Experience

Complex Commercial Litigation

• Soccer Connection v. Nike USA (D. Utah 2018) – Obtained dismissal of claims for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and tortious interference asserted by retailer against Nike.
• Arabani v. Farmers Ins. (2019) – Obtained dismissal of defamation claim on statute of limitations grounds.
• Represented natural gas producers in disputes with midstream company regarding natural gas gathering and processing agreements. Obtained favorable summary judgment rulings on claims involving overcharges under midstream agreements.
• Represented natural gas producer in dispute with midstream company regarding deficiency fees charged under natural gas processing agreement. Worked with industry and accounting experts to investigate overcharges and mediated resolution to dispute.
• IHC v. D&K, 196 P.3d 588 (Utah 2008) – obtained a favorable ruling that landlord did not waive its right to evict tenant.
• Represented a pharmaceutical skin cream manufacturer against product liability claims. Obtained dismissal of all claims based on statute of limitations grounds.
• Represented a franchisor in asserting claims against franchisee and guarantors for breach of franchise agreement. Obtained summary judgment in favor of franchisor on all claims and successfully moved to dismiss counterclaims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract.

Employment Litigation

• Murphy v. Farmers Ins. (2018) – Successfully dismissed negligent supervision claim and claims seeking to hold employer vicariously liable for assault and battery.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal of lawsuit with zero-dollar settlement for manufacturer of truck semi-trailers in disability discrimination and failure to accommodate claims.
• Represented employer in Sarbanes Oxley whistleblower litigation and mediation.
• Represented a food manufacturer and distributor against disability discrimination claims asserted by a job applicant. Obtained dismissal of administrative appeal based on applicant’s failure to mitigate damages.
• Defended a chain of convenience stores against Title VII national origin discrimination and retaliation claims brought by a former store manager. Obtained summary judgment in favor of defendant employer on all claims.
• Represented an employer against invasion of privacy and wrongful termination claims by a former employee. Obtained summary judgment in favor of the defendant employer.
• Ellington v. Murray Energy (D. Utah 2010) – obtained summary judgment in favor of a defendant employer on plaintiff’s religious discrimination claims under Title VII.
• Pumphrey v. Lifescan (D. Utah 2010) – obtained summary judgment in favor of a defendant employer on plaintiff’s sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation claims under Title VII.

Education Litigation

• ​Defended Westminster College against Title IX peer-to-peer sexual harassment claim and Section 504 disability discrimination claim.
• Represented pro bono plaintiff in litigation against school district in litigation involving Section 504 disability discrimination claims.
• In re Beehive Charter School – Successfully challenged decision by Utah State Charter School Board to revoke school’s charter.
• In re Jordan School District (2008) – represented Utah’s Jordan School District in an arbitration to divide over $1 billion in assets and liabilities between the Jordan School District and the Canyons School District.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

• Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Utah) by Chambers USA (currently: Litigation: General Commercial), 2017–2020
• Included in Utah Business Legal Elite (Civil Litigation), 2021
• Listed among Mountain States Super Lawyers^® (Business Litigation, Employment & Labor), 2018–2019; Rising Stars, 2009–2017
• Recipient, Pro Bono Service Award, Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (2017)
• Salt Lake County Bar Association, President (2019–present), Executive Committee Member (2007–2019)
• Member, Women Lawyers of Utah Board, Chair of Judicial Mentoring Committee, 2015–present
• Member, Utah State Bar Character and Fitness Committee, 2015–present
• Member, Utah Judicial Council’s Standing Committee on Model Utah Civil Jury Instructions, 2017–present
• Member, Utah Center for Legal Inclusion, Advancement Committee, 2018–present
• Member, Utah Supreme Court Professionalism & Civility Counseling Board, 2018–present
• Member, Utah State Bar (Litigation, Labor & Employment, Appellate, and Education Sections)

Civic Activities

• Trustee, Wasatch Waldorf Charter School, 2016–2020, (Chair, 2018–2019)
• Member, YWCA of Utah, Governance Committee, 2013–2016
• Trustee, National Association of Women Business Owners, Salt Lake Chapter, 2015–2016
• Trustee, Sugar House Park Authority Board, 2010–2014 (Vice President, 2012–2014)
• Director, YWCA of Salt Lake City, 2010–2013
• Volunteer, Utah Legal Services, 2002–2003

Insights & Presentations

• “Employment Law Considerations Related to COVID-19,” Utah Life Sciences Summit, Nov. 2020
• Utah Chapter Supplement, Employment at Will: A State-by-State Survey, published by Bloomberg BNA, 2013–2020
• Moderator, “Pay Equity: It’s ‘Comp’licated,” Utah Minority Bar Association CLE, Sept. 2018
• “Me Too, Time’s Up, and the Weinstein Effect: Ethical and Professionalism Issues for the In-House Lawyer in Investigating Harassment Claims,” In-house presentation for client, March 2018
• “Discrimination & Accommodation: Protecting Gender Identity in the Workplace,” SHRM Conference, Sept. 2016
• “Utah Antidiscrimination and Religious Freedom Act,” Stoel Rives LLP, May 2015
• “Employee Benefits for Same-Sex Couples,” Stoel Rives LLP, February 2014
• ABA Annual Review of Employee Mobility, Restrictive Covenants, and Trade Secret Cases for the Tenth Circuit, 2014
• “Straight Talk: An HR Executive Roundtable,” Stoel Rives LLP, June 2013
• “OFCCP Compliance Update: From Regulations to Reality,” Stoel Rives LLP, May 2013
• “Are Remedies Available to Working Moms Who Experience ‘Lactation Discrimination’?” Law360, 2012
• “Utah Court Limits Available Remedies for Misappropriation of Confidential Information – Why Confidentiality Agreements Are Now More Important Than Ever,” The Enterprise, Nov. 2012
• “Employees with Medical Conditions: Managing the Overlap under Workers Compensation, the ADA and the FMLA,” Stoel Rives LLP, Dec. 2011
• “Signing Your Privacy Away? Privacy in the Petition Process” (coauthor), IADC Privacy Project, 2011
• Panelist, “Dividing the Jordan School District,” Utah State Bar Convention, Summer 2009
• “Drafting Effective and Enforceable Non-Compete Agreements,” The Enterprise, June 2007
• “Cognitive-Affective Predictors of Women’s Readiness to End Domestic Violence Relationships” (coauthor), Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2006

Related News & Publications