
James W. Bradshaw
Senior Counsel
Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
- California
- Nevada
Education
- J.D., University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, 1981
Professional Background
Mr. Bradshaw practices in the litigation, construction law, and employment groups of the firm. He has been elected by his peers to the Nevada State Bar’s board of governors since 2002. He served as a board member and chairman of the Northern Nevada Disciplinary Panel for nine years. Before joining the firm in Reno in 1982, he served a judicial clerkship in the Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada. Born and raised in Reno, Mr. Bradshaw is a fifth-generation Nevadan. He launched the firm’s Las Vegas office in 1986 and was the Las Vegas managing partner until 1992, when he returned to Reno to raise his family.
Military Service
In addition to his career as an attorney, Mr. Bradshaw dedicated more than 24 years of service to the United States Air Force and the Nevada Air National Guard. He retired in 1995 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Bradshaw is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals for service during Operation Desert Storm. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Air National Guard Retirees Association, and the National Security Forum.
Areas of Experience
Mr. Bradshaw is experienced in representing business clients in Nevada and California’s state and federal courts and government agencies. He has represented clients in the insurance, banking, construction, hotel and gaming, real estate, marketing, mining, electronics, and manufacturing industries. His practice includes all aspects of litigation, along with conflict resolution and risk management. In addition to traditional tort and commercial litigation, Mr. Bradshaw has experience in litigation involving insurance law, intellectual property, unfair trade practices, restrictive covenants, fraudulent transfers, and breach of fiduciary duties.
Representative Engagements
- A.C. Houston Lumber Company
- Acadia Medical Group
- The Boyd Group
- Brown & Brown Insurance
- California Franchise Tax Board
- Century Surety Company
- Degussa Corporation
- Eldorado Hotel Casino
- Employers Insurance Company of Nevada
- H&E Equipment Services, Inc.
- Hamilton Company, Inc.
- J.M. Keckler Medical Company, Inc.
- Marsh USA, Inc.
- Nevada State Bank
- Primadonna Company
- Redi Services LLC
- Scolari’s Warehouse Markets, Inc.
- Suburban Propane
- Summit Contractors, Inc.
- Transwestern General Agency
- Washington Group International
Awards and Recognition
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
- The Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation (2015-2023), Construction Law (2020-2023), Construction Litigation (2021-2023)
- Super Lawyers Magazine “Mountain States Super Lawyer” – Construction Litigation, Business Litigation (2008-2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” – Construction Litigation (2021)
Community Engagement
- Member of the Board of Governors, Nevada State Bar (2002–12)
- Board member and chairman, Northern Nevada Disciplinary Panel (until 2002)
- Member of the Board of Trustees, Nevada Bar Foundation
Attorney News
Reno Office Attorneys Ranked Among Best Lawyers in America 2023
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 20 of our Reno office lawyers have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Three of…
Nevada’s Largest Team of Business Litigation Super Lawyers
McDonald Carano congratulates Jim Bradshaw, Pat Lundvall, George Ogilvie, Jeff Silvestri and Amanda Yen for being recognized as Business Litigation Super Lawyers in the 2022 edition of Mountain States Super…
Our Super Lawyers 2022 Highlights: Ten Attorneys and Four Practice Groups
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 10 attorneys in our Reno and Las Vegas offices received recognition in four areas of law in the Mountain States Super Lawyers list for 2022….

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