Arguments, appeals abound when the subject is picking the best lawyer

Best Lawyers

     Thank goodness for lawyers.
     Without them, where would lawyer jokes be?
     Without them, journalists would slip a notch lower on the ladder of occupations scorned by the public.
     Without them, the judicial process would be hopelessly bogged down and overrun by the special interests of the powerful.
     Hey, wait a minute.
     Kidding aside, without attorneys there would be no process at all.
     But who are the best lawyers in Las Vegas?
     Ask 100 attorneys and you're bound to get 100 different answers ‹ and a sizable bill. At the risk of intense and protracted litigation, the Best of Las Vegas has endeavored to answer just that question. BOLV has enlisted three brave and experienced souls, former district attorneys George Foley and Rex Bell and former U.S. attorney B. Mahlon Brown, to pick their favorite criminal and civil attorneys.
     The experts' ground rules are simple: No current or former partners, and ‹ this is especially important in Foley's case ‹ no family members.
     Foley is one of five brothers who made their mark in Nevada legal history. Eldest brother, Roger, was a federal judge, and Tom was a county judge. For his part, George Foley was elected district attorney in 1958 and has practiced law more than 40 years.
     For Foley, the choices are easy.
     "Harry Claiborne is the best criminal attorney I've seen," Foley says.
     Claiborne, whose controversial career includes impeachment as a federal judge, continues to practice law.
     "In basketball, there's Michael Jordan," Foley says. "Below him there's a whole lot of great players, and then all the rest. Harry Claiborne is like that. He was totally dominating in my opinion. He is the outstanding personality in the courtroom."
     On the civil side, Foley knows no more zealous advocate than Mort Galane.
     "Mort Galane is a tireless worker, and he's been very successful," Foley says. "He's tenacious in his work and in his presentation, too."
     For Bell, who spent eight years as Clark County district attorney before entering private practice, the choices are more difficult.
     "There are certainly some excellent ones," Bell says. "If you're looking for one, I'd have to choose George Dickerson. He just radiated class when he walked into a courtroom. He was well-prepared, knew his stuff and was classy with opposing counsel. I used to say if I got in any trouble civil or criminal, I'd go to George."
     Bell adds Bill Terry and Tom Beatty to his short list along with the county's former top prosecutor, Mel Harmon.
     "Tom Beatty and Bill Terry are great," Bell says. "They're well-prepared and know their stuff. If I really want to know something, I'll just ask Tom Beatty and he'll know it. And Mel Harmon, who's now retired, was the best prosecutor we've ever had."
     Terry gets another vote from Brown, whose career spans nearly 30 years and ranges from running the community's Legal Services program to heading the U.S. Attorney's office from 1977 to 1981.
     "When someone asks me my opinion, I always recommend Bill Smith and Bill Terry," Brown says. "They're both very good, down-to-earth criminal attorneys. And Richard Wright and Frank Cremen are others who are highly qualified. I think Smith and Terry really communicate with the little guy. They all have high integrity. Bill Terry is experienced with the state system and has worked for the U.S. Attorney's office. They are respected by other lawyers, by judges and the cops respect them even though they're on the other side."
     On the civil side, Brown doesn't hesitate to list Peter Alpert as his first choice. Alpert, whose clients now include the teachers union, is a former chief counsel with the Golden Nugget, Brown says. And there's Doug Crosby, whose skills as a transactional attorney have earned Brown's respect.