Bud Hicks is one of Nevada’s most experienced gaming law practitioners. Although now serving in a consulting role as Senior Counsel at his law firm of many years, McDonald Carano, his primary areas of practice during his work as a full-time practicing attorney revolved around the gaming industry and related corporate, litigation, and transactional matters. His client list included many of Nevada’s well-known resort gaming operators, gaming equipment suppliers, and Nevada’s largest Native American gaming operation. During his time in practice, he represented numerous publicly traded gaming companies and their controlling persons, as well as many privately owned gaming establishments and their owners on gaming matters within the State of Nevada and in other jurisdictions. Additionally, he frequently consulted on gaming matters for major investment banking firms and commercial lenders and served as Nevada counsel on large transactional matters and related financings to companies involved in the gaming industry. Mr. Hicks assisted lenders with licensing issues relating to enforcement of security interests in licensed gaming companies and properties, including the imposition of receivers over gaming operations. Although based in Reno, he also continues to work out of McDonald Carano’s Las Vegas office when necessary.During his earlier years in practice, Mr. Hicks served as an expert witness on gaming law matters, published numerous articles on gaming issues, and testified before the U.S. Congress and the Nevada State Legislature on gaming matters. He served as Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Nevada and the Nevada Gaming Commission in a landmark case that rid Nevada of the last vestiges of organized criminal involvement in Las Vegas’ gaming industry. Mr. Hicks currently serves as Chairman of the Gaming Compliance Committee for Caesars Entertainment, Inc., one of America's largest gaming corporations, since July 2020, and he formerly served in similar roles for various other publicly traded gaming companies.Mr. Hicks served as the Presidential appointee to the Governing Board of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency ("TRPA") from 2017-2023. Formed in 1969 by a Compact between the States of Nevada and California, the TRPA was formed to protect and restore the environment of Lake Tahoe.Specialties: Gaming & Administrative Law; Business Entities & Transactions; Creditor's Rights & Bankruptcy involving licensed gaming companies; Government Affairs & Advocacy