Employment & Labor Law

Rated Tier 1 and Best Lawyers for Employers in Nevada

Our Employment & Labor Law Practice is led by Kristen Gallagher (Co-Chair), Daniel Aquino (Co-Chair), and Chelsea Latino (Vice-Chair). Mr. Aquino is the Nevada member of the Wage and Hour Defense Institute, an invitation-only network of experienced employer-side wage and hour defense practitioners across the U.S. and Canada.

Employment and labor is a constantly changing arena governed by interrelated local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Nevada employers of all sizes and every industry rely on McDonald Carano to keep them informed, protected, and in compliance with the many requirements applicable to employment and labor statutes and regulations. Because employment and labor law is one of the most heavily regulated and litigated areas of practice, our lawyers stay abreast of agency orders and guidance, legislative developments, and case law and judicial rulings. We understand every facet of employment and labor law in order to provide our employer clients with preventive advice and aggressive defense in litigation.

McDonald Carano represents employers in all phases of the employment relationship, from employee handbooks and employment agreements to wage and hour issues and breach of confidentiality litigation. We provide practical operations-focused advice and counsel to Nevada employers, handle investigations and charges from administrative agencies (including EEOC, NERC, DOL, and the Nevada Labor Commissioner), and defend employers in litigated actions. We have successfully represented employers before arbitrators, administrative agencies, judges, juries, and appellate courts.

Our clients include startups, corporations, public entities, non-profit organizations, trade associations, and public-private partnerships throughout Nevada. We have assisted employers in all sectors of the economy, including insurance, financial services, telecommunications, retail, professional sports, gaming, hospitality, lodging, manufacturing, agriculture, education, technology, energy, transportation, construction, real estate, utilities, healthcare, entertainment, and tourism.

Top Ranked Awards and Recognitions

Our Employment & Labor Law Practice received the highest Tier 1 ranking for litigation in both Reno and Las Vegas in The Best Law Firms in America 2026. Our attorneys have also received Lawyer of the Year awards from The Best Lawyers in America. For example, Pat Lundvall received the 2026 Lawyer of the Year award in Labor Law-Management for the Southern Nevada region and Leigh Goddard received the 2022 Lawyer of the Year award in Employment & Labor Litigation for the Northern Nevada region.

McDonald Carano is also proud to be top ranked Band 2 by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, the same Band 2 category as the three largest national employment and labor law firms each with approximately 1,000 lawyers across the U.S. Co-Chairs

Kristen Gallagher and Daniel Aquino are also prominently ranked in Band 3 by Chambers USA. Chambers’ ranking process includes confidential surveys and interviews with clients. Following are comments our clients have provided to Chambers researchers during annual client feedback reviews.

“The McDonald Carano team is a supportive partner in a space that is often emotional and difficult to navigate.”
“The firm has proven a valuable source and demonstrated effectiveness in handling complex matters and highly sensitive matters.”
“McDonald Carano has superb knowledge of local practice and Nevada law, as well as responsiveness and practical advice. I have been very happy with the service provided.”
“Their ability to handle sophisticated matters is exceptional, based on their demonstrated expertise in navigating intricate legal and regulatory challenges.”
“The team at McDonald Carano is incredibly responsive.”

Our Scope of Services and Depth of Expertise

Our attorneys routinely work on the following types of engagements for Nevada employers:

Advice and counsel on hiring packets, including offer letters
Employee handbooks, including state-specific addenda for multi-state employers
Employment agreements, including commission structures, breach of confidentiality provisions, and non-compete and non-solicitation covenants
Classification of exempt vs. non-exempt employees and employee vs. contractor
Advice and counsel on wage and hour matters (exemptions, overtime, commissions, etc.)
Fair Labor Standards Act exemption audits
Anti-harassment training (both in-house and external)
Internal investigations
Termination advice and severance agreements
Day-to-day employment advice, such as navigating legalized marijuana and ADA/religious accommodations
Responding to investigations and administrative charges before the Nevada Labor Commissioner, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, EEOC, and NERC
Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation litigation
Wage and hour litigation
Wrongful termination and retaliation
Counseling and training employers and employees
Employee health and safety
Employee privacy
Federal contractor compliance
Leave and other benefits
OSHA investigations and citations
Unfair competition and trade secrets
Workers’ compensation

Employment & Labor Law

Practice Areas

Rated Tier 1 and Best Lawyers for Employers in Nevada

Top Ranked Awards and Recognitions

Our Scope of Services and Depth of Expertise

Practice Area News