- Divorce
- Child SupportThe structure of the firm is unique and permits our attorneys to concentrate on particular practice areas within family and matrimonial law, such as complex litigation, including litigation involving divorce, legal separation and annulment; financial discovery, analysis and planning; negotiated settlements; premarital and postnuptial agreements; marital and separation agreements; cohabitation agreements; surrogacy and reproductive law; custody, visitation and parent/child relocation; complex property division; maintenance/alimony and child support; retirement plans and benefits; parentage; domestic violence and orders of protection; post-divorce disputes; and appellate practice.
- Child Custody and VisitationShawn B Meador has been practicing law since 1983 and has been a shareholder in the firm Woodburn and Wedge since 1989. A substantial portion of his practice is devoted to the area of family law, including matters such as divorce, child custody, spousal support, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and related matters.
- Adoption
- Premarital AgreementWoodburn and Wedge is one of Nevada’s largest independent law firms with an office located in the Sierra Plaza in Southeast Reno. We are a general practice law firm with a strong corporate, business and litigation practice with a broad base of clients including commercial investment firms, national consumer and commercial finance companies, national and local banks, credit unions, real estate development companies, mining companies, utilities (public and private), small and medium-sized businesses, law firms, accounting firms, engineering firms, public agencies and individuals. Although we maintain a general law practice, our skilled attorneys are well versed in the many different avenues of the law including: litigation, corporate law, commercial law, commercial finance, real estate law, mining law, water law, environmental law, bankruptcy, utility law, and public and private land use law. Our firm also has broad experience in estate planning, probate, trust administration, probate and trust litigation, tax law and family law, including divorce, prenuptial agreements, child custody, spousal support and family mediation.
- GuardianshipOur guardianship practice is dedicated to helping people take care of incapacitated or incompetent loved ones. We assist adult children seeking to establish guardianships for aging parents who are no longer able to make important decisions about healthcare and finances. Likewise, we assist in setting up guardianships for minors whose natural parents cannot care for them or who have inherited property needing to be held on their behalf. We also handle guardianship disputes.
- Spousal Support
- Legal Separation
- Annulment
- Wrongful Death
- Corporate LawMr. Barnard has been included in America's Leading Lawyers for Corporate/Commercial Law in the Chambers USA Client Guide and has been selected for inclusion in the "Best Lawyers in America" in the categories of corporate merger and acquisitions law and real property law. Mr. Barnard is recognized as one of the Top 75 Attorneys in Northern Nevada by Nevada Business Magazine under categories for corporate law and mergers and acquisitions.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsGregg P. Barnard is the Managing Shareholder of Woodburn and Wedge and has extensive experience in the areas of business and corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, structured finance, entity selection and formation, real estate law, including acquisitions, residential and commercial development, and commercial leasing transactions. Mr. Barnard represents a broad range of clients both nationally and internationally, as well as local businesses, real estate developers, land owners and start-up operations.
- Business DisputesMr. Wicker has successfully handled numerous significant commercial and contract disputes, achieving economic resolutions for his clients.
- Business TransactionsShawn G. Pearson is a shareholder whose practice focuses primarily on corporate law, real property law, and other commercial transactions. He has represented a range of clients, from startup small business owners to Fortune 500 corporations.
- Limited Liability CompaniesWoodburn and Wedge provides counsel and advice regarding tax planning to individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, trusts and tax-exempt organizations with respect to federal income, gift, and estate tax law. Services provided by Woodburn and Wedge include: estate and gift tax planning; business entity selection; structuring complex transactions; partnership, LLC and corporate tax planning; and representation of clients before the Internal Revenue Service. We have also formed and obtained IRS determination letters for a variety of charitable organizations (both publicly supported organizations and private foundations).
- Trade Secrets
- Employment Discrimination
- Employment ContractWoodburn and Wedge represents a variety of employers and organizations in all areas of employment, including investigation, representation before administrative regulatory agencies, state and federal court litigation, human resources training, employment contract transactions, severance package drafting and all aspects of workplace employee relations. From transactional representation to administrative, agency and courtroom advocacy through appeal, Woodburn and Wedge provides the highest quality advice and advocacy to employers regardless of workforce size.
- Severance Agreement
- Real Estate LitigationIn its infancy, Norcross, Thatcher and Woodburn practiced all areas of law with particular emphasis on mining law, real estate law, water law, corporate law, wills, estates and probates, and general litigation. These areas of practice still form the core of Woodburn and Wedge’s practice, but as the firm grew, so too did its areas of practice and specialization.
- Premises LiabilityMr. Anderson has litigated, among other things, contract disputes, property disputes, tort actions, mechanic’s lien issues, premises liability and cases involving misappropriation of trade secrets. Mr. Anderson has also represented charter schools and individual clients in the area of education law. He has represented clients in both complex and simple litigation matters in the state and federal courts of Nevada and California, as well in mediation and arbitration proceedings.
- Construction LitigationMichael Keane is a shareholder and practices primarily in the areas of civil litigation. His areas of practice include State and Federal Civil Litigation; Contract Litigation; Real Property Litigation; Adult and Minor Guardianships; Contested Trusts and Estates; Construction Defect Litigation, Judgment Enforcement; Mechanics Liens; Bankruptcy.
