It took top bankruptcy attorney and recent MAC Law hire Zachariah Larson no time at all to achieve the nation’s highest ranking from his peers.

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rankings recently honored Larson with their preeminent “AV” ranking – a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.

This ultimate ranking from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the recognized authority on the legal profession, was bestowed upon Larson in his first months of eligibility and indicate his high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary.

Larson, a rising star in the legal profession and one of the nation’s top bankruptcy attorneys, said he was honored by the ranking that now places him in the upper echelon among America’s most trusted lawyers.

“I’m humbled and thrilled to be thought of so highly by my peers,” said Larson. “The folks at MAC Law believed in me and have given me the tools I need to excel, and I’m personally so proud of this achievement.”

Larson’s “AV” ranking is indicative overall of the quality of legal representation and commitment to clients that have always been the hallmarks of MAC Law, itself ranked as an “AV” firm by Martindale-Hubbell.

“As trusted counselors, MAC Law only makes the best possible additions to our team,” said firm Managing Partner Terry Coffing. “While we congratulate Zach for his achievement, we’re not surprised that his peers have bestowed this ultimate ranking upon him. In fact, his sterling work and impeccable reputation were chief reasons why we brought him on board at MAC Law. We know Zach will continue to achieve stunning achievements in the future, and we’re so proud to have him as a member of the MAC Law family.”

Larson's years of experience representing clientele from land developers to commercial businesses to startup companies has cemented his reputation as one of the nation's most trusted attorneys in bankruptcy matters, having achieved the elite AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, as well as having been recognized by Nevada Business Magazine as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern Nevada in 2011, a Mountain States Super Lawyer 2011, a Mountain States Rising Star 2010, a Mountain States Rising Star 2009, and one of Nevada Rising Stars in 2008.

A member in excellent standing with the State Bar of Nevada since 2001, Mr. Larson also served as President of the Clark County Bar Association from January 2011 to December 2011, in addition to numerous CCBA and Clark County Law Foundation committees, including Trial By Peers, New Attorneys, and Community Service.

He is currently a member of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates and a Life Fellow with the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. He is a past member and former instructor for the State Bar of Nevada's Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee.

About MAC Law: The law firm of Marquis Aurbach Coffing has earned a reputation for superior service, integrity and commitment. Established in 1979, the firm provides a broad range of services, with an emphasis on litigation, real estate, business transactions, construction law​ and asset protection.

Marquis Aurbach Coffing has the highest ranking available – "AV- Rating" – according to Martindale-Hubbell, the recognized authority on the legal profession. This rating recognizes Marquis Aurbach Coffing as having "very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards."

LAS VEGAS – U.S. News & World Report has named the Las Vegas powerhouse firm of Marquis Aurbach Coffing as one of the nation’s top firms in both corporate and real estate law.

The honor, officially titled “U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers – Best Law Firms” recognizes the firm for its excellence in its so-called Tier 2 covering Las Vegas firms that practice corporate and real estate law.

But nationwide honors are nothing new for Marquis Aurbach Coffing, which now goes by the moniker MAC Law. The firm already enjoys the highest ranking a firm can achieve – the preeminent "AV- Rating" – according to Martindale-Hubbell, the recognized authority on the legal profession.

Firm managing partner Terry Coffing said, “We are honored by this esteemed commendation. This recognition is further evidence that MAC Law has earned a reputation for superior service, integrity and commitment."

MAC Law's newest associate Shara Larson spends most of her time working in consumer and business bankruptcies, representing debtors. In particular, Mrs. Larson handles Chapter 11 bankruptcies for both individuals and business entities. Mrs. Larson also has significant experience in guardianship and family law. Prior to switching her practice focus to bankruptcy, Mrs. Larson primarily handled commercial litigation matters and medical malpractice defense.

Mrs. Larson was born in Willoughby, Ohio, a suburb east of Cleveland. Her family moved to Pittsburgh where she attended high school. Mrs. Larson received her bachelor of arts, cum laude, from Syracuse University in 1998. In 2001, Mrs. Larson received her juris doctorate, cum laude, from Pepperdine University, School of Law. At Pepperdine, Mrs. Larson was a member of the Honors Trial team. She won first place for best brief in the school's Appellate Advocacy Tournament and first place in Pepperdine's Trial Advocacy Tournament.

Read Shara Larson's Full Attorney Profile...

A sad, stark reminder of the state of the economy is that business bankruptcy remains one of the fastest-growing areas of the law. Across Southern Nevada, record numbers of firms that have long been fixtures in the economic bedrock have stumbled and failed under the relentless pressure of a crushing recession.

