Backus • Carranza

View the profile as it appeared in Nevada Super Lawyers 2008 (PDF)

Leland Eugene Backus is a graduate of UCLA School of Law. He has been chief trial counsel or regional counsel in some of the largest complex cases in the country, from the MGM Grand Hotel fire litigation, in which he was appointed liaison counsel, to Agent Orange, asbestos, Dupont Plaza Hotel fire litigation, the Pepcon plant explosion, bone screw litigation, tobacco, diet drug and other medical complex litigation. He has developed the reputation of being the lawyer for “complex and ugly” litigation.

His law firm, Backus • Carranza, handles construction, professional liability, complex and insurance litigation and health care litigation and transactional matters. He represents hotels, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, design professionals, lawyers, physicians, hospitals, medical device manufacturers, product manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies.

Backus is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association in complex construction and commercial matters, and has been selected as panel chairman in many large-scale disputes.

He has authored several articles in the field of litigation and has lectured on an international basis. He has participated in several ABA survey publications on pharmaceuticals and medical device litigation issues. He has lectured locally on construction law, nationally at the SuperConference and the ABA, and internationally on products liability. Backus has also been extensively involved in assisting the Nevada Supreme Court in revising the rules of civil procedure and lecturing attorneys and judges statewide regarding rule changes.