When Your Client Faces Serious Charges
Many Nevada practices do not include criminal defense. When a client or an inquiry involves a serious criminal matter — murder, a serious felony, a sexual offense allegation, or a federal charge — referring it to dedicated trial counsel protects both the client and the referring firm. Mr. McKenna accepts serious criminal matters referred by Nevada attorneys, and structures each engagement to preserve the referring lawyer’s relationship with the client.
Counsel of Record
- Nevada State Bar No. 1676 · Admitted September 1980
- University of the Pacific · McGeorge School of Law · J.D.
- U.S. District Court · District of Nevada
- U.S. Court of Appeals · Ninth Circuit
- En banc Ninth Circuit appearance (2006)
- Documented Nevada capital-trial experience
How a Referral Is Structured
Direct Referral
The client is referred to Mr. McKenna for the criminal matter; the referring attorney’s relationship with the client on other matters is preserved.
Co-Counsel
Joint representation in which Mr. McKenna leads the criminal defense and the referring firm stays involved to the extent it prefers.
Trial Specialist
Engagement as lead trial counsel where a firm holds a criminal matter it is not positioned to try.
Matters Appropriate for Referral, Co-Counsel, or Trial Counsel
- 01Murder and Homicide Defense in Reno and Across NevadaReno-based trial representation for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted murder, and other Nevada homicide prosecutions. The practice accepts a small number of serious matters statewide and prepares each accepted case for trial from the beginning.Review →
- 02Capital Murder and Death-Penalty Defense in NevadaRepresentation for selected Nevada murder matters in which the death penalty is or may be sought, grounded in documented capital-trial experience and the current statutory and SCR 250 framework.Review →
- 03Sexual Assault Defense in Reno and Across NevadaSelected defense of serious Nevada sexual-assault allegations, including investigations and category A felony prosecutions carrying prison, registration, and lifetime-supervision consequences.Review →
- 04Federal Criminal Defense in the District of NevadaSelected federal defense in the District of Nevada, including serious drug and conspiracy cases, grand-jury investigations, indictments, detention hearings, motion practice, trial, and sentencing.Review →
- 05Serious Felony Defense in Reno and Across NevadaSelected defense of serious Nevada felonies, including violent offenses, weapon-enhanced allegations, trafficking-level drug matters, and complex multi-defendant prosecutions.Review →
Inquiries from Counsel
Inquiries from counsel should describe the charge, the court and case posture, any imminent deadline (arraignment, preliminary hearing, trial date), and the engagement contemplated — direct referral, co-counsel, or trial specialist.