Death-penalty-qualified Nevada criminal defense with four decades of trial experience. From first-degree murder to federal criminal matters, Mr. McKenna represents clients facing the most serious charges Nevada’s courts can bring.
Mr. McKenna’s criminal defense practice is reserved for matters where liberty, reputation, and livelihood face the most serious threat. He does not handle DUI cases, misdemeanors, or routine criminal matters. His practice is selective by design: four decades of experience in Nevada’s state and federal courts, applied to the cases that demand the highest level of advocacy.
The practice encompasses capital defense, including death-penalty-qualified trial and appellate work; first-degree murder and homicide matters; sexual assault and serious sex-crime defense; federal criminal cases in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada; and complex multi-defendant prosecutions.
Every engagement begins with a consultation to establish scope. The flat fee is established based on the nature of the charges, the anticipated investigation and discovery, and the likely trial duration. Once established, the price is firm, paid in full upon retention, and covers all representation through trial.
The flat-fee model is not a discount. It is a discipline. From the moment of retention, preparation proceeds without hourly-billing anxiety. Every motion that should be filed is filed. Every witness who should be deposed is deposed. Every investigatory lead is pursued. The client is never asked to weigh thoroughness against cost.
This preparation posture is also what generates favorable resolutions. Prosecutors calibrate their offers against the defense they expect to face. When the defense is visibly prepared for trial from the first appearance, the calculus shifts. In Mr. McKenna’s own words: “It is the ability to go to trial that creates settlement opportunities.”
Mr. McKenna reviews inquiries personally. Matters involving in-custody defendants or imminent trial dates are reviewed immediately.
