Pat Byrne is a trial and litigation attorney who has been recognized consistently as one of the leading business litigation attorneys in Nevada.
His practice focuses on assisting companies, from small private to Fortune 500, with complex litigation, including contract disputes, shareholder disputes, derivative litigation, securities litigation, class action lawsuits, and business torts. He has experience helping companies with disputes involving rights of publicity and common law trademark rights, real estate, and antitrust. He also represents lawyers in malpractice defense.
Pat is often sought out for “bet-the-company” litigation in Nevada. Based on his extensive and wide-ranging experience, he is also frequently asked to handle difficult and challenging cases. Through the years, he has been involved in dozens of trials and arbitrations.
Pat opened Snell & Wilmer's Las Vegas office in 2001 and served as the office's administrative partner until 2016, when he stepped down to focus exclusively on his litigation practice. He also led the effort to subsequently open the Reno office in 2012. While administrative partner, Pat served on the Firm’s Executive Committee and has also served as Loss Prevention and Claims Counsel for the firm.
Corporate
Represented a Fortune 500 publicly held gaming company in a shareholder derivative lawsuit involving Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 23.1
Represented one of the country’s largest retailers in a rights of publicity and common law trademark rights case involving a national sports celebrity
Represented one of the country’s largest technology companies in a trade secret and copyright infringement action
Represented one of the largest global gaming companies in a class action lawsuit involving the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA)
Represented beneficiaries in the investigation and enforcement of a no-contest clause for a trust greater than 1 billion dollars in assets.
Financial Services
Represented a large privately held U.S. corporation in 20-plus matters involving multi-jurisdictional and Nevada FCPA issues related to several mortgage foreclosures in the Southwest U.S.
Represented multiple Fortune 500 financial institutions in several U.S. Court of Appeals cases involving jurisdictional issues related to a large group of loans which had fallen into default
Represented a title company in a multi-year receivership case alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, negligence and violation of RICO Statute 18, among other claims, which was further complicated by a parallel federal mail fraud prosecution case
Represented national mortgage companies, loan servicers and financial institutions in multi-district litigation and claims involving numerous mortgage foreclosures as part of the numerous cases consolidated by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation
Represented the mortgage company of a leading global bank involving multiple loans and their servicers
Represented a Nevada mortgage company in litigation with regard to mortgage foreclosures and foreclosure proceedings
Represented a Fortune 250 financial institution involving numerous filings in a Pro Hac Vice case
Represented one of the largest condominium towers in Las Vegas in several lengthy arbitration cases involving efforts to invalidate purchase agreements
Professional Liability
Represented a leading manufacturer of personal computers in a $40 million lawsuit involving an alleged breach of contract agreement in one of the most highly publicized cases during the “dot.com” collapse
Government
Represented the appellant involving a cross-border environmental dispute, before the court en banc, at the Supreme Court of Nevada on the basis of forum non conveniens
Pat Byrne's practice is concentrated in commercial and business dispute resolution, with emphasis in real estate, title insurance, escrow practices, lending, and foreclosures.
University of Kentucky College of Law (J.D., with high distinction, 1988)
Order of the Coif
Technical Editor, Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Law
Alma College (B.A., History and Business Administration, 1985)
State Bar of Nevada
Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics and Election Practices for the State of Nevada
Elected Vice-Chairman (2012)
Appointed (2006)
Clark County Bar Association
The Best Lawyers in America®
Commercial Litigation (2023-2024)
Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants (2013-2021)
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business®, Litigation: General Commercial (2008, 2014-2023)
Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2009, 2012-2023)
Top 100 Lawyers (2013-2014, 2019-2020)
Legal Elite - Top Southern Nevada Attorneys, Nevada Business Magazine (2011, 2013, 2015-2018)
Top Lawyers: The Best of the Best in Southern Nevada, Alternative Dispute Resolution, VEGAS INC. (2013)
Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation - Corporate Counsel Edition (2009-2010)
Nevada Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2008)
Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2008)
Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Gold, Las Vegas Chapter
Member and Board Member (2016-present)
Alma College
Board of Trustees (2012-present)
YPO, Nevada Chapter
Member and Board Member (2009-2016)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas
Member of Board Directors and Executive Committee (2006-2015)
Boys & Girls Clubs Foundation of Southern Nevada
President, Board of Trustees (2006-2015)
The Fiesta Bowl, Arizona Sports Foundation, Life Member