USA
The global recession clearly impacted negatively upon the US gaming market, but commentators remain positive about the future. Online work, in particular, has been holding up well. Inevitably, Nevada continues to be the key location for gaming law in the States, while Louisiana also remains important. California and Atlantic City are other important bases.
Nevada, Arizona & California
Las Vegas-based
Anthony Cabot of Lewis and Roca LLP is widely seen as the pre-eminent mind in the field and is described as
"the godfather of the industry." He is particularly expert in online gaming.
Robert Faiss also acts in Nevada, chairing the gaming and regulatory law department at Lionel Sawyer & Collins.
Frank Schreck of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP is another Las Vegas attorney. He typically acts for a variety of gaming operators, including hotels and casino chains, as well as for individuals. Schreck also frequently advises on cross-border matters, including on gaming issues relating to Europe and Asia. His colleague
David Arrajj acts for a similarly prestigious collection of casinos and other operators. He has a rich history of involvement with the drafting of gaming legislation in Nevada.
John Maloney is the founder of The Law Offices of John K Maloney, a specialist gaming firm with offices in both Nevada and California. Maloney acts out of the Sacramento office, and sources speak of his
"noteworthy dedication to the field of gaming." Heidi Staudenmaier of Snell & Wilmer LLP acts in Phoenix, and is a noted expert on Native American legal issues and the way in which they interact with gaming affairs.
Jeffrey Silver of Gordon Silver in Las Vegas has a boutique gaming practice which is developing its Native American gaming capability, acting in front of public boards in areas such as transportation, zoning and licensing.
Alvin Hicks of McDonald Carano Wilson LLP advises in Reno, Nevada. His practice encompasses gaming law and related corporate, litigation and transactional matters.
Elsewhere in the USA
Nicholas Casiello is based in Atlantic City with Fox Rothschild LLP.
"He has excellent judgement and knows the gaming regulations across the States, with great instincts on the key issues," sources report. Also at Fox Rothschild, the
"well-balanced and articulate" Marie Jones typically represents casino licensees and gaming vendors before various regulatory agencies.
Robert Stocker of Dickinson Wright PLLC is based in Lansing, Michigan. He is praised for his deep knowledge of gaming regulatory issues, including those relating to casinos, as well as transactions and insolvencies involving gaming companies. New Orleans-based
Kelly Duncan of Jones Walker Waechter Poitevent Carrère & Denègre, LLP is both a maritime and a gaming attorney. Duncan represents a mixture of casino companies, manufacturers, suppliers and financial institutions on gaming matters, and is said to have
"a top-notch brain for the law." Paul West of McGlinchey Stafford PLLC is based in Baton Rouge, where he is praised for his ability to handle regulatory, transactional and litigious gaming matters. West recently obtained Louisiana regulatory approval for a USD2 billion note exchange offering by Harrah’s Entertainment.
UK
All of the following ranked UK lawyers are based in London.
Tony Coles of Jeffrey Green Russell is an
"important practitioner" who is praised for his advice to online gaming entities as well as their bricks and mortar equivalents. His colleague
Nicholas Nocton advises a mixture of domestic and international casino operators, betting exchanges and other suppliers to the industry, including banking and financial services companies.
John Hagan of Harris Hagan is an expert on online gaming and advises businesses around the world on Internet gambling. Also at Harris Hagan,
Julian Harris "has a formidable reputation in this area." He typically works with casinos and handles other bricks and mortar issues.
Hilary Stewart-Jones of Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
"probably has the longest-standing reputation of UK lawyers and definitely knows her stuff." She is increasingly involved in the Asian market, particularly with regard to advising Asian online gaming businesses.
Carl Rohsler of Hammonds LLP is both a patent specialist and a gaming lawyer, primarily focused on bricks and mortar issues, although he does also have experience of online gaming. Peers describe
Peter Wilson as
“a fantastic guy and a real go-to lawyer who has found his niche in the sector and excels at it - we respect his advice and opinion.” He heads the gaming practice at Memery Crystal LLP, having moved from Blake Lapthorn in 2009, and advises clients across the range of Internet, TV, mobile and terrestrial gaming.
Europe
Wulf Hambach is the founder of boutique gaming firm Hambach & Hambach in Munich. He advises German and international clients on the more sophisticated online gaming issues in Germany. Sources say he is
"absolutely brilliant, and is doing impressive work in Germany fighting in favour of the industry." Santiago Asensi Gisbert of Asensi Abogados in Palma de Mallorca is
"one of the best in Spain, if not the best. He knows how gaming firms work from the inside." Quirino Mancini of Sinisi Ceschini Mancini & Partners in Rome is
"the best in Italy by a long way." He advises both domestic and international clients on both online and traditional gaming issues.
Thibault Verbiest of Ulys divides his time between Brussels and Paris. He is praised for his knowledge of and involvement with the liberalisation process and the ratification of recent French legislation.
Jörg Hofmann of Melchers Schubert Stocker Sturies is based in Heidleberg, and praised for his adept handling of bricks and mortar gaming issues across Germany.
Peter Montegriffo of Hassans, International Law Firm advises from Gibraltar and has a particular expertise regarding offshore gaming companies. He was closely involved in the IPOs of various gaming companies established in Gibraltar and drafting numerous changes to Gibraltar's legislation in trusts, financial services and gaming areas.
Henrik Norsk Hoffmann of Lett Law Firm in Kolding is a leading lawyer in Denmark with particular expertise in litigation.
Philippe Vlaemminck is the managing partner of Vlaemminck & Partners in Brussels. He acts on lottery issues and is an expert in EU competition law and other regulatory matters.
Justin Franssen of Van Mens & Wisselink is praised for fighting state monopolies in the Netherlands.
Asia-Pacific
Jamie Nettleton of Addisons in Sydney is an influential name in the Australian market and regularly assists gambling companies with their business strategies, including for international projects.
Antonio Ramirez of Ramirez Law Firm is based in Macau and is an expert on the local gaming issues of the region. He is well equipped to advise gaming entities wishing to enter the Macau market.
Israel
The
"extremely knowledgeable" Dotan Baruch of Herzog Fox & Neeman is primarily a tax lawyer, but can turn his hand to gaming matters, especially those involving regulatory, tax or online elements.
Meir Linzen is a senior tax partner at the same firm. Sources say he is
"a very influential figure in the industry and always knows what he's talking about."Latin America
Latin America remains somewhat of an emerging market regarding gaming law, but Peruvian attorney
Carlos Alberto Fonseca Sarmiento of Gaming Law S.A.C. in Lima is one lawyer to watch in the field. He comes recommended for almost any gaming issue relating to South America.
South Africa
Wayne Lurie of Lurie Inc has an especially notable reputation in the South African gaming market. He is based in Johannesburg.
Garron Whitesman of Whitesmans Attorneys in Cape Town is South Africa's other key name in gaming law.
Canada
Morden Lazarus of Lazarus Charbonneau in Montréal is an extremely well-known name in the Canadian gaming market. He advises both online and conventional gaming companies.
Michael Lipton of Dickinson Wright PLLC in Toronto has an extensive practice before gaming regulatory authorities throughout Canada. He advises a variety of gaming businesses, including betting exchanges.