Thankfully, Las Vegas powerhouse firm Marquis Aurbach Coffing has expanded its ability to help business owners facing the specter of financial ruin by hiring one of the top bankruptcy attorneys in the American West.

Zachariah Larson, a seasoned veteran bankruptcy attorney, former President of the Clark County Bar Association and founder of Las Vegas-based firm Larson & Larson, has joined Marquis Aurbach Coffing, where he's now helping business owners to reorganize their operations and avoid bankruptcy altogether. Part strategist, part lawyer and part counselor, Larson is an experienced hand at advising owners of any size company – whether it's a handful of employees or a workforce of hundreds – on how to keep their doors open while protecting business owners' homes and other private assets.

"Being prepared doesn't cost very much, and it's crucial for business owners to know their options as early as possible," says Larson.

Having a firm grasp on their financial options might very well have saved many larger local businesses that have filed for bankruptcy this year – a growing trend, says Larson, with little sign of abating in the foreseeable future.

"One troubling aspect of business bankruptcies, frankly, is they're getting bigger," Larson says. "The bigger guys seem to be failing because they're out of cash, and you can't help but wonder what you could have done to help them do things differently if only you had gotten to them earlier."

For those companies searching for a way out of persistent financial hardship and possible bankruptcy, however, Larson and his colleagues at Marquis Aurbach Coffing – which goes by the new moniker MAC Law – provide help that is both readily available and surprisingly affordable. Larson says if businesses begin the process early enough, they can ensure their firms are ones that will weather the ongoing financial storm and eventually be able to re-emerge – all because they took the time to plan while reorganization was still an option.

"The cost of an initial consultation is ridiculously small and is often far cheaper than the amount most businesses spend each month on office supplies such as printer ink cartridges," says Larson. "It just doesn't really cost very much to learn what all of your options are. If you wait too long, however, you're no longer a candidate for reorganization; you become a candidate for liquidation."

Larson's addition to the fast-growing MAC Law team is another reason the firm remains one of the top five in Southern Nevada.

"As trusted advisers and counselors, MAC Law has again positioned itself among the elite firms in the state," says firm Managing Partner Terry Coffing. "Whether it be asset protection, dispute resolution, litigation or, in this case, bankruptcy protection, MAC Law remains committed to providing teams of trusted advocates who work tirelessly for our clients across the country."

“More importantly, for local homebuilders, whose sweat and risk helped transform this city over the past decade, this new law will clarify and further protect guarantors,” said Flansburg. “In ‘sweetheart’ deals with the federal government, some national homebuilders have created private equity firms to purchase local entrepreneurs’ debt and property at distressed values at the expense of Nevada borrowers and their families.”

Flansburg said despite the steeply discounted acquisitions, note-buyers have foreclosed on properties and then sued for the full balance. “Putting an end to this double-dipping at the expense of our local developers, AB273 prohibits note-buyers from recovering the face value of the note and are restricted to the amount they paid for the note,” said Flansburg. “That means federally sponsored national homebuilders cannot profit at the expense of those Nevadans who had the courage to place their own personal assets at risk while transforming our city.”

Finally, Flansburg added, the new law will also prevent lenders from running an end-around the existing law by only suing the guarantors for full value of the debt by requiring the court to give the guarantors credit for the fair market value of the property securing the debt. While AB273 adds and clarifies very important protections for local homebuilders, it is likely to be challenged.

“Notwithstanding our State’s foresight to protect our own citizens, these federally sponsored private equity groups are already mounting challenges to our State’s laws, claiming that federal law trumps Nevada law on these issues,” said Flansburg. “In other words, these federally sponsored venture capitalists are challenging Nevada law in court on the basis that the federal government knows better than our local lawmakers. Our governor and legislature should rest assured that our local developers will fight to ensure that Nevadans are protected by Nevada law drafted by Nevadans.”

AB273 was enrolled and delivered to the Governor for signature on June 3, 2011.

     Las Vegas, Nev. – Mary Drury, a shareholder at Marquis & Aurbach who heads the transactions department, has been recognized as a leader in the field of real estate by Chambers and Partners. Chambers and Partners is an organization that surveys and researches attorneys and law firms worldwide. Their team of more than a hundred qualified researchers is known for identifying and ranking the world’s top lawyers, doing so in an objective way using in depth methodologies.

     Their research, which the organization is reputable for, found Drury to be an exceptional leader and an asset to law.   

     Drury was recognized by Chamber and Partners for her real estate and commercial practices. They mentioned Drury was recommended by her peers for her “intelligent approach to transactions.”