Best Lawyers in America, Government Relations Practice, 2007-2019

Nevada's Best Lawyers, 2013

Top Lawyers, Vegas Inc., 2013

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated (the highest rating available), by Martindale-Hubbell

James L. Wadhams is a Partner at Black & LoBello.

Jim focuses his practice on government affairs, insurance, and administrative law. He has presented issues in the legislature for public agencies in Nebraska and Nevada, and since 1981, has represented private clients as a lobbyist before the Nevada Legislature. He has represented such clients as Nevada Independent Insurance Agents, Nevada Hospital Association, Newmont Mining Corporation, and Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Jim's extensive knowledge of the executive and legislative process has assisted clients in accomplishing a wide array of legislative and regulatory changes including privatizing the state's workers' compensation insurance, creating a nationally recognized standard for mining reclamation, and virtually all major tax issues.

Jim was first admitted to the practice of law in January of 1973 and worked as an attorney for the Nebraska Department of Insurance. He worked on several committees of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and drafted several laws and regulations that were adopted as national standards for insurance regulation. He moved to Nevada in 1975 and became Chief Counsel to the Nevada Insurance Division and later served as a Deputy Attorney General for Insurance and in 1978 became the Commissioner of Insurance. He subsequently served as the Director of the Department of Commerce supervising 13 regulatory agencies.

0-5 years

Idea Generation Spartek Ceramics Ltd 1989
Improving Organizational Cash flows, Spartek Ceramics Ltd - 1990
Gold Medalist in CFA Exams- Presented by The Hon. Prime Minister of India, Dr. ManMohan Singh -1996
Excellence Award Nevada Department of Business & Industry - 2013
Recognized by Nevada Legislature for Creating the Nevada Home Retention Program - 2013 Nevada Trailblazer Award Awarded by Minorities Suppliers Development Corporation - 2014
Featured in Nevada Spotlight for many achievements 2014
Prominent Asian Award Asians for Nevada - 2014

2017- Present Founder of Nevada Assisted Living and Senior Care Association.
2016- Present Chairman, Asian Chamber of Commerce PAC.
2015- Present Nevada Capital Investment Corporation
2014- Present - President's Council, Nevada State College
2010- Present - Chairman/President United Citizens Foundation
2015-2016 Technical Advisory Committee to form a plan to re-organize CCSD
2015-2016 First Persons Care Clinic2012- 2015 Member, Board of Directors, State Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBP)
2012-2014 Secretary/Treasurer Home Means Nevada Inc.
2011- 2012 Member Nevada State College Diversity Council.
2010-2012 Vice Chairperson, University Medical Center Hospital Advisory Board.

Ash Mirchandani is a visionary leader who founded Kaizen Strategies. Ash has more than two decades of experience in business, finance, marketing and government. He is the former Deputy Director of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, where he had oversight of numerous programs including small business advocacy and development, as well as housing, business-related policies, public financing, regulatory reform, community and business outreach, constituent services, bond programs, and new market tax credits.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Director, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Workforce Connections managing multi-million dollar budgets in support of workforce development programs. Before joining Workforce Connections, he served as assistant to the Director at the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR), Nevada's federally funded workforce development agency and Governor's cabinet-level organization.

Ash has a B.S. in Business Administration from Calcutta University in India and an M.B.A. in Finance from Newport University. He is a Nevada State Certified Public Manager, as well as an Oracle Certified Consultant. Ash has extensive experience in government relations, public policy, regulatory compliance and rule-making. Ash has received many awards and honors, such as the Gold Medal in Chartered Financial Analyst Group Exams, the Excellence Award from the Nevada Department of Business & Industry, the Nevada Trailblazer Award from the Minorities Suppliers Development Corporation, the Prominent Asian Award CANDO and was also selected by Governor Brian Sandoval for recognition for his work at Nevada Business and Industry.

Active in the community, Ash has been involved on many boards and committees related to social services, finance, education, and health care. He is the founding President of the Asian Political Alliance and is the founding Chairman of United Citizens Foundation. He previously served as the Vice Chair of the Hospital Advisory Board at UMC, Director of Home Means Nevada Inc., and the public employees benefit board.

20+ years

In 2017, Governor-elect Phil Murphy selected Eric to serve on the Human Services Committee for his transition team. During that same year, he was nominated by Kentucky State Senator Jimmy Higdon and commissioned by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin to become a Kentucky Colonel.

In 2004, Eric was nominated by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey to serve on the South Jersey Port Corporation's Board of Directors, which is responsible for the development of port facilities in South New Jersey. Eric was reappointed in 2008 by Governor Corzine and again in 2017 by Governor Chris Christie.

In 2018, Eric was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Burbank International Film Festival.

Eric is also a founding member of the Board of Directors for the NYC Fashion Manufactures Alliance of Design Educators and Save the Garment Center in New York City; a position he's held since 2008.

