The Las Vegas-based litigation firm Pisanelli Bice PLLC, announced today that seven of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America, one of the legal profession’s most respected peer-reviewed honors. The firm received accolades across all three award categories, including two coveted “Lawyer of the Year” distinctions for the firm’s founders.
Best Lawyers recognition is based entirely on peer-review, reflecting a lawyer’s professional excellence and high regard among other leading attorneys in the field.
Honorees include:
2026 Lawyer of the Year:
· James J. Pisanelli – Bet-the-Company Litigation
· Todd L. Bice – Appellate Practice
2026 Best Lawyers in America:
· James J. Pisanelli, Partner & Cofounder – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
· Todd L. Bice, Partner & Cofounder – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – First Amendment, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
· Debra L. Spinelli, Managing Partner – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Health Care
· Jordan T. Smith, Partner – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation
· M. Magali Mercera, Of Counsel – Commercial Litigation
· Brianna Smith, Of Counsel – Commercial Litigation
2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America:
· Emily Buchwald, Associate – Civil Rights Law, Commercial Litigation
“We are proud to see our attorneys recognized across so many practice areas, including two ‘Lawyer of the Year’ honors for our founding partners – James Pisanelli and Todd Bice,” said Debra L. Spinelli, managing partner at Pisanelli Bice. “These awards reflect the depth of experience and commitment our team brings to every matter. To be honored by our peers is a testament not only to the quality of our legal work, but to the consistency, integrity, and professionalism our attorneys bring to every case.”
Las Vegas, NV – (September 9, 2025) – Pisanelli Bice PLLC, a premier litigation firm based in Las Vegas, is proud to announce that eight of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 edition of Mountain States Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, a distinction reserved for the region’s most respected legal professionals.
2025 Mountain States Super Lawyers:
2025 Mountain States Rising Stars:
Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized rating service that identifies outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have achieved significant peer recognition and professional accomplishment. Only the top 5 percent of attorneys in each region are selected annually. The Rising Stars list highlights top-performing attorneys under the age of 40 or who have been in practice for 10 years or less, with no more than 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys chosen.
Selections are made through a rigorous, patented multi-phase process that includes independent research, peer nominations, and evaluations by a blue-ribbon panel of attorneys across the United States.
“We’re proud to see our attorneys recognized for both their legal excellence and the respect they’ve earned from their peers,” said Debra L. Spinelli, managing partner at Pisanelli Bice. “This acknowledgment reflects not only our team’s depth of experience but also our ongoing commitment to achieving results for our clients.”
About Pisanelli Bice:
Pisanelli Bice is a Las Vegas-based firm focused primarily on commercial litigation. The firm, founded by attorneys James J. Pisanelli and Todd L. Bice, represents clients ranging from single entity developers and entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies, municipalities, public agencies as well as some of Nevada’s largest gaming companies. For more information, please visit www.pisanellibice.com.
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Seven Pisanelli Bice Attorneys Recognized Across All Three Categories
Las Vegas, NV – (Aug. 21, 2025) – The Las Vegas-based litigation firm Pisanelli Bice PLLC, announced today that seven of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America, one of the legal profession’s most respected peer-reviewed honors. The firm received accolades across all three award categories, including two coveted “Lawyer of the Year” distinctions for the firm’s founders.
Best Lawyers recognition is based entirely on peer-review, reflecting a lawyer’s professional excellence and high regard among other leading attorneys in the field.
Honorees include:
2026 Lawyer of the Year:
2026 Best Lawyers in America:
2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America:
“We are proud to see our attorneys recognized across so many practice areas, including two ‘Lawyer of the Year’ honors for our founding partners – James Pisanelli and Todd Bice,” said Debra L. Spinelli, managing partner at Pisanelli Bice. “These awards reflect the depth of experience and commitment our team brings to every matter. To be honored by our peers is a testament not only to the quality of our legal work, but to the consistency, integrity, and professionalism our attorneys bring to every case.”
About Pisanelli Bice:
Pisanelli Bice is a Las Vegas-based firm focused primarily on commercial litigation. The firm, founded by attorneys James J. Pisanelli and Todd L. Bice, represents clients ranging from single entity developers and entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies, municipalities, public agencies as well as some of Nevada’s largest gaming companies. For more information, please visit www.pisanellibice.com.
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As Nevada’s business landscape expands, so do the opportunities to sue. While the awarded and experienced business attorneys across the state have watched their client lists grow, they still counsel owners to consider the long-term implications of going to court.
Taking Issue:
Nevada’s diverse business environment breeds an equally diverse range of legal cases. “We are seeing growth in business here, a more mature business environment,” said John Desmond, an attorney with Dickinson Wright in northern Nevada. “As is typical, there are more cases involving non-competes, where an employee goes to a competing or different business. We also handle business torts, ‘you’re taking my customers, engaging in unfair competition,’ those kinds of issues.”
Some of these claims, like intellectual property and patents, may be heard by federal courts, depending on the law at issue. Similarly, bankruptcy cases in Nevada are generally handled by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Other issues, like some contract laws or claims particularly relate to state law, are heard by local district court judges.
Rabbit Holes:
Identifying the jurisdiction is just one step in validating a claim – a complicated and lengthy journey. “The process is very foreign to most, other than attorneys or those who have been through litigation already,” Desmond said.
This lack of sophistication can blind a client from the reality of a case. “When you’re evaluating the issue, it may not be what the business owner wants to hear, but you need to set expectations early,” Desmond said. “The worst thing that can happen is you don’t have a discussion ahead of time, and then the business owner is surprised by the outcome.”
James Pisanelli, co-founder and partner at Pisanelli Bice, reminded attorneys to remember their role when going into client meetings. “I often point out to young lawyers considering a career in litigation that we are advocates,” he said.
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LAS VEGAS – June 5, 2025 – Las Vegas-based law firm Pisanelli Bice PLLC has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s premier law firms, earning top-tier rankings in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA, a leading guide to the legal profession. The firm’s founding partners, James J. Pisanelli and Todd L. Bice, along with Managing Partner Debra L. Spinelli, were honored for their individual excellence in commercial litigation.
Pisanelli Bice received a Band 1 ranking—the highest possible—in the category of Litigation: General Commercial in Nevada. The firm was first rated on the Chambers list in 2011 and has consistently held top ranks since then, underscoring its continued leadership and reputation for delivering exceptional results in complex legal matters.
Individual recognitions:
Chambers and Partners compiles its rankings through independent research and in-depth interviews with clients and peers, evaluating factors such as legal ability, client service, and professional conduct.
“We’re proud that our dedication and efforts on behalf of our clients continue to be recognized by Chambers and Partners,” said James J. Pisanelli, founding partner. “This honor is a testament to the dedication of our entire team and our steadfast commitment to providing strategic, results-oriented counsel for our clients navigating high-stakes business litigation.”
Pisanelli Bice is widely regarded for its litigation-focused practice, representing clients in high-profile cases across Nevada. For more information about Pisanelli Bice and its services, visit www.pisanellibice.com.
