John M. Naylor Best Lawyers 2025


              Lawyer John Naylor | Top Attorney Lawsuits & Disputes

John M. Naylor

Co-managing partner and co-founder

jnaylor@nblawnv.com

After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1984, John attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis. He received his law degree in 1987, and worked at a nationally recognized litigation firm in Kansas City, Missouri before heading to University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall) in Great Britain to study for his LL.M. John received his LL.M. in 1989.

John then joined the bankruptcy and finance law boutique firm of Dixon & Dixon, PC. He concentrated on bankruptcy work, corporate restructuring work, and securities work, primarily under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. While at Dixon & Dixon, John helped open the firm’s office in Kuwait City, Kuwait following the end of the first Gulf War.

Wanting to become a litigator, John left Dixon & Dixon to join the United States Air Force as a judge advocate. His first assignment was as a prosecutor at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. That assignment was followed by his appointment as an Area Defense Counsel at Kadena, defending airmen charged with crimes under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In 1997, John was assigned to the Office of the Chief Trial Attorney of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. While based at Wright-Paterson, John represented the Air Force before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, located in Falls Church, Virginia. John represented the Air Force in a wide variety of government contract claims, ranging from simple supply contracts, military construction projects, research and development contracts, and satellite systems contracts.

John left the Air Force in 1999, and joined the Las Vegas office of the preeminent Nevada law firm Lionel Sawyer & Collins. As a partner, John represented a wide variety of business and governmental clients in complex litigation, with a concentration on construction matters.

John has served as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, specializing in construction matters, and testified as an expert witness on drafting construction contracts. In July 2014, John formed Naylor & Braster with Jennifer Braster.

 

Professional Awards and Pro Bono Activities

  • Best Lawyers: Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Super Lawyers: Mountain States edition of Super Lawyers, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
  • 2021 Clark County Bar Association Volunteer of the Year
  • Nevada Business Magazine – Legal Elite
  • Justice of the Peace Pro-Tempore, Las Vegas Township, 2015
  • The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program – Qualified to be appointed pro bono counsel to represent veterans before the United States Court Of Appeals For Veterans Claims; appointments are arranged through The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, 2013 – Present
  • Nevada Attorney General, Office of Military Legal Assistance – Volunteer attorney handling matters on behalf of active duty military personnel referred by Attorney General Adam Laxalt, 2015 – Present
  • Grader – Bar Examiners, State Bar of Nevada, grader from 2005 to 2015
  • Vegas Inc. – Listed in Vegas Inc.’s Top Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in Southern Nevada, 2013

Professional Memberships

  • Clark County Bar Association
  • State Bar of Nevada, Fee Dispute Panel LVA, 2018 – Present
  • Vice President of Nevada State Bar Clients’ Security Fund Committee, 2022 – Present
  • Member of Nevada State Bar Clients’ Security Fund Committee, 2019 – 2022    

Bar and Court Admissions

  • State Bar of Nevada
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, Nebraska and Missouri (Eastern and Western)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
  • Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
  • Kansas (inactive)
  • Nebraska (inactive)
  • Illinois (inactive)
  • Missouri (inactive)

Publications

  • J. Naylor, “Civility – Some thoughts on what it is and how we can get there,” Communique (May 2023)
  • J. Naylor, “Election law changes you should know about,” Communique (September 2022)
  • J.Naylor, “C-SUITE: Meet attorney John M. Naylor,” Las Vegas Business Press. (October, 18, 2022)
  • J. Naylor, “You Receive a Subpoena For a Client’s File – What Do You Do?,” Communiqué (June, 2022)
  • J. Naylor, “CARES Act update for contractors and developers,” Las Vegas Review-Journal (May 23, 2020)
  • J. Naylor, ” Preserving the Record – The Basics of Objects and Offers of Proof,” Communique (Sept. 2020)
  • J. Naylor, “What Exactly is the Unauthorized Practice of Law?” Communique (June/ July 2021)
  • J. Naylor, “Understanding How CARES Act Benefits Small Businesses,” Las Vegas Business Press (April 7, 2020)
  • J. Naylor “Predatory Friending and Other Pitfalls for Lawyers Using Social Media,” Communiqué (Nov. 2018)
  • J. Naylor, “Designating Your Employee as a Non-Retained Expert – Are You Waiving the Attorney-Client Privilege?,” Communiqué (June/July 2018)
  • J. Naylor, “What are “Reasonable Attorney’s Fees” According to the State and Federal Courts in Nevada?,” Communiqué, (Dec. 2017)
  • J. Naylor, “Good Faith in Mandatory Settlement Conferences,” Communiqué (April 2016)
  • J. Naylor, “My ‘Non-Traditional’ Pro Bono Experience Assisting Veterans,” Communiqué (Feb. 2015)
  • J. Naylor & J. Braster, Chapter 32: Nevada Bond and Lien Law, NEVADA CIVIL PRACTICE MANUAL (2010, 2013).
  • J. Naylor, LONDON BROKERS’ MEDALS (2010).
  • J. Naylor, editor, Gulf War Claims Reporter (International Law Institute 1991) (with William Harvey, Esq.)

