Email:aalton@btjd.com
Mr. Alton primarily works with the firm’s business transactions group. He advises clients on a variety of business law matters including entity formation; corporate restructuring; corporate governance and strategic relationships; private equity, venture capital, and debt financing; recapitalizations; mergers and acquisitions; and commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Alton also works with the firm’s estate planning and taxation group (with a focus on estate planning) and assists the firm’s litigation group with complex commercial litigation matters from time to time.
Mr. Alton developed a broad range of legal experience prior to joining the firm. He practiced at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, a preeminent international law firm, in Frankfurt, Germany and New York City (where he practiced in the areas of international capital markets and global disputes and investigations) and Beus Gilbert McGroder PLLC, a premier litigation and commercial real estate boutique in Phoenix, AZ (where he practiced in the area of high stakes commercial litigation, including disputes for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, professional malpractice, patent infringement, and other intellectual properties disputes).
Mr. Alton is married with two children. Mr. Alton was born and raised in California and his wife was born and raised in Brazil. As a family, the Altons have lived in California, Utah, Brazil, Germany, New York, New Jersey, and Arizona. Mr. Alton is fluent in Portuguese and speaks some German. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, baking, hiking, exploring national parks, and choral singing.
Email:hbosserman@btjd.com
Mr. Bosserman is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on general civil and commercial litigation, including contract, real property, and construction disputes. Mr. Bosserman also has experience in municipal law, administrative practice, and appellate work.
Foreign Language: Tagalog Mr. Bosserman is married and has three children. He enjoys basketball, indoor soccer, sports radio, and classic cars.
Email:rbraithwaite@btjd.com
Ryan is a partner in the firm’s litigation department where he has focused on construction law for over 20 years. Ryan is a trusted adviser and advocate for developers, contractors, suppliers and design professionals in commercial, residential and industrial construction. Ryan’s construction law experience allows him to expertly counsel with construction professionals as they navigate the situations unique to the industry. Ryan has repeatedly been voted by his peers as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite” in construction law, as reported in Utah Business magazine. He has also been recognized as one of the top-rated construction lawyers in the Mountain States Super Lawyers, an exclusive list of top-rated attorneys who are chosen after thorough evaluation of numerous criteria. When not practicing law, Ryan enjoys baseball and family activities.
Email:dbrough@btjd.com
Mr. Brough is a partner in the firm’s litigation department. He maintains a general civil litigation practice with substantial experience in both federal and state courts. His practice emphasizes general commercial litigation, corporate and business litigation, employment litigation (including enforcement of restrictive employment covenants), and construction litigation. He has successfully litigated requests for expedited remedies, including requests for prejudgment writs, temporary restraining orders, and preliminary injunctions. He also maintains an appellate practice and has briefed and argued appeals before the Utah Supreme Court, the Utah Court of Appeals, the Idaho Supreme Court, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Brough has been named a Mountain States Super Lawyer from 2011-2017.
Mr. Brough previously served as a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct and on the Utah Appellate Roster. He is a Barrister with the A. Sherman Christensen Inns of Court- I.
Email:jdunkelberger@btjd.com
Mr. Dunkelberger is a partner in the firm’s litigation section. James has many years of experience advising and advocating for businesses ranging from single-member entities and sole-proprietorships to national and multi-national companies with hundreds or thousands of employees. James’s practice also includes individuals in disputes regarding trusts and estates, real estate, government regulation, and torts, among other things. James also has significant experience in municipal law both in representing cities and towns and representing companies and individuals in matters involving permits, variances, and related matters.
Married, 5 children
Email:agoff@btjd.com
Mr. Goff is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on municipal law, as well as general civil and commercial litigation, including contract, employment, real property, and construction disputes. Mr. Goff also has experience in administrative practice, personal injury, and appellate work.
University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 2022, cum laude)
Brigham Young University (B.A., Linguistics, 2018)
Foreign language: Spanish
Outside of work, Mr. Goff enjoys snowboarding, long-distance running, swimming, playing board games, and watching low-budget films.
