Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce J. Brin Gibson has returned to the firm as a shareholder in the firm’s Las Vegas office. Gibson left Brownstein in 2020 when former Gov. Steve Sisolak appointed him to serve as chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, where he was responsible for regulating all aspects of the state’s gaming industry.
While at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Gibson led the state’s efforts to modernize its sports wagering regulations, post-PASPA. He also worked with board leadership to develop the state’s first cybersecurity regulations for the gaming industry. During Gibson’s tenure, private equity and tribal groups were among the more complex applicants he and the board assessed.
“We’re thrilled to have Brin back at Brownstein following his service as chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board,” said Brownstein Managing Partner Rich Benenson. “His leadership, impeccable reputation in Nevada and experience working in highly regulated industries are a huge value add for our clients.”
In addition to his time with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Gibson previously served as general counsel for Gov. Sisolak and staff of the Office of the Governor who relied on him as the chief legal counselor regarding ethics, transactional and legislative matters as well as protection of state interests in the gaming and cannabis industries. Prior to his work for Gov. Sisolak, Gibson served as chief of the Gaming Division for the Office of the Nevada Attorney General and for the latter part of his four-year term in the AG’s office, served as both chief of the Gaming Division and first assistant attorney general. Gibson also served two terms as a commissioner of the Colorado River Commission of Nevada.
“Brin’s experience puts him directly at the intersection of business, law and policy,” said Ellen Schulhofer, office managing partner of Brownstein’s Las Vegas office. “His broad experience and deep understanding of the business landscape in Nevada allows him to provide counsel across a wide range of legal issues.”
Gibson will advise executive-level clients on a range of issues, including gaming, intellectual property, privacy, cybersecurity, Bank Secrecy Act AML/CTF compliance, water and government relations. He has unique expertise in advising venture-backed clients on legal matters including recognizing and mitigating unconscious bias in artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms; data feed acquisition agreements; SaaS contracting; balancing data acquisition with personal privacy and civil liberty concerns; and in growing, protecting and managing complex IP portfolios. Gibson’s experience also extends to complex private equity and tribal non-IGRA gaming asset acquisitions.
“I am pleased to rejoin Brownstein’s talented group of attorneys. The firm’s remarkable culture coupled with its reputation for excellence made the choice a simple one. In the areas in which the firm has tenured practice groups, it is among the world’s finest.”
Gibson earned his bachelor of arts, master of public policy and juris doctor degrees from Brigham Young University and, until joining the firm, was a student in UNLV’s Masters of Quantitative Finance Program.