Joe W. Brown

In 1968, Joe W. Brown and his wife, Pam, embarked on a westward journey to Clark County, responding to the call of Judge Al Wartman, who sought his service as a law clerk, after completing law school. At that time, Clark County boasted a population of merely 160,000 inhabitants. Brown’s entry marked him as the first law clerk in the county. During his transition to the west, he found guidance in the form of mentorship from Paul Laxalt, former Nevada Governor and U.S. Senator, and Bob Maheu, then the principal aide to Howard Hughes, who Brown went on to represent among other casinos on the infamous Las Vegas strip.

Since those early days, Joe W. Brown has evolved into a highly esteemed figure and accomplished leader in the southern Nevada business community. His legal expertise spans government affairs, administrative law, and business law. Throughout his impressive career, Mr. Brown has served as Chairman of the Government Affairs Practice Group of Terralex, a top-tier international law networking organization which serves clients’ legal needs and business interests through a worldwide network of leading law firms. He is a former appointee of President Ronald Reagan to the State Justice Institute, and The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States for two terms.  Brown is AV® Preeminent TM Peer Review Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell’s Legal Directory. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America and recognized by Super Lawyers magazine as one of the top business and corporate lawyers in the five-state mountain region.

Brown’s leadership extends beyond legal realms, as evidenced by his previous roles as chairman or director in numerous business, civic, and charitable organizations. In the charitable domain, he has made a profound impact as the Chairman of the Catholic Community Services, where his stewardship has contributed significantly to the organization’s mission of compassion and support for those in need. His commitment to preserving traditional and dynamic cultures of the American West is evident through his service on the Board of the Western Folklife Center. In the realm of youth development, Brown has dedicated his time and expertise to the Board of the Boys & Girls Club, championing initiatives that empower and guide the next generation. His strategic vision also extends to the financial sector, where he has served on the boards of several banks, including Valley Bank of Nevada, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. Joe W. Brown was also the first president and one of the founding members of the Keystone Corporation in the 1990s.

Among his diverse commitments, Joe W. Brown’s involvement with influential bodies such as the Nature Conservancy, the Department of Wildlife, the Nevada Development Authority, the Nevada Athletic Commission, the Nevada Military Support Alliance, Nellis (AFB) Support Team, and Nevada chairman of the Republican National Committee. Notably, he was appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission, a pivotal regulatory body for the gaming industry integral to Nevada’s economy, by former Governor Jim Gibbons in 2008, and reappointed by former Governor Brian Sandoval, until 2015.

Educationally, Joe Brown holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Washington & Lee University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia. His legal practice is recognized in both state and federal courts of Nevada and the District of Columbia. In 2012, the University of Nevada Las Vegas bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and the following year, he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Washington & Lee University School of Law.

In addition to his legal, business, charitable, and civic contributions, Joe W. Brown is a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

Practice Areas

  • Administrative & Regulatory Law
  • Commercial & Civil Litigation
  • Government Affairs

Admissions

  • Nevada

Education

  • University of Nevada, William S. Boyd School of Law (Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2012)
  • Washington and Lee University School of Law (Juris Doctor)
  • University of Virginia (Bachelor of Arts, English)

Civic and Professional Activities

  • Commissioner
    • Nevada Gaming Commission (2009-15)
    • Nevada Department of Wildlife
    • Nevada Athletic Commission
  • Chairman
    • Nature Conservancy
    • Nevada Development Authority
  • Founder/former Chair-Nevada Military Support Alliance
  • Founding Member/President of the Keystone Corporation
  • Commander-Nellis Air Force Base Support Team
  • Chairman/Member-Board of Directors-Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance
  • Southern Nevada Advisory Board, City National Bank
  • Graduate of F.B.I. Citizens Academy
  • Member-National Advisory Council, Western Folklife Center
  • Foundation Fellow, Desert Research Institute

Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers in America-Government Relations Law
  • Super Lawyers-Business and Corporate Lawyers (Five State Mountain Region)
  • Outstanding Alumnus-Washington and Lee School of Law (2013)
  • Top Lawyers, Vegas, Inc. (2013)
  • Vegas Dozen, Class of 2013
  • “Legal Elite”, Nevada Business Magazine (2015)
  • Nevada’s Best Lawyers® (2013)
  • Anti-Defamation League, Jurisprudence Award (2018)
  • Honoree-Nevada Newsmakers (2016)
  • Board Member: State Justice Institute
  • Commissioner: Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the U.S. (1981-88)
  • National Guard Association of the United States Patrick Henry Award
  • Executive Leader Award – Collaboration Center Foundation (2020)
  • Nellis Support Team (NST) Lifetime Award (2022)
  • Keystone, Monte Miller Economic Freedom Award (2023)
  • NSHE Regents' Distinguished Nevadan Award (2024)