Leon Mead has
been handling construction law matters almost exclusively for over 33 years.
His practice is primarily devoted to representation of public and private
owners, developers, contractors, specialty contractors, construction managers,
material suppliers and design professionals, in construction contract
preparation, negotiation and implementation; LEED Certification/Green Building
compliance, litigation, arbitration and mediation, construction claims,
mechanics lien remedies, construction defect defense including residential and
commercial deficiency design and construction claims, delay, disruption,
acceleration and other impact claims, bid protests, professional licensing,
construction related administrative & criminal defense, construction
industry issues, commercial and business litigation. He also serves as a
Private Arbitrator, Mediator and Dispute Resolution Board (DRB) Member.
On construction
and development related transactional matters, Leon has significant experience
in planning, negotiating, drafting and coordinating contracts as unique as
design and construction of multi-billion-dollar complex commercial multi-use
projects, and as routine as form UCC Article 2 sales transaction / credit
agreements for construction goods and materials. His experience includes myriad
delivery method options (including Design-Bid-Build (Competitive Bidding),
Design-Build, Construction Management at Risk, Construction Management as
Agent, Owner-Builder, Design, Build, Operate and Maintain, Fast-Track and
Flash-Track), utilizing various financing and compensation methods (including
lump sum, cost plus fee, guaranteed maximum price (“GMP”), joint venture
funding, public private partnership, etc.).
This experience allows him to partner with and advise clients as to
various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks that each of these
construction methods pose, and recommend strategies to manage the particular
issues unique to the project circumstances. Leon has also advised clients on
necessary construction administration and management processes that avoid
pitfalls created by legislative enactment.
Leon is
dedicated to development of Nevada laws that impact construction and to
advising his clients and the Nevada construction industry of their
implications: Testifying before numerous state legislative committees on
construction related topics and cited by the Nevada Supreme Court in support of
construction related opinions. Leon is a
frequent lecturer and prolific author on construction law and industry issues.
He is the author of the first (and only) comprehensive “Nevada Construction Law”
treatise, published by Thompson Reuters / West, 2009 through 2012; DHG
Publications 2013 through 2016 (and cited with approval by the Nevada Supreme
Court in multiple published decisions), and numerous articles on construction
law topics. He teaches Construction Law as faculty adjunct at the William S.
Boyd School of Law (UNLV), an invited lecturer on construction law to the ABA
Forum on the Construction Industry, and State Bar of Nevada Annual Meetings. He
has recently been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Nevada Lawyer, the
official magazine of the State Bar of Nevada. He also serves as an independent
mediator and arbitrator of construction disputes.
Leon’s work is
recognized by his 2021 Top Lawyer Lifetime Achievement award from Vegas, Inc.®;
2006-2023 Band 1, Litigation: Construction-Nevada ranking by Chambers USA®; Selection as 2013 &
2016 Construction Lawyer of the Year in Las Vegas by Best Lawyers®; 2006 through 2024 inclusion in Best Lawyers®; 2007 through 2024 listing in Superlawyers®, his AV rating from Martindale-Hubble®, selection as a Senior Fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America®, Founding
Member of the Construction Litigation Counsel of America®, as a Fellow of the American
Bar Foundation®, 2015 Associate Member of the Year of the Nevada Contractors Association®, 2007,
Associate Member of the Year of the Nevada
Framing Contractors Association®, and as the 2005 Associate member of the
Year by the Associated General
Contractors, Las Vegas Chapter®. He has the distinction of being the only
practicing lawyer to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Nevada
Contractors Association (fka Associated General Contractors, Las Vegas
Chapter), and has held that position since 2005; and in 2016 Leon was appointed
to the NCA’s Executive Committee. In 2015 he founded the Nevada Association of
Construction Counsel, a group dedicated to the betterment of Nevada
construction law.
Education
·
Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, California
(J.D., 1990)
·
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California
(B.A., Psychology, 1986)
·
Life Bible College, Los Angeles, California
(A.A., Theology, 1985)
Court Admissions
·
Supreme Court of Nevada
·
Supreme Court of California (inactive)
·
Supreme Court of Texas
·
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships
& Activities
·
State Bar of Nevada, 1995
o
Construction Law Section
o
Nevada Lawyer Magazine Editorial Board. 2014 - 2019
§
Chairman, 2017-2018
·
State Bar of California, 1990 (inactive)
·
State Bar of Texas, 2016
·
National Judicial College, 2021
o
40-hour Mediator Training Certificate
·
Former Adjunct Professor, Construction Law,
William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
·
Green Building Credentialing Institute
o
LEED Green Associate (inactive)
·
American Bar Association
·
Clark County Bar Association
·
Los Angeles County Bar Association
·
Nevada Contractors Association (fka Associated
General Contractors, Las Vegas Chapter)
o
Executive Board (Associate Officer, 2016-2017)
o
Board of Directors (2005-2024)
o
Government Affairs Committee (1998-2024)
·
Nevada Association of Construction Council
o
Founder
·
Framing Contractors Association
o
Board of Directors (2007-2009)
·
National Association of Industrial and Office
Properties
·
Nevada Resort Association
·
Associated Builders and Contractors
·
US Green Building Institute, Nevada Chapter
Representative
Presentations & Publications
Books
·
Nevada Real Property Practice Manual, 2021
Edition §9.01 Mechanics’ and Materialmen’s Liens, pub. State Bar of
Nevada
·
Nevada Mechanics Lien Practice Guide (2022),
Lexis-Nexis Service
·
Nevada Construction Law, Author, 2009-2016
editions, Thompson Reuters/West, pub. (2009-2012 ed.), DHG Publications, pub.
