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<TITLE>sv8</TITLE>
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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September&nbsp;24, 2009
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; MARGIN-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>






<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, DC 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Nevada</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>88-0365922</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or Other Jurisdiction of
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Incorporation or Organization)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>2700 West Sahara Avenue</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Las Vegas, Nevada</B><BR>
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>89102</B><BR>
(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan</B><BR>
(Full Title of the Plan)<BR>
<B>Robert Sarver<BR>
President, Chief Executive Officer<BR>
Western Alliance Bancorporation<BR>
2700 West Sahara Avenue<BR>
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102<BR>
(702)&nbsp;248-4200</B><BR>
(Name, Address and Telephone<BR>
Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>With a copy to:<BR>
Steven D. Pidgeon<BR>
DLA Piper LLP (US)<BR>
2525 East Camelback Road<BR>
Suite&nbsp;1000<BR>
Phoenix, Arizona 85016<BR>
(480)&nbsp;606-5100</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large accelerated
filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: -3pt">
<TR><TD>Large Accelerated Filer&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD align="center">Accelerated Filer&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center"><BR>Non-accelerated filer&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT><BR>(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
<TD align="right">Smaller reporting company&nbsp;<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom" style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="54%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Title of Each Class of Securities</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>To Be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Offering</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Aggregate</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Registration</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff"><B>To Be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff"><B>Registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff"><B>Price Per Share (2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff"><B>Offering Price (2)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff"><B>Fee</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common stock, $0.0001 par value</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">2,000,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">6.66</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">13,320,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">744</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV style="margin-top: 3pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;<B><I>Securities Act</I></B>&#148;), this
registration statement covers any additional securities to be offered or issued from stock splits,
stock dividends or similar transactions.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Securities Act
Rules 457(c) and 457(h). The proposed maximum offering price per share, proposed maximum aggregate
offering price and the amount of the registration fee are based on the average of the high and low
prices of Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s shares of common stock on September&nbsp;21, 2009, as
reported by the New York Stock Exchange.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>





<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">








<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Western Alliance Bancorporation (&#147;<B><I>Western Alliance</I></B>&#148;) has prepared this registration statement
in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"<B><I>Securities Act</I></B>&#148;), to register an additional 2,000,000 shares of Western Alliance&#146;s common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share (the &#147;<B><I>Common Stock</I></B>&#148;), which are authorized for issuance under the
Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the &#147;<B><I>Incentive Plan</I></B>&#148;).
Western Alliance filed a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.&nbsp;333-127032) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<B><I>Commission</I></B>&#148;) on July&nbsp;29, 2005 registering 3,172,394 shares
of Common Stock that were authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan. Western Alliance filed
a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.&nbsp;333-145548) with the Commission on August&nbsp;17, 2007
registering an additional 1,774,265 shares of Common Stock that were authorized for issuance under
the Incentive Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this registration statement is
being filed to register an additional 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock that are authorized for
issuance under the Incentive Plan. Pursuant to such Instruction E, the contents of the
Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-127032 and 333-145548) are incorporated herein
by reference.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Specimen common stock certificate of Western Alliance Bancorporation (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 of Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.
