Helper Lawyers

Paul Barrus is a member of the firm’s business and finance group. Mr. Barrus also practices in the areas of tax and employee benefits and executive compensation, which includes advising on the tax and benefit aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Barrus also has experience designing and implementing equity incentive plans.

Mr. Barrus received his Juris Doctor in 2015, graduating cum laude from Northwestern University School of Law. He received a B.S. in Political Science, cum laude, from Brigham Young University – Idaho in 2011.

Prior to joining Parr Brown, Paul practiced law as an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett...

After leaving a career as a Merchant Marine officer, Mr. Bautista has practiced criminal defense exclusively since 1999. Since then, he has represented over 4,000 clients and has obtained dismissals or not guilty verdicts in all types of criminal cases, including white collar crimes, criminal homicide, all sex crimes including rape and aggravated sex abuse of a child, aggravated burglary, robbery, thefts, forgeries, aggravated assaults, drug and alcohol charges including DUI, and domestic violence allegations. When unable to secure a dismissal, Mr. Bautista has helped obtain a favorable resolution, or tried the case before a jury. ...

Attorney Mark A. Larsen has been practicing law for more than 35 years, and as a member of Larsen & Rico, he represents individuals and businesses throughout Utah and nationwide in cases dealing with commercial litigation issues. During his career, Mr. Larsen has tried numerous complex cases across the country. His past clients include a range of local, national and international companies and insurance carriers.

James R. Tanner is a Utah employment law attorney. He was an employment lawyer with the federal government until he retired in 1998. Since that date, he has had a private practice of law in Tooele, Utah. He currently has a private practice of law with his son, Richard J. Tanner. Their firm, Tanner Law Office PLLC, provides legal services in the area of employment law, divorce and family law, criminal defense, wills, and general practice matters.

Leonor has been practicing exclusively immigration law for over 15 years. She represents clients in immigration court, Citizenship & Immigration Services, the Board of Immigration Appeals and Federal Court. Leonor has been an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) for over 15 years and has served as the Utah Chair and other executive positions. She is current the Chair of the AILA/Immigration Court Liaison Committee.

Ryan E. Simpson is a partner with Ascent Law. He’s a native of Utah, and he’s licensed to practice law in both State and Federal Courts in Utah. Ryan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from University of Utah. After completing his undergraduate studies, he went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law. Ryan’s area of expertise is in bankruptcy, asset protection, real estate transactions, construction law, collection law, and estate planning. He has helped thousands of Utah residents obtain debt relief through Bankruptcy.

Nate Quist, Associate at Valiente Mott, began his career working alongside Partners Mike and Tim at Nevada’s preeminent insurance defense trial law firm. At the insurance defense firm, Nate represented large corporations and dealt with extremely complicated legal issues. Nate left the world of insurance defense to join the Clark County Public Defender’s Office in Las Vegas.

While at the Public Defender’s Office, the majority of Nate’s time was spent in the courtroom, there he gained invaluable experience as a trial lawyer. Nate left the Public Defender’s Office to reunite with Mike and Tim and to add his unique blend of...

Jessica Couser practices in the areas of custody, divorce, parentage, enforcement, child support, private and contested adoptions, protective orders, guardianship, LGBTQ law, and more. Jess and Laura Hansen founded Just Law, LLC in 2010 with the goal of providing clients excellent, ethical and family-focused legal representation. Jess believes that family law matters require legal skill and strategy, but that they also require compassion, creativity, and fortitude. Family law attorneys should have specific knowledge of child development, trauma, communication and coping mechanisms; and should be prepared to advocate for and educate every client on the legal and practical matters they may...

Trent V. Cahill offers 15 years of legal experience to his clients and is licensed in both Michigan and Utah. Trent has an extensive knowledge of and background in a variety of legal areas-specifically that of business law, family law, and estate planning. Among other accomplishments, he has assisted clients as they wade through a messy divorce, directed the drafting of the documents necessary to restructure multi-million dollar corporations, overseen the documentation of annual minutes for over 300 entities, and provided in-house counsel type services to multiple organizations.

I began practicing law in Utah County in 1982, shortly after passing the bar. I worked with McCullough, Jones & Ivins for 16 years. After the firm broke up, I opened my own practice, and focused on estate planning, asset protection planning, probate, and elder law and medicaid planning. I am originally from Pocatello, Idaho, obtained my B.A. in history from BYU, and received my J.D. degree from BYU's law school in 1982. I am married, have four children, and live in American Fork, Utah.

