Valley law veteran set to steer State Bar

If there's one thing everyone says about Cam Ferenbach, it's that he's easy to get along with. Ferenbach, a partner at Lionel Sawyer & Collins and the newest State Bar of Nevada president, agrees he is not what most people expect in a lawyer.

"I am not your typical litigator," Ferenbach said with a smile. "I am easygoing, and I think that helps my clients in that I can come to a compromise."

In 30 years in Las Vegas, all at the same firm, Ferenbach has never been afraid to take a case to court. He's handled myriad corporate cases, from employment law defense to commercial contract disputes.

In June, he got a new challenge -- he was elected president of the State Bar of Nevada.

Kathy England, immediate past president, said the organization is in good hands. Besides noting his experience on the State Bar's board of governors, she praised his demeanor: "Cam is so calm."

Paul Hejmanowski, Lionel Sawyer's managing partner and Ferenbach's boss, said: "I've told people, 'Stop telling me to be more like Cam!' "

Ferenbach said he's never altered who he was to better fit into life as a lawyer. He went to law school on the GI Bill. A four-year stint in the Navy during the Vietnam War, including service on a submarine, taught him how to use authority wisely.

He might need those lessons, especially now. Ferenbach is taking the helm as cases of attorney discipline are becoming more high-profile and as the legal community is reeling from the recession.

"It's a two-year term, so it's better to start finding solutions now," he said. "A lot of times, the Bar acts in a reactive mode. I am hoping we'll do some creative thinking."

Success seems unlikely to go to Ferenbach's head. He's known as a steadying influence to his peers. And Ferenbach reiterated his hope for a uneventful tenure at the top.

"I am hoping for a quiet year," he said.

Question: You have been at Lionel Sawyer & Collins for 30 years and have spent essentially your entire career with the law firm. What has kept you there?

Answer: I have felt supported at Lionel Sawyer and I feel loyalty in return. I enjoy the collegiality here, and my longevity at the firm is not unique. ... (And) I don't have to get involved in the aspects of law firm management that don't particularly interest me.

Question: How do you balance your duties as State Bar president with your job as a litigation partner at Lionel Sawyer & Collins?

Answer: My partners have recognized that my work load will have to decrease during this year, and have generously taken on work which otherwise would have been on my desk. Second, my firm staff and bar staff work closely to coordinate my schedules to avoid conflicts. When you're the State Bar president, judges are usually understanding of the extra scheduling difficulties you face, and try to give you some flexibility on their court schedule.

Question: How do you expect the foreclosure crisis, and the resulting demand for lawyers to serve as foreclosure mediators, to affect the State Bar of Nevada in the next year?

Answer: I don't see a big impact on the State Bar. I haven't heard that the program is facing a shortage of mediators, despite the modest fee. Many lawyers who were working full time have faced a decreased demand for their services. Some lawyers view the work as essentially a community service.

Question: What do you expect to be the biggest challenges facing the State Bar and its members this year?

Answer: Our biggest challenge will be convincing voters that merit selection of judges (Ballot Question 1) is truly in their best interest. People are understandably reluctant to limit their voice in elections. But, the fact is, contested elections for judicial positions lead to the appearance of impropriety by judicial candidates both during and after campaigns. Many qualified candidates are so turned off by the fundraising gauntlet that they don't even seek office.

Question: What types of cases do you expect to see increase the most in Nevada in the next few years?

Answer: Unfortunately, straightening out the debt on real estate in the valley will keep the courts pretty busy for years. Like everyone else, we're looking for a return to the problems of a growing, not retracting, economy.

Question: You served in the Navy for four years, part of that time on a submarine. How did that experience influence your career path?

Answer: I enjoyed going to sea, working with my shipmates and taking on serious responsibilities at a young age. But, my service coincided with the Vietnam War, and I saw up close how much effort was put into keeping vital facts from the public. Like lawyers, officers swear to "defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic," and I made my views known to my CO, offering to resign my commission. My resignation was refused, but I transferred to a submarine rescue ship. I'm glad I spoke up and I'm proud of my military service.

Question: At age 25, you managed a rural water system in Arizona. Do you ever miss the simpler life, the one you had before you became a lawyer?

Answer: I'm busy, but my life is simple. My priorities of family, profession and service are much clearer to me now than when I was young, driving a truck and operating a backhoe. I still like to work up a sweat, though.

Question: Can you talk about how the Las Vegas Valley's legal community has changed over the last three decades? Has anything really surprised you?

Answer: In 1980, when I arrived in Las Vegas, there were eight State District Court judges, one federal District Court judge and one bankruptcy judge. Only a couple hundred civil litigators appeared in those courts regularly. It did not take long to get to know everyone. In January, Clark County will have over 50 state District Court judges, seven federal District Court judges and three bankruptcy judges. Thousands of lawyers, many based out of state, appear in court regularly. When the legal community was smaller, professionalism and compliance with the spirit as well as the letter of our ethical rules followed naturally. Now we have to rely more heavily on institutions such as the state and local bars to promote and encourage professionalism.

Contact reporter Valerie Miller
at vmiller@lvbusinesspress.com or 702-387-5286.