Governor Joe Lombardo has tapped longtime Las Vegas criminal defense and commercial litigator Richard Schonfeld for a seat on the Nevada Gaming Commission, putting a familiar courtroom name on one of the most powerful regulatory panels in the state. Schonfeld’s four-year term starts April 28, and he is expected to sit in on the commission’s May 21 meeting. He joins the five-member body that issues final decisions on licensing, regulatory questions and disciplinary cases in Nevada’s gaming industry.
Schonfeld’s Resume And Courtroom Chops
Richard A. Schonfeld is a partner at Chesnoff & Schonfeld and has practiced law in Nevada for more than two decades. He earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law in 1998, was admitted to the Nevada bar that same year and became a named partner in 2005 after clerking at the Law Offices of Goodman & Chesnoff. His firm biography lists criminal adjudication, complex civil litigation and entertainment-law work among his specialties, and notes that he serves as outside litigation counsel to several Las Vegas businesses as part of his practice, according to RichSchonfeld.com.
Known For High-Profile Defense Work
Schonfeld has logged time on defense teams in cases that drew intense local attention, including representation in the Henry Ruggs matter and other headline-grabbing criminal and civil proceedings. The firm he co-runs with David Chesnoff has a long history of representing athletes, entertainers and public figures in Nevada courts. As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Schonfeld’s practice spans both criminal defense and complex commercial litigation, a combination that translates neatly to the high-stakes disputes that sometimes land in front of the gaming regulators.
What The Commission Job Entails
The Nevada Gaming Commission issues the final word on casino licenses, regulatory policy and disciplinary matters that can affect properties up and down the Strip and across the state. Appointees routinely handle contentious, high-dollar cases where every decision is closely watched by operators, investors and regulators alike. Gov. Lombardo said Schonfeld “brings decades of legal experience and a strong understanding of Nevada’s business community” in announcing the appointment, which fills the seat vacated by Commissioner Rosa Solis-Rainey.
The appointment was reported by local station FOX5 Las Vegas, and the commission’s published 2026 meeting schedule lists an NGC session on May 21 where new commissioners typically make their first appearance, according to the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Ethics And Conflicts To Watch
Because commissioners sit in judgment on licenses and enforcement actions, they are bound by Nevada’s ethics laws and are expected to steer clear of private interests that conflict with their public roles. The Nevada Commission on Ethics manual outlines disclosure requirements, opinion requests and recusal procedures that apply to public officers and sets the ground rules for dealing with potential conflicts. Schonfeld’s firm notes work for entertainment companies and restaurant-management organizations, which could trigger disclosures or recusals if a case involves a current or former client, according to RichSchonfeld.com and the Nevada Commission on Ethics.
What’s Next
Schonfeld’s four-year term officially begins April 28, and his first formal appearance at the Nevada Gaming Commission is expected to be at the May 21 session on the calendar, where licensing reviews and settlements are typically handled. Schonfeld said he was “honored to be appointed” and looks forward to contributing to the commission’s work, according to his statement reported by CDC Gaming. The public meeting schedule remains posted on the commission’s site for anyone who wants to follow along as the newest commissioner takes his seat.
