Thomas Pitaro
Senior Partner / Founding Attorney | Pitaro & Fumo, Chtd.
Thomas F. Pitaro is a Senior Partner and Founding Attorney at Pitaro & Fumo, Chtd. in Las Vegas, Nevada. Licensed in Nevada since 1974, he has practiced criminal defense for over 52 years, handling cases ranging from misdemeanor charges to capital murder. He holds Nevada Bar No. 1332, placing him among the earliest active practitioners in the state.
Pitaro has served as defense counsel in several of the most widely covered criminal cases in Nevada history, including the Ted Binion murder trial, the O.J. Simpson post-conviction proceedings, and the federal bribery prosecution of former District Judge Gerard Bongiovanni. His trial record in the Bongiovanni case resulted in a full acquittal on all 13 federal charges after a four-year FBI investigation. He carries an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense: General Practice.
He serves as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, where he has also presented continuing legal education programs. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Credentials
Section titled “Credentials”| Nevada Bar Number | 1332 |
| Licensed Since | 1974 |
| Status | Active (no public discipline found) |
| Years Practicing | 52+ |
Education
Section titled “Education”- J.D. — UCLA School of Law (1974)
- B.S. — California State University, Los Angeles (1971)
Practice Areas
Section titled “Practice Areas”- Criminal Defense (General Practice)
- White Collar Crimes
- DUI / DWI
- Drug Crimes
- Personal Injury
- Civil Litigation
Recognitions
Section titled “Recognitions”| Recognition | Year(s) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: General Practice | Ongoing | Best Lawyers (bestlawyers.com) |
| AV Preeminent Rating | Ongoing | Martindale-Hubbell |
| Super Lawyers | 2007—2016 | Super Lawyers |
| Top 75: Mountain States Super Lawyers | 2009 | Super Lawyers |
| American College of Trial Lawyers — Fellow | — | Listed on Super Lawyers profile; independent confirmation recommended |
| ”Vegas Icon” Feature Profile | — | Vegas Legal Magazine |
Notable Cases
Section titled “Notable Cases”| Case | Role | Outcome / Detail | Year(s) | Media Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy Murphy / Ted Binion murder trial | Defense counsel for Sandy Murphy (with John Momot) | Represented Murphy in one of the most widely publicized Las Vegas murder trials | 2000—2004 | Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Sun, Court TV |
| Judge Gerard Bongiovanni federal bribery trial | Lead defense counsel | Client acquitted on all 13 federal bribery and wire fraud counts; jury deliberated under 8 hours at second trial after first trial ended in hung jury (reportedly 10-2 for acquittal) | 1997—1998 | Las Vegas Sun |
| O.J. Simpson post-conviction / new trial petition | Co-counsel (with Patricia Palm and Ozzie Fumo); cross-examined Yale Galanter | Part of legal team in post-conviction proceedings | ~2013 | CBS News, ESPN, Fox News |
| Priscilla Rocha / CCSD theft case | Defense counsel | Handled sentencing and appeal | ~2017—2019 | Las Vegas Review-Journal, 8 News Now |
| Judge Erika Ballou judicial discipline | Defense counsel before NV Commission on Judicial Discipline | Represented respondent judge | 2022—2025 | NV judiciary filings, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 8 News Now |
| USA v. Lewis et al. (D. Nev. 2:17-cr-00244) | Counsel for defendant Brian Sorensen | Federal criminal matter | 2017—2019 | DocketBird federal court records |
Professional Memberships
Section titled “Professional Memberships”Note: The following memberships are listed on the firm website and legal directories but could not be independently verified through the issuing organizations. They are included here with that caveat.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
- Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice (founding member, per firm site)
- Nevada Society of Italian American Lawyers (NSIAL)
- Clark County Bar Association
Office Location
Section titled “Office Location”- Las Vegas: 601 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89101
- Phone: (702) 474-7554
- Website: fumolaw.com
In the Media
Section titled “In the Media”- Vegas Legal Magazine — “Vegas Icon: Tom Pitaro, Esq.” (feature profile) | vegaslegalmagazine.com
- Las Vegas Review-Journal — Coverage as defense counsel in the Ted Binion / Sandy Murphy trial, Priscilla Rocha / CCSD case, and LVCVA gift card scandal proceedings
- Las Vegas Sun — Coverage of the Judge Bongiovanni federal bribery trial (1997—1998) and Sandy Murphy case
- CBS News, ESPN, Fox News — Coverage of O.J. Simpson post-conviction proceedings naming Pitaro as counsel
- Court TV — Coverage of the Sandy Murphy / Binion trial
- 8 News Now (KLAS) — Coverage of Priscilla Rocha sentencing and Judge Ballou discipline proceedings
- UNLV Boyd School of Law — CLE presenter: “Trial Practice Tips from a Criminal Law Perspective” (2014); “Trial Practice Tips from Nevada’s Experienced Criminal Practice Lawyers”