diversity Journal (“This award salutes the achievements of these honorees in their civilian lives where they have displayed an unmatched dedication to their work, community, and fellow veterans.”) In 2024, he was also one of only 35 practicing attorneys from across the U.S. to be included in the “Veterans In Law” special issue published by Attorney At Law magazine. Also, 2025 is the 10th Anniversary of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office of Military Legal Assistance. Please click here to learn about McDonald Carano attorneys who were involved in helping to create the OMLA in 2015. Nevada’s OMLA is the nation’s first Attorney General-led, public-private partnership offering military communities access to pro bono legal assistance in a wide area of civil law matters, as well as assistance with wills and powers of attorney. The program serves Nevada active duty, National Guard, and reserve service members. From March 4 to July 23, 2023, McDonald Carano was an Education & Programming Sponsor of the Nevada Museum of Art’s “Ghost Army Exhibition” honoring the Combat Con Artists of World War II. The exhibit tells the story of more than 1,000 men who deceived, sketched, and painted across Europe to manipulate Hitler’s armies during World War II. The “Ghost Army” was the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in U.S. Army history.

• PILA is a student-led association at UNLV Boyd School of Law. McDonald Carano supports the annual Silver State Auction event which raises funds to help students explore careers in public interest by providing grants for summer work at a nonprofit or government agency. McDonald Carano also sponsors events hosted by PILA throughout the year. For example, PILA celebrates the annual national Pro Bono Week in October. In 2023, we sponsored the luncheon panel discussion on the topic of “Pro Bono in the Private Sector.” John Fortin participated on the panel. In 2024 and 2025, we sponsored the luncheon panel discussion on the topic of “Pro Bono in Private Practice.” Karyna Armstrong participated on both panels.

• The Community Engagement Subcommittee of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee helps connect our DEI efforts to civic communities. For example, our Las Vegas office holds clothing drives, school supplies drives, and holiday gift drives for students of Howard Wasden Elementary School, as well as participating in Nevada Reading Week. McDonald Carano’s Las Vegas office also supports the Las Vegas Rescue Mission by volunteering to help prepare, serve, and clean up after an evening community meal. McDonald Carano’s Reno office also participates in the annual holiday season Adopt-A-Family program created by the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows. Our Reno office also organizes a holiday card and gift giving event for residents of a senior living community in Reno. Students come to our Reno office to create their own cards for the residents.

• McDonald Carano also integrates our DEI efforts with pro bono legal services we provide to organizations that address the needs of underserved individuals and communities, including the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, the Lawyer in the Library program provided by Washoe County Law Library, and the Nevada Attorney General Office of Military Legal Assistance.