Zachary D. Besso

Zachary Besso joined McDonald Carano in September 2024 after serving for two years as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Larry R. Hicks in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada in Reno. During that time, Zach also served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Miranda M. Du, Chief District Court Judge for the District of Nevada. While at the District Court, Zach researched complex legal issues, prepared memoranda, drafted and published dispositions, managed civil and criminal district court litigation, and engaged with mediation and settlement conferences. As a Judicial Law Clerk, Zach interacted with a wide-range of federal and state legal topics including Nevada-specific land and environmental issues to constitutionally entangled employment problems.

Prior to his time as a Judicial Law Clerk, Zach received his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from the University of Nevada, Reno, his master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco, and his juris doctor cum laude from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While enrolled in law school, Zach served as a Licensing Specialist for a then-major iGaming and sport betting mobile application, a Legal Extern for the Honorable Larry R. Hicks, and a Legal Extern for the Nevada Department of Taxation. In law school Zach was selected to the Dean’s List multiple semesters and received the CALI Award for Excellence in Transactional Drafting for the Fall 2021 semester. Zach also served for two years as a Research and Teaching Assistant to the Michael and Sonja Saltman Professor of Law Emerita, Jean R. Sternlight. During law school, Zach was a Moot Court participant at the 2021 Global Gaming Exposition, a Pro-Bono Bankruptcy Course Instructor through the law school’s Community Service Program, and a board member of various law student organizations.

Prior to law school, Zach spent two years as a Marketing Coordinator for a PGA TOUR tournament and worked in hospitality for the San Francisco Giants. Zach is a fourth-generation Nevadan, and his family owns and operates one of the longest running privately held businesses in Nevada. Outside of law, Zach is an avid runner and soccer player. Zach coached soccer at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School for five years and was voted the Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Northern 4A Boys Soccer Coach of the Year twice. Prior to coaching, Zach played club soccer for the University of Nevada, Reno, and spent time training with a professional soccer team in Asia.

• J.D., cum laude, Business and Commercial Law Concentration, William S. Boyd School of Law, Las Vegas, 2022
• M.A., Sport Management, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, 2017
• B.S., Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, 2014

• Nevada Business Magazine – “Top Rank Attorneys” (2026), “Best Up & Coming Attorneys” (2026)
• Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Best in Business awards – “Up & Coming Business Person” (2025)

• Member, Washoe County Bar Association