Nevada’s Go-To Government Relations & Lobbying Law Firm
As more individuals and businesses become both interested and involved in Nevada’s political process and are impacted by rulemaking at the local, state, and federal levels, the need for lobbying firms and relations law groups that get the job done strategically is critical. McDonald Carano’s Government Affairs & Advocacy Group has become mission-critical. Our lobbying and government relations firm gets the job done strategically, efficiently, and effectively. Our attorneys and professional lobbyists create the most formidable and influential team operating in offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Carson City. We are acutely aware of the challenges facing our clients, and we know that each response requires nuance and tact. We are known for developing consensus to overcome conflict, for having deep-rooted connections across industries and geographies, for bridging gaps among divergent groups, and for being the hardest workers in the room. We have a keen instinct for business-friendly policies and a mastery of collaborative efforts.
When faced with a government affairs issue, clients throughout Nevada rely on our experienced government relations attorneys and lobbyists with the wisdom, know-how, and expertise to develop and leverage an integrated approach. In the rapidly changing political environment, a nimble team that capitalizes on its own 360-degree perspective to create a successful solution is critical. We are a politically bipartisan group, with coverage that spans the entire state of Nevada, and our uniquely diverse makeup yields results for clients. With deep connections on both sides of the aisle and at every layer of government, we open doors quickly. And when our team advocates for an issue, it is heard with respect—we have a hard-earned reputation for integrity, of which we are proud. We combine the skills developed as government relations attorneys and traditional lobbyists with the wisdom gleaned from extensive governmental experience in the private and public sectors. We are advocates who develop a strategy that addresses all aspects of the matter—the legal issues, legislative and regulatory hurdles, media scrutiny, and any long-term political or business implications. But a strategy is only as successful as its execution. Our team is known for its extensive network of relationships in every corner of the state. No matter where our clients need us, we are there, leveraging our knowledge and contacts to craft impactful solutions for clients with business interests in Nevada.
Collectively, our Government Affairs & Advocacy Group delivers decades of proven representation in advocacy, negotiation, lobbying, diplomacy and relationship management. Team members have broad-ranging professional experience that we put to work for our clients. That experience includes legislative, executive branch and business experience, as well as serving as directors of legislative policy and strategy, public relations advisers, campaign officials and legislative aides. Examples include:
General Counsel to Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons
Chief of Staff to Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons
General Counsel to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
Policy Director to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
Senior Deputy Attorney General for Nevada Attorney Generals Frankie Sue Del Papa, Brian Sandoval and George Chanos
Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorneys Office – District of Nevada
Executive Vice President and in-house lobbyist for a cooperative electric utility headquartered in southern Nevada
Two-time Emmy-nominated television news anchor and reporter for the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas and Reno, including serving as the station’s investigative reporter and capitol correspondent covering the Nevada Legislature in the 2011 and 2013 legislative sessions
Legislative Research Analyst for numerous committees, including State & International Affairs and Regulatory Affairs; Appropriations; Commerce; Government; Health; Military Veterans & Regulatory Affairs; Ways & Means; Banking & Financial Services; and Insurance (at the Arizona House of Representatives)
Our government relations attorneys and lobbyists assist businesses, individuals, trade associations, non-profit organizations, and local and municipal governments and public agencies with defining their objectives and designing a comprehensive strategy and action plan that offers the greatest potential for success. Whether it is drafting a nuanced amendment at a moment’s notice or strategizing to build a coalition for a critical hearing, our team embodies a nimble and can-do attitude. We are dedicated to supporting client priorities before, during and after the legislative session. We represent client policy interests at interim committee hearings, and we facilitate direct client relationships with legislators. We also work with clients and agency staff on the development of regulatory language, while keeping a close eye on issues that may affect our clients.
Our team has represented clients from nearly every industry, including healthcare, technology, agriculture, energy, transportation, financial services, entertainment, gaming, lodging, education, telecommunications, battery technology, staffing, construction, real estate, retail, museums, cannabis, housing, mining, waste removal and recycling, renewable power, self-storage, towing, automobile dealerships, aviation, professional sports, and government.
Ourprominently-recognized Government Affairs & Advocacy team has had the pleasure of offering service and solutions to marquee clients across almost every industry and sector important to the business and growth of Nevada.
