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16A POWERED BY: Don Springmeyer 3556 E. Russell Road, 2nd Floor Las Vegas 89120 702.341.5200 CRIMINAL DEFENSE Paola Armeni 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, 9th Floor Las Vegas 89169 702.796.5555 Craig Denney 3883 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 1100 Las Vegas 89169 702.784.5200 Robert Draskovich 815 S. Casino Center Blvd. Las Vegas 89101 702.997.8520 TOP LAWYER AREAS OF PRACTICE PRACTICING Dominic Gentile 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, 9th Floor Las Vegas 89169 702.796.5555 Joel Mann 601 S. 7th Street Las Vegas 89101 702.474.6266 Cal Potter 1125 Shadow Lane Las Vegas 89102 702.385.1954 Jay Siegel 601 S. 7th Street Las Vegas 89101 702.430.7531 Brian Smith 700 S. 3rd Street Las Vegas 89101 702.380.8248 Christopher Tilman 1211 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas 89104 702.214.4214 Joshua Tomsheck 228 S. 4th Street, 1st Floor Las Vegas 89101 702.895.6760 EMPLOYMENT- EMPLOYEES Michael Balaban 10726 Del Rudini Street Las Vegas 89141 702.586.2964 Patrick Chapin 129 Cassia Way Henderson 89014 702.433.7295 Andrew Gordon Commercial Litigation, Arbitration, Mediation 25 years What colleges have you attended and where did you earn your law degree? I graduated from Claremont McKenna College, and obtained my law degree from Harvard Law School. Why did you choose this/these particular areas of practice and when did you know this was what you wanted to do? I have always wanted to be a litigator. I enjoy the give-and-take of the courtroom, whether in an oral argu- ment or a trial. I gravitated to arbitration and mediation as more cost-effective alternatives for dispute resolu- tion. What are some of the things in this area of the law that have captured your attention? Over the past 10 years I have become more active as a private arbitrator and mediator because I saw that litigation is not always the best way for businesses to resolve disputes. If properly structured, arbitration can be a quicker and more effi cient way to obtain a decision, without the years of expensive discovery that often occurs in litigation. Mediation can be an even better alternative because it allows the parties to control their own resolution by negotiating a settlement. Not every case can be resolved through mediation, but mediation often helps parties narrow the scope of their dispute so the arbitration or litigation is more cost-effective. Briefl y, what has been the most interesting case you've been involved with? From 1993 through 2002, I represented Sun City Summerlin Community Association Inc. challenging the Clark County Assessor's valuations of its golf courses and recreation centers. We argued that the assessments did not properly account for the deed restrictions on the properties, and that they constituted a double-tax- ation because the values of the amenities were taxed through the increased values of the homes in Sun City Summerlin. The legal challenges each year began with the County Board of Equalization, then went to the State Board of Equalization, then to the court. The case went up to the Nevada Supreme Court, which agreed that the assessments did not account for the deed restrictions. Ultimately, we negotiated a settlement that saved the Association thousands of dollars in taxes. What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given? Never be so enamored of your own position that you cannot look at the case objectively What is the most rewarding part of your job as an attorney? I . enjoy helping people resolve their disputes. Litigation can take huge fi nancial and psychological tolls on the parties. It is gratifying to help people resolve their problems so they can move on to more productive en- deavors. — Inter viewed by Howard Riell Photo by Christopher DeV argas Andrew Rempfer 9555 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 280 Las Vegas 89123 702.384.3616 EMPLOYMENT- MANAGEMENT Howard Cole 3993 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 600 Las Vegas 89169 702.949.8315 Thomas Ryan 3993 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 600 Las Vegas 89169 702.949.8232 Laura Thalacker 300 S. 4th Street, Suite 1700 Las Vegas 89101 702.383.8947