Steven E. Tackes

---

Practice Highlights:

Steven E. Tackes is a Partner of the firm and practices primarily in estate planning and probate, as well as in the areas of aviation and technology law, and related administrative law.

Steve is Chair of the firm’s Probate and Estate Planning Division, which excels in assisting clients statewide in the areas of estate planning, trusts, wills, and probate. Steve has honed these skills via active practice in this area for over 35 years. Steve has drafted and reviewed thousands of estate planning documents for a myriad of client needs. He has appeared in nearly every judicial district of Nevada and has litigated probated and estate matters internationally. He is widely respected for his competence, common sense and efficiency. Steve monitors or participates in all legislative changes to Nevada law in this practice area. Steve has been court-qualified as an expert witness on matters of probate and administration of estates and trusts. Steve holds an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest professional excellence rating.

Steve, a long time pilot, leads the firm’s aviation law services, providing strategy and legal services in the areas of airport operations, airport funding, airspace, unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS” or “drones”), and autonomous vehicles. With a background in physics and technology, and years of experience working in the aviation field, Steve is ideally suited to assist clients with navigating regulatory matters in achieving success. Steve is a frequent speaker on aviation issues and advises airports state-wide on FAA funding and compliance matters.

Steve firmly believes that every goal and every problem has many solutions.

---

Community:

Steve teaches free estate planning classes in conjunction with PBS Reno, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, and various other non-profit outreach entities.  Steve was a founding director of the Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Foundation Board, which raised funds to build the Cancer Tahoe Cancer Center, the region’s premier cancer diagnosis and treatment center. Steve has served as a part-time emergency medical services instructor at Western Nevada College.  Steve is past chairman of the Carson City Airport Authority and currently serves as counsel to the Authority as well as counsel to the Nevada Airports Association. Due to his extensive experience in airport procedures, Steve is a regular speaker at aviation seminars and is conversant in FAA regulations and airport operations.

A proud parent, Steve takes an active role in the lives of his amazingly talented children.

---

Accomplishments:

Steve is a member of the Nevada State Bar, Arizona State Bar, Washoe County Bar, First Judicial Bar Association and the Nevada State Bar Probate and Estate Planning Section. He is an active member of the Probate Bar’s Legislative Committee.   Steve is a licensed and instrument-rated pilot, a former state certified emergency medical technician (EMT), and state certified EMT instructor, as well as a longtime ski instructor and snowboard instructor. Steve holds a WTF Taekwondo black belt certified by the Kukkiwon. He is certified by the United States TaeKwonDo Union and USA Taekwondo Association as a tournament referee and a national coach, in addition to serving as counsel and a senior instructor for Grand Master Chi Duong, Chi Kwan Tae Kwon Do.  Steve coached two national competitors at the US Junior Olympics- Tae Kwon Do.

Steve is certified as an Arbitrator in the Court-Mandated Alternative Dispute Resolution, and has served as a Court appointed Arbitrator in the First, Second and Ninth Judicial District Courts since the program was founded in 1992. He is also certified by the Nevada Supreme Court and the Nevada State Bar as an Attorney Mentor in the State Bar program to mentor new attorneys on ethical and practical aspects of the practice of law.

• Best Lawyers in America® in Energy Law - 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Best Lawyers in America® Administrative/Regulatory Law Lawyer of the Year - 2017
• Best Lawyers in America® in Administrative/Regulatory Law - 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Best Lawyers in America® Utilities Law 2021, 2022, 2023
• Best Lawyers in America® Trusts and Estates 2023
• American Lawyer and Corporate Council Magazine Top Rated Lawyers in in Business and Commercial Law – 2013
• Martindale-Hubbell rating: AV

---

Education:

J.D. Arizona State University, 1980
B.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1976

---

Bar Admission:

Arizona 1980
Nevada 1981