Charles E. Gianelloni, Partner at our Las Vegas law office
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Charles E. Gianelloni

Partner
Biography

Charles Gianelloni has an interest in new technologies and emerging industries. From cryptocurrency to cannabis, he is drawn to the spaces where the legal and regulatory world have not caught up and clients need true advocacy to protect their investments.

With this drive and focus, Charles actively engages with clients as they navigate the complex legal issues and business disputes that emerge whenever technology rears its head. He can do this exceptionally well because he began on the inside. His first endeavor was an Internet gaming café at the gates of Louisiana State University in 1998, well before high-speed Internet was accessible. He was in crypto before most of us had heard the term. He has been active in developing technologies for as long as he can remember. He has seen the challenges. The growth. The debacles.

His depth of inside knowledge in these sectors gives him firsthand experience and context. As a result, he understands and empathizes with his clients. He can quickly grasp his clients’ unique needs and objectives and tailor legal advice that helps ensure successful outcomes and long-term growth.

Charles currently serves as managing partner of the firm’s Las Vegas office. Today, his practice has an emphasis on blockchain-related legal matters, including smart contracts, initial coin offerings (ICOs), tokenization, and DeFi. In addition, Charles is actively involved in vetting digital asset projects and Nevada litigation involving digital assets. These technologies continue to change, and if you are looking for Charles, you will find him squarely at the forefront.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Nevada


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Nevada
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit


Education

  • William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (J.D., summa cum laude)
    • Nevada Law Journal, Business Editor
    • Moot Court Board, President
    • Dean’s List
    • CALI Awards for Excellence, Legal Writing I, II & III; Mediation Clinic; Pre-trial Litigation; and Advanced Legal Research
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas (M.B.A., magna cum laude)
  • Louisiana State University (B.S., Business Management, cum laude)
    • Chancellor’s Full Tuition Scholarship
    • Phi Beta Lambda Business Society, President
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • Snell & Wilmer COACH Award (2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Ones to Watch, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law (2021-2025)
    • Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation (2022-2025)
  • Top Lawyer, Vegas Inc.
    • Cannabis (2023-2024)
    • Bankruptcy Law (2020)
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Civil Litigation: Defense (2016-2022)
  • Honor Roll, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (2018)
    • Best Up and Coming Attorneys (2014-2015, 2019)
  • Top Rank Attorney, Nevada Business Magazine (2015-2017, 2019-2024)
  • Las Vegas Business Press, Rising Star of Business (2015)

Representative Experience

  • Disputes over digital assets, including cases that turn on whether digital assets are securities under state and federal laws
  • Determine whether digital asset projects comply with state and federal securities and gaming laws
  • Membership interest disputes in Nevada LLCs and corporations, including asserting and defending claims for dissolution, breach of fiduciary duty, accounting, and fraud
  • Commercial landlord and tenant disputes
  • Client representation before the Nevada Real Estate Commission to assist with disciplinary actions and appeals
  • Client representation before the Nevada Financial Institution Division to assist with trust and money transmitter licensing
  • Client representation before the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board to assist with licensing, transfers of interest, and disciplinary actions.
  • Bankruptcy litigation, including claims litigation, litigation related to contested Chapter 11 plan confirmation, adequate protection issues, and non-dischargeability actions
  • Represents employers in disputes and lawsuits relating to theft of trade secrets, tortious interference with contractual relations or prospective business advantage, and enforcement of restrictive covenants
  • Representation of Nevada-based cannabis cultivators and producers in litigation arising from cannabis-related transactions, agreements, and licenses, including representation of publicly traded Canadian cannabis companies doing business in Nevada

Previous Professional Experience

  • Eighth Judicial District Court, Extern to Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez, Civil Presiding Judge (2010)
  • William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Researcher for Professor Pollman, Director of the Lawyering Process Program (2010)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Clark County Bar Association (2012-Present)
  • Clark County Ask-A-Lawyer Program (2020-Present)
  • Ninth Circuit Pro Bono Program (2013-Present)
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lee Business School Alumni Chapter
    • Board of Directors (2019-Present)
      • Vice President (2022-Present)

Community Involvement

  • Cancer Research Racquet, Co-Organizer International Fundraising Team for independent cancer research grants through the American Cancer Society (2012-Present)
  • American Cancer Society Southern Leadership Board, Board Member (2017-2022)
  • Las Vegas Fat Boy 5K Run, Founder & Board Member (2010-2019)

Representative Presentations and Publications

Client News
Client News
May 06, 2021

Snell & Wilmer Represents Biotech Nexturn Bio, Inc. in its Majority Stake Investment in RosVivo Therapeutics Inc.