333-124406, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June&nbsp;27, 2005, as amended).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series&nbsp;A, stock certificate
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Form&nbsp;8-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November&nbsp;25, 2008).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.3</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation common stock, dated
December&nbsp;12, 2003, together with a schedule of warrant holders (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;10.9 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.4</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Warrant, dated November&nbsp;21, 2008, by and between Western Alliance Bancorporation and the United
States Department of the Treasury (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.2 to Western
Alliance&#146;s Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November&nbsp;25, 2008).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">5.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Opinion of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. regarding the validity of the common stock registered hereby.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of McGladrey &#038; Pullen, LLP.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">24.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference
to Appendix&nbsp;A of Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;17, 2009).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of BankWest Nevada Corporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.3 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-1-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.3</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.4 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.4</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.5 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.5</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (with double trigger
acceleration clause) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.6 to Western Alliance
Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-2-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on September&nbsp;24, 2009.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left"><B>WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Robert Sarver
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Robert Sarver&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each person whose signature appears below appoints Robert Sarver or Dale Gibbons, jointly and
severally, each in his own capacity, as true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of
substitution in such person&#146;s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement and the Power
of Attorney has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="25%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Name and Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Robert Sarver
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Robert Sarver
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the
Board; President and
Chief Executive
Officer (Principal
Executive Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Dale Gibbons
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Dale Gibbons
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Executive Vice
President and Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal Financial
Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Tom Edington
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Tom Edington
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Senior Vice
President and
Controller
(Principal
Accounting Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ John P. Sande III
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
John P. Sande III
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Bruce Beach
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Bruce Beach
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ William S. Boyd
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
William S. Boyd
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Steve Hilton
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Steve Hilton
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Marianne Boyd Johnson
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Marianne Boyd Johnson
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Cary Mack
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Cary Mack
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By: </TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Arthur Marshall
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Arthur Marshall
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-3-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="25%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Name and Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"> /s/ Todd Marshall
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Todd Marshall
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
M. Nafees Nagy, M.D.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"> /s/ James Nave, D.V.M.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
James Nave, D.V.M.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"> /s/ Donald Snyder
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Donald Snyder
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"></TD><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"> /s/ Kenneth A. Vecchione
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Kenneth A. Vecchione
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">September&nbsp;24, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-4-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Specimen common stock certificate of Western Alliance Bancorporation (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 of Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1, File No.
333-124406, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June&nbsp;27, 2005, as amended).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series&nbsp;A, stock certificate
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Form&nbsp;8-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November&nbsp;25, 2008).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.3</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation common stock, dated
December&nbsp;12, 2003, together with a schedule of warrant holders (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;10.9 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.4</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Warrant, dated November&nbsp;21, 2008, by and between Western Alliance Bancorporation and the United
States Department of the Treasury (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.2 to Western
Alliance&#146;s Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November&nbsp;25, 2008).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">5.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Opinion of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. regarding the validity of the common stock registered hereby.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of McGladrey &#038; Pullen, LLP.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">24.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference
to Appendix&nbsp;A of Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;17, 2009).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of BankWest Nevada Corporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.3 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.3</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.4 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.4</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.5 to Western Alliance Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.5</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (with double trigger
acceleration clause) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.6 to Western Alliance
Bancorporation&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April&nbsp;28, 2005).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
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</DIV>




</BODY>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION", "cik": "0001212545", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-162107", "film-number": "091085103"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2700 WEST SAHARA AVENUE", "city": "LAS VEGAS", "state": "NV", "zip": "89102", "phone": "7022484200"}}
sv8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 24, 2009
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada
88-0365922
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
2700 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
89102
(Zip Code)
Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
Robert Sarver
President, Chief Executive Officer
Western Alliance Bancorporation
2700 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102
(702) 248-4200
(Name, Address and Telephone
Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
With a copy to:
Steven D. Pidgeon
DLA Piper LLP (US)
2525 East Camelback Road
Suite 1000
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
(480) 606-5100
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated
filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
o
Accelerated Filer
þ
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed
Proposed
Amount
Maximum
Maximum
Amount of
Title of Each Class of Securities
To Be
Offering
Aggregate
Registration
To Be Registered
Registered (1)
Price Per Share (2)
Offering Price (2)
Fee
Common stock, $0.0001 par value
2,000,000
$
6.66
$
13,320,000
$
744
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "
Securities Act
"), this
registration statement covers any additional securities to be offered or issued from stock splits,
stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Securities Act
Rules 457(c) and 457(h). The proposed maximum offering price per share, proposed maximum aggregate
offering price and the amount of the registration fee are based on the average of the high and low
prices of Western Alliance Bancorporation's shares of common stock on September 21, 2009, as
reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Western Alliance Bancorporation ("
Western Alliance
") has prepared this registration statement
in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"
Securities Act
"), to register an additional 2,000,000 shares of Western Alliance's common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share (the "
Common Stock
"), which are authorized for issuance under the
Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "
Incentive Plan
").
