| TOP LAWYERS: White Collar Defense Richard Wright, Wright Standish & Winckler | |
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By Anna Huddleston Las Vegas Business Press | |
For the past two-and-a-half years, Richard Wright, principal at Wright Stanish & Winckler law firm, has spent a lot of time in his car and in hotel rooms in Kingman, Ariz., and St. George, Utah, representing infamous polygamist Warren Jeffs. "It's a fascinating case," he said. "They believe in exactly what they are doing." Over several decades of practicing law, Wright has been involved in many high-profile cases and has enough stories to fill a tome. Wright, a native Las Vegan, became fascinated with law early and was the first in his family to become a lawyer. His choice fell upon University of Southern California Law School and in 1972 he returned to Las Vegas and became a clerk for Federal Judge Roger Foley. "It was the height of the Vietnam era and I was a ponytailed, long-haired law clerk who wanted to do legal services," Wright said. Soon he got offered a job as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's office in Las Vegas. "At first I laughed because it was the last thing I thought could interest me in any fashion," he said. "But Judge Foley said, 'Don't pass up on this opportunity. Get a haircut and take the job.'" Wright did exactly that and held the office for five years before moving to private practice. Over the past 30 years, Wright has primarily focused on criminal defense, gaming law and professional ethics. In 2000, he was named Defender of the Decade by the Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice. Since 1987, he has been continually listed in The Best Lawyers in America and is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. "A lot of my work is during the investigative stage and I view it as counseling and guiding clients through uncharted waters," Wright said. "I try to assist them to get through a bad situation as well as possible." Along with client satisfaction, Wright said one of the most rewarding aspects of his practice is a strong belief in the merit of his work. "This is what our country is all about and I feel good about that," he said. His reputation in the legal community contributes to his workload of high-profile cases and brings new and exciting challenges his way daily. "There is always something different, and you don't know who is going to walk in the door or call," he said. "That's one of the things I enjoy about the practice." When in Las Vegas, Wright works through weekends, because "the phones are not ringing and you can get things done." Relaxation is not high on his agenda, but when not immersed in litigation, he enjoys reading about history and listening to audiobooks on long drives. For the past 20 years, Wright and his wife, Patricia, have contributed to United Way Leadership and supported UNLV Foundation, the Meadows School and other local organizations. | |
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LVBusinessPress.com Originally published Monday, April 27, 2009 | |
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