Kummer Kaempfer

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September, 2007 Archive

Kummer Kaempfer Nevada’s top law firm for land use & zoning law

Monday, September 17th, 2007

LAS VEGAS – The 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® has selected Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario (Kummer Kaempfer) as the state’s top law firm for land use and zoning law. The esteemed publication named Thomas D. Amick, Michael J. Bonner, John N. Brewer, Robert L. Crowell, Kathleen M. Drakulich, Mark H. Fiorentino, Robert J. Gronauer, Christopher L. Kaempfer, Thomas F. Kummer and Steven E. Tackes as the best in their fields.

Four attorneys were honored individually as top lawyers for zoning and land use law. Partners Chris Kaempfer, Mark Fiorentino, Robert Gronauer and Thomas Amick received this distinction. In addition, Kaempfer was recognized as a leading lawyer in government relations and real estate law. Fiorentino was also acknowledged for being among the best in government relations law.

“Being recognized by our peers and colleagues as the leading firm in Nevada for land use and zoning law is a great honor,” said Michael Bonner, managing partner of Kummer Kaempfer. “We are extremely proud of the results our land use and zoning team has achieved over the years and across the state for our clients, and we appreciate the national recognition of our firm’s expertise.”

Michael Bonner was recognized as a leading lawyer in two areas: Corporate law and mergers and acquisitions law.

Thomas Kummer, a partner, was named as a top attorney in commercial litigation.

Partners Robert Crowell, Kathleen Drakulich and Steven Tackes, who is Of Counsel, were selected as the best attorneys practicing energy law. Crowell was also recognized for his work in government relations law.

John Brewer, a partner, was named as one of the leading lawyers for corporate law.

“From our growing energy practice to our established corporate, commercial litigation and government relations divisions, it’s gratifying to see a diverse group of attorneys from Kummer Kaempfer acknowledged for providing exceptional counsel and specialized legal proficiency,” said Bonner. “Kummer Kaempfer strives to be the very best in all we do.”

Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The publication has been a leading referral guide in the legal industry for 25 years. The print edition of The Best Lawyers in America 2008 is scheduled to be released in December 2007.

Best Lawyers compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. A lawyer can be nominated to Best Lawyers in several ways. All of the lawyers in the previous edition of Best Lawyers are automatically nominated into the next edition and voting lawyers are asked to nominate lawyers who have not yet been nominated. Best Lawyers then contacts all attorneys in each state and asks them to vote on the nominees by answering the same question, “If you could not handle a case yourself, to whom would you refer it?”

The 14th edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2008) was based on more than two million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers and included over 33,500 attorneys in 78 specialties, covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More information can be found at www.bestlawyers.com.

Kummer Kaempfer is a prominent force in Nevada, serving local, regional, national and international clients in the real estate development, hospitality, gaming, manufacturing, service, high-technology, and energy and utilities industries. Founded in 1994, Kummer Kaempfer is one of Nevada’s largest law firms, specializing in complex corporate transactions, federal and state securities matters, commercial litigation, zoning and land use and regulatory law.

2007 Changes to Resident Agent Law

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

During the most recent legislative session, the Nevada Legislature approved SB 242 (the “Bill”). This Bill adopted the Model Registered Agents Act drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and replaces the current resident agent with two types of registered agents, the commercial registered agent and the noncommercial registered agent. Adoption of the Model Registered Agents Act in Nevada and other sates is expected to standardize and simplify the registration process for entities operating in multiple jurisdictions. The passage of the Bill creates a new chapter in Title 7 of the NRS and affects various other existing sections of the Nevada Revised Statutes. The following is a summary of the changes for resident agents that result from the passage of the Bill but should not be relied on to provide a complete or comprehensive description of the changes.
By Scott Halvorsen

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New Rules and Major Changes to Nevada’s Initiative Petition Process

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

Since 1909, the Nevada Constitution has allowed direct democracy in the form of the initiative process. Nevada is one of twenty-seven states that have the initiative or popular referendum process whereby citizens can place issues on the ballot. However, Nevada is unique in its requirement that an initiative to amend the constitution must be approved by voters twice, in two successive elections, before taking effect. Despite that requirement, voters have seen a steady increase in the number of initiative petitions.
By John W. Griffin and Russell M. Rowe

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2007 Legislative Changes Affecting the Judiciary and Court System

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

The Nevada Assembly passed a number of resolutions and bills which will have substantial impact on the judiciary and court systems. The legislature approved increases in salaries for state judges, and for certain Supreme Court employees. Washoe and Clark counties received new judicial positions. Other changes include amendment to court reporter certification requirements, juror service exemptions, and increases in witness travel. The legislature also took the first step toward amending the constitution to replace judicial elections with a merit selection system, and to create an intermediate appellate court.
By Tami Cowden

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Tell the Client’s Story: Use Fiction Writing Techniques to Achieve Your Client’s Happy Ending

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

A common refrain heard by those laboring over legal briefs is the admonition to ‘tell the story.’ Since the first meaning of “story” in the dictionary is “an account of incidents or events,” any brief writer who has faithfully reported the facts of the case is understandably aggrieved by this advice. However, dictionary definitions aside, a storyteller does more then simply recite the facts of the case.
By Tami D. Cowden

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