Email:egoodrich@btjd.com
Mr. Goodrich is a partner in the firm’s litigation department whose practice focuses on representing employers in state and federal court and before administrative agencies such as the Utah Labor Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division, and other governmental agencies. Mr. Goodrich has represented numerous large and small Utah businesses in litigation matters involving claims for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, overtime and wage issues, workplace safety citations, covenants not to compete, arbitration agreements, and related issues. While Mr. Goodrich’s primary focus is litigation, he also counsels and assists employers regarding Title VII, state and federal wage and hour laws, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, USERRA, classification of employees, terminations, separation agreements, employee handbooks, and other employment issues. Mr. Goodrich endeavors to help his clients implement effective strategies and best practices for avoiding costly and unnecessary claims wherever possible.
In addition to his employment practice, Mr. Goodrich also represents clients in business and commercial matters, including insurance coverage litigation, contract disputes, construction liens, payment bonds, and real property matters.
Born in Vernal, Utah Married, five children Foreign language: Spanish Interests include mountain biking, running, canyoneering, backpacking, skiing, politics, and sports.
Email:jgorringe@btjd.com
Mr. Gorringe is a partner in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on general civil and commercial litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, construction defect, insurance coverage, partnership disputes, and probate and trust litigation.
Foreign Languages: Mandarin Chinese Interests include football, basketball, coaching lacrosse, and spending time with his two children.
Email:kchooker@btjd.com
Mr. Hooker is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on commercial litigation, including contract disputes, construction litigation, trust and estate matters, and appeals.
Mr. Hooker is married and has two children. Outside the office, he enjoys meditating, playing music, swimming, reading, and spending time with his family.
Email:jinouye@btjd.com
Areas of practice include commercial litigation, including litigation of partnership and internal company disputes, employer-employee disputes, trademark disputes, real estate disputes, creditor-debtor disputes, “claw-back” actions initiated by trustees or receivers, and bankruptcy disputes. Mr. Inouye has experience helping companies to resolve issues with state regulatory agencies involving laws governing telemarketing as well as experience in working with companies to comply with and defend against lawsuits brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. He has repeatedly been named as a “Rising Star” by Mountain States Super Lawyers magazine and has been voted by his peers as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite.”
Two-time member of US Ski Mountaineering Team. Speed Record ski ascent and descent of Grand Teton, ski descent of Mt. McKinley. Soccer coach. Competitive skier, runner, and biker.
Email:tjaussi@btjd.com
Mr. Jaussi is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on general civil and commercial litigation, including contract and real property disputes. Mr. Jaussi also has experience in creditor rights work. Mr. Jaussi is a member of the Utah and Oregon State Bars.
Foreign Language: Spanish Married, two children. Interests include basketball, golf, and spending time with family.
Email:ejeppsen@btjd.com
Mr. Jeppsen is an attorney in the firm’s business section, where he assists companies with formation, structure, asset protection, trademark registration, and contract drafting. Mr. Jeppsen also practices in the firm’s litigation section, with a particular emphasis on securities litigation and trademark infringement.
Email:bjohnson@btjd.com
Mr. Johnson is one of BTJD’s founding partners. He started BTJD with a couple of college buddies after each of them had commenced their careers with large, elite law firms. They have grown BTJD to over 35 lawyers. It is a full service commercial firm. BTJD is highly regarded for its stable of top-notch lawyers—lawyers who know how to achieve the best possible results for their clients.
At BTJD, Mr. Johnson serves on the firm’s management committee. He routinely advises the firm and other firms on law firm management, conflicts of interest, and ethics issues. He also leads BTJD’s commercial litigation section. Managing and trying cases—particularly jury trials—is what he enjoys most about his job. For nearly thirty years, he has successfully managed complex, high-stakes disputes involving a wide array of subject matters: partnership disputes, creditor/debtor disputes, class actions, securities fraud cases, employment disputes (including disputes relating to the enforceability of restrictive covenants), trade secret litigation, real estate development disputes, construction defect litigation, and adversary proceedings in bankruptcy cases.
