Professional Background

Leigh practices in commercial and complex litigation, trust, estate and fiduciary litigation, and employment litigation. Her representation covers all aspects of litigation, from investigation through filing of initial pleadings, discovery, and motion practice, to trial. Leigh is chair of the firm’s Trust, Estate and Fiduciary Litigation practice group. Throughout her career, Leigh has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America, named a legal elite by Nevada Business Magazine, and a Mountain States Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. She received the Order of the Coif from the University of South Carolina and a Women of Achievement award. She also has an AV preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

Leigh has extensive experience representing clients in state and federal court. She represents beneficiaries, trustees, adult guardians, conservators, personal representatives, and executors in all manner of estate, trust and fiduciary litigation matters, including will and trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty, fiduciary misconduct, fraud, financial elder abuse and adult guardianships.

She also defends discrimination and wrongful termination claims and counsels employers in personnel issues, investigations into illegal harassment complaints, and evaluation of demotion and termination decisions.

Leigh belongs to many professional organizations that focus on improving the legal profession and the knowledge of its practitioners. She is Master Emeritus of Inns of Court, Bruce R. Thompson Chapter; member and past president of the Federal Bar Association; Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America; member of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation; the Nevada Bar Association; and the Washoe County Bar Association. She is also involved in the community as a long-term member of the Board of Trustees for the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.

Leigh is licensed to practice in Nevada state and federal courts.

Trust, Estate & Fiduciary Litigation

Cases include the representation of beneficiaries, guardians, personal representatives, trustees, and executors in fiduciary, trust and estate litigation matters, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty, will and trust contests, fiduciary misconduct, fraud, financial elder abuse and adult guardianships.

Commercial & Complex Litigation

Cases include the representation of local, national, and international businesses in claims involving contract disputes, trade secret violations, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, business entity dissolutions, enforcement and defense of non-competition covenants, fraud, misrepresentation, conversion, defamation, unfair trade practices, and appointment of receivers.

Employment

Leigh represents employers and management. This includes defending against discrimination claims and wrongful termination claims in state and federal courts, defending against charges before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, counseling employers in personnel issues, investigation of illegal harassment and discrimination complaints, and evaluating demotion and termination decisions. Her representation has also included pursuing and defending claims in state and federal court related to enforcement of employment covenants not to compete.

Awards and Recognition

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• The Best Lawyers in America – “Lawyer of the Year” in Labor and Employment Litigation (2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America – Labor and Employment Litigation (2018-2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation (2014-2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America –Trusts and Estates Litigation (2020-2023)
• Nevada Business Magazine – “Legal Elite/Top Ranked Attorneys” (2012, 2017, 2018, 2022)
• Super Lawyers Magazine – “Top 50 Women” Mountain States Super Lawyers (2012)
• Super Lawyers Magazine “Mountain States Super Lawyer” – Business Litigation, Employment Litigation, Estate and Trust Litigation (2009-2021)
• Women of Achievement Award
• Order of the Coif, University of South Carolina

Professional Affiliations

• Master Emeritus, Inns of Court, Bruce R. Thompson Chapter
• Member, Federal Bar Association (Past President, Nevada chapter, 2007–08)
• Member, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
• Member, Nevada Bar Association
• Member, Washoe County Bar Association
• Member, Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association

Community Engagement

• Board of Trustees, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (past chair, 2018–2019; chair, 2016–2017; vice chair, 2014–15; secretary, 2012–2013; treasurer, 2011–2012)
• Participation in numerous local charity events benefiting public education and cancer research

Presentations and Seminars

• “Discovery Techniques to Manage the Unmanageable.” Cambridge Private Client Forum, May 2022
• “Non-Competition Covenants in Nevada,” March 30, 2017
• “Nevada Wage & Hour Hot Topics,” Oct. 12, 2016
• “HIPAA for Employers,” Feb. 27, 2004
• “Overtime Requirements in Nevada,” March 18, 2003
• “Employment-Related Records in Nevada,” Jan. 17, 2003
• “Payroll Management in Nevada,” Sept. 17, 2002

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