(2013-2016 ed.) (Available through Amazon.com)
·
The Uncertain Future and Certain Challenges of
Green Building Projects in Today's Economy, Chapter Author, Inside the Minds:
New Developments in Green Construction Law, Thompson Rueters/Aspatore Books
(2011)
·
Contractor's Guide to Mechanics Liens: Arizona,
California, Nevada, Co-Author, BNI Publications (2005 Edition)
Articles
·
2024 Chambers USA Nevada Construction Law
Practice Guide (publication pending)
·
2023 Lexis Nexis Nevada Mechanics Lien Law
Practice Note
·
2022 Nevada Real Property Practice Guide Chapter
on Mechanics Liens
·
2017 Legislation Impacts Nevada Construction,
Co-Author, Nevada Lawyer, State Bar of Nevada, September 2017 (CLE Article).
·
Nevada Tenant Improvement Construction: A
Refresher for Real Estate Counsel, Co-Author, Nevada Lawyer, State Bar of
Nevada, September 2017.
·
Straight Talk. Sound Counsel. Practical
Solutions, Quoted, Attorney at Law Magazine Greater Las Vegas, Vol 2 Issue 3,
Straight Talk. Sound Counsel. Practical Solutions.
·
The Nevada Supreme Court Clarifies Nevada
Mechanics’ Lien Priority, Nevada Lawyer, State Bar of Nevada, June 2013.
·
HOLDING OUR BREATH: Hoping not to Turn
Fountainbleau, Author, State Bar of Nevada Construction Law Section Newsletter
(September 15, 2012)
·
Nev. Jobs First Act: Potential Nightmare for
Contractors, Author, Law360 (December 13, 2011)
·
Nevada Prompt Payment Act, Snell & Wilmer
Under Construction (June 22, 2011)
·
Contractual Indemnity Provisions Must Expressly
Provide for Indemnity in Contributory Negligence Circumstances, Snell &
Wilmer Legal Alert (June 9, 2011)
·
"Nevada Jobs First" Act Alters Nevada
Preference Requirements on Public Works Contracts to the Detriment of Nevada
General Contractors, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (May 20, 2011)
·
Arbitration Provisions That Waive Nevada Chapter
40 Rights Found Unconscionable, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction (March
15, 2011)
·
Nevada Supreme Court Carves Actual Notice
Exception to Preliminary Notice Requirement, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert
(January 5, 2011)
·
The Use of LEED, Integrated Project Delivery and
Building Information Modeling in Nevada, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction
(December 15, 2010)
·
Nevada Supreme Court Offers Guidance on Motion
to Expunge or Reduce Mechanics Liens, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (October
19, 2010)
·
Nevada Requires Union Trust Funds to Give
Statutory Notice to Assert Claims Against Public Works Payment Bonds, Snell
& Wilmer, Under Construction (October 2009)
·
Contractor's Board Responds to General
Contractor's Concerns, Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction (June
2009)
·
Tough Times for General Contractors: Nevada
Contractor's Board Investigations Unit Refuses to Recognize Pay-If-Paid
Clauses, Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction (March 2009)
·
Nevada Supreme Court Limits Pay-If-Paid Clause
Ruling to Contracts Entered Into Before 2003, Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal
Alert (November 2008)
·
Nevada Supreme Court Rules Pay-If-Paid Clause
Unenforceable, Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (June 2008)
·
Indemnification Obligations: Being Responsible
for Your Own Work is not as Simple as it Sounds, Author, Snell & Wilmer
Under Construction (April 2008)
·
AIA A201 2007 v. A201 1997: Change Comes to the
General Conditions, Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction (February
2008)
·
Nevada Supreme Court Establishes
"Reasonable Threshold Test" to Measure Sufficiency of Pre-Litigation
Extrapolated Construction Defect Notice, Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert
(October 2007)
·
Re-Establishing Lender Priority Over Mechanics
Liens may be Next to Impossible under Nevada Law, Author, Snell & Wilmer
Under Construction (October 2007)
·
Nevada Supreme Court Tackles Construction
Defects in Condominium Conversions ... and Invalidates General Defect Waivers
for Good Measure, Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (September 2007)
·
2007 Legislative Changes Affecting the Nevada
Construction Industry, Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction (July
2007)
·
Pay-If-Paid Clauses May Be Valid in Nevada if
Carefully Drafted, Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Under Construction (January
2007)
·
Uh, Is It Supposed to Look Like That? ...
