Rory Kay

Professional Background Rory Kay has vast experience in all aspects of commercial and complex litigation, with an emphasis on shareholder disputes, employment and labor law, intellectual property, and appellate practice in front of the Nevada Supreme Court. With a demonstrated history of accomplishments in his career, he is able to tackle large cases and the most complex issues, including successfully arguing an attorneys fees case before the Nevada Supreme Court, which resulted in a written opinion. Mr. Kay is also a skilled labor and employment litigator who strategically represents clients in matters including wrongful termination, non-competition agreements, breach of executive officer agreements, NLRB alter ego claims, employer workplace manuals with a special focus on social networking and information technology, recording and eavesdropping, anti-nepotism and insider trading. Education and Certifications J. D., University of San Diego, School of Law, 2011 B. S., Business Administration, University of Nebraska, 2006 B. A., Economics and Political Science, University of Nebraska, 2006 Bar Admissions Nevada California Representative Experience Represented one of Nevadas largest homebuilders in a multi-million dollar breach-of-contract dispute against a landowner, regarding a master-planned community northeast of Las Vegas. This representation included substantial electronic discovery and issues unique to land development, water rights, environmental protection, and government administration. Argued and won in front of the Nevada Supreme Court, including representing the firm in an attorneys charging lien dispute that resulted in an opinion on a matter of first impression. After winning the case after oral argument, Mr. Kay drafted a motion for publication on this novel issue because of its importance to Nevada bar practitioners. Despite rarely granting these types of motions, the Nevada Supreme Court granted the motion and issued a citable opinion as McDonald Carano Wilson, LLP v. Bourassa Law Group, 131 Nev. Adv. Op. 90 (Dec. 3, 2015). Represents a collection of shareholders, including an Academy Award winning producer and a prominent collector of Asian art, in a shareholder oppression and receivership action in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada. In this lawsuit, Mr. Kay has helped the shareholders obtain one of the largest judgments in Nevada history in a shareholder action. Additionally, Mr. Kays clients obtained an international receivership to protect their investments and enforce their rights to financial information and proper corporate governance. The award granting receivership because of corporate mismanagement is one of the first of its kind in Nevada. Represented numerous clients in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigations, including responding to subpoenas and defending clients during depositions. Prepared and filed trademark applications for multiple clients, including a company that designs and manages custom office automation solutions. Awards and Recognition The Best Lawyers in America - Appellate Practice (2018-2025), Commercial Litigation (2021-2025) Nevada Business Magazine - Top Rank Attorneys (2024) and Best Up & Coming Attorneys (2017, 2019) Mountain States Super Lawyers Magazine - Rising Star (2017-2021) Publications Co-author, Post-Judgment Issues Chapter, Nevada Appellate Practice Manual (2021 edition), published by the State Bar of Nevada Author, Judgments Chapter, Nevada Civil Practice Manual (updated sixth edition), published by the State Bar of Nevada Ex-Worker To Pay $400 K To End Tesla Saboteur Feud, Law360, December 1, 2020 Author, Up in Smoke: How the Illegal Contract Defense Threatens Enforcement of Cannabis Contracts, Cannainvestor Magazine, April/May 2019 Feature Interview, Photo Sharing on Social Media & Copyright Infringement: What You Need to Know, IPwatchdog.com, December 15, 2017 Community Involvement Pro Bono work for Legal Aid Centers Childrens Attorneys Project (CAP) Pro Bono work for members of the military through the state attorney generals Office of Military Legal Assistance Boy Scouts Volunteer ASUN Racial Affairs Advisory Council Get Outdoors Nevada Board of Directors News 17 Las Vegas Office Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 McDonald Carano proudly announces that 15 of our Las Vegas office lawyers have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America... Read More Nevadas Top Rank Attorneys 2024 McDonald Carano proudly announces that 15 of our attorneys are recognized as Top Rank Attorneys in Nevada Business Magazines 2024 list of the States top attorneys as voted by their peers. Demonstrating... Read More Nevada Reading Week Volunteers McDonald Carano thanks attorneys Karyna Armstrong, Emily Dennis, and Rory Kay for participating in Nevada Reading Week. This team of volunteers read books to students at Howard Wasden Elementary School.... Read More 16 Las Vegas Office Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch McDonald Carano proudly announces that 15 of our Las Vegas office lawyers have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and... Read More Pro Bono Spotlight: Nevada Lawyer Seeks to Upend States Forfeiture Laws Litigation attorney John Fortin was interviewed for a Pro Bono Spotlight article in Reuters Daily Docket that features a pro bono civil asset forfeiture case he is handling. The article... Read More Las Vegas Office Lawyers Ranked Among Best Lawyers in America 2023 McDonald Carano proudly announces that 15 of our Las Vegas office lawyers have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America and... Read More McDonald Carano Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2022 McDonald Carano proudly announces that lawyers in our Reno and Las Vegas offices have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in... Read More Nevadas Litigation Powerhouse: 19 Litigators Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2022 McDonald Carano is proud to announce that 19 of our litigators in Reno and Las Vegas have been recognized in Best Lawyers in America 2022 in six areas of litigation... Read More 15 McDonald Carano Attorneys Selected as 2021 Mountain States Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Las Vegas, Nevada, June 3, 2021 - McDonald Carano LLP is pleased to announce that eleven attorneys from the firm are recognized as 2021 Mountain States Super Lawyers and four... Read More Ex-Worker To Pay $400 K To End Tesla Saboteur Feud Law360, December 1, 2020, by Linda Chiem, A former Tesla employee who leaked confidential information about the electric automakers alleged production problems has agreed to pay $400,000 to settle Teslas... Read More McDonald Carano Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2021 August 20, 2020 - McDonald Carano LLP is pleased to announce that attorneys in our Reno and Las Vegas offices have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The... Read More 15 McDonald Carano Attorneys Selected as 2020 Mountain States Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Las Vegas, Nevada, May 31, 2020 - McDonald Carano LLP is pleased to announce that twelve attorneys from the firm are recognized as 2020 Mountain States Super Lawyers and three... Read More McDonald Carano Promotes Two to Partner January 14, 2020-McDonald Carano is pleased to announce the promotion of attorneys Rory Kay and Amanda Perach to Partner, effective January 1, 2020. We congratulate Rory and Amanda as they... Read More McDonald Carano Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers Awards Las Vegas, Nevada, August 15, 2019 - McDonald Carano LLP is pleased to announce new recognition in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America . McDonald Carano attorneys recognized... Read More McDonald Carano 2019 Mountain States Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Las Vegas, Nevada, May 31, 2019 - McDonald Carano LLP is pleased to announce that twelve attorneys from the firm were recognized as 2019 Mountain States Super Lawyers, and three... Read More Up in Smoke: How the Illegal Contract Defense Threatens Enforcement of Cannabis Contracts April/May 2019, Cannainvestor Magazine, Pages 84-99 I. Lurking just below the surface of every recreational cannabis investment is the justifiable fear that the federal government will unwind the deal, thereby leaving... Read More McDonald Carano Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America August 20, 2018 - McDonald Carano is pleased to announce new recognition in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America . Attorneys recognized include: Matthew C. Addison, Partner, Commercial... Read More CAP 100 - History of the Childrens Attorneys Project August 1, 2018, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Pro Bono Project A task force of Clark County commissioners, judges, social workers, attorneys, and childrens advocates recognized the need to provide abused... Read More Photo Sharing on Social Media & Copyright Infringement: What You Need to Know Do you share images in your personal social media or in social marketing? Wondering if youre violating copyright laws? With some education, you can learn to protect yourself and your... Read More Show More Show Less