When Your Client Faces Serious Charges
Many Nevada practices do not include criminal defense. When a client or an inquiry brings a serious criminal matter — a felony, a sexual-offense allegation, a federal charge, capital exposure — 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)
- Death-penalty-qualified capital defense
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.
Appellate Counsel
Briefing and argument in the Nevada Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
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, trial specialist, or appellate. Nevada RPC 1.5(e) permits the division of a fee between the referring and engaged attorney with the client’s written consent.