In the course of his practice, Mr. Johnson has tried, arbitrated, mediated, and successfully settled hundreds of cases. His forte is trial advocacy and oral argument. Clients, judges, jurors, and colleagues routinely note Mr. Johnson’s courtroom prowess and efficacy. He is known to strike the perfect balance of passion and reason, while making complex issues simple and easy to understand. One Utah trial judge noted Mr. Johnson’s expert advocacy by stating in a written ruling that “counsel in the case [were] some of the best and most proficient litigators this court has had the pleasure of watching work.”
Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Utah State Bar since 1992. He is admitted to practice law in Utah state and federal courts, the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He has repeatedly been selected by his peers as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite.”
Mr. Johnson received his Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Brigham Young University in 1988. He received his Juris Doctorate degree and graduated cum laude from Willamette University School of Law in Salem, Oregon. There, he won the first year moot court competition and served as Articles Editor for the Willamette University Law Review.
When not practicing law, Mr. Johnson enjoys being outside and active. He has trained for and run thirty-five marathons, and he loves to mountain bike and hike peaks. He has qualified for and run the Boston Marathon. He has climbed Mt. Whitney—the highest peak in the continental United States—twice. And twice he has completed the vaunted forty-six mile Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim trek across the Grand Canyon—once in 20 hours and once in 15 hours. Mr. Johnson’s more relaxing hobbies include boating, skiing, and wake surfing.
Mr. Johnson is active in his church and community, devoting 15 to 20 hours a week to such service. He and his wife, Tonya, reside in Alpine, Utah. They have six children and three grandchildren. Their family is their greatest source of happiness and joy.
Email:ben.johnson@btjd.com
Mr. Johnson is a partner in the firm’s litigation department. Areas of practice include commercial litigation, construction law, property law, creditor’s rights, insurance law, and homeowner and condominium association law.
Interests include traveling, biking, reading, and music.
Email:bradley.johnson@btjd.com
Mr. Johnson is an attorney in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on commercial litigation, including contract disputes, employment litigation, construction litigation, and trust and estate disputes.
Mr. Johnson is married and has one son.
He enjoys watching and playing basketball, mountain biking, trail running, and spending time with family.
Email:jjones@btjd.com
Mr. Jones is a business litigation attorney and partner with the firm whose practice focuses on intellectual property and competition-related disputes.
Concentrating primarily on the technology industry, Mr. Jones helps individuals and companies fight for and protect what matters most—their business and livelihood. Mr. Jones has obtained results for clients both inside and outside the courtroom. And in working with him through their complex and high stakes disputes, clients have thanked Jarom for his “professionalism,” “responsiveness,” and “attention to detail.” As put by one client, Mr. Jones was a “lifeline in a bad situation.”
In recent years, Mr. Jones has successfully helped clients prosecute and defend claims for trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of employee non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure contracts. He also advises and counsels clients on employment matters and best business practices to prevent litigation in the first place.
Mr. Jones was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. Outside of the office he enjoys backcountry skiing, traveling the world with his wife and kids, and finding mountain biking trails just wide enough to pull his kids’ trailer up.
Email:skeppner@btjd.com
Mr. Keppner is a partner of the firm and practices in the areas of commercial litigation, including collections, land lord-tenant disputes, and creditor representation. He has experience with qui tam cases, copyright infringement, construction, and employment litigation.
Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho 1972 Married, 3 children Interests include basketball, football, military history.
Email:dkono@btjd.com
Mr. Kono is a partner in the firm’s litigation department. His primary area of practice includes general civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment law and real estate litigation. Other areas of practice include personal injury, commercial litigation, construction litigation, and commercial collection work. Mr. Kono has repeatedly been voted by the legal community as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite” in the areas of personal injury and/or business litigation, as reported in Utah Business Magazine. He has also been named a “Rising Star” in business litigation by Mountain States Super Lawyers magazine.
