Our Approach

Joseph (Joe) Yates comes from an untraditional background which helps him identify with his clients at every level. Raised in Sacramento California, Joe had little resources as a youth and learned to be a resourceful negotiator, bartering with his classmates and neighbors in the community. His grandfather taught him the plumbing trade starting at age 5.  Joe started working for wages at age 11, went on to work as a plumber and electrician at age 17, then started his own construction business in 1992. 

In 1991, his interests took him towards the law, where he began working in a litigation support business.  There he learned the litigation process, including investigation and discovery of evidence. Through hard work and determination, Joe was able to change his circumstances and move from the construction industry to the legal services sector.  Ultimately Joe decided to shift his efforts towards the full-time practice of law where he could represent people in need.

However, Joe’s career up to that point took him away from the typical college track.  When he decided to attend law school, Joe had the choice of starting back at square one in school or take the rarely used path of challenging college and moving straight into law school.  Joe successfully challenged college and fast tracked his education to the pace he was most comfortable with.  While in law school, he took a job clerking for Roger Dreyer, one of California's most prominent trial lawyers and was welcomed as an associate in the Sacramento based firm upon completion of his education in 2001 and made partner in 2014.  Work and family continued to draw Joe into the western states, with Nevada having the most impact on him.  Ultimately Joe decided to expand his practice to Nevada and in 2019 made Carson City his home. 

Over the past two decades Joe has successfully represented thousands of clients through all aspects of litigation. He has successfully tried cases to verdict, handled more than a thousand arbitrations, mediations, and settlement conferences and negotiated countless informal settlements for his clients.  Those efforts have resulted in insurance companies acknowledging  bad behavior, businesses changing their practices to ensure the safety of employees in the workplace, governmental entities and private land owners have improved dangerous conditions to property, and manufacturers have removed or redesigned defective products.  As a cyclist himself, Joe has the knowledge and expertise needed to confidently represent bicyclists and over the years has obtained significant recoveries on their behalf.  With his background in construction, Joe has the ability to communicate effectively with the parties, experts and witnesses to get to the essence of the issues and obtain real results.

In addition to representing his clients, Joe also finds time to support his communities through many charities including food banks and shelters. He is also an avid runner and cyclist, and regularly participates in endurance events that challenge him physically.

Areas of Practice

• Trial Practice
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Wrongful Death
• Catastrophic Injury
• Bicycle Law
• Products Liability
• Public Entity Liability
• Construction Accidents
• Industrial Products Liability Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Business Law
• Civil Rights
• Commercial Law
• Constitutional Law
• Construction Law
• Contracts
• Corporate Law
• Education Law
• Eminent Domain
• Environmental Law
• Legal Malpractice
• Litigation
• Products Liability
• Real Estate
• Technology & Science
• Toxic torts

Education & Credentials:

Lincoln Law School of Sacramento, J.D. 2001, American Jurisprudence Award - Remedies, Dean's List

Year of First Admission:

2001

Admission:

2001, California Supreme Court and all lower jurisdictions

2002, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

2019, Supreme Court of the United States

2021, Nevada Supreme Court and all lower jurisdictions

Employment:

Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora, LLC 2000-2021

Yates Law, PC 2022-Present

Founder/President

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Bar Association; Sacramento Bar Association; State Bar of California; Consumer Attorneys of California;  Capital City Trial Lawyers Association; State Bar of Nevada; Washoe County Bar Association; Nevada Justice Association; Nevada’s First Judicial District Association; The American Association for Justice.

California Contractor’s State Licensing Board – 1993-Present

Attorney Awards:

Martindale Hubble AV Preeminent Rating by both the Bar and Judiciary 

Super Lawyers for 2015 - 2022

Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

TopVerdict.com-Top 100 Settlements in the United States; Top 10 California Premises Liability Settlements

Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Top Attorneys in Northern California