Firm History
The law firm of Wright Marsh & Levy has a long and distinguished history with strong ties and experience with the state and federal courts in Nevada. Many of its current and former lawyers held important government positions prior to or after their time with the firm. The law firm began in 1978 when Richard A. Wright completed his career as a federal prosecutor and joined with former United States Attorney V. DeVoe Heaton to form Heaton & Wright. The firm immediately made its mark in some of the most important criminal cases of that era.
Recognized as one of the preeminent criminal defense lawyers in Las Vegas, Mr. Wright continues to represent clients and handle cases the way he always has – putting their interests first and working hard to achieve the best outcome. Mr. Wright has done cases and trials in the most important areas of criminal law in Nevada, from organized crime, public corruption, federal taxation and other white-collar matters, to developing a nationally known specialty in criminal gaming law. At the same time, he and the firm represent clients in all types of criminal cases in state and federal court, from routine assaults and DUI cases to homicides to theft and embezzlement matters. Mr. Wright, among other professional accolades and honors, is a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
In 1981, Monte Neil Stewart left Gibson Dunn & Crutcher to join the firm, bringing to it strong capabilities in civil litigation and appellate work. After Mr. Heaton’s untimely death, the firm became Wright & Stewart and continued under that name until 1992, when Mr. Stewart left to serve as the United States Attorney in Nevada. Mr. Stewart returned to the firm in 2017, practicing primarily civil litigation and appellate advocacy, He has since retired from practicing law with the firm.
In 1987, Karen C. Winckler, after serving as law clerk to United States District Court Judge Philip Pro, brought her passion for criminal defense work to the firm. Margaret M. Stanish followed fin 2006 from the U.S Attorney’s Office, where she had served as a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Division. With twelve years in the Air Force Judge Advocate Corps, and seven years as a Deputy Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Ms. Stanish brought a wealth of criminal law experience to the firm. When Ms. Stanish joined the firm, it became Wright Stanish & Winckler. Both Ms. Stanish and Ms. Winckler left the partnership and became of counsel to the firm in 2014.
Mariteresa Rivera-Rogers brought additional depth and breadth to the firm, joining in 2011 after years of experience in the criminal justice system as a Deputy Public Defender and at her own firm, Evans & Rivera-Rogers. She is fluent in Spanish, and has been a certified court interpreter, serving in the Clark County courts for many years. A leader in the Las Vegas legal community, and one of the first graduates from UNLV Boyd Law School, Ms Rivera Rogers served as President of the Clark County Bar Association in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic.
In 2014, Russell E. Marsh joined the firm as Managing Partner, bringing with him a remarkable breadth and depth of experience in the criminal justice system. The previous year, Mr. Marsh had completed thirteen years of service as a highly respected Assistant U.S. Attorney, the last six as the Criminal Chief in the District of Nevada. Before that he had served as Assistant Corporate Counsel for the City of Chicago, as a law professor, and in other positions in government service and private practice. Mr. Marsh was a law clerk to United States District Judge Lee P. Gagliardi in the Southern District of New York after graduating from Harvard Law School. Building on his experience, Mr. Marsh often handles white collar matters, including representing providers and companies in health care fraud cases and investigations. His recent work has often involved jurisdictions around the country. Mr. Marsh prides himself in being able to take on matters from the beginning of an investigation through any court proceedings, always looking for the best results for the firm’s clients.
The following year, Monti Jordana Levy joined the firm. Ms. Levy provides top quality criminal defense in a variety of cases ranging from drug and sex crimes to capital murder. After earning awards for advocacy and writing in law school, Ms. Levy began her legal career in 2002 and then opened her own firm in 2006. serving as managing partner of Bush & Levy, LLC, from 2006-2014, when she joined this firm. Both the National Trial Lawyers and the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys have recognized her as a top criminal defense attorney. Her current and former clients appreciate the thoughtfulness, toughness and tenacity she brings to each representation.
In 2018, Sunethra Muralidhara joined the firm from the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Las Vegas and brought a breadth of federal criminal defense experience and zealous advocacy for her clients, particularly in the area of federal sentencing. After six years with the firm, including a month-long federal trial, Ms. Muralidhara left Wright Marsh & Levy to start her own practice in Puerto Rico.
Monique A. McNeill joined the firm in 2015. One of the most respected members of the local criminal bar, Ms. McNeill brings extensive experience in handling some of the most serious crimes, including capital murders and other homicides, as well as expertise in post-conviction work. Ms. McNeill was named Nevada Defender of the Year in 2023, following a string of acquittals in two murder trials. With this background and reputation, Ms. McNeill brings both thoughtful counsel and a wealth of courtroom experience to each client she takes on.
The lawyers at Wright Marsh & Levy have retained strong ties to Nevada and the Las Vegas legal community. As part of their duty to the profession, attorneys at the firm have served in positions with State and County Bar Associations and the Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice. Wright Marsh & Levy attorneys have been on the Bar Disciplinary Panel in Southern Nevada, the Nevada Sentencing Commission, and served on local rules subcommittees and as Lawyer Representatives for the federal district court. All the firm’s attorneys regularly work on appointed criminal cases in state and federal court.
Since the founding of the firm, Richard Wright and its other lawyers have worked together to assist clients of all types, from major companies and well-known individuals to indigent appointed defendants. Today the firm is stronger, with broader and deeper resources, than ever before in its remarkable almost 50-year history.