Married, four children Foreign languages: Spanish
Email:jlee@btjd.com
Mr. Lee is a partner in the firm’s litigation department, with an emphasis in commercial litigation and real estate disputes. Other areas of frequent practice include post-employment restrictive covenant disputes, appeals, collections, and landlord-tenant disputes.
Married, 3 children. Interests include running, guitar, mountain biking, snowboarding, reading, and hiking.
Email:smcneill@btjd.com
Ms. McNeill’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and appeals. Her commercial cases include shareholder litigation, breach of contract, fraud, trade secrets, dissolution, etc. Ms. McNeill’s tort practice has included matters involving automobiles, automobile liability, premises liability, heavy duty tractors, and construction. Ms. McNeill’s family law practice includes divorce, custody disputes, modifications, orders to show cause, and protective orders. Ms. McNeill also appears regularly in matters relating to probate litigation, including the appointment of guardians and conservators.
Email:amendenhall@btjd.com
Ms. Mendenhall is a real estate professional. Her practice focuses on the defense of real estate licensees facing investigative or enforcement actions at the Utah Division of Real Estate. She provides consultation services to real estate brokers and agents to ensure their compliance with state statutes, administrative rules, ethical obligations, and industry standards. She is a particularly strong advocate for real estate agents or brokers who face civil lawsuits or Professional Standards hearings at their real estate boards that arise from alleged unprofessional conduct.
Ms. Mendenhall has been a Realtor® for over 15 years and a licensed broker since 2005. She became a recognized leader during the foreclosure crisis and continues to be an active member of the Utah Association of Realtors and the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. Her extensive real estate industry knowledge is invaluable when working with real estate agents and brokers, appraisers, and mortgage professionals – whether defending an agency action, criminal charges, or allegations of unethical conduct for her clients.
Ms. Mendenhall brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate contracts, language, and financial transactions to her litigation practice. This gives her a matchless ability to examine evidence and understand individual cases. In addition, Amanda counsels private attorneys as a trial expert/case consultant. She brings a unique perspective to trial work and has a proven ability to select a pro-client jury.
Married, two children. Interests include traveling, board games, and University of Utah football.
Email:rmerriman@btjd.com
Mr. Merriman is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice emphasizes general commercial litigation involving contract disputes, securities, real property, and commercial landlord-tenant disputes. Mr. Merriman also has experience in administrative practice and appeals.
Mr. Merriman is married and has two children. He enjoys basketball, distance running, and reading about American history and politics.
Email:kmorris@btjd.com
Ms. Morris is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. Her practice focuses on domestic and civil litigation. Ms. Morris’ family law practice includes divorce, custody disputes, modifications, enforcement issues, and protective orders. Ms. Morris also has experience in appeals, trusts and estates, probate, and guardianships.
University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 2022, magna cum laude)
Oregon State University (B.S., Sociology, 2019)
Outside of work, Ms. Morris enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends, watching and playing sports (particularly gymnastics and football), and traveling.
Email:mmorris@btjd.com
Mr. Morris is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice focuses on general civil and commercial litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, and trust and estate litigation. Mr. Morris also has experience in family law and appellate work.
Brigham Young University (B.A. Journalism, B.A. Portuguese, 2018, summa cum laude)
Foreign language: Portuguese
Outside the office, Mr. Morris enjoys spending time with his wife, playing basketball, going to classic rock and roll concerts, practicing guitar, and reading.
Email:jreutzel@btjd.com
Mr. Reutzel is a seasoned and aggressive litigator. He zealously advocates his clients’ positions, takes a comprehensive view of his clients’ legal challenges, and implements legal strategies to achieve his clients’ desired outcomes. He is, first and foremost, a problem solver.
Mr. Reutzel has been successful in courts and tribunals across the country—from California to Utah to New York. He routinely defends clients in complex and high-stakes litigation, represents clients in administrative proceedings, and obtains judgments and settlements for millions of dollars.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Reutzel is heavily involved in alternative dispute resolution. In certain circumstances, a client may be better served by mediation or arbitration. Mr. Reutzel is expert in these processes and employs them, as necessary, to achieve his clients’ goals. He also regularly helps his clients design and implement dispute resolution provisions for use in their written agreements.