- Real Estate TransactionsMs. Jannuzzi devotes a substantial portion of her practice to business law and civil litigation, with a particular focus on representing religious and charitable organizations. Her clients include the Diocese of Reno, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada, Bishop Manogue Catholic High School and others. She assists her corporate and religious clients in business and real estate transactions, employment and personnel matters, government relations issues, taxation, litigation and dispute resolution, and matters involving the intersection between church and state. She stays current on the wide variety of legal issues affecting religious organizations through her membership in the National Diocesan Attorneys Association.
- Land Use and ZoningOne hundred years later, the firm has had many notable successes and moments of distinction. In the early 1980’s, the firm (then Woodburn, Wedge, Blakey and Jeppson) enjoyed the unusual distinction of being awarded a contract to provide legal services to the United States Air Force. The services involved advising the Air Force on environmental, water and land use law in connection with a missile system planned for rural Nevada. In 1989 the firm successfully defended the rock band Judas Priest and CBS Records in a wrongful death action brought by the survivors of two individuals who committed suicide after a long evening of drugs, drinking and listening to music. The case involved important first amendment freedom of speech issues. In 2003, the firm was part of a small team of lawyers responsible for obtaining the 16th largest jury award in the United States in 2003 ($136,900.000) in a fraud action involving a copper mine near Tonopah, Nevada.
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesWoodburn and Wedge’s real estate practice is diverse, involving the representation of individual and institutional investors, asset managers, developers, lenders, landlords, tenants, and homeowners and condominium associations. Our real estate attorneys advise clients on acquisitions and complex financing transactions, landlord-tenant disputes, complex commercial leasing, and purchase and sale negotiations. Our attorneys are intimately involved in assisting and advising residential and commercial developers on state and local requirements, in preparing master plans for planned unit developments, in drafting and negotiating development agreements, implementing residential and commercial CC&Rs, and in representing clients before planning commissions, city councils, and county commissions.
- Property DamageMr. Wicker has represented some of the largest mining companies in the world and individuals with mining or oil and gas disputes. He was one of the trial counsels in a trial that resulted in a $137,000,000 jury verdict in favor of his client mining company against an international engineering company. Mr. Wicker has defended companies in product liability cases involving death and serious injury. He has represented clients in numerous trials and injunction hearings concerning control of companies and share ownership disputes. Mr. Wicker has represented one of the largest oil companies in the world in environmental contamination administrative actions and property damage cases with exposures exceeding $100,000,000. Mr. Wicker has represented general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects and owners in numerous construction and contract disputes. Mr. Wicker has also handled numerous employment related cases and was counsel for trial and appeal of one the landmark employment decisions in Nevada.
- Personal InjuryIn addition to his family law practice, Mr. Meador practices in the area of general civil litigation in both state and federal courts. He has litigated cases in areas such as insurance coverage, personal injury defense, contract disputes, employment discrimination and F.E.L.A. matters. He has briefed and argued appeals in the Nevada Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Estate PlanningPatrick M. Kealy is an associate attorney practicing primarily in the areas of civil litigation, estate planning and probate. From 2014 to 2021 Mr. Kealy worked as a litigation associate, in addition to representing political clients by providing legal counsel on lobbying initiatives. Previously Mr. Kealy worked as an extern for the Honorable Valerie P. Cooke, Federal Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court, District of Nevada.
- WillsIn addition, we represent clients in contested probate and trust proceedings such as will and trust contests based on undue influence, incapacity, fraud or duress; breach of fiduciary duties; and wrongful retention or distribution of assets.
- TrustsOur firm also handles decedents’ estates of every size and degree of complexity. Following a death, we advise family members, beneficiaries, trustees and personal representatives concerning the transfer of property from the deceased pursuant to a trust or will, or as provided by law for those who die without a will or trust. Woodburn and Wedge assists clients with both non-judicial trust administration and with court supervised probate proceedings.
- ProbateMr. Morris is a shareholder who works extensively within the field of estate planning. He represents families, couples and individuals in crafting wills and trusts. He represents clients in probate, estate and trust administration. In addition, he develops and implements gift and estate tax saving strategies. He has published timely articles on current estate planning and income tax issues. Mr. Morris is a Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the State Bar of California. In 2014, Mr. Morris was named a top “Twenty Under Forty” award winner by the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network.
- BankruptcyIn addition to representing clients in general bankruptcy matters such as proof of claim issues, plan prosecution and objections to plan and financing issues, Woodburn and Wedge attorneys have a wealth of experience in bankruptcy litigation involving avoidance actions (preferences and fraudulent transfers), discharge and dischargeability issues and claims litigation.
- ForeclosurePUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS Mr. Pearson presents frequently on issues relating to real property and commercial leasing, including Foreclosures, Deeds in Lieu, Short Sales, and Foreclosure Alternatives in Nevada, which was presented to the State Bar of Nevada’s Family Law Section’s Annual Meeting in 2011. Other publications and presentations include...
- Tax LawWoodburn and Wedge offers a full range of services in the area of estate planning and probate. We advise clients regarding all aspects of estate planning, including trusts, wills and federal estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax law as well as business succession planning. We assist individuals and families in planning and implementing a variety of tax and planning strategies including, family limited partnerships and LLCs, dynasty (generation skipping) trusts, charitable remainder trusts, family foundations, irrevocable life insurance trusts, etc. We are dedicated to providing our clients with knowledgeable advice and counsel, timely service, and to tailoring each estate plan to meet the client’s needs and objectives while minimizing or even eliminating gift and estate tax burdens.