Celebrating Over 75 Years of Serving Nevada’s Legal, Business, Government, and Civic Communities
Leigh Goddard Elected Managing Partner of McDonald Carano’s Reno Office
McDonald Carano announces the election of Leigh Goddard as Managing Partner of the Reno office, effective January 1, 2026. Leigh joined McDonald Carano in 2002. Her leadership at McDonald Carano has included serving on numerous management committees, including the Executive Committee and the Compensation Committee. McDonald Carano was founded in 1949 in Reno and has grown to more than 60 lawyers and government affairs professionals serving Nevada, national, and international clients from offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Carson City.
Leigh is Chair of McDonald Carano’s Trust, Estate & Fiduciary Litigation Practice and previously served as Co-Chair of the Employment & Labor Law Practice. In 2026, Leigh received the “Lawyer of the Year” award in Trusts & Estates Litigation for the Northern Nevada region from The Best Lawyers in America. In 2022, Leigh received the “Lawyer of the Year” award in Employment & Labor Litigation for the Northern Nevada region. The Best Lawyers in America recognizes Leigh in Trusts & Estates Litigation (2020-2027), Trusts & Estates Law (2026, 2027), Commercial Litigation (2014-2027), and Employment & Labor Litigation (2018-2027).
Leigh is a Senior Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America and has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV Preeminent Peer Review rating since 2012. She is a Master Emeritus of the Bruce R. Thompson Chapter of the American Inns of Court and a member of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association, Nevada Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association, and Washoe County Bar Association.
Leigh’s involvement in the local business and civic community earned her recognition in the “Influential Leader” category in the 2023 Best in Business Awards hosted by Northern Nevada Business Weekly. Leigh served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Northern NV Now (formerly the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada) from 2011-2019, having held the leadership roles of past chair, chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
About McDonald Carano
In 2024, McDonald Carano celebrated its 75ᵗʰ Anniversary of serving Nevada’s legal, business, government, and civic communities. More than 60 lawyers and government affairs professionals serve Nevada, national, and international clients from our offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Carson City. McDonald Carano provides transactional, litigation, regulatory, and government affairs services to startups, corporations, private companies, trade associations, nonprofits, public entities, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices throughout Nevada. We are deeply committed to supporting local communities by volunteering our time, resources, and services, including pro bono legal services, to nonprofit organizations, charitable foundations, and public service entities. We are proud to be your Nevada law firm since 1949.
Media Contact
Mark Buckovich
mbuckovich@mcdonaldcarano.com
702.257.4559
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