NEWS RELEASE

NEW BANKRUPTCY JUDGE APPOINTED FOR DISTRICT OF NEVADA

Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit announced the appointment of Las Vegas attorney Laurel Elizabeth Davis to serve as a judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada.

Judge Davis will maintain chambers in Las Vegas. She fills a judgeship vacated by Judge Bruce A. Markell, who departed July 10, 2013. Judge Davis was sworn in as a Nevada Bankruptcy Judge on July 12, 2013 by Judge Linda B. Riegle, who will retire on July 31, 2013, but will remain with the bankruptcy court on recall status through December 31, 2014. 

"Ms. Davis is an experienced practitioner who is well regarded by the bench and bar. She will be an asset to the bankruptcy court in Nevada," Judge Kozinski said in announcing the appointment.

Judge Davis practiced law for 26 years in Nevada and Arizona. Since 2007, she has been a shareholder of Fennemore Craig, P.C., doing business in Nevada as Fennemore Craig Jones Vargas, where she was also a member of the firm’s management committee. Judge Davis worked previously at the Las Vegas law firm of Lionel Sawyer & Collins, as a partner from 1994 to 2007, and as an associate from 1987 to 1993. 

For 20 years, Judge Davis held a business bankruptcy certification from the American Board of Certification, which is accredited by the American Bar Association. Her practice focused on chapter 11 business bankruptcy, workouts and restructuring, representing debtors, creditors, committees, equity holders, trustees and parties seeking to buy assets or businesses out of bankruptcy. She also served as a chapter 11 trustee. 

In 2012 and 2013, Judge Davis was recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation in the Nation. Judge Davis was a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference from 2001 to 2004, and as co-chair of the Nevada Delegation and member of the Lawyer Representative Coordinating Committee in 2004. Judge Davis is a Master of the Howard D. McKibben Inn of Court, served two years as Chair of the Nevada State Bar Bankruptcy Section, served as a Nevada State Bar Transitioning Into Practice Mentor, and served on numerous bench/bar committees benefitting the U.S. district and bankruptcy courts for the District of Nevada

Judge Davis is active in professional, public and community service organizations. She is also a graduate of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Las Vegas, Class of 1999, and was selected as a finalist for two community service awards.

A native of Milford, Utah, Judge Davis received her B.S. in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1983, and her JD, magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1987. 

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