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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.
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.
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.
Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D. degree, magna cum laude)
Yale University (B.A., Political Science)
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.
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
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.
Born in Taylorsville, Utah Married, 5 children
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mr. Parkinson focuses on Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law, Guardianships, Contested Estates, and Tax and Business Planning.
Mr. Parkinson served as President of the Mountain States Pension Conference (1985-1987), Chairman of the Tax Section (1985-1986), as Chairman of the Elder Law Section of the Utah State Bar (2019-2020), and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Outdoor Resources Foundation of Utah (1988-2007). He is currently serving as a Board member of the Elder Law Section of the Utah State Bar and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Holladay Community Messiah Foundation. He also serves as a member of the Probate Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee to the Utah Supreme Court on the Rules of Civil Procedure.
Married, 5 children Interests: Backpacking, fishing, running, pioneer history.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Newly joining the firm after moving from Texas to Utah, Ms. Jennings has 13 years of experience in oil and gas law, probate and estate administration, estate planning, real estate law, corporate law and governance, civil litigation as well as working in the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
California University of Pennsylvania (B.A. English, 2009)
You can find Ms. Jennings on her mountain bike, traveling, hiking, or being anywhere outdoors.
Ms. Montoya has been with the firm since 2006. 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.
Ms. Smith has been working as a paralegal for over 14 years, after receiving her Paralegal Certificate in 2009. She joined BTJD in 2023.
Salt Lake Community College (A.S. Paralegal Studies, 2009)
University of Utah (B.S. Anthropology, 2013)
Interests include cooking for friends and family, traveling, and graphic design.