James W. Bradshaw

James W. Bradshaw was a fifth generation Nevadan, born and raised in Reno. He earned his J.D. from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1981 and, following a judicial clerkship in the Second Judicial District Court, joined the law firm of McDonald Carano in 1982, beginning a legal career that would span more than four decades in Nevada.

In 1986, Jim opened McDonald Carano's Las Vegas office and served as its Managing Partner before returning to the firm's Reno office in 1993. A respected litigator, he chaired the firm's Litigation Practice Group and mentored numerous litigation partners over the years. His service to the profession extended well beyond his practice: he served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada, on the Board of Trustees of the Nevada Bar Foundation, and as a member and Chair of the Northern Nevada Disciplinary Panel. Colleagues remembered him as a quiet yet effective leader, always a gentleman and a professional whose word could be trusted without need of documentation.

Beyond the law, Jim served his country in the Nevada Air National Guard and the United States Air Force. During Operation Desert Storm he flew reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines to photograph troop and artillery movement, service for which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1995 after 24 years in the USAF. James W. Bradshaw passed away on May 29, 2026.