Debbie Leonard

  • 955 S. Virginia Street, Suite 220
  • Reno, Nevada 89502
  • Office Phone: 775-964-4656
  • Place of Birth: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Supreme Court Mediation History:

  • Date Appointed: 1/2/13
  • Number of Cases Mediated: 51
  • Current As Of: 1/3/23

Areas of Practice:

  • Real Estate and Land Use; Water and Natural Resources; General Civil Litigation; Appellate Practice

Bar Memberships:

  • Nevada (2002)
  • California (2003)
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (2005)
  • United States Supreme Court (2012)
Colleges
NameLocationStartEndTypeDegree
 
University of WisconsinMadison, WI19871991Undergraduate, Zoology (Honors)B.A.
University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz, CA19951997Graduate, EducationM.A.
Law Schools
NameLocationStartEndDegree
University of California Berkeley School of Law, Boalt HallBerkeley, CA19992002J.D. 
Professional Experience
NameLocationDescriptionStartEnd
 
Leonard Law, PCReno, NVSolo Practitioner2019Present
McDonald, Carano, Wilson, LLPReno, NVAssociate 2003-2009; Partner 2010-present20032019
U.S. District CourtReno, NVLaw Clerk to Hon. David Hagen, U.S. District Court, District of Nevada20022003
Santa Cruz, CA School DistrictSanta Cruz, CAScience Teacher; Mission Hill Junior/Senior High School and Delta School19981999
State Bar of NevadaReno, NV      Chair, Appellate Litigation Section20132014
United States District Court, District of NevadaReno, NV   Lawyer Representative2015Present
State Bar of NevadaReno, NVLead Editor, Nevada Appellate Practice Manual2016Present

Mediation and Other ADR Training
NameLocationDescriptionDate
 
University of California, Berkeley; Boalt Hall School of LawBerkeley, CAMediation Training2002
American Arbitration AssociationSan Diego, CAIntroductory Mediation Training2011
United States District Court, District of Idaho ADR ProgramBoise, IDAdvanced Mediation Training2012
State Bar of NevadaLas Vegas, NVDo's and Don'ts of Ethical Conduct at a Mediation2012
Nevada Supreme CourtReno, NV Procedural & Ethical Issues in Mediation for Settlement Judges2013
Land Trust AllianceRhode IslandMediating Conservation Disputes2014
Nevada Supreme Court Reno, NV      Techniques & Best Practices in Civil Mediation at the Appellate Level2016
2016 Ninth Circuit Judicial ConferenceBig Sky, MTMediation Techniques for Mediator and Lawyers2016
State Bar of CaliforniaReno, NVEliminating Cognitive Biases2016
American Bar AssociationReno, NV First Offers and Counteroffers2016
American Bar AssociationReno, NV Solutions for Common Ethics Issues in ADR2017
Nevada Supreme CourtReno, NV The Premediation Process:  A Facilitated Discussion for New and Experienced Settlement Judges2018
Nevada Supreme CourtReno, NVImpasse and Ethics:  A Facilitated Discussion for New and Experienced Settlement Judges2018
Nevada Supreme Court Appellate Mediation: Tips, Tactics & Techniques2020
Nevada Supreme Court Using an Online Platform to Conduct Mediations2020
Nevada Supreme Court Joint Sessions vs. Caucuses2022
Nevada Supreme Court Overview of Common Procedural Issues for Settlement Judges2022
Nevada Supreme Court Online or In-Person, Psychological Insights for Supreme Court Settlement Judges2022

Mediation and Other ADR Experience
NameLocationDescriptionStartEnd
 
State Bar of NevadaNevadaFee Dispute Resolution Committee-Mediation of fee disputes between lawyers and clients2011Present

Nevada Supreme Court;California Court of Appeal; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal

Nevada and CaliforniaAdvocate in Numerous Appellate Mediations2003Present
Professional Organizations

  • American Bar Association: Section of Environment, Energy and Resources; Litigation Section; and Council of Appellate Lawyers
  • State Bar of Nevada
  • State Bar of California
  • Washoe County Bar Association
  • Northern Nevada Women Lawyers

Awards

  • Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Nevada Business Magazine's Legal Elite, Best Up and Coming (2012)
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers (2010)
  • "Top 20 Under 40" Award for Young Professionals in Reno-Tahoe Area (2008)
  • Women of Achievement Award Recipient (2005)