Rob is a graduate of the J. Reuben Clark law school at Brigham Young University and practices in criminal defense, general litigation, aviation law, general business representation, and Fair Labor Standards Act claims. Rob graduated from the Marriott School of Business in 1980 and subsequently studied graduate-level economics at the California State University, Los Angeles. Rob is a founding partner of the Pacific Legal Group. He is also an adjunct professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School. Rob is a member of the American Inns of Court and also serves within the Provo-Orem community as a Board Member of the...

Bruce Nelson
Principal Attorney

Bruce Nelson is the founder and principal attorney of The Nelson Law Firm, PLLC. Bruce focuses his practice on business & civil litigation, family law, alternative dispute resolution, business and corporate matters, personal injury and many others.

Bruce works closely with clients to achieve their desired legal solutions. Such results are frequently obtained through negotiation as opposed to litigation although each matter has its own unique characteristics.

Before founding Nelson Law in 2004, Bruce utilized his extensive business and corporate experience in new product and new business development, training, along with conducting needful discovery for mergers and...

Geniel M. Ashcraft has helped hundreds of clients complete their estates and assist in probate administration. Ms. Ashcraft is known for her service, attention to detail, and down to earth manner. Ms. Ashcraft mainly conducts her business through house calls. Her clients find they appreciate the convenience, her easy-to-understand approach, and personal attention. Geniel started her law practice in 2002. Geniel is admitted to practice in both Washington and Utah. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western Washington District and the United States District Court of Utah. She...

Bankruptcy law practice filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies to stop garnishment, foreclosure, and collections. We have offices in West Jordan and Provo.

With nearly 30 years as a legal professional, Vernon Jolley is an accomplished trial attorney who is admitted to practice in Utah and California and before various federal district courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C. Vernon has helped thousands of clients in many areas of the law, including civil/business litigation, contract law, personal injury and family law. He is deeply committed to the cause of Fathers Rights and to helping fathers in all areas of the law. In addition to logging more hours in the courtroom...

Eric lives and works in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he focuses his practice on Estate Planning, Bankruptcy, Business Planning and Formation, and Real Estate Law. Eric also contracts with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to provide representation in Juvenile Court matters in the Western Service Area.

http://www.lawyerinutah.com/about-us/daniel-witte

Melyssa graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in the top of her class. Her prior experience in employment law, bankruptcy law, and commercial litigation give her a well-rounded perspective when advising community association clients. She has represented community associations in a large variety of matters including enforcement matters, governing document rewrites and amendments, and Fair Housing Act compliance disputes. She also represents developers and builders in their operation of community associations during the control period and in complicated legal disputes related to the development of lots. Melyssa has demonstrated a long term commitment to the...

Parker has extensive litigation experience and helps manage the litigation team at The Advocates. Raised in the Wasatch Front, Parker attended and graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Parker then graduated from the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law where he was a Board Member and the Executive Text Editor of the Utah Law Review.

Prior to joining The Advocates, Parker was a litigator at a preeminent national law firm for the better part of a decade, where he represented Fortune 500 companies and other clients involving business and employment disputes, breach of contract issues, fraud and related...

Grew up a musician in Las Vegas. Went back to school and obtained accounting degree at UNLV. Then was accepted to law school at BYU. Graduated and passed Utah State Bar in 1978 and have practiced law throughout the state of Utah ever since. Sang with Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Taught college at Washington Institute of Graduates Studies. Written two articles for Utah State Bar Journal and published two books. Have five children, two grandchildren. Passionate about justice and the law.

As the founder of Ayres Law Firm, Tyler Ayres knows that the legal system requires specific strategies to get the best possible outcome for your case. This is why Mr. Ayres has assembled Utah's most experienced team of DUI defense trial attorneys, former prosecutors and drivers license experts. Together, the entire team works in concert on your case to ensure the best possible outcome for you. "Being accused of a DUI does not make you a criminal," Tyler explains. "We treat you with respect and dignity as our team does everything possible to minimize the disruption of a DUI in your...

I defend governmental entities and their officers against complaints asserting the deprivation of civil rights. These include all types of claims of alleged misconduct, such as excessive force, search and seizure, wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and denial of medical care, to name a few. At any given time, I am involved in multiple officer-involved shooting cases from inception, including investigations by the Department of Justice and press inquiries, through conclusion. I have a deep respect for my Utah police officer clients and their dedication to society at great personal expense. I listen carefully to determine...

I'm a graduate of the University of La Verne College of Law in Ontario, CA. I practice law in Salt Lake City, Utah with a focus on immigration law. I speak English and Spanish.

I've been a criminal defense lawyer for 21 years. I represent clients accused of sex offenses, violent crimes, financial crimes, DUI and drug offenses. Over the course of my career I have tried over 60 cases to jury verdict. I pride myself in communicating with my clients and keeping them informed about the status of their case.