Firm History

The law firm began in 1978 when Richard A. Wright completed a distinguished 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.  Then 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.

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 in 2006.  With twelve years in the Air Force Judge Advocate Corps, seven years as a Deputy Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and nine years of distinguished service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Nevada, Ms. Stanish brought tremendous criminal law experience to the firm.  The firm then became Wright Stanish & Winckler. Both Ms. Stanish and Ms. Winckler left the partnership and became of counsel to the firm in 2014-15.  After years of dedicated service to the firm and their clients, they have since retired from the practice of law.

In 2014, Russell E. Marsh joined the firm, 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.  Providing the foundation of this admirable legal career, Mr. Marsh graduated from Harvard Law School and served as law clerk to United States District Judge Lee P. Gagliardi in Manhattan.

The following year saw the addition to the firm of  Monti Jordana Levy.  After a stellar, awards-filled law school experience, Ms. Levy went on to a legal career providing top quality criminal defense in a variety of cases ranging from simple misdemeanors to capital murder. Ms. Levy began her legal career in 2002 and then opened her own firm in 2006, serving from 2006-2014 as managing partner of Bush & Levy, LLC, and then at this firm. Both the National Trial Lawyers and the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys have recognized her as a top criminal defense attorney.

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 both the federal and state courts recognize her as a certified court interpreter.

Mr. Stewart returned to the firm in 2017, again bringing to it extensive civil litigation and appellate experience.

Today the firm is stronger, with broader and deeper resources, than ever before in its remarkable 40-year history.