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Young Professionals Q&A with Chelsea Latino: Northern Nevada Business Weekly
Northern Nevada Business Weekly interviewed Chelsea Latino for the feature section on Young Professionals published in the August 12 edition. NNBW interviewed Chelsea about her career in the legal profession, the most enjoyable and most difficult aspects of being a litigation attorney, her perspectives on motivation and success, her advice for other young professionals, what she does in her free time, and her dream job. Chelsea’s Q&A is provided below and available here as a PDF.
Q&A WITH CHELSEA LATINO
Chelsea Latino, partner in McDonald Carano’s commercial and complex litigation, appellate and employment and labor law practice groups, has worked with clients across the full business spectrum, including construction, mining, real estate development, manufacturing, hospitality and healthcare. Latino’s commercial litigation work covers issues with contract disputes, insurance coverage, product liability, shareholder litigation and business issues such as discrimination, wrongful termination and wages. She was a Twenty Under 40 winner in 2024, the same year she was recognized as an Up & Coming Business Person in NNBW’s Best in Business awards. NNBW recently caught up with Latino to learn what motivates her to excel and what she enjoys most about practicing law.
- What brought you into the field of law?
I can’t recall a specific moment or reason that brought me into the legal field. An obsession with crime shows like Law & Order Special Victims Unit probably played a role, but I’ve always been drawn to problems where facts and rules collide — where the details of what actually happened matter just as much as the standard you’re measuring them against. Litigation appealed to me because every case is its own puzzle, and you’re constantly having to learn new terrain to solve it. - What do you like most about what you do?
Two things. First, the variety. Litigation isn’t confined to one subject — a single matter can traverse various areas of law depending on what’s at stake. I like that the work isn’t monotonous, but rather forces you to become conversant in whatever area the facts demand, and then translate that into a clear, persuasive argument. Second, the people. Litigation is a team sport, whether that’s the colleagues you’re strategizing with late into the night before a filing deadline, or the clients whose trust you’re earning by actually understanding their business or their situation well enough to advocate for it. - What’s the most difficult aspect of your work?
The volume and breadth, combined with a pace that’s largely out of your control. You’re often juggling matters across very different areas of law at the same time, and litigation doesn’t always wait for you to feel fully caught up before the next deadline hits. Court schedules, opposing counsel, discovery timelines — much of the pace is dictated by forces outside your control, so you’re constantly adjusting. On top of that, clients are counting on you to move their case toward resolution as efficiently as the matter genuinely allows. That means constantly balancing thoroughness against urgency, and learning to operate well within constraints you don’t control while still pushing every case toward the fastest sound resolution. - Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
Doing the same thing I’m doing now. I like the variety, I like the people, and I like the challenge — I’m not chasing a different title or a different path. If anything, I’d like to be doing more of it: handling bigger, more complex matters, mentoring people developing their careers, and continuing to sharpen my skills and expertise. - What qualities do you attribute to your success?
Hard work and helping others — those are the two drivers and guideposts for how I approach both my career and my life. Professionally, success depends on putting in the extra effort and meeting, if not beating, expectations; there’s no substitute for that. But I don’t think success is only about the individual. It’s also about contributing time, energy, and resources to building the institutions that provide meaningful community support for the long term. You get out of life what you put into it, and when what you’re putting in also benefits others, the hard work becomes especially worthwhile. - What motivates you?
My family. I want to leave a legacy for my children — not just in what I provide for them, but in what I show them. I want them to see what it looks like to be independent, productive, and self-sufficient, and to know that kind of life is built one deliberate decision at a time. That extends beyond my own household too, which is part of why I serve on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows — investing in the next generation, both at home and in the broader community, is what drives me. - What advice do you have for other young professionals entering the field?
Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute – keep in mind that you cannot always plan for the unexpected, an endless to-do list need not impede your productivity, and success is the sum of all your efforts. - What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
Spend time with my family — especially catching my kids’ flag football games, which I try never to miss. Beyond that, you’ll usually find me unwinding with an audiobook and a glass of wine. It’s a simple combination, but it’s an easy way to keep learning or get lost in a good story while actually slowing down for a bit.
- What’s your dream job?
Secret agent. If litigation doesn’t work out, I’m fully prepared to pivot to espionage. - Parting thoughts?
Be kind.
Chelsea’s Young Professionals Awards and Recognitions
Chelsea Latino has received “Outstanding Woman Attorney” recognition from the Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association, “Twenty Under 40” recognition from the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network, “Up & Coming Business Person” recognition from Northern Nevada Business Weekly, “Top Rank Attorneys” and “Best Up & Coming Attorneys” recognition from Nevada Business Magazine, “Rising Stars” recognition from Mountain States Super Lawyers, “Women to Watch” recognition from Nevada Business Magazine, and “Women Worth Watching in Leadership” from Profiles in Diversity Journal. Chelsea is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America in Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Employment & Labor Litigation, and Employment Law/Management.
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
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