Lawyers

Skylar N. Arakawa-Pamphilon defends manufacturers in product liability and personal injury litigation. Skylar was the Outstanding Graduate of William S. Boyd Law School of Law’s 2021 graduating class and clerked for the Honorable Chief Judge Michael P. Gibbons on the Nevada Court of Appeals during the 2021-2022 term. Skylar has experience researching complex legal issues, performing risk assessments, writing briefs, drafting written discovery, and completing large-scale document review. Skylar has also attended trial and assisted with successfully appealing issues to the Supreme Court of Nevada.

Saed Atallah’s practice centers on corporate product liability defense and employment law. Known for precise motion practice and practical case strategy, he partners with clients to resolve disputes efficiently while protecting business objectives. Saed has extensive experience with various aspects of litigation including motion practice, written discovery, legal research, and document review.

Prior to joining Evans Fears Schuttert McNulty Mickus, Jeffrey F. Barr, Esq. was a founder and partner at Ashcraft & Barr | LLP in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he focused his practice on complex corporate/business litigation, corporate and real estate transactions, Nevada cannabis law, government affairs, crisis management, and civil rights litigation. With more than 25 years of legal experience spanning private practice and senior municipal leadership, Mr. Barr is widely recognized as one of Nevada’s leading attorneys in cutting-edge, high-stakes litigation and transactional matters.

In litigation, Mr. Barr has successfully represented publicly traded companies in shareholder disputes, plaintiffs in high-profile civil rights cases, elected officials and candidates for public office in election litigation, and individuals in complex constitutional matters. His transactional experience includes corporate restructuring, mergers, and negotiating and drafting documents for major redevelopment and commercial real estate projects exceeding $500 million in combined value.

From 2020 to 2023, Mr. Barr served as a partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP, where he successfully defended senior municipal officials and state employees in high-profile litigation. Earlier in his career, he served as City Attorney for the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada’s third-largest municipality, acting as chief legal officer and advising elected officials and senior management on all legal matters. During his tenure, he guided the City through two consecutive fiscal emergencies, helping avert municipal insolvency, and oversaw a legal department of 18 employees with a $6.7 million annual budget.

Mr. Barr is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, has been named a Nevada Business Magazine Legal Elite/Top Rank Attorney for multiple consecutive years, and has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters Super Lawyer from 2017 through 2025. He is also a frequent author and commentator on cannabis, administrative, and municipal law.
He earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law, an MBA with a finance emphasis from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with University Honors from UNLV.

Alejandro Blake’s practice focuses on defending product liability matters. Alejandro graduated from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in 2019. Alejandro is known for his innovative case strategy and tenacious advocacy of his client. Alejandro has extensive experience with various areas in litigation, including motion practice, discovery and legal research.

Joshua D. Cools defends clients in high stakes litigation from a variety of industries, including automotive, medical device, consumer products and services, and public institutions. Josh has broad experience litigating and managing all aspects of complex litigation including trial, motion practice, preparing high-level company witnesses for and defending them at depositions, managing experts, fact and expert depositions, written discovery, complex document management and e-discovery, and settlement conferences, private mediation, and arbitrations.

Josh also advises companies regarding risk assessment and regulatory compliance. This advice has included both proactive and reactive management of a variety of issues, including assessing compliance with state and federal regulations, privacy and data management, and contractual obligations.

Sierra Epke’s practice is focused on defending product liability matters in Colorado and nationwide. Actively engaged in both trial and appellate work, Sierra assists clients through every stage of litigation. Sierra graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 2024 as a member of the University of Miami Law Review and University of Miami Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board, earning CALI Awards for Excellence, awarded to the top scorer in each law school class, for her efforts in Trusts & Estates Essentials, Electronic Discovery, and Law of the Sea.

Kelly A. Evans is a founding partner of EFSMM. His practice is focused on trials of product liability cases. Kelly has tried cases for major pharmaceutical, medical device, and automotive companies in many courts throughout the country. Kelly knows how to select juries and present complex facts and arguments in a manner that is simple to understand and results in verdicts for his clients.

One of the founding partners of EFSMM, Chad Fears’ practice focuses on product liability cases with an emphasis on medical devices and pharmaceuticals.  He has defended major pharmaceutical companies regarding their medications for hormone therapy, diabetes,  high cholesterol, and varies birth control products.  He has been a member of strategy, company witness, expert, and trial teams in these litigations.  Chad also litigates cases involving mass and toxic torts, consumer products and business disputes.  Chad knows how to develop themes and strategies that will lead to success in resolving the litigation, whether at motion practice or at trial.

Samantha Geraghty’s practice is focused on defending product liability matters, primarily for the manufacturers of automobiles. Samantha also handles commercial litigation, premises liability, and the defense of personal injury matters. She graduated cum laude from Western State College of Law while taking practical courses such as Interviewing and Counseling, Advanced Trial Advocacy, and Negotiations. She earned three Witkin awards for earning the top grade in Contracts, Constitutional Law, and Remedies. During law school, Samantha was a paralegal in litigation, bankruptcy, and civil rights firms where she focused on skills building and advocating for clients while mastering substantive legal principles.

