Las Vegas Attorney Biography John Wright

Construction & Real Estate Litigation | Contractor License & Disciplinary Defense

John Henry Wright, Esq. – Veteran Nevada Trial Attorney

For over 35 years, John Henry Wright has delivered aggressive, strategic courtroom representation for the Nevada construction and real estate industries. Based in Las Vegas, Mr. Wright defends contractors facing regulatory actions, handles complex real estate litigation, and resolves high-stakes commercial and residential construction disputes.

He holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell in both Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense—the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Whether you are a local developer navigating a complex dispute or an out-of-state contractor seeking Nevada licensure, Mr. Wright brings the seasoned trial experience needed to protect your business.

Core Areas of Practice

NSCB & Regulatory Defense: Defending prime contractors, subcontractors, and developers against licensing issues, investigations, and disciplinary actions before the Nevada State Contractors Board.
Out-of-State Contractor Licensure: Frequently retained by out-of-state corporate counsel to guide major regional and national contractors through the complex Nevada licensing and compliance process.
Chapter 40 Defense: Defending residential and commercial contractors, developers, and subcontractors against costly Chapter 40 construction defect claims.
Mechanic’s Liens & Contract Disputes: Efficiently filing, perfecting, and foreclosing on mechanic’s liens for primes, subs, and vendors, as well as resolving high-stakes breach of contract and change-order conflicts.
Quiet Title & HOA Litigation: A recognized authority on Nevada HOA matters, having litigated over 100 quiet title and HOA super-priority lien cases, including arguing landmark precedent before the Nevada Supreme Court.
HOA Redemptions for Homeowners: Assisting Nevada homeowners in navigating complex HOA foreclosures, statutory redemption rights, and recovering wrongfully foreclosed properties.
Real Estate & Property Disputes: Litigating prescriptive easement and boundary disputes, commercial lease conflicts, and failure-to-disclose construction defect lawsuits.
Contractor Criminal Defense: Defending individuals and businesses against criminal charges unique to the industry, including contracting without a license, fraud, and safety violations.

A Foundation Built in the Courtroom

Mr. Wright began his legal career clerking for the criminal motions division in Honolulu before launching a solo criminal defense practice. Handling serious felony cases early in his career provided immediate, intense courtroom exposure. It instilled a trial philosophy he still uses today: out-prepare the opposition, expect the unexpected, and never underestimate an opponent.

He expanded his practice by taking over a government procurement litigation caseload, representing contractors in massive construction claims and wrongful contract terminations. This unique blend of intense criminal defense trial work and complex commercial litigation gave Mr. Wright a rare edge. He combines sharp, on-your-feet courtroom instincts with the discipline required to execute highly technical, detail-oriented construction cases on behalf of developers, owners, primes, subcontractors, and material vendors.

Appellate Leadership & Judicial Service

Other law firms and out-of-state counsel frequently retain Mr. Wright to handle complex appeals due to his deep knowledge of Nevada law. He has handled upwards of 150 cases before the Nevada Supreme Court, the Hawaii Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Beyond advocacy, Mr. Wright shapes the local legal landscape. He has presided over hundreds of cases as an arbitrator since 2001, served as a Short Trial Pro Tempore Judge in Clark County since 2007, and completed formal mediator training through the National Judicial College.

Bar Admissions

Nevada (All State and Federal Courts, 1996)
Hawaii (All State and Federal Courts, 1991)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1994)

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) – West Virginia University College of Law (1991)
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science – University of Hawaii at Manoa (1988)

Precedent-Setting State Supreme Court Cases

Wells Fargo Bank NA v. Radecki, 134 Nev. 619 (2018) – Landmark HOA foreclosure case litigated by Mr. Wright, establishing critical Nevada precedent regarding bidder knowledge and fairness in HOA foreclosure sales.
K&P Homes v. Christiana Trust, 133 Nev. 364 (2017) – Landmark HOA super-priority case litigated by Mr. Wright, defining the retroactive scope of judicial statutory interpretation in Nevada.
Fausto v. Sanchez-Flores, 137 Nev. Adv. Rep. 11 (2021) – Established Nevada precedent for the equitable tolling of statutes of limitations.
Finley v. City of Henderson, 135 Nev. 464 (2019) – Clarified the statutory treatment of multiple convictions in criminal record sealing cases.
State of Hawaii v. Hoey, 77 Haw. 17 (1994) – Landmark case strengthening speedy trial rules (amicus curiae).
For more information on appellate and judicial review experience [LINK]

Protect Your License, Your Business, and Your Property

Don’t let a contract dispute, Chapter 40 claim, or regulatory complaint jeopardize your company. Contact Las Vegas construction and real estate attorney John Henry Wright today.