Speaking Engagements

  • “The Lawyer’s Use of Social Media – A Look into Hot Topics and Trends,” California Academy of Attorneys for Healthcare Professionals, Annual Meeting. (October, 2019)
  • “The Unauthorized Practice of Law- A Trap for the Unwary,” Clark County Bar Association, CLE Presentation 2021
  • “You Get A Subpoena for Those Old Client Files You Forgot About – What do you do next?” Clark County Bar Association, CLE Presentation 2022
  • “Contract: Addressing Misunderstandings Before They Occur,” Panel Member presenting, “Contracts for Non-Lawyers,” International Council of Air Shows 2022 Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Decorum,” Opening Remarks at Law Day, Creech Air Force Base, May 4, 2023
  • Clark County Bar Association, Ethics Program for Nevada Lawyers  – 2022
  • Clark County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education 2019
  • California Academy of Attorneys for Healthcare Professionals 2019
  • Clark County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education 2018 
  • Creech Air Force Base’s Law Day

Expert Witness

  • U.S. v. Benzer, et al., Case No. 2:13-cr-00018-JCM-GWF, United States District Court, District of Nevada.  Expert in the area of construction contracts.
  • NexBank SSB v. Jeffrey Soffer and Jacquelyn Soffer, Index No. 652072/2013, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York.  Expert in the area of reasonable attorney fees.
  • Incorp Services Inc., Inenvi, Inc., and Myllc.com, Inc. v. Marshal S. Willick, LLC Marshal S. Willick, and Irina Ansell. Case No. A-1-741444-C, Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada. Expert regarding lis pendens filings.
  • Haojia, LLC v. Marshal S. Willick, LLC and Marshal S. Willick, Case No. A-19-792105-B, Eighth Judicial Court District, Clark County, Nevada. Expert regarding lis pendens filings.
  • Hakkasan USA, Inc. v. Endurance American Specialty Company, Endurance Services Ltd., Williis of Arizona, Inc., and Willis Towers Watson Insurance Services West, Inc., Case No. A-20-816145-B, Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada. Expert in the area of reasonable attorney fees.

Notable Decisions

Construction Matters
  • Steel Engineers, Inc. v. Aladdin Gaming, LLC, et al., Case No. A416635
  • A and B Painting West, Inc. v. J.A. Jones Management Services, Inc., et al., Case No. A412274
  • High Rise JV LLC v. J.A. Jones Construction Co., Case No. 438593
  • Amland Development v. Terracon, Inc., Case No. 449555
  • Underwriters at Lloyds London, et al., v. Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp., et al. Case No. 464562
  • Litigation counsel for Pacific Contractors, LLC through 2009
  • Litigation counsel for Concordia Homes of Nevada, Inc. through 2009
  • Turnberry Place Condominium Association v. Turberry Pavilion Partners, L.P., Case No. A514954
  • Sedona Condominium Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Eagle Real Estate Group, LLC, et al., Case No. A523113
  • Bombard Eleecrtic, LLC v. Fiesta Palms, LLC, et al., Case No. A548413
  • Unitah Investments, LLC v. Vanguard Construction, LLC, Case No. 582036
  • Recreation Development Company LLC, et al., vs. Fremont Street Experience LLC, et al., Case No. A702891
Business Disputes
  • William Errico and William Errico & Associates, P.C. v. ZB, National Association, Case No. 78446
  • LGS Architects, Inc. v. Concordia Homes of Nev., 434 F.3d 1150 (9th Cir. 2006)
  • Appeals of Tri Industries, ASBCA Nos. 47880, 48140 and 48491 (20 August 1999)
  • Appeal of Page Construction, ASBCA No. 50816 (3 June 1999)
  • Appeal of TRW Inc., ASBCA No. 51003 (27 June 2000)
  • Advanced Architectural Metals v. Saltz, et al., Case No. A482412
  • Spanish Villas at Sahara, LLC v. Sun Development, Inc., et al., Case No. A530237
  • Primera Corp., Inc. v. Spanish Villas at Sahara, LLC, Case No. A572012
  • OB1, LLC, et al., v. Mark James, et al., Case No. A605985
  • Pacific Electric, Inc. v. Sandpointe Apartments, LLC, Case No. A618824
  • Mann, et al., v. Wachovia Bank, Case No. A624414
  • Vintage Valley at the Estates at Southern Highlands Golf Club Community Association, et al., v. Hamika, et al., Case No. A639846
  • Park Central Plaza 32, LLC v. Nevada State Bank, Case No. A677612
  • CADC/RADC Venture 2011-1 LLC, et al. v. Yousefzadeh, et al., Case No. A687133
  • Maroon Portfolio, LLC, et al., v. 911 North Buffalo, LLC, Case No. A699824
  • Premier Exhibitions Inc, et al. v. James Beckmann, et al., Case No. A711290
  • Apex Bank v. Nevada State Bank, Case No. A734709
Tort Actions
  • Ford Motor Company v. Trejo, 133 Nev. Ad. Op. 68, Case No. 67843 (September 27, 2017)
Pro Bono
  • Alfred P. Weber v. Eric K. Shinseki, Case No. 12-2936
  • Michael W. Patmon v. Robert A. MacDonald, Case No. 14-361
  • Robert A. Rhea, Jr. v. Robert A. MacDonald, Case No. 15-1247
  • Stanley Franklin v. Robert L. Wilkie, Case No. 19-8384, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims