Greenberg Traurig The Las Vegas Litigation Team

Practice Group Profile
Photography by Eric Jamison/Studio J Inc.
GREENBERG TRAURIG LAS VEGAS LITIGATION TEAM: (L to R) Mark G. Tratos, Donald L. Prunty, Eric W. Swanis, Laraine M.I. Burrell, Thomas F. Kummer, Tyler R. Andrews,
Brandon E. Roos, Moorea L. Katz, Leslie S. Godfrey, Savera K. Sandhu-Smith, Mark E. Ferrario, Tami D. Cowden, Bob L. Olson, Edward B. Chansky, William J. Wray, Christopher
M. Henderson, Philip M. Hymanson, G. Lance Coburn, Shauna L. Welsh. Seated: F. Christopher Austin, Kara B. Hendricks.
Not pictured: Bethany L. Rabe, Tracy O’Steen
Greenberg Traurig
The Las Vegas Litigation Team
Attorneys with a Passion for the Law, Dedicated to Superior Client Service
By Ben Norris
In a city that never sleeps, it’s all too easy to look up at the
clock and realize you’re still in the office at 10 p.m.
While the two men at the helm of Greenberg Traurig’s Las
Vegas Litigation practice try to keep the late nights in check,
Mark Ferrario and Philip Hymanson aren’t afraid to push
past working hours, especially when a major corporation has
everything riding on their performance.
Ferrario and Hymanson lead by example, embracing a more
collaborative approach, with a nice touch of competitiveness to
keep everyone sharp.
“The best thing about having a large firm is that you bring
in a big case and can gather everyone in the war room,”
Hymanson said. “In most of our conference rooms, you can write
on the walls, and when we start tossing around ideas, they go on
the wall. We don’t bring anyone in to sit there and agree with us.”
As longtime Nevada attorneys, both men have seen plenty
of big firms come and go. They say Greenberg Traurig took
a different approach by not simply setting up shop and
competing with the local attorneys. GT sought out Ferrario
and Hymanson, who have spent decades honing their craft in
Nevada courtrooms.
Both are quick to admit it’s their differences and their ability
to bring different leadership styles together that makes the firm
stronger when advocating for clients. “You’re talking about
April 2012 Attorney at Law Magazine® Greater Las Vegas | 11

At a Glance
Mark Ferrario
Mark Ferrario focuses his practice on complex civil litigation in a broad spectrum
of areas. He is an experienced trial attorney who has utilized his persuasive skills to
obtains results in a wide variety of high profile multi-party suits.
Professional & Community Involvement
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Clark County Bar Association
• Member, Board of Directors, Nevada Federal Credit Union (1996-Present)
• Member, Board of Trustees, Safe Nest
• Member, State Bar of Nevada
• Former Member, Professionalism Committee
Awards and Recognition
• “Legal Elite” Top 1% of Nevada Attorneys, Nevada Business Magazine (2009-
2011)
• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® (2010, 2011)
• Listed, Mountain States Super Lawyers (2007 - 2012)
• Recognized, Chambers USA - America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, General
Commercial Litigation - Nevada (2007-2011)
• Rated, AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5*
Education
• J.D., University of California at Los Angeles, School of Law, 1981
• B.S., Accounting, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
12 | Attorney at Law Magazine Greater Las Vegas ® April 2012
Photography by Eric Jamison/Studio J Inc.
“You’ve got two very different personalities,
and most of the time, we take very different
approaches to a case. I think we rely on each
other’s strengths and play off of each other.”
- Mark Ferrario
two guys who have a lot of experience in the court system
in Nevada,” Ferrario said. “You’ve got two very different
personalities, and most of the time, we take very different
approaches to a case. I think we rely on each other’s strengths
and play off of each other.”
“Mark and I are different DNA,” Hymanson said. “We
come to the same conclusion through different routes. But
you always back each other up and make sure the focus is on
what the client needs.”
An International Firm with a Local Mind Set
Hymanson admits he came to Greenberg Traurig a bit
reluctantly. He had a rewarding career as a trial attorney
with Beckley Singleton when the firm decided to merge with
Lewis and Roca.
“I was looking for a bigger footprint and started talking
with Greenberg Traurig’s then CEO Larry Hoffman,”
Hymanson said. “We talked to each other for about a year,
and I went around the country checking out the other offices.
Now I only wish I’d been able to join sooner.”
“The firm I was with right before we came over was losing
market share to a lot of the nationals coming in,” Ferrario
said. “I started looking around, and GT stood head and
shoulders above the other firms coming to town. The thing
that impressed me most was they realized you had to be
local first and national second.”
That meant Ferrario could manage his own shop, a freedom
other large firms weren’t affording local lawyers. “I couldn’t
imagine someone in New York dictating what I do here,”
Ferrario said. “It wouldn’t work. Las Vegas is Las Vegas.”
A Culture of Advancement
“The one thing that you’ll find here is that people like
what they do,” Hymanson said. “That’s not something you

