Free
Member Since 2023
Free
2023
Doreen Hartwell
Professional Biography
Doreen Spears Hartwell co-founded Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. in 2014 with Laura Thalacker, a friend and accomplished attorney with whom she worked for over 14 years at Nevada’s then-largest law firm. Doreen has practiced in the area of business and commercial litigation in Nevada since 2000. Her litigation practice includes employment law, trade secret and non-compete claims, real estate, trust and probate matters, and a wide range of other business-related disputes. Doreen has successfully defended employers in cases involving wrongful termination, breach of contract, and discrimination and/or harassment in violation of Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, and state employment statutes. She also has substantial experience in successfully bringing breach of contract, trade secret, non-compete, and trust and probate claims on behalf of her clients.
In 2021, Doreen was named to Lawdragon’s list of 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers. She is listed in both Best Lawyers in America (Las Vegas)® and Mountain States Super Lawyers for Commercial Litigation. Doreen, who has an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, has also been recognized by her peers as one of Nevada’s Legal Elite® since 2012.
Doreen is the chairperson of the Pro Bono Advisory Council for the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN) (https://www.lacsn.org). She was appointed to the Nevada Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission in February 2014 and remains a member of the commission today. As one of the founding members of Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd., Doreen remains committed to providing pro bono legal services to deserving individuals through the LACSN. Doreen has received various awards for her pro bono work, including the 2014 “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year” Award from the LACSN, 2008 Attorney of the Year from the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association, 2008 Bank of America Local Hero Award, 2005 Judge Sally Loehrer Pro Bono Service Award, and 2001 Myrna Williams Children’s Pro Bono Award.
Since 2004, Doreen has served as a supervising attorney for the Clark County Law Foundation’s Trial by Peers Program (TBP). TBP is a juvenile diversion program where students prosecute or defend students accused of misdemeanor offenses in the courtroom before actual judges and juries of their peers. TBP is an excellent program with a 25+ year history and has served as a model for juvenile diversion programs around the country (https://www.clarkcountylawfoundation.org/trial-by-peers/).
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About Hartwell Thalacker, LTD.
We are dedicated, client-focused lawyers who serve as trusted advisors and advocates for companies in human resources, employment law, and business litigation matters. Our personal approach to client service emphasizes listening closely to clients to understand their goals and working collaboratively to achieve excellent legal results in an efficient and affordable manner.
Laura Thalacker and Doreen Spears Hartwell joined together in 2014 to form the management-side employment law and business litigation law firm of Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. Prior to founding Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd., Laura and Doreen worked together for nearly 15 years, first as associates and then as partners, in the Litigation Department of Nevada’s then-largest law firm.
With over 50 years of combined legal experience, Laura and Doreen provide exceptional legal services to their clients in Southern Nevada and beyond. Since 2016, Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. has achieved Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” rankings in Las Vegas by Best Lawyers in America. The Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association honored Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. as its 2016 “Law Firm of the Year.” Both Laura and Doreen are rated “AV Preeminent” in Martindale-Hubbell® based on peer ratings and have been individually named to Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.
Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. provides high-quality, cost-effective legal representation to businesses of all sizes in the practice areas of:
“We love what we do. You’ll love what we can do for your business.”
As a boutique employment law and business litigation firm, Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. is able to provide its clients with the individualized attention and care their matters deserve. The firm represents clients in a variety of industries, including gaming, hospitality, mining, healthcare, retail, construction, manufacturing, education, technology, and non-profit sectors.
Laura and Doreen take a hands-on, personal approach to their work, getting to know their clients and understanding the ins and outs of their businesses. They are pragmatic about litigation and pursue common-sense strategies and solutions for legal representation so that their clients can focus on growing and running their business instead of costly legal matters. Ask their clients, and you will learn that Laura and Doreen are trusted, invaluable advisors and advocates.
The firm is the exclusive Nevada member of the prestigious Worklaw Network, a group of independent law firms focusing on advising employers in labor and employment matters. Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. is also the exclusive Nevada member firm for Labor and Employment and Commercial Litigation with IR Global, a premier multi-disciplinary worldwide network that provides legal, accountancy, and financial services to companies and individuals around the globe. When client business interests and litigation extend beyond Nevada, these networks enable Hartwell Thalacker, Ltd. to work collaboratively with high-quality legal counsel and business professionals in other states and countries.
Community Leadership
Laura and Doreen have served in leadership positions in various Bar and community organizations and are well-known and respected in the legal community. They share a philosophy of fostering a firm culture that values diversity and the unique traits and skills that purpose-driven attorneys possess in providing clients with excellent representation, while also making a difference in their community.
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