Celebrating Over 75 Years of Serving Nevada’s Legal, Business, Government, and Civic Communities
Professional Background
Rick Trachok is Senior Counsel in the Gaming & Administrative Law Practice at McDonald Carano. Mr. Trachok has an extensive background in gaming law, particularly from the international perspective. Clients turn to Mr. Trachok for his knowledge of the complexities of the licensing issues facing European companies, as well as his understanding of the unique aspects of European ownership structures, finances, and culture. He serves as Chairman of Compliance and Governance Committees for global gaming companies and has an extensive career obtaining gaming licenses in Nevada and other jurisdictions, as well as representing gaming industry clients before the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Mr. Trachok’s expertise in highly regulated industries also includes assisting clients involved in utility regulation. He served as lead outside regulatory counsel for NV Energy from 2006 through 2013 handling all rate cases and resource planning cases before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. His work included assisting in obtaining regulatory approvals for the MidAmerican/Berkshire acquisition of NV Energy.
Mr. Trachok was a deputy district attorney with the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office before entering private practice.
Education and Certifications
- LL.M., Public International Law, Cambridge University, Sidney Sussex College, 1984
- J.D., California Western School of Law, 1980, summa cum laude
- B.S., University of Nevada, Reno, 1974
Bar Admissions
- Nevada
- New York
Representative Experience
Mr. Trachok served 15 years as an adjunct professor at UNR, teaching construction law in the graduate construction management program (1988-2003). He was also an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law from 2006 to 2013, teaching the Laws of International Trade. Mr. Trachok is currently a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where he teaches or has taught the following courses: Contracts, Art 9 Secured Transactions, Gaming Law, International Trade Law, and International Business Transactions.
Awards and Recognition
- Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Best in Business awards – “Best Business Professor” (2023)
- Martindale-Hubbell – AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating (since 1995)
- The Best Lawyers in America – “Lawyer of the Year” in Gaming Law (2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America – “Lawyer of the Year” in Administrative & Regulatory Law (2021)
- The Best Lawyers in America – Administrative & Regulatory Law (2020-2026), Energy Law (2020-2026), Gaming Law (2017-2026)
- Nevada Business Magazine – “Legal Elite/Top Rank Attorneys” (2008)
Publications
- Feature Article Interview, “Research by UC Law SF&’s David Faigman and Colleagues Spurs Bar Exam Reform in Nevada and Beyond,” UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), August 21, 2025
- Interview, “Nevada Supreme Court OKs Three-pronged Bar Exam,” ABA Journal, May 28, 2025
- Feature Article Interview, “Introducing the Center for Constitutional Law at the College of Liberal Arts,” Nevada Silver & Blue magazine published by the University of Nevada, Reno, Spring 2025
- Author, “The Nevada Plan – Nevada’s Comprehensive Licensing Examination,” Nevada Lawyer, August 2024
- Feature Article Interview, “Faculty Fuel: How Our Deep Roster of Lecturers Brings Career Success and Expertise to the Classroom,” UC Berkeley School of Law article, March 23, 2023
Presentations
- Presenter, “Changes in Lawyer Admissions,” Western States Bar Conference, March 29–April 1, 2023
Professional Affiliations
- Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Law, College of Liberal Arts, University of Nevada, Reno
- Nevada Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Courses: Gaming Law, International Trade Law, Contracts, and Secured Transactions (2017 – current)
- Nevada State Bar Board of Governors, Ex Officio Member: Board of Bar Examiners (current)
- Nevada Board of Bar Examiners, Chair and Board Member (1991-current)
- Chair, Bar Licensing Commission, created by the Nevada Supreme Court in March 2022 to study alternatives to the current bar exam system for attorney licensing (2022-current)
- Nevada Board of Regents, extensive years of service includes two terms as Chair of the Board, two terms as Vice-Chair of the Board, Chair of the Workforce, Research and Economic Development Committee, Chair of the Investment Committee and the Security Committee, Vice-Chair of the Academic, Research and Student Affairs Committee, and a Member of the Health Sciences System Committee, Cultural Diversity Committee, and the ad hoc UNLV President Search Committee (2011-2017)
- Adjunct professor, University of San Francisco School of Law. Courses: International Trade Laws and Dispute Resolution (2006-2013)
- Governor Brian Sandoval’s Transition Team, Member, 2011
- Adjunct professor, UNR. Courses: Construction Law in the graduate construction management program (1988-2003)
Community Involvement
- Board of Directors, Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities
- Sage Ridge School, Member of Emeritus Board of Trustees
- Reno Chamber Orchestra, Board of Directors, 1999-2006
- The Nature Conservancy of Nevada, Board of Directors, 2003-2009
- Nevada Opera, Board of Directors, 1999-2001
- Tahoe Rim Trail, Honorary Director (1998-Present), Board of Directors (1993-1998)
- Reno Philharmonic, Board of Directors, 1984-1989
News
26 Reno Office Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2026
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 22 of our Reno office lawyers have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and four lawyers…
8th Lawyer of the Year Award in Gaming Law
In the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, McDonald Carano celebrated our eighth Lawyer of the Year award in Gaming Law. A.G. Burnett received the award in 2025,…
Research by UC Law SF’s David Faigman and Colleagues Spurs Bar Exam Reform in Nevada and Beyond
The Story Behind Nevada’s Bar Exam Reform The Nevada Supreme Court approved the Implementation Plan for restructuring the state’s bar exam to include a three-component assessment comprised of a closed-book multiple-choice exam,…