Western Alliance filed a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-127032) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "
Commission
") on July 29, 2005 registering 3,172,394 shares
of Common Stock that were authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan. Western Alliance filed
a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-145548) with the Commission on August 17, 2007
registering an additional 1,774,265 shares of Common Stock that were authorized for issuance under
the Incentive Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this registration statement is
being filed to register an additional 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock that are authorized for
issuance under the Incentive Plan. Pursuant to such Instruction E, the contents of the
Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-127032 and 333-145548) are incorporated herein
by reference.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1
Specimen common stock certificate of Western Alliance Bancorporation (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.1 of Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No.
333-124406, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2005, as amended).
4.2
Form of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, stock certificate
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Form 8-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2008).
4.3
Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation common stock, dated
December 12, 2003, together with a schedule of warrant holders (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.9 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
4.4
Warrant, dated November 21, 2008, by and between Western Alliance Bancorporation and the United
States Department of the Treasury (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Western
Alliance's Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2008).
5.1
Opinion of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. regarding the validity of the common stock registered hereby.
23.1
Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.
23.2
Consent of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
99.1
Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference
to Appendix A of Western Alliance Bancorporation's definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2009).
99.2
Form of BankWest Nevada Corporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
-1-
Exhibit
Number
Description
99.3
Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
99.4
Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
99.5
Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (with double trigger
acceleration clause) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Western Alliance
Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 28, 2005).
-2-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on September 24, 2009.
WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION
By:
/s/ Robert Sarver
Robert Sarver
Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Robert Sarver or Dale Gibbons, jointly and
severally, each in his own capacity, as true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of
substitution in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement and the Power
of Attorney has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name and Signature
Title
Date
By:
/s/ Robert Sarver
Robert Sarver
Chairman of the
Board; President and
Chief Executive
Officer (Principal
Executive Officer)
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Dale Gibbons
Dale Gibbons
Executive Vice
President and Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal Financial
Officer)
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Tom Edington
Tom Edington
Senior Vice
President and
Controller
(Principal
Accounting Officer)
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ John P. Sande III
John P. Sande III
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Bruce Beach
Bruce Beach
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ William S. Boyd
William S. Boyd
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Steve Hilton
Steve Hilton
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Marianne Boyd Johnson
Marianne Boyd Johnson
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Cary Mack
Cary Mack
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Arthur Marshall
Arthur Marshall
Director
September 24, 2009
-3-
Name and Signature
Title
Date
By:
/s/ Todd Marshall
Todd Marshall
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
M. Nafees Nagy, M.D.
Director
By:
/s/ James Nave, D.V.M.
James Nave, D.V.M.
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Donald Snyder
Donald Snyder
Director
September 24, 2009
By:
/s/ Kenneth A. Vecchione
Kenneth A. Vecchione
Director
September 24, 2009
-4-
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1
Specimen common stock certificate of Western Alliance Bancorporation (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.1 of Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No.
333-124406, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2005, as amended).
4.2
Form of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, stock certificate
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Form 8-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2008).
4.3
Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation common stock, dated
December 12, 2003, together with a schedule of warrant holders (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.9 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
4.4
Warrant, dated November 21, 2008, by and between Western Alliance Bancorporation and the United
States Department of the Treasury (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Western
Alliance's Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2008).
5.1
Opinion of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. regarding the validity of the common stock registered hereby.
23.1
Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.
23.2
Consent of Randall S. Theisen, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
99.1
Western Alliance Bancorporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference
to Appendix A of Western Alliance Bancorporation's definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2009).
99.2
Form of BankWest Nevada Corporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
99.3
Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation Incentive Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
99.4
Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Western Alliance Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2005).
99.5
Form of Western Alliance Bancorporation 2002 Stock Option Plan Agreement (with double trigger
acceleration clause) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Western Alliance
Bancorporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 28, 2005).
-5-