Devin A. Gleason is an attorney in the firm’s Las Vegas office. His practice focuses on product liability defense and complex litigation matters. Before joining Evans Fears Schuttert McNulty Mickus, Devin served as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Idaho, where he represented state agencies and gained experience in litigation strategy and client advocacy.

Devin earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law with an emphasis in Business Law and Entrepreneurship and served as President of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Brigham Young University, with a strong academic focus on geography.

He was admitted to the Idaho State Bar in 2022, and the Nevada State Bar in 2025.

Outside of his legal practice, Devin enjoys spending time with his wife and six children and perfecting new recipes on his Traeger grill.

David W. Gutke defends a variety of product liability actions, including representation of vehicle, construction equipment, medical device, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. In particular, David manages coordinated proceedings and collections of numerous mass tort products lawsuits. He further handles electronic discovery and document management aspects of coordinated litigation.

David also prosecutes and defends commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, business torts, and real property disputes on behalf of a variety of clients. He frequently serves as local counsel in the prosecution and defense of patent infringement matters in federal court. David has been involved in multiple high-stakes trials of products liability and commercial litigation matters.

Melina Kazemzadeh’s primary practice is employment law defense, with a secondary focus on commercial litigation. She represents management-side clients in complex employment disputes involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage-and-hour violations. She also advises clients on workplace policies and compliance strategies to minimize legal risk, and is involved in all phases of litigation, including legal research, discovery, and motion practice.

Prior to joining EFSMM, Melina practiced employment defense at a respected national law firm, representing employers across a wide range of industries. Before law school, she worked as a sales consultant in the HR technology sector, advising executives on risk mitigation and compliance strategies. This background enables her to bring strong business acumen and a practical, solutions-oriented approach to her legal work.

Brennen Marshall’s practice is primarily focused on defending companies in product liability and personal injury cases in Nevada. Brennen also has experience dealing with cases involving difficult fact patterns, including complex chemical, pharmaceutical, and oncological issues. Since working with Evans Fears Schuttert McNulty Mickus, Brennen has also assisted with appealing issues to the United States Supreme Court.

Brennen believes that each case is unique and requires innovative thinking to ensure the best outcome for the client. With a keen eye for detail and a willingness to think creatively, Brennen strives to use his litigation skills in tandem with his aptitude for legal research and writing to provide the best representation for each client. Brennen graduated from the James E. Rogers College of Law, where he strived to take practical courses in pretrial litigation and trial advocacy, while earning the CALI Award for Excellence as the highest scorer in his Legal Writing class.

Elizabeth V. McNulty defends manufacturers in diverse industries such as automobiles, motorcycles and off-road vehicles, sports equipment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, recreational and towing products, construction and industrial equipment, and other consumer products in complex catastrophic injury and fatality litigation. She defends class action and mass tort claims, relating to a variety of consumer products, in both federal and state courts. In addition, she oversees national and regional counsel defense programs put in place to manage repetitive litigation involving design, manufacture, and warnings defect claims.

In her regulatory and environmental practice, Elizabeth defends clients against Proposition 65, asbestos, toxic tort and other environmental exposure claims. She regularly works on behalf of her clients with state and federal environmental agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Consumer Product Safety Commission, the California EPA, Department of Toxic Substance Control, OEHHA, and the Southern California Air Quality Management Board. She provides compliance advice and program management guidance for the ever-changing state, national, and international chemical and toxin regulations including the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Lacey Act, California’s Proposition 65, California’s Green Chemistry Initiative, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and other related federal and state regulatory issues.

Elizabeth also has substantial experience in defending employment litigation matters including those focusing on harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination as well as commercial litigation involving breach of contract, business-related torts, breach of warranty, covenants not to compete, and confidentiality issues.

Lee Mickus defends manufacturers and other business interests in product liability and tort lawsuits around the country, guiding cases through the discovery, trial, and appeal stages. He has successfully tried cases to juries in Colorado, Texas, California, New York, Puerto Rico, Montana, and several other states. Lee has handled cases involving a wide variety of industries and products, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, industrial machinery, wine, and recreational equipment. Lee has made court appearances, argued appeals, and submitted amicus briefs in numerous jurisdictions across the country.

Paige S. Prado defends pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and chemical companies in product liability, mass tort, and personal injury litigation. Paige treats each client and case as unique, building a strong connection in order to provide the best representation. Paige values attention to detail and excels at strategically identifying and presenting thorough analyses of complex legal issues. Paige also has experience with various aspects of litigation including motion practice, written discovery, legal research, and document review and coding. 

