Firm Overview
Experienced and Trusted
Schnitzer Johnson & Watson was formed in 1988 by combining experienced litigators from two diverse firms with extensive experience in complex litigation, insurance, real estate, commercial litigation, and consumer finance.
Over the years, SJW has helped shape the law in Nevada through its representation of clients in some of the largest and most complex legal matters tried in the state. We understand that results matter. SJW’s trial teams have obtained countless defense verdicts and dismissals over the years. Through sophisticated litigation planning and execution, our attorneys have mitigated millions of dollars in exposure in product liability, premises liability, and motor vehicle accident cases. Our intimate knowledge of Nevada law guarantees that insurers are receiving quick but sophisticated advice on insurance coverage issues. Our firm routinely serves as local counsel for prominent national law firms looking for a partner with deep roots here in Nevada. Over the past several decades, SJW’s representation of clients before the Nevada Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have secured significant appellate decisions for our clients and directly influenced Nevada precedent.
Meanwhile, our corporate attorneys have represented the interests of world-famous hotel casinos and nightclubs, fortune 500 companies, small business owners, and professionals such as doctors, architects, and contractors for decades with the goal of promoting their strategic interests without unnecessary litigation or expense. SJW offers legal services including entity formation, contract review and negotiation, regulatory compliance, professional liability and license defense, dispute resolution, and real estate transactions.
Best of Both Worlds
To provide seamless multi-jurisdictional representation, SJW partnered with the premier Arizona-based insurance boutique Christian, Dichter & Sluga, P.C. This alliance created a one-of-a-kind joint venture: Christian, Johnson, Sluga & Mushmeche (CJSM).
Through CJSM, we provide national and regional insurers with elite coverage and bad faith litigation defense. This unique structure allows Arizona and Nevada attorneys to combine their resources:
- Insurance & Bad Faith: Nevada-licensed attorneys advise insurers on good-faith claim practices and policy interpretation, seamlessly defending lawsuits in both state and federal courts.
- White-Collar & Financial Fraud: Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Dichter leads our defense of individuals and corporations facing complex governmental investigations into financial impropriety.
- Cross-Jurisdictional Defense: Nevada-based partners leverage the joint venture to defend clients in Arizona courts with the immediate backing of attorneys intimately familiar with that jurisdiction.
The partners at SJW and CJSM possess a combined legal and courtroom experience in excess of 250 years. Our attorneys are routinely called upon to instruct others in the profession and are consistently recognized by the industry's most credible rating publications. Our partners’ accolades include Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent status, perfect ratings on Avvo, and repeated recognition from Nevada Business Magazine Top Rank (formerly Nevada Legal Elite), Best Lawyers in America, and both Nevada and Arizona Super Lawyers. Attorney Doug Christian is a member of the American Bar Foundation Fellowship, an honor restricted to only one-third of 1% of all American lawyers.
