Richard J. Pocker

Administrative Partner
Las Vegas

t: 702 382 7300
f: 702 382 2755

rpocker@bsfllp.com

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Area of Practice

Litigation

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1980; Jefferson Literary and Debating Society

University of Virginia, B.A. , with highest distinction, Economics, 1977; Phi Beta Kappa; Walter L. Smith Citizen Soldier Award; Distinguished Military Graduate; Jefferson Literary and Debating Society; U.S. Army R.O.T.C.

Admissions

Ohio, California, Nevada, and Arizona

United States Courts of Appeals: Ninth Circuit

United States District Courts: Districts of Nevada and Arizona

Richard J. Pocker specializes in civil and criminal litigation, and employment law.

From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Pocker was a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He served with the Seventh Infantry Division, at Fort Ord. In 1985, Mr. Pocker began serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Nevada. In 1989, he received two promotions in the District of Nevada, first to Chief Assistant United States Attorney, and then to United States Attorney, a position he held until late 1990. After his tenure in the United States Attorney's Office, Mr. Pocker entered private practice. From 1991 to 2005, he was a partner in the Las Vegas firm of Dickerson, Dickerson, Consul and Pocker.

As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Pocker was recognized for his success and accomplishments. In June 1988, Mr. Pocker received the Chief Postal Inspector's Special Award for Excellence of Performance in the Administration of Justice. In October of that year, he received the Director's Special Commendation Award from the United States Department of Justice. In April, 1989, Mr. Pocker received the Award for Outstanding Support in Diplomatic Security Service from the United States Department of State. In 1996, Mr. Pocker returned briefly to public service from private practice, serving as Chief Counsel to the Select Subcommittee on the United States' Role in the Iranian Arms Transfers to Croatia and Bosnia, a subcommittee of the International Relations Committee of the United States House of Representatives, chaired by the Honorable Henry Hyde of Illinois.

From 1993 to 2002, Mr. Pocker served on the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of Nevada. From 1999 to 2002, he was the Chairman of the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Pocker was a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Nevada Test Site. Since 2004, he has served as a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative for the District of Nevada, and for the coming year will serve as Co-Chair of the Nevada Delegation. He is also a member of the National Association of Former United States Attorneys, the Seventh Infantry Division Association and the Theodore Roosevelt Association. In 2006, he was honored as a Patron of the Nevada Law Foundation, an organization dedicated to the provision of legal services to the indigent.

Selected Professional Awards and Associations

Federal Bar Association
Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative for Disrict of Nevada (2004-present)
Nevada State Bar
Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board (1993-2002)
National Association of Former United States Attorneys
Master, Nevada Howard McKibben Inn of Court

Selected Publications and Presentations

Will This New Iran Bring Peace to Bosnia?, Los Angeles Times (June 28, 1998)

Firm Newsletter: Winter 2010 (02.17.2010)

BS&F Wins Appellate Reversal of District Court’s Reduction of Jury’s Punitive Damages Award (Winter 2010)

Two BS&F Attorneys Named 2009 Mountain States Super Lawyers (2009 Mountain States Super Lawyers)

Firm Report: January 2008 (Vol. 3, Issue I) (01.22.2008)

BS&F Wins Jury Trial in Las Vegas Federal Court (December 15, 2007)

Government Service

Chief Counsel, United States House of Representatives' Select Subcommittee of United States House International Relations Comittee on Iranian Arms Transfers to Bosnia and Croatia, 1996
United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada, 1989-1990
Chief Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada, 1989
Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada, 1985-198
U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps., Seventh Infantry Division, 1981-1985