McDonald Carano’s Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice provides legal services, as well as government affairs and advocacy assistance, relating to environmental law, water resources, public lands, and land use particularly in the areas of utilities, mining, and renewable energy. The practice covers all significant state and federal environmental and natural resources laws, along with the full spectrum of the energy regulatory and policy landscape.
We provide expertise in compliance counseling, administrative proceedings, regulatory approvals, enforcement actions, business transactions, and litigation services on a comprehensive range of projects that includes infrastructure, industrial, manufacturing, energy/power, and economic development. Our team is sought after for its unique combination of knowledge in both the law and local governance. We track legal and regulatory developments of energy, environmental and natural resources law at the regional, state and national level, and advise on agency rulemaking and legislation for clients such as trade associations, landowners, project developers, and corporations.
Our team has significant experience working on issues facing the energy industry, representing some of the largest energy users in Nevada in general rate cases and other contested proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission. The practice extends to environmental permitting due diligence for renewable energy projects and general environmental compliance matters. We also regularly represent developers and tax equity investors in connection with project development, permitting, and finance of renewable energy projects throughout Nevada.
The members of our practice have hands-on experience in both government and business, and possess the scientific and technical training needed to offer comprehensive advice to clients. Our team identifies legally compliant, efficient strategies that achieve the commercial objectives of each client.
The realm of energy, environment and natural resources changes constantly. Economic and political forces heavily influence this sector, and laws and regulations often differ at the local, national and international levels. As counsel and advocate, McDonald Carano guides clients through the ever-evolving legal, financial, business, and political aspects of this dynamic field. We fully understand the significance of natural resources and energy in the western United States, and we are skilled in helping our clients navigate their challenges and opportunities.
Our reputation and track record of proven results are underscored by many practice group team members being included in The Best Lawyers in America and the Practice Group is ranked in the highest Band 1 category in Chambers USA. McDonald Carano is the only Nevada-headquartered firm ranked Band 1 in Environmental Law in Nevada. While conducting its research on McDonald Carano, Chambers USA received the following comments from our clients.
“McDonald Carano’s lawyers are knowledgeable regarding matters occurring in the community.” (Chambers USA, 2022)
“The legal services of McDonald Carano are knowledgeable, timely and cost-efficient. They have the relationships with and respect of the regulatory community.” (Chambers USA, 2021)
“The firm is well versed in the subject matter and handles engagements very efficiently.” (Chambers USA, 2020)
“The team’s knowledge is tremendous, as are the attorneys’ communication skills and their sincere ability to find a solution favorable to all parties where possible.” (Chambers USA, 2019)
McDonald Carano congratulates Robert McPeak on receiving recognition in four legal profession ranking publications – Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, Vegas Inc. Top Lawyers in Southern Nevada, and…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that Robert McPeak was selected as one of only 25 lawyers from across the country and the only lawyer in Nevada to be included in The…
McDonald Carano congratulates Sylvia Harrison on her 18th year of receiving a prestigious ranking in Environmental Law from Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers ranks lawyers who are…
McDonald Carano congratulates 10 attorneys in our Las Vegas office who are recognized as “Top Lawyers” in the Vegas Inc./Las Vegas Weekly 2022 list of the “best in our community…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that five of our Practice Groups received prestigious rankings in the Nevada section of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2022. The Nevada section evaluated…
McDonald Carano proudly announces having the most attorneys recognized in Nevada Business Magazine’s “Top Rank Attorneys” list for 2022, including four “Best Up & Coming Attorneys.” For the past 15…
McDonald Carano proudly announces earning recertification in Meritas, the leading global alliance of independent full-service business law firms. McDonald Carano joined Meritas in 1990 as a founding member and we…
Mechanical Equipment + Defensible Space Fighting the dangerous, destructive and wind-driven Caldor Fire in the Lake Tahoe Basin in 2021 was a story about the success of what is known…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 17 Practice Groups in our Reno and Las Vegas offices have received the prestigious “Tier 1” ranking in the 2022 edition of the “Best Law…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that seven lawyers in our Reno and Las Vegas offices received “Lawyer of the Year” awards in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Over…
