Overview of the Legal Market in Utah
The Utah legal landscape is both rich and diverse, steeped in a heritage of pioneering legal thought and practice that has propelled the state into the modern legal era. Though Utah may not be home to the largest or most well-known law firms, its legal climate is both dynamic and competitive. The legal community in Utah is vibrant and constantly evolving, with a mixture of new firms emerging and established ones expanding their practices to meet the growing needs of the state’s economy.
Over the years, the legal industry has adapted to the changing landscape and challenges of a varying economy. Ranked as one of the best states to do business in the US, Utah has been receptive to diversified business opportunities. That, in turn, has created a plethora of new legal specialties and business services that have become the norm in the metropolitan workforce. Changes like the influx of tech companies in Utah’s silicon slopes, for example, have created an ever-increasing demand for attorneys proficient in issues surrounding intellectual property, internet law, and tech-savvy contractual agreements. These are just a few of the reasons lawyers from all walks of life have trekked from the east coast to the mountain states—with the hope of growing with the state.
In large part, clients will seek out larger firms for their reputation and geographical coverage . Utah’s biggest law firms range from those with