In 2007, Eric was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a bi-partisan not-for-profit international exchange organization, as a delegate to Vietnam for a two-week political exchange program. Eric joined six other young political leaders from the U.S. to study Vietnam's political system, engage in dialogue on international issues, and forge professional relationships. He's also participated in international trade missions, including trips to the Netherlands, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Eric was appointed in 2007 by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to serve as a member of the Economic Growth Council to assist with statewide economic development policies.

Eric is a former Committee Chairman for the Mercer County College Board of Trustees Advisory Committee and a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Arts & Business Partnership of Southern New Jersey. He's served on the boards of the Mercer County Workforce Investment Board, the Mercer County Economic Development Committee and Junior Achievement. Eric was appointed by Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano in 2002 to the New Jersey Council of Local Mandates and served as Vice Chairman until 2004.

Alisa Nave-Worth joined Cornerstone in January 2025 following her time as CEO of Alisa Nave Consulting. With over a decade of experience in politics and government affairs, she brings unparalleled expertise in Nevada's legal, political and public policy matters. She leverages her deep understanding of the legislative process and strong relationships with lawmakers and regulators to craft and advocate for legislative strategies that benefit a diverse array of corporate clients.

Known for her integrity and commitment, Alisa has built a reputation as a trusted advisor in the Nevada political landscape. Additionally, she previously opened the Las Vegas offices at different times for two of the largest law and lobbying firms in the country. Alisa specializes in addressing legislative, regulatory and administrative issues, focusing on transportation, construction, emerging financial technologies, entertainment, infrastructure and campaign finance compliance. She has successfully represented clients before the Nevada Legislature and state agencies, guiding them through complex rule-making and regulatory matters.

A seasoned campaign consultant, Alisa has worked on Presidential campaigns, where she spearheaded grassroots initiatives and built influential political coalitions across Nevada. As the Executive Director to the Nevada Senate Caucus, she developed and implemented political and communications strategies, enabling the passage of critical legislation across sectors such as transportation, energy, taxation, gaming and education.

Alisa holds a B.A. in Russian Language and Literature and Public Policy Studies from Duke University and earned her Juris Doctorate from Berkeley Law School, UC Berkeley. Licensed to practice law in Nevada and California, she is a member of the Clark County Bar Association and the Nevada State Bar Association.

15-20 years

Mr. Finseth has over 25 years of experience in the field of government having worked in Washington, D.C, Hawaii and Nevada. As the principal of Carrara Nevada since 2003, Mr. Finseth has been at the forefront of the companies explosive growth in the state. Mr. Finseth provides one on one attention to all of our clients both large and small. Carrara Nevada is recognized as a bipartisan firm with relationships on both sides of the political aisles. Our work in Nevada spans the spectrum of many of the major sectors and industries that drive our states economy.

Jason Frierson joined Cornerstone in February 2025 following his service as the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada since 2022. He was nominated by President Biden, acting as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the District of Nevada, and the first African American to hold the position. In this role, Jason led a team of more than 100 prosecutors and staff professionals, including 55 attorneys who handled federal criminal, civil and appellate cases. In addition, he met regularly with local, state and federal law enforcement agency leaders, and other key community leaders and organizations to discuss investigations, current cases and developing trends.

Jason started his career representing the indigent, serving as a prosecutor of white-collar criminals and as an agency attorney in protecting child abuse victims. In 2010, he was elected to the Nevada State Assembly and was voted the best freshman Assemblyman in 2011. After being re-elected for the 2013 session, he served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

After one term out of the legislature, Jason was elected to return to the Nevada Assembly in 2016 and was then selected in a bipartisan and unanimous vote to serve as the Assembly's first African American Speaker in Nevada history. He served in that role for three consecutive legislative sessions, leading one of the most diverse state legislatures in the country and the first female majority legislature in the country's history.

Prior to his legislative service, Jason served in a variety of significant legal roles in both the public and private sector. Jason holds a B.S. in Health Science from the University of Nevada and earned his Juris Doctorate from William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

MICHAEL D. HILLERBY is the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Firm. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada Reno. Michael has been lobbying in Nevada since 1991, and has extensive experience with the Nevada Legislature, a variety of regulatory boards and commissions, as well as county and local governments. His practice includes lobbying, strategic guidance, public affairs and procurement processes for clients in the healthcare, insurance, financial services, manufacturing, design and real estate development industries, retail, telecommunications, utility and automotive manufacturing sectors, among others. He served as a cabinet member and Chief of Staff for former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn. Michael is the Vice-Chair of the Western States Arts Federation, former Chairman of the Nevada Museum of Art Board of Trustees, and is on the Friends of the Nevada Governor's Mansion Board. He has been appointed by three different governors to the Nevada Commission of Cultural Affairs.

JENNIFER LAZOVICH is a shareholder in the Firm. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Southwestern University. Jennifer primarily practices at the legislative and local level. At the legislative level, she has represented clients with interests in development, property rights, lien matters, redevelopment and transportation issues. At the local level, she handles land use and entitlement matters, development agreements and other business matters. Jennifer has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America in Government Relations Law in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Nevada Business Magazine named her as one of the top 100 attorneys in Southern Nevada in 2009 and 2010.