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Michael J. Nunez

Michael J. Nuñez is a Senior Partner in the Las Vegas office of Murchison & Cumming, LLP, where he combines extensive trial and appellate experience with a dedication to delivering successful outcomes for his clients. Michael’s broad expertise spans a wide range of legal matters, including professional liability, real estate litigation, insurance law, wrongful death, transportation, wage and hour claims, construction law, water rights, and premises liability. His client portfolio includes a global retail corporation with stores across the U.S. and 23 countries and an international chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves.

A lifelong Angelino, Michael initially found a home at the firm’s Los Angeles office, where he gained exceptional mentorship from long-standing Senior Partners, preparing him for his leadership role in the Las Vegas office. As the first Las Vegas attorney to be elevated to Senior Partner since the branch’s founding in 2001, Michael’s leadership and legal expertise have significantly impacted the firm’s presence in Nevada.

Michael’s appellate success is equally notable, with dozens of successful arguments before the California Court of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and published opinions from the Nevada Supreme Court. An AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Michael is recognized for his deep legal knowledge and commitment to excellence.

Michael is a respected leader in the legal industry, particularly in his commitment to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As a founding member of Las Vegas Defense Lawyers (LVDL), the defense bar for Clark County, Nevada, Michael has played a key role in its growth to over 150 members. He has served on LVDL’s Board of Directors, advancing the defense bar in Southern Nevada through continuing legal education, legislative advocacy, and a focus on fairness in the judicial system. His dedication to DEI is further reflected in his active involvement with M&C’s Diversity Committee, where he works to foster inclusivity across the legal profession.

Outside of the office, Michael values spending quality time with his family. He serves on the Executive Board of the Clark County Bar Association and advocates for DEI through his involvement with the Clark County Diversity & Inclusion Committee for Equity (DICE). Michael’s mission is to ensure that all members of the bar and workplace feel welcomed and engaged, particularly those new to these essential discussions.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Las Vegas Defense Lawyers, Founding Board of Directors
• American Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Clark County Bar Association
• Hispanic National Bar Association

Published Works

• "Reasonable Expectations: Interpreting Insurance Policies in Common Law Jurisdictions," Contributer, American Bar Association
• "Nevada a Progressive State? Nevada Now Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based on 'Gender Identity or Expression,'" Murchison & Cumming, LLP, Employment Brief, Fall 2011
• "Violence at our Borders: Rights & Status of Immigrant Victims of Hate Crimes & Violence," Hastings Law Journal, Vol. 43 Issue 6, 1992

Classes/Seminars Taught

• "Beware the Pitfalls of Pre-litigation Investigation and Reliance on the Attorney-Client Privilege," 25th Annual Insurance Coverage Litigation Committe Midyear Program, February 24, 2017, Phoenix, AZ
• "Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit," 2016 Choice Hotels Conference, May 11, 2016, Las Vegas, NV
• "Recent Developments in Sanction Cases: Old Topic that Keeps Coming Up," Hospitality Law Conference, February 23, 2016, Houston, TX
•  "Nevada Law" Murchison & Cumming 2014 Year in Review, April 30, 2015, Los Angeles, CA
•  "Nevada Law" Murchison & Cumming 2013 Year in Review, April 29, 2014, Los Angeles, CA
• "Insurance Roundtable Bad Faith/Good Faith: The Latest from California and Nevada," September 18, 2012, Los Angeles, CA
• "Strategies for Defeating 'Crawford Claims' and the Paradox of CH2M Hill," FDCC Annual Meeting 2011, July 28, 2011, Williamsburg, VA

Representative Published Decisions

• Del Webb v. Partington, 652 F.3d 1145 (2011)
• Sandra Torres v. Nevada Direct Insurance Co., 131 Nev. Ad. Op. 54 (July 2015)