VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
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14A POWERED BY: BANKRUPTCY - CREDITORS Rob Charles 3993 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 600 Las Vegas 89169 702.949.8320 Laurel Davis 300 S. 4th Street, Suite 1400 Las Vegas 89101 702.692.8004 Gregory Garman 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, 9th Floor Las Vegas 89169 702.796.5555 Rodney Jean 300 S. 4th Street, Suite 1700 Las Vegas 89101 702.383.8830 William Noall 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, 9th Floor Las Vegas 89169 702.796.5555 BANKRUPTCY - DEBTORS Dorothy Bunce 2037 Franklin Ave. Las Vegas 89104 702.456.1920 Marjorie Guymon 2055 Village Center Circle Las Vegas 89134 702.475.9463 Shelley Krohn 228 S. 4th Street, 3rd Floor Las Vegas 89101 702.421.2210 Tara Newberry 7854 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas 89117 702.608.4232 Taylor Randolph 2045 Village Center Circle, Suite 100 Las Vegas 89134 702.570.3211 BUSINESS Jacqueline Ackerman 2620 Regatta Drive, Suite 102 Las Vegas 89128 702.304.2411 John Bailey 8984 Spanish Ridge Ave. Las Vegas 89148 702.562.8820 Frederic Berkley 410 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 350 Las Vegas 89145 702.360.6000 Tisha Black 10777 W. Twain Ave., 3rd Floor Las Vegas 89135 702.869.8801 Edward Chansky 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 400 North Las Vegas 89169 702.792.3773 James Clafl in 3753 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 200 Las Vegas 89169 702.564.2523 TOP LAWYER AREAS OF PRACTICE PRACTICING Laura Thalacker Representing employers in employment and labor law matters More than 17 years What colleges have you attended and where did you earn your law degree? Wartburg College, B.A., summa cum laude (double major in Political Science and Wom- en's Studies); University of Iowa College of Law, with high distinction (Senior Note & Com- ment Editor, Iowa Law Review; Best Advocate and Best Brief Awards, Advanced Appellate Advocacy; Member of the Chicago Moot Court Team) Why did you choose this/these particular areas of practice and when did you know this was what you wanted to do? During my fi rst semester in law school, during the Fall of 1991, the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings were taking place. The issues of harassment and discrimination were being hotly debated both in academia and by the public at large, and I was fascinated by the discus- sion. Later, early in my career when I was practicing general civil litigation for a Las Vegas fi rm, my boss and mentor asked me to draft an employee handbook for a client, which I did. Around the same time, I worked on a sexual harassment case with some really interesting facts and evidentiary issues. I realized then that I was hooked and wanted to focus exclu- sively on labor and employment law, which resulted in my move to Lionel Sawyer & Collins in 1997. What are some of the things in this area of the law that have captured your attention? It's been eye-opening over time to watch the evolution of employee rights in the work- place. When I started my career in the 1990s, it seemed the general presumption of at-will employment was well known and, with a few exceptions, prevailing. Now, there are so many statutory and common-law claims available to employees that the doctrine of at-will employ- ment has eroded. Especially in these challenging economic times, employees seem acutely aware of their individual rights and are not hesitant to assert them, even in situations where the employer's actions are completely lawful. Briefl y, what has been the most interesting case you've been involved with? I always say Las Vegas has the most interesting (and sensational) fact patterns you will ever see in sexual harassment cases. You learn quickly in this area of the law that you cannot al- low yourself to be easily embarrassed. Lately, I've been especially focused on employee use of social media and the many challenges it poses for employers. What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given? From a career perspective, the best piece of advice I've received is "just be yourself." People watch TV and movies and have pre-conceived ideas about how a lawyer should look, or how a lawyer should act. If you want to gain the trust and respect of your clients and colleagues, be authentic and don't try to be something you're not. What is the most rewarding part of your job as an attorney? I enjoy the dynamic and varied nature of my labor and employment law practice. It is nev- er boring! One day I can be analyzing a wage and hour question, the next day arguing over enforcement of a non-compete, and the next day conducting a harassment investigation. Many of my clients are small- and medium-sized employers, and I am always struck by how diffi cult and challenging the regulatory environment is for them. It's incredibly rewarding when I help a client solve an immediate problem and then also offer pro-active solutions to prevent the client from having other legal problems in the future. — Interviewed by Howard Riell Photo by Sam Morris