Changes Continue to Plague Owners and Contractors, Author, RE Business Online,
(August 14, 2006)
·
2005 Legislation Provides Sureties Some Relief
on Nevada Bond Requirements, Author, Southwest Contractor, McGraw-Hill (April
2006)
·
Nevada Courts - Are They Hostile to Contractors
in Construction Defect Cases? Author, Southwest Contractor, McGraw-Hill
(January 2005)
·
SB206, Long Overdue Mechanics Lien Law Reform,
Communiqué, August 2003, Vol. 24, No. 8, Clark County Bar Association
·
Stopping Work When You Don't Get Paid: An
Uncertain Law for an Uncertain Action, Communiqué, Author, June 2003, Vol. 24,
No. 6, Clark County Bar Association
·
The New Progress Payment Release Forms: The Cure
is Once Again Worse than the Disease, California Construction Law, Vol. 3,
(January 1993)
Seminars
·
Construction 101, a Primer for Steelcase
Distributors, Steelcase, Inc., May, 2016
·
Nevada Mechanics Lien Law, Nevada Contractors
Association / Associated General Contractors Las Vegas Chapter (2003-2024)
·
Lorman Education Services (2001-2016)
·
Nevada Owner's Duties During Construction,
Lorman Education Services (2006-2008)
·
Nevada Mechanics Lien Law, Educational Business
Seminars (2001-2018)
·
Associated Builders and Contractors (2000-2007)
·
Nevada Construction Law, Credit Managers
Association of Nevada (2005-2006)
·
Public Contract Code Requirements and
Competitive Bidding in Nevada, Lorman Education Services (2001-2006)
·
Construction Claims in Nevada, Lorman Education
Services (2001-2006)
·
Nevada Law for Design Professionals, Lorman
Education Services (1999-2003)
·
Nevada Construction Contracting for Public
Entities, Lorman Education Services (2000-2002)
·
Protecting Yourself In Construction Projects,
Associated Builders & Contractors (2002)
·
Introduction to AIA Standard Forms, Lorman
Education Services (2002)
·
Nevada Mechanics Lien Law for California
Contractors, Building Industry Credit Association (1995-2000)
Professional Recognition
& Awards
·
Vegas, Inc., Top Lawyers
o
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
·
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America®
2015 - 2024
·
Charter Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of
America®
o
Member, Trial Law Institute®
o
Member, Diversity Law Institute®
o
Counsel, Order of Maximus®
·
Fellow, American Bar Foundation®
·
The Best Lawyers in America®, Construction Law,
Construction Litigation 17-year Consecutive Selection (2007-2024)
o
Lawyer of the Year, Las Vegas Construction Law
(2013, 2016)
·
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for
Business®, Band 1 - Litigation: Construction, Nevada 18-year Consecutive
Selection (2006-2024)
o
"He's a go-to for construction
litigation. He's very highly regarded in the community and definitely a leader
in the industry." "A very skilled construction lawyer with all the
background." Chambers Review, 2021
·
Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Construction
Litigation, 17-year Consecutive Selection (2007-2024)
o
Top 75 Lawyers (2010-2011)
o
Super Lawyers®, Construction Litigation -
Business Edition (2011)
o
Super Lawyers®, Construction Litigation -
Corporate Counsel Edition (2009-2010)
o
Nevada Super Lawyers®, Construction Litigation
(2007-2008)
·
Legal Elite - Top 100 Southern Nevada Attorneys,
Nevada Business Magazine (2009, 2011)
·
Martindale-Hubble® “AV Preeminent” Rated
(2013-2024)
·
Pro Bono Honor Roll, Legal Aid Center of
Southern Nevada (2012)
·
2015 Associate Member of the Year, Nevada
Contractors Association
·
2007 Associate Member of the Year, Framing
Contractors Association
·
2005 Associate Member of the Year, SIR Award,
Assoc. General Contractors, Las Vegas Chpt.
·
"Construction Lawyer Embraces All-Out
Approach to Work and Life," Las Vegas Review Journal: Nevadans at Work
Series Profile (February 6, 2005)
Other Professional
Experience
·
Lifestyles Unlimited®, Inc., Outside General
Counsel (2016-2023)
·
Snell & Wilmer LLP, Senior Partner,
Construction Industry Group (2006-2016)
·
Mead Pezzillo LLP, Founding and Managing Partner
(2003-2006)
·
Gibbs, Giden, Locher, Turner, Senet &
Wittbrodt LLP, Associate / Partner (1989-2003)
·
Vineyards Recording Studios, Proprietor
(2012-Present)
·
Dynamic Horizon Group, Founder (2010-Present)
·
Educational Business Seminars, Proprietor /
Speaker (2001-Present)
·
Lifestyles Unlimited®, Inc., Certified Lead
Investor™, Certified Passive Investor™
Musician, Composer, Producer, Voice Ov
(Also at Reno Office)