Mr. Reutzel is a partner in the firm. As a result of his success, he has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a “Rising Star” and by Utah Business Magazine as “Legal Elite” in the category of Civil Litigation.
Mr. Reutzel enjoys anything that involves his family or the outdoors, including whitewater rafting, mountain biking, climbing, canyoneering, skiing, hiking, and backpacking. In recent years, Mr. Reutzel has coached a local junior high school mountain bike team. He takes great satisfaction in coaching and watching his team members improve and compete.
Email:ksmith@btjd.com
Ms. Smith is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. Her practice is focused on commercial litigation and appeals. She also does trust and estate litigation.
Outside of work, Ms. Smith is an avid reader of all genres, and she especially likes to read classics and literary fiction. Ms. Smith also likes to do various DIY projects, keep a garden, and spend time with her family.
Email:jtracy@btjd.com
Mr. Tracy has extensive experience representing clients in federal and state courts. His civil litigation practice includes a heavy emphasis in trust and estate litigation, complex commercial litigation, banking litigation and construction litigation. He works closely with Robert S. Tippett, the author of the The Utah Law of Trusts & Estates and one of the foremost trust and estate planning attorneys in Utah, on trust and estate matters. Mr. Tracy has represented several major financial institutions in banking litigation matters. Mr. Tracy has been awarded the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Rating, the highest rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell to attorneys for professional competence and ethics. He has also been named to Utah Legal Elite. Prior to joining Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere, Mr. Tracy worked with the international law firm of LeBouef, Lamb, Greene & MacRae (headquartered in New York City) and the national law firm of Chapman and Cutler (headquartered in Chicago). Mr. Tracy is a member of the Utah, Colorado and Idaho State Bars.
Mr. Tracy was born and raised in Southeastern Idaho where he worked on local dairy and potato farms as a youth, and graduated from Ririe High School. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Haiti Port-au-Prince and speaks French and Haitian Creole. He is married and the father of six children. He has been active as a leader in his local church congregation and the Boy Scouts of America for over 25 years. His hobbies include spending time with his family, cheering for the Utah Jazz, attending college athletic events, coaching youth sports, camping, and gardening.
Email:tweaver@btjd.com
Mr. Weaver is an associate in the firm’s litigation department. His practice is focused on general civil and commercial litigation, including contract and real property disputes. Mr. Weaver also has experience in creditor rights work, municipal and government litigation, and construction disputes.
University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 2022)
University of Utah (BMus., Piano Performance, 2017, cum laude)
Outside of work, Mr. Weaver enjoys canyoneering, hiking, running, and cooking homemade meals and desserts with his wife.
Attorney, Plant Christensen & Kanell, 2022-2023
Judicial Extern, Judge Jill M. Pohlman, Utah Court of Appeals, 2020
Research Assistant, Jorge L. Contreras, Utah Real Property Treatise, 2020
Email:kdunn@btjd.com
Ms. Dunn has a decade of experience working in the legal field. She has grown since joining BTJD in 2015 and has earned herself a position in the paralegal department.
Interests include music, reading, spending time with family and working on home projects.
Email:cmontoya@btjd.com
Ms. Montoya has been with the firm for 13 years. She has worked primarily with the firm’s litigation section on a variety of case types. She has also attended and assisted our attorneys during multi-day bench and jury trials, and hearings.
Married, 2 children. Ms. Montoya enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, reading, crafting and decorating.
Email:jmorgan@btjd.com
Ms. Morgan has been a paralegal for over 21 years in Dallas, Nashville, and now Salt Lake City. She has attended numerous seminars and continuing education courses, and was asked to speak at a national paralegal conference regarding airbag safety and the importance of efficient discovery collection.
Ms. Morgan enjoys spending time with her husband, her extended family and her two children, three step-children, and grandchild. She loves to cook, travel, and spending time outdoors.