David Avakian

Partner

David.Avakian@lewisbrisbois.com

David Avakian is a Partner in the Las Vegas office of Lewis Brisbois and Vice-Chair of the Transportation Practice. Mr. Avakian is also a member of the General Liability, Hospitality, Commercial Litigation and Products Liability Practices. Mr. Avakian is a graduate of Tulane University (cum laude) and UNLV’s Williams S. Boyd School of Law (cum laude). He has successfully defended commercial transportation clients for 15 years in both state and federal courts. David is the primary contact for the Las Vegas 24/7 first response investigation team and has investigated dozens of high profile and catastrophic trucking accidents. David has also handled hundreds of transportation cases for some of the nation’s largest commercial carriers, including transit companies, limousine services, taxi services, tire manufactures and commercial trucking clients. In addition, David routinely teaches continuing education classes for National Business Institute on personal injury, product defect, premises liability and transportation cases. Mr. Avakian has also handled a number of staged auto accident investigations, which have become a growing problem nationwide. Understanding the hallmarks and red flags of a staged accident is critical to the investigation and handling of the claim.

Mr. Avakian obtained a complete defense verdict on behalf of a bus company and its operator during a jury trial in which the plaintiff was claiming multiple surgeries as a result of a hard stop. The bus company was awarded nearly $100,000 in attorney fees and costs following the trial. Mr. Avakian also defended a Las Vegas nightclub and obtained a complete defense verdict in a premises liability case in which Plaintiff sought in excess of $3,000,000 in damages at trial. The verdict was later affirmed on appeal. 

Mr. Avakian also handles general liability and commercial litigation cases for a wide variety of national and local casino and commercial clients. He routinely handles claims of negligent security against hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. Mr. Avakian also maintains a diverse product liability practice, representing a number of nationwide manufacturers of valves, tires, barbeque grills, brakes and vehicle component parts.

Mr. Avakian routinely handles all facets of labor and employment matters for a wide variety of clients.  Further, Mr. Avakian counsels clients on employments issues and all pre-litigation matters before the EEOC and NERC. He has successfully mediated and arbitrated hundreds of cases during his career. He has been named to the Mountain States Super Lawyers for the last five years and is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Nevada, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

In his spare time, Mr. Avakian enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids. He also enjoys playing golf, the beach and skiing.

Primary Area(s) of Practice

• General Liability
• Hospitality
• Transportation
• Complex Business & Commercial Litigation
• COVID-19: Commercial & Contractual Litigation Disputes
• Products Liability
• Labor & Employment

Admissions

Nevada

United States District Court – District of Nevada

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Awards & Honors

• Best Lawyers in America® - 'Best Lawyers' Commercial Litigation (2024)
• Legal Elite Corporate America 2015: Best for Hospitality Litigation
• Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2015
• CALI Award Evidence 2003, Trial Advocacy 2005; Scholastic Award Recipient 2004
• Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, 2003
• Clark County Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2005

Education

William S. Boyd School of Law

Juris Doctor, cum laude, 2005

Tulane University

Bachelor of Arts, cum laude