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 17 of our attorneys are recognized as “Top Rank Attorneys” in Nevada Business Magazine’s 2023 list of the State’s top attorneys as voted by their…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that more than half of our Partners, Of Counsel, and Senior Counsel have received the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating™ for achieving “the highest level…
Lindsay Knox, Vice President in our Government Affairs & Advocacy Group, shared her insights on the current legislative session during an interview with Sam Shad on Nevada Newsmakers. The topics Lindsay discussed…
McDonald Carano congratulates Josh Hicks on his election to Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nevada Taxpayers Association. Josh has been a member of the Board of Directors and the…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that 11 women lawyers from eight Practice Groups in our Reno and Las Vegas offices have been recognized in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in…
McDonald Carano is an annual Presidential Gold sponsor of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. Our long-term involvement in EDAWN is led by Matt Addison, Managing Partner of our…
McDonald Carano congratulates Mackenzie Warren Kay, attorney and Vice President in the Government Affairs & Advocacy Group, for her third consecutive year of receiving “Ones to Watch” recognition in Government…
Our Government Affairs & Advocacy Group would like to share a summary of the 2022 primary election results. For partisan offices, the primary winners will face off in the general election…
Josh Hicks, Chair of McDonald Carano’s Government Affairs & Advocacy Group, was interviewed on Nevada Newsmakers about critical and controversial issues of the day. Nevada Newsmakers is the premier state-wide…
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…
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…
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…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that Mackenzie Warren, attorney and Vice President of the firm’s Government Affairs & Advocacy Group, received the highly regarded “Ones to Watch” recognition in Government Relations…
Election Insights from Government Relations and Lobbying Lawyers Casting a ballot is one of the greatest responsibilities we have as Americans and employers have a unique opportunity to educate and…
Nevada Newsmakers is Nevada’s premier state-wide non-partisan news and political broadcast that features discussions with and about the people and events that impact Nevada. Mackenzie Warren, a practicing attorney and…
On August 1, the federal eviction moratorium expired. Nevada lifted its moratorium in May. On August 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new moratorium for areas…
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…
The 81st Session of the Nevada Legislature commenced February 1, 2021 and ran the full 120 days as allowed by the Nevada Constitution, adjourning sine die on June 1, 2021. We are…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that Mackenzie Warren, attorney and Vice President of the firm’s Government Affairs & Advocacy Group, received highly regarded recognition in the 2021 inaugural Best Lawyers: Ones…
The Nevada Legislature adjourned its 81st session late in the evening on May 31, 2021. Dozens of employment related bills are of great interest to Nevada’s business community. Lindsay Knox,…
McDonald Carano proudly announces that Mackenzie Warren, a Vice President and attorney in our Government Affairs & Advocacy Group, was selected as one of Vegas Inc’s “Top Lawyers” in Public…
February 1, 2021, Retail Association of Nevada (RAN) Newsletter During the two special sessions held over last summer, the lack of access to the legislative building and lawmakers was devastating…
December 30, 2020, Josh Hicks, partner with McDonald Carano, was featured on Nevada Newsmakers discussing the lawsuits challenging the 2020 presidential election results and the laws surrounding legal challenges to elections….
December 3, 2020 Mackenzie Warren was featured on Nevada Newsmakers discussing Clark County election results, Vegas’ path to economic recovery and the effect of Tony Hsieh on the Vegas community. See Full Video Here…
June 1, 2020, RAN Newsletter, www.rannv.org, Pages 5 & 8 THE MGM FIRE. 9/11. HURRICANE KATRINA. ONE OCTOBER. COVID-19. The novel coronavirus is hardly the first disaster that plaintiffs’ lawyers have…
April 1, 2020, Retail Association of Nevada (RAN) Since Nevada became a state in 1864, the Nevada constitution has mandated the election of judges. All judges serve six-year terms. While…
McDonald Carano COVID-19 Resources: McDonald Carano will provide information and materials designed to keep employers up to date and informed about the evolving landscape concerning COVID-19 and related matters. –…
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…
December 25, 2019, Northern Nevada Business View, by Rob Sabo Two new laws coming into play in the new year could spell big changes for Northern Nevada businesses and employers. The Nevada…
December 19, 2019, Law360, by Vin Gurrieri Nevada Limits Pre-Hire Drug Screens California made headlines with laws like A.B. 5 and other statutes that addressed issues such as employment arbitration agreements and…
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…
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 7, 2018, Nevada NewsMakers Susan Fisher is interviewed by Sam Shad the day before the elections. They discuss a number of items, such as blockchain, no growth pushback, traffic on…
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…
Friday, July 6, 2018, nevadanewsmakers.com Sam Shad interviewed Susan Fisher on a number of subjects, touching on Nevada water issues and Coyote Springs Development; Question 3 Nevada, The Energy Choice Initiative; and the…
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…
Today, when companies involve themselves in politics, there are a lot of regulations that they must comply with, whether at the federal or state level. While regulations may vary by…
An exhibit at the State Capitol is getting a $700,000 makeover. The Nevada 150 Foundation presented Gov. Brian Sandoval on Thursday with $700,000 that will go toward new exhibits and…
Nevada lawmakers come and go, but one thing remains the same year after year in Carson City — the hordes of mostly well-dressed, well-spoken lobbyists who do their best to…
Homebuilders in Southern Nevada could face ripples, and potentially cause their own, during the Nevada 2017 legislative session in Carson City, set to begin Feb. 6. During a gathering at…
VEGAS INC. Nevada’s homebuilding industry, long plagued by sometimes-spurious litigation under construction-defect laws, commonly known as “Chapter 40,” found relief Feb. 24, 2015, in the form of Assembly Bill 125….
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