Mark Bailus

Mark B. Bailus is a former Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court judge whose legal career in Las Vegas included practice with Bailus Cook & Kelesis, Ltd. On the bench, he heard civil cases in Department 18, taking the seat previously held by David Barker. His tenure ended in 2018.

Bailus began as an associate at Manos & Cherry, working for Michael A. Cherry between 1980 and 1987. Three years of sole practice followed before he and Cherry established Cherry & Bailus in January 1991. George P. Kelesis joined them in January 1993, and the partnership became Cherry, Bailus & Kelesis.

A move to the Clark County Special Public Defender’s Office in June 1997 put capital murder appeals to the Nevada Supreme Court among his responsibilities; he also continued criminal trial work. In November 1998, he took an in-house position as associate general counsel for Nevada Beverage Company and its affiliated businesses. He later held the general counsel post for that company, Pat Clark Pontiac-GMC and Pat Clark Motorsports. His work there covered corporate, business, commercial, administrative and employment law, along with civil litigation.

Bailus returned to a law firm partnership with Kelesis in July 2004, forming Bailus Kelesis, Ltd. Its merger with Marc P. Cook & Associates in August 2005 created Bailus Cook & Kelesis, where his practice centered on complex civil and criminal litigation and appeals in state and federal courts.