Christine Reynolds defends clients in complex employment, commercial, and product liability matters in state and federal courts. Her practice is focused on handling complex employment matters involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination, as well as product liability matters for manufacturers of automobiles, consumer/recreational products, and industrial equipment. Christine defends organizations against allegations of breach of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, unfair business practices (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §17200, et seq.), Labor Code, Unruh Civil Rights Act, and regulatory matters. Christine serves on the boards of the Davis Magnet School Education Foundation and the Academy of Our Lady of Peace Alumnae Association Council, and the Davis Magnet School Site Council.

Elsie Rice’s practice is focused on defending manufacturers in product liability and personal injury litigation in Colorado and nationwide. Elsie graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 2025 as a Production Editor of the Colorado Law Review. Elsie has experience with various stages of litigation including legal research, written discovery, document review, and deposition preparation.

Jay J. Schuttert is a go-to trial lawyer whose lead and co-lead trial experience includes numerous jury trials in federal and state courts in Nevada and around the country for product manufacturers and corporations, involving claims of serious illness, catastrophic injury and/or wrongful death. As a founder of EFSMM, Jay’s practice is primarily focused on defending product liability matters for manufacturers of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automobiles, motorcycles, consumer/recreational products, and industrial equipment. Jay also handles premises liability, vehicle/trucking collisions, medical malpractice, commercial disputes, and employment matters. 

Sydney Sloas’ practice areas include corporate product liability defense and employment law. Sydney graduated from St. Thomas University, Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, cum laude and with a certificate in Intellectual Property. Sydney earned the CALI Award for Excellence, awarded to the top scorer in each law school class, for her efforts in Innovations and Patent Management and Moral Dilemmas Seminar. Also, while at St. Thomas, Sydney served as the Vice President of Sports for the Entertainment and Sports Law Society.

Additionally, Sydney attended the Master of Sports Law and Business program at Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law where she was taught by Major League Baseball commissioner emeritus, Allan “Bud” Selig.

Sheerin Tehrani represents Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial and consumer litigation, including product liability, consumer warranty, and employment matters. She handles all phases of litigation, from case development and discovery through motion practice and trial, and works closely with clients, experts, and in-house counsel to advance strategic objectives.

Her background in intellectual property, technology, and transactional matters directly informs her litigation strategy, enabling her to anticipate business concerns, assess technical issues, and collaborate effectively with clients on both legal and operational challenges.

Before joining the firm, Sheerin served as Head of Legal Operations for a Los Angeles-based technology company, where she managed global trademark and copyright portfolios, negotiated licensing and software agreements, and advised on regulatory compliance.

She also practiced at a boutique entertainment and intellectual property law firm, where she handled trademark and copyright filings, enforcement matters, and negotiated music and entertainment industry agreements. This combination of in-house, transactional, and IP experience gives her a 360-degree perspective on the commercial and operational realities her clients face in high-stakes disputes.

Sheerin remains engaged in developments in technology and innovation, having completed Brown University’s certification in AI Governance and Ethics and Harvard University’s CS50: Computer Science for Lawyers program.

Christina Trotz defends manufacturers in product liability and tort lawsuits around the country, advising and defending clients through the litigation process. She has successfully tried cases before juries in several jurisdictions in Colorado and has taken or defended over 200 depositions. An experienced and skilled oral advocate, Christina thrives when she is on the record. She has been involved in litigation arising from a variety of products, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Christopher Waldon is a trial lawyer.  He has represented a wide spectrum of clients from pro bono individuals to fortune 50 corporations throughout the litigation process, from initial intake through verdict and appeal.  His practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation and civil litigation defense, including consumer, class action, employment, product liability and wrongful death/personal injury lawsuits.  Mr. Waldon’s goal in every case is to serve his clients’ interests and needs, whether that means winning at all costs or negotiating a palatable settlement.

Brody is an accomplished litigator with extensive experience defending clients in complex, high-stakes litigation across a wide range of industries. He manages every stage of litigation, from drafting and arguing dispositive motions to conducting and defending fact and expert witnesses at depositions, handling complex discovery, settling cases through alternative dispute resolution, and leading trials in both state and federal court. His representation extends past trial. He brings a strong appellate background and has successfully briefed and argued numerous appeals before the Nevada Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, securing favorable precedent that has shaped Nevada law and protected clients from broad waves of litigation.

Brody’s practice is defined by versatility and depth. He has successfully represented nationwide retailers, product manufacturers and distributors, financial institutions, insurance companies, private lenders, homeowners’ associations, and even heavily regulated businesses such as Nevada’s cannabis dispensaries. Before coming to EFSMM he acted as lead Nevada and Idaho counsel for nationwide loan servicers and lenders in consumer finance actions. His work has spanned products liability cases, personal injury actions, wrongful foreclosure suits, contract and fiduciary disputes, regulatory and licensing litigation, shareholder derivative actions, and claims involving complex business torts. He began his career clerking for the Honorable Valerie Adair of the Eighth Judicial District Court in Las Vegas, where he gained invaluable insight into judicial decision-making in Nevada’s largest court.