The dangerous and destructive wind-driven Caldor Fire started on August 14, 2021, forced the closure of and crossed Highway 50, required evacuation orders in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and generated…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 11 women lawyers from nine Practice Groups in our Reno and Las Vegas offices have been recognized in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 37 of our lawyers have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the leading peer-review…
Women’s History Month is celebrated in March, but all year long McDonald Carano honors the women who lead our practices, provide excellent service to our clients, and assure the professional…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that Chambers USA 2021 ranked three of our practices in the most highly regarded Band 1 category – Business Entities & Transactions, Commercial & Complex Litigation,…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that Chambers USA 2021 ranked our Environment & Natural Resources Law Practice in the highly regarded Band 1 category, which is Chambers’ most prestigious recognition of…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that five of our attorneys received the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” award in their geographic region and specialty area of practice from The Best Lawyers…
May 28, 2021 – McDonald Carano is pleased to announce that Chambers has again recognized numerous McDonald Carano Practice Groups and individual lawyers in its Chambers USA Guide 2021. Chambers…
May 12, 2021 (Las Vegas) – McDonald Carano is pleased to announce that Tara Teegarden has joined the firm as an Associate in the Commercial & Complex Litigation Practice Group. …
July 9, 2020 – McDonald Carano is pleased to announce Chambers has again listed the Firm as a highly ranked law firm in both the Chambers USA and Chambers High…
February 1, 2020, Retail Association of Nevada– Many studies are mandated by the Nevada Legislature each session. Very few are packed with as bold of policies as the ones outlined…
November 1, 2019, McDonald Carano, Nevada’s law firm for businesses and high-net-worth individuals, is pleased to announce the firm has been named one of the country’s “Best Law Firms” in…
April 29, 2019 – Chambers USA, one of the leading legal ratings agencies in the United States, has released its 2019 rankings. McDonald Carano again ranks as one of the…
January 8, 2019, Las Vegas, NV – McDonald Carano, Nevada’s law firm for businesses and high-net-worth individuals, is pleased to announce that Lucas M. Foletta and Lisa Wiltshire Alstead have…
November 1, 2018, Las Vegas, NV – McDonald Carano, Nevada’s law firm for businesses and high-net-worth individuals, is pleased to announce the firm has been named one of the country’s…
September 7, 2018, The Nevada Independent, by Riley Snyder — Yet another major casino has filed to leave NV Energy, the state’s primary electric utility, and purchase power on the…
July 6, 2018, The Nevada Independent, By Riley Snyder Nevada energy regulators are pumping the brakes on a complex tax withholding system used by NV Energy amid charges from critics…
May 22, 2018 Reno, NV – McDonald Carano is pleased to announce that President Donald J. Trump has appointed McDonald Carano Senior Counsel A.J. “Bud” Hicks to the Governing Board of…
CarsonNOW.org, May 17, 1981 STATELINE — U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed A.J. “Bud” Hicks to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board. Hicks, a resident of Reno since 1957,…
Nevada Newsmakers, March 1, 2018 Sam Shad interviews Susan Fisher regarding Question 3 – The Energy Choice Initiative. If this passes, electricity monopolies would be abolished, and a competitive retail market would…
The Water Report, February 15, 2018 In the desert southwest, where we practice energy and environmental law, fights involving water are usually about not having enough of it. After all,…
The Nevada Independent By Riley Snyder on Jan 17, 2018 Nevadans could soon see another reduction in their power bills, thanks to the recently passed tax legislation approved by Republicans…
McDonald Carano announced today that Richard M. Trachok II has joined the Firm as Senior Counsel. He brings with him extensive experience in energy and alternative energy, telecommunications and utilities, gaming and…
In the last three years, no legal or policy area in Nevada has seen more consequential change than energy. Since 2014, we have seen a wave of large customers (1…
Las Vegas, NV – Chambers USA, one of the leading legal ratings agencies in the United States, has released its 2017 rankings. McDonald Carano once again received high honors, maintaining…
Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series on water laws. Extreme climatic perturbations across the globe have created both record-breaking droughts…
Our Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Law Group
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