Experience

Complex Commercial Litigation

• Represented clients in federal and state courts in cases concerning all types of contracts including disputes over partnership agreements, real estate agreements, purchase agreements, franchise agreements, license agreements, and vendor agreements. Succeeded in briefing and arguing motions that either disposed of claims or prompted a favorable settlements.
• Defended clients in business tort litigation including allegations of fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, tortious interference, and RICO violations.
• Represented clients in partnership and corporate control disputes.
• Represented charitable trusts and foundations in a FINRA arbitration.
• Secured dismissal of claims against corporate executives in contract and business tort disputes in federal and state courts. 

Intellectual Property

• Represented clients in various intellectual property disputes including litigation over patents, license agreements, trademarks, and trade secrets. 
• Successfully defended against preliminary injunctions in federal and state courts. 

Professional Liability

• Defended regional law firm and lawyer in legal malpractice actions. Obtained dismissal of all claims in the first action. After prevailing on several important summary judgment rulings, the second case settled on favorable terms.
• Represented officers and directors in breach of fiduciary duties case. 

Internal Investigations

• Conducted internal corporate investigations for public and non-profit corporations concerning matters of state and federal law. 
• Assisted clients in developing compliance plans to minimize future risks. 

Securities Defense

• Defended companies, officers, and directors in securities class action and shareholder derivative suits involving allegations of fraud in federal court. Obtained dismissals with prejudice.
• Represented individuals and entities under investigation or subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

Employment

• Represented corporations and individuals in disputes involving non-compete agreements and breach of non-disclosure obligations. 
• Succeeded in obtaining preliminary injunctions. 

Other Litigation

• Defended municipality against Section 1983 claims in federal court. Obtained dismissal of all claims and successfully defended the dismissal on appeal to the 10th Circuit.
• Defended adoptive parents in case brought by birthfather in federal court. Secured dismissal of all claims.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

• Listed in Utah Business Legal Elite (Civil Litigation), 2015–2018, 2020
• Listed in Mountain States Super Lawyers^® (Business Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Professional Liability, Employment Litigation: Defense), 2013–2020
• Named by Mountain States Super Lawyers^® as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2014, 2020
• Listed among Rising Stars^SM, Mountain States Super Lawyers^®, 2009–2012
• Selected as Fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America, 2014–present
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, Utah State Bar, Litigation Section
• Member, Virginia State Bar
• International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Stanford University, 2011
• E. Randolph Williams Award for “Outstanding Pro Bono Service,” 2005–2006

Civic Activities

• Trustee, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, 2019-present
• Mentor, YWCA Utah YWEmpowered Program, 2018-2020
• Co-Chair, Stanford Law School Salt Lake City Chapter, 2012-present, Ex-Officio Member of Stanford Law School Board of Visitors
• Trustee, Tracy Aviary Board of Trustees, 2008-2016, Chair of Governance Committee and Member of Executive Committee
• Board Member, C Street Child Development Center Advisory Board, 2010-2011 

Insights & Presentations

• “Making it Count: Being the Only Woman in the Room,” YWCA Utah, Young Women’s Leadership Summit, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 6, 2020.
• “Strategies for Responding to Government Investigations and Enforcement Actions,” Seattle Chapter of the CFO Leadership Council, Seattle, Washington, May 17, 2018
• “Lessons Learned from Opie Taylor, Walter White, and Cyndi Lauper: How the Recent Developments in the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine Will Impact Your Practice,” Utah Summer Bar Convention, San Diego, California, July 7, 2016
• “New Year, New Rules: Making Sense of Utah’s New Rules on Civil Procedure,” Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 2, 2012
• “Agreeing to Arbitrate--Tips for Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements,” The Enterprise, Oct. 12-18, 2009
• Coauthor, “Signing Your Privacy Away?: Privacy in the Petition Process,” IADC Privacy Project Volume IV, 2011