Attorneys – Bennett, Tueller, Johnson & Deere – Utah Attorneys & Utah Law Firm

Areas of Expertise:

Corporate Law and Governance
Mergers and Acquisitions
Landlord and Tenant Representation
Corporate Finance
Estate Planning
Commercial Litigation

Background & Experience:

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).

Education:

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D., 2018, magna cum laude)

Order of the Coif
Lead Note & Comment Editor, BYU Law Review
Foreign Language and Area Studies Scholarship Recipient
Maud Birkin Peterson Research Fellow, International Center for Law and Religion Studies

University of Pennsylvania (M.S. Education, 2011)

Brigham Young University (B.S. Business Strategy, Music Minor, 2009, cum laude with University Honors)

Member of Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma

Personal:

Mr. Alton is married with three 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.

Professional Experience:

Member of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society
Member of New York Bar and Arizona Bar
Admitted to practice in Eastern District of New York and District of Arizona
Associate Attorney, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, 2018-2021 (Frankfurt, Germany and New York, NY)
Associate Attorney, Beus Gilbert McGroder PLLC, 2021-2022 (Phoenix, AZ)

Areas of Expertise:

Appeals
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law and Litigation
Creditor Rights
Employment Litigation
HOA Representation
Landlord and Tenant Representation
Probate and Trust Litigation
Real Estate Litigation

Background & Experience:

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.

Education:

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D., 2004, magna cum laude)

Order of the Coif
Lead Note and Comment Editor, BYU Law Review

Brigham Young University (B.A., English, 2001)

Professional Experience:

Law Clerk, Honorable Ferdinand F. Fernandez, United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2005–2006
Law Clerk, Honorable Jill N. Parrish, Utah Supreme Court, 2004–2005

Devin Bybee

David M. Connors

Areas of Expertise:

Guardianship/Conservatorship and Elder Law
Probate, Estate, and Trust Administration
Probate and Trust Litigation
Municipal and Governmental Litigation
State and Local Government
Trust and Estate Mediation

Background & Experience:

David Connors was appointed as a Utah District Court Judge by Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. and began his service in January 2008, after over 25 years of nationwide private practice experience as a commercial litigator handling complex civil litigation. He retired as a judge in March 2023. While a judge, he handled hundreds of mediations, arbitrations and trials, including Judicial Settlement Conferences (mediations conducted by a judge who is not the assigned judge on a case). In private practice, he was an early advocate of mediation and arbitration as efficient methods for settling high conflict disputes. Prior to his time on the bench, Judge Connors focused his practice as a business lawyer and commercial litigator for large national and international law firms.

In addition to his judgeship and private law practice, Judge Connors has a long history of public involvement, including service as a city council member and Mayor of Farmington, Utah, and service on various public committees, commissions and boards, such as the Davis County Council of Governments, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Davis Education Foundation, and Economic Development Corporation of Utah.

Education:

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D. degree, magna cum laude)

Law Review; J. Reuben Clark Scholar

Yale University (B.A., Political Science)

Kennedy T. Friend Scholar

Personal:

Interests include fly fishing, golf, spending time with four children and eleven grandchildren, and acting as roadie and amateur sound engineer for his wife, Cori Connors, who is a nationally and internationally recognized singer-songwriter.

Professional Experience:

Law Clerk to the Honorable Ellsworth A. VanGraafeiland, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, headquartered in New York City.
Private practice with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae (Partner and Utah Litigation Department head); Chapman & Cutler (Partner and Utah Litigation Department Head); Mabey Murray (Partner and Litigation Department Head); and K&L Gates (formerly Kirkpatrick, Lockhart, Johnson & Hutchison).
American Bar Association, Judicial Division, National Conference of State Trial Judges, (past Chair and current Executive Committee member)
American Inns of Court, Rex E. Lee Chapter, President 2013-2015
Utah Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders (Utah WINGS), Chair, 2015-2018
Utah State Bar (CLE Oversight Committee, CLE presenter)
Fee Arbitration Committee, Utah State Bar (arbitrator, 1993-present)
Litigation Section, Utah State Bar
Business Law Section, Utah State Bar (former Chair)

Steven G. Dearing

Monte M. Deere, Jr.

