Gary Schnitzer
Shareholder
Areas of Practice
(702) 222-4142
Gschnitzer@sjlawfirm.com
Practicing since 1980, Gary has concentrated his practice in transactional matters and litigation in the fields of real estate, commercial, mortgage lending, corporate law, employment law, cannabis law, and charter school law. Gary is rated “A.V.” by Martindale Hubbell. Gary has been named one of the “10 Most Prominent Real Estate Attorneys in Las Vegas” by the Las Vegas Business Press.[1] He has also been repeatedly invited by the Las Vegas Board of Realtors to lecture on legal topics and current issues. Gary has experience in handling matters before the Nevada Real Estate Division of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry and litigating claims arising out of Nevada Revised Statute Chapter 645 (“Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons”) and the associated Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 645.
Gary also represents small businesses and individuals regarding business formation, contract negotiation and drafting as well as litigation of business matters through mediation, arbitration, jury or bench trial. Gary’s goal is to avoid costly litigation if possible, but he has the successfully litigated matters when necessary. Gary’s litigation, compliance and regulatory practice includes representing national and community banks, mortgage lending institutions, loan servicers, hotels and casinos and real estate brokers in federal and state court litigation. Gary is the recipient of the AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rating™ by Martindale-Hubbell®.
Education
- Juris Doctorate, Southwestern University School of Law, Southwestern University
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Nevada
- United States District Court, District of Nevada.
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- United States Supreme Court
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Governance
- Real Estate Litigation and Transactions
Professional Activities & Affiliations
- Nevada State Bar Association
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice
Reported Cases
- Taft v. Steinberg, 97 Nev. 597, 637 P.2d 533 (1981)
- Piedmont Equipment Co. v. Eberhard, 99 Nev. 523, 665 P.2d 256 (1983)
- Portal Enterprises, Inc. v. Cahoon, 102 Nev. 107, 715 P.2d 1324 (1986)
- Mccourt v. J.C. Penney, 103 Nev. 101, 734 P.2d 696 (1987)
- Alsenz v. Twin Lakes, 843 P.2d 834 (Nev., 1992)
- Quirrion v. Sherman, 846 P.2d 1051 (Nev., 1993)
- Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Crawford, 855 P.2d 1024 (Nev., 1993)
- Barnes v. Zhang et. al., 2014 WL 5386901 (Nev.Dist.Ct.)
- Nationstar Mortg., LLC v. Rodriguez, 132 Nev. Adv. Rep. 55, 375 P.3d 1027 (2016)
- Zhang v. Barnes, No. 67219 (Nev.Sup.Ct., 2016) (Unpublished Opinion)
- Vanamann v. Nationstar Mortg, LLC, No. 17-15737 (9th Cir. 2018)
Representative Cases
- Gary Schnitzer received a defense verdict representing a client sued by a major real estate broker seeking a commission on a land transaction. Client was also awarded attorneys’ fees and costs exceeding $250,000.00.
- The 9th Circuit court of Appeals affirmed a federal district court order for summary judgment in favor of Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC in an action alleging a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s prohibition against obtaining a consumer credit report without a permissible purpose. The 9th Circuit held that Plaintiff was not entitled to damages as a matter of law. See Christopher Marino v. Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, No. 19-15530 (9th Cir. 2020).
- The 9th Circuit court of Appeals recently affirmed a federal district court order for summary judgment in favor of Nationstar Mortgage. The 9th Circuit held that Plaintiff was not entitled to damages as a matter of law. See Vanamann v. Nationstar Mortg, LLC, No. 17-15737 (9th Cir. 2018).
- Recent accomplishments include representing a guarantor in a $2.16 billion loan package; representing a lender in Nevada regarding a $550,000,000.00 loan package; representing a guarantor in a $100,000,000.00 loan package; receiving a defense verdict in defending a title company against a $5,000,000.00 breach of contract claim; successfully representing lenders and loan servicers against claims of fraud and other lender liability issues; and representing the seller in the sale of $50,000,000.00 business.
- Obtained a Nevada Supreme Court reversal of award against a loan servicer of nearly $250,000.00, including $100,000.00 sanction.
- Successfully received an Order of Affirmance from the Nevada Court of Appeals regarding a district court order of dismissal of a complaint in a contract and real estate action.