At a Glance
“The people we hire and bring along
share a passion for practicing law, and it
makes for a good environment. It’s a fun
place to work.”
- Philip Hymanson
find in every law office. The people we hire and bring along
share a passion for practicing law, and it makes for a good
environment. It’s a fun place to work.”
Mentorship is another aspect on which Greenberg Traurig
prides itself. Hymanson says it’s one of the toughest jobs,
requiring commitment on the part of the senior lawyer, while
young lawyers must be hungry and anxious to improve.
Ferrario says he looks for people who aren’t afraid to
venture into a variety of new areas. At a full-service firm such
as Greenberg Traurig, nobody can get by with a cookie cutter
practice.
“I’m looking for someone who can go five games of squash
with oxygen deprivation, look me in the eye and beat me,”
Hymanson said. “That’s who I want,” he continued. “I want
somebody who is willing to work as hard as possible. We
won’t ask our folks to do anything more than what we will
do. We work hard, but we have fun doing it.”
Philip Hymanson
Philip Hymanson began his legal career as a prosecutor and litigated many multidefendant,
high-profile crimes. As a prosecutor, he represented the District Attorneys
Association, the Attorney General’s Office and law enforcement agencies at the state
legislature.
Professional & Community Involvement
• Community Advisory Board Member, College of Liberal Arts, University of
Nevada Las Vegas
• Contributor, Las Vegas Philharmonic
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Clark County Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Nevada
• Member, Boy Scouts of America
• Member, Desert Research Institute
• Sponsor, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada
• Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
Awards and Recognition
• “Legal Elite” Top 1% of Nevada Attorneys, Nevada Business Magazine (2009-2011)
• Listed, Mountain States Super Lawyers (2011, 2012)
• Rated, AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5*
Education
• B.A., cum laude, St. Lawrence University
• J.D., California Western School of Law, 1980
Drawn to the Courtroom
While Ferrario and Hymanson have their own approaches
to practicing law, both are drawn to the thrill of being in the
courtroom.
“I think real trial lawyers come alive in the courtroom,”
Ferrario said. “It is a real privilege to be in that well, and a lot
of people don’t like it. A lot of people think they want to be a
trial lawyer until they get the opportunity.”
Ferrario has been fortunate to work on a number of highprofile
cases in all areas of complex commercial litigation.
Hymanson believes passion is a key ingredient when
it comes to taking cases to trial, and lawyers who aren’t
passionate should probably stay out of the courtroom for
their client’s sake.
“It is a serious matter taking something to trial,” Hymanson
said. “A client has placed faith and trust in you. You are taking
up valuable judicial resources, and if it’s in front of a jury, you
Photography by Eric Jamison/Studio J Inc.
April 2012 Attorney at Law Magazine® Greater Las Vegas | 13

Photography by Eric Jamison/Studio J Inc.
Phil Hymanson and Mark Ferrario stand on the rooftop of Greenberg Traurig’s Las Vegas office on Howard Hughes Parkway. The two attorneys are also on top of the
litigation team’s successful track record with their unique, combined leadership style and their experience in the Silver State legal community since the 1980s. Both are
proud to call Nevada their home. Under Mark and Phil’s strength and guidance, the Las Vegas litigation practice offers firsthand experience and wide-ranging resources
to protect clients’ interests in virtually every area of litigation.
have a group of people in the community who are hopefully
going to devote their time and attention and take it seriously.
You better have some passion going in there.”
The clients turning to Greenberg Traurig are often dealing
with legal issues that could bring their business down if the case
isn’t handled properly. Ferrario says collaboration is key when
working with clients, but don’t expect him to sugarcoat anything.
“We have our honesty and integrity and that has served us
well,” Ferrario said. “But clients coming in here looking for a
cheerleader won’t find any pom poms or megaphones. If you
want it straight and you want people to treat you with respect
and treat you like adults, you’re in the right place.”
Another crucial component, Hymanson points out, is trust.
Sometimes, that means clients have to give up a little control,
trust their attorney, and adhere to their advice.
community, you’re not going to be a good lawyer. It’s an overall
package. Without balance it doesn’t work.”
Hymanson has been married to his wife, Patty, for 30 years.
The pair has two grown sons. Tyler is a film producer, and Hank
is a former UCLA researcher and Huntington Beach lifeguard
who is currently attending law school.
Ferrario spends his free time with his wife Tina and four
daughters, Mia, Jessica, Julia and Jillian. Mia is in second
grade. Jessica is a middle school counselor and Julia is attending
nursing school. Jillian is attending law school in California.
“The reality is, with the work that we do, you can get lost in
it,” Ferrario said. “It’s nice to have somebody at home reminding
you there’s still something else out there.”
Keeping the Balance
An important part of practicing law is knowing when to call
it a day. Although late nights and weekends are an occasional
necessity, a good lawyer maintains a healthy balance.
“That’s something we both understand,” Hymanson said.
“At the end of the day the practice of law is just that. If you
don’t have some sense of family or outside involvement in the
3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 400 North
Las Vegas, NV 89169
T 702.792.3773 F 702.792.9002
www.gtlaw.com
14 | Attorney at Law Magazine Greater Las Vegas ® April 2012