Stephen B. Doxey

Areas of Expertise:

Corporate Law and Governance
Mergers and Acquisitions
State and Local Government
Municipal and Governmental Litigation
Real Estate Development (Finance and Regulatory)
Landlord and Tenant Representation
Employment Litigation

Background & Experience:

Mr. Doxey provides general representation to businesses and public entities. He advises businesses in transactional matters such as entity formation and governance, contracts, employment, land use and development, and mergers and acquisitions. He counsels municipalities and other public entities on a broad range of legal issues, including land use, ordinance preparation, and public administration. He also serves as a resource to connect clients with appropriate personnel at BTJD for estate planning, tax, litigation, and other matters. As a result of his commercial litigation experience, Mr. Doxey emphasizes clarity and readability in documenting transactions for both private and public clients.

Education:

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D., 1985, cum laude)

Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Management (M.B.A., 1985)

Brigham Young University (B.A., Economics, 1981)

Personal:

Married, five children.
Foreign language: Spanish.
Interests include cycling, tennis, guitar, and spending time with family.
Completed nine Logan to Jackson (LOTOJA) 206-mile bicycle races.

Professional Experience:

Member and Chair, City of Holladay Planning Commission, 2000-2005.
Chair, City of Holladay Design Review Board, 2006-2012.
Member, Utah Motor Vehicle Franchise Advisory Board, 2003-2011.
Admitted to practice before the 10^th and 11^th Circuit Courts of Appeals.
Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

James C. Dunkelberger

Adam J. Fine

Jerry A. Fors

Michael B. Giles

Areas of Expertise:

Corporate Law and Governance
Estate Planning
Exempt Organizations
Guardianship/Conservatorship and Elder Law
Probate and Trust Litigation
Probate, Estate, and Trust Administration
Tax
Taxes: Federal and State
Trust and Estate Mediation

Background & Experience:

Mr. Giles works with the estate planning and taxation groups with a focus in the areas of federal and state taxation, estate and gift tax planning, probate and trust administration and guardianship and conservatorship law. He develops complex estate planning strategies and assists clients in implementing and administering their customized estate plans. He represents individual and entity taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and Utah State Tax Commission regarding income, estate and employment tax issues. Mr. Giles also advises businesses and their owners regarding the tax implications of entity choice, operations, and acquisition transactions of all sizes.

Education:

Boston University School of Law (LL.M. Taxation, 2009)

LL.M. Scholar

Boston University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2006)

Dean’s Scholar
Director, Edward C. Stone Appellate Moot Court Competition

Weber State University (B.S. Criminal Justice, magna cum laude 2003)

Elected “Top Graduate for C.J. Program” by department faculty

Personal:

Born in Taylorsville, Utah
Married, 5 children

Professional Experience:

Admitted to Massachusetts Bar, 2006
Admitted to Utah Bar, 2009
Associate Attorney, The Law Offices of Susan M. Mooney, P.C. Stoneham, Massachusetts, 2007-2008
Member, Estate Planning Section of the Utah State Bar
Member, Tax Law Section of the Utah State Bar

Adam D. Goff

Eric G. Goodrich

Areas of Expertise:

Commercial Litigation
Construction Law and Litigation
Corporate Law and Governance
Creditor Rights
Employment Litigation
Real Estate Litigation

Background & Experience:

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.

Education:

University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 2006)

Staff Editor and Member, University of Utah Law Review
William H. Leary Scholar
Judicial Intern, Honorable Dee Benson, United States District Court for the District of Utah
Recipient, CALI Excellence for the Future Awards (Natural Resources & Cyberlaw)

University of Utah (B.A., Political Science, 2001, cum laude) (B.A., Spanish, 2001)

Personal:

Born in Vernal, Utah
Married, five children
Foreign language: Spanish
Interests include mountain biking, running, canyoneering, backpacking, skiing, politics, and sports.

Professional Experience:

Admitted to practice in state and federal courts of Utah
Member, Utah State Bar Association
Member, Legislative Committee, Associated General Contractors of Utah
Continuing Education Instructor, Construction Law, Associated General Contractors of Utah

Areas of Expertise:

Appeals
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law and Litigation
Creditor Rights
Employment Litigation
Probate and Trust Litigation
Real Estate Litigation

Background & Experience:

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.”

Publications:

“Another Attempt to Eliminate Political Patronage: Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois,” 27 Willamette L. Rev. 1529 (1991).

Education:

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.

Willamette University College of Law (J.D., 1992, cum laude)

Articles Editor, Willamette Law Review, 1991-1992

Brigham Young University (B.A., American Studies, 1988)

Personal:

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.

Professional Experience:

Attorney, Parsons, Behle & Latimer, Salt Lake City, UT, 1990-1994
Member, Utah State Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Admitted to Practice before the 9th and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
Admitted to Practice before the U.S. Supreme Court

Areas of Expertise:

Appeals
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law and Litigation
Creditor Rights
Employment Litigation
Probate and Trust Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Technology and Licensing

Background & Experience:

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.

Recent Representative Experience

Achieved a multi-million-dollar settlement on behalf of a client against her former business partner in an action for racketeering, theft, and other claims.
Obtained an award of attorneys’ fees for a client, as well as an order invalidating the opposing party’s non-competition agreement in a lawsuit filed by a competitor and former employer.
Won a court order requiring a client’s former business partner to turn over stolen company records and to cease confusing customers and vendors through use of client’s name and trademark.
Won a court order requiring a client’s former employee to cease illegally soliciting the client’s workforce and using or disclosing the client’s confidential information.
Defended and obtained the dismissal of multi-million-dollar breach of contract and fraud claims, as well as obtained an award of attorneys’ fees in favor of the client.

Education:

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D., 2016, Summa Cum Laude)

BYU Law Review, Senior Editor
Federal Bar Association, BYU Chapter, President

Weber State University (B.S., Criminal Justice, 2013, Summa Cum Laude)

Outstanding Criminal Justice Graduate of 2013

Personal:

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.

Professional Experience:

Judicial Extern, Justice Thomas R. Lee, Utah Supreme Court, 2014
Judicial Extern, Judge David Sam, U.S. District Court, District of Utah, 2014
Member attorney of the Goldwater Institute’s American Freedom Network, a network of pro bono attorneys protecting individual rights and preserving freedom.

Areas of Expertise:

Commercial Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Real Estate Purchase and Sale

Background & Experience:

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.

Education:

University of Utah S.J. Quinney, College of Law (J.D., 2015)

University of Utah, Political Science (B.A., 2009)

Personal:

Married, two children.
Interests include traveling, board games, and University of Utah football.

Professional Experience:

Utah Bar Association
Hawaii Bar Association
Utah Association of Realtors
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Salt Lake Board of Realtors
Utah Association of Realtors Forms Committee (Chair) – The committee is tasked with drafting and approving the contract forms and addenda used in real estate transactions, including the forms approved by the Division of Real Estate.
Utah Association of Realtors Legislative Committee – This committee is tasked with reviewing proposed legislation that may affect real estate professionals or private property rights. Amanda has testified during the legislative session on many bills on behalf of the Utah Association of Realtors. She also meets with individual legislators to discuss proposed legislation.
Utah Association of Realtors and Salt Lake Board of Realtors Professional Standards Committees – The Professional Standards Committees conduct informal hearings when a Realtor has been accused of violating the National Association of Realtor’s Code of Ethics. The hearing panel is tasked rendering a decision after weighing the evidence and testimony presented by the parties. Amanda has sat on countless hearing panels over the course of the last six years, and has occasionally conducted a hearing as the chair.
Utah Division of Real Estate Licensed Continuing Education Instructor

Ryan M. Merriman

McKenna S. Morris

Michael Ray Morris, Jr.

David O. Parkinson

J. Reed Rawson

Jeremy C. Reutzel

Areas of Expertise:

Commercial Litigation
Administrative Litigation
Construction Law and Litigation
Creditor Rights
Employment Litigation
Government Affairs: State and Federal
Landlord and Tenant Representation
Municipal and Governmental Litigation
Real Estate Development (Finance and Regulatory)
Real Estate Litigation
Securities Litigation

Background & Experience:

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.

Education:

University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 2005)

Order of the Coif
Articles Editor, Utah Law Review
University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law Moot Court Team
William H. Leary Scholar

University of Utah (B.S., Economics, 2002)

Personal:

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.

Professional Experience:

Member, Pleasant Grove, Utah, Board of Adjustments
Law Clerk, United States Senate Judiciary Committee, 2004
Member, Utah State Bar Association
Member, Executive Committee, Young Lawyers Division, Utah State Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Association of Trial Lawyers of America

John E. Sellers

Areas of Expertise:

Corporate Finance
Corporate Law and Governance
Mergers and Acquisitions
Venture Capital and Emerging Companies

Background & Experience:

John is an income partner and a member of BTJD’s corporate and business law group, with an emphasis on equity financing transactions and mergers and acquisitions. He represents clients at all phases of an entity’s lifecycle, from bootstrapping start-ups dealing with organizational matters and contract drafting issues, to growth stages involving venture capital financings and then eventually exits. John advises on various corporate and business matters, including entity restructures, drafting, reviewing and negotiating SaaS and license agreements and other commercial contracts.

John graduated magna cum laude with a J.D. from J. Reuben Clark Law School in 2017 and has been with BTJD since then. In law school, he was an Executive Editor of the BYU Law Review and Managing Editor of Administration of the BYU Journal of Public Law. John also participated in various extracurricular activities, including fifth grade mentoring.

During his undergraduate studies at California State University, Long Beach, John served in the Long Beach Courthouse’s Self-Help Legal Access Center for self-represented individuals in litigation matters, providing information about court procedures and filings as well as on-on-one assistance.

Education:

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D., 2017, magna cum laude)

Executive Editor, BYU Law Review (2016-2017)
Managing Editor of Administration, BYU Journal of Public Law (2016-2017)
Executive Committee Member, International Law and Religion Symposium
Order of the Coif

California State University, Long Beach (B.A., Political Science, 2013, summa cum laude)

Personal:

Born and raised in Antioch, California 1988
Married, two children
Interests include home improvement projects, technology and software development, cooking, and musical theater.

Kimberly A. Smith

Robert S. (Rust) Tippett

Areas of Expertise:

Estate Planning
Exempt Organizations
Guardianship/Conservatorship and Elder Law
Probate and Trust Litigation
Probate, Estate, and Trust Administration
Tax
Trust and Estate Mediation

Background & Experience:

Robert S. (Rust) Tippett is a partner at Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere in Salt Lake City. His practice focuses on all aspects of estate planning, including trusts, probate, estate and gift taxation and conservatorships. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), and is a member of ACTEC’s Asset Protection and Legal Education Committees.

Mr. Tippett holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan. From 2003 to 2008 he served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Brigham Young University (BYU) J. Reuben Clark School of Law.

Mr. Tippett was the principal author of Utah’s asset protection trust statute, which was signed into law by the Governor on March 28, 2013.

Mr. Tippett has appeared on the Court Roster of Approved Mediators for the State of Utah, and is a member of the Utah Council on Conflict Resolution. He is available to mediate probate and trust disputes.

Mr. Tippett was selected as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite” by Utah Business Magazine in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

In addition to authoring The Utah Law of Trusts & Estates (a comprehensive 700-page legal reference treatise) and other materials available at www.utahestateplanning.org, Mr. Tippett has published and presented many articles and papers in the trust and estate field.

Education:

Yale University (B.A., 1984, cum laude)

University of Michigan (J.D., 1987)

Professional Experience:

Adjunct Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University (Wills & Estates; Trusts; Advanced Estate Planning) Fall 2009 to the Present
Recipient: 2011 BYU Law School Adjunct Professor of the Year Award.
Recipient: 2017 BYU Student Bar Association Adjunct Professor of the Year Award.
Recipient: 2018 BYU Student Bar Association Adjunct Professor of the Year Award.
Recipient: 2020 BYU Student Bar Association Adjunct Professor of the Year Award.
Adjunct Professor of Law, Gould School of Law, University of Southern California (Gifts, Wills & Trusts) Spring 2003 through Spring 2008
Recipient: 2005 USC Student Bar Association Outstanding Adjunct Professor Award
Chair, Utah State Bar Estate Planning Section 2019-2020 (Vice Chair, 2018-2019; Secretary/Treasurer, 2017-2018; Program Chair, 2016-2017)
Member, Committee on Legislation, Utah State bar Estate Planning Section, 2011 to Present
Chair, Estate Tax Committee, Taxation Section Los Angeles County Bar Association 1999-2000 (Vice Chair, 1998-1999; Secretary, 1997-1998)
Clerk to The Honorable Aldon J. Anderson, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, 1987-1988
Member-at-Large, Executive Committee, Taxation Section Los Angeles County Bar Association 2000-2002
Member of the Utah and California Bars
Member, Salt Lake Estate Planning Council

James K. Tracy

Areas of Expertise:

Commercial Litigation
Construction Law and Litigation
Creditor Rights
Employment Litigation
Municipal and Governmental Litigation
Probate and Trust Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Trust and Estate Mediation

Background & Experience:

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.

Education:

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark School of Law (J.D., 1993,magna cum laude)

Senior Editor, BYU Law Review 1991-1993
Order of the Coif

Brigham Young University (B.S. Accounting, 1990, summa cum laude)

Named the outstanding accounting graduate Class of 1990

Personal:

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.

Professional Experience:

Partner – Chapman and Cutler LLP, Salt Lake City, UT, 2006 – 2011
Partner – Mabey Murray LC, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005- 2006
Attorney – LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, LLP, 1999 – 2005
Partner – Parry Anderson & Gardiner, Salt Lake City, UT, 1998 -1999 (Associate 1993 – 1999)
Member – Utah State Bar Association, Colorado State Bar Association, Idaho State Bar Association, American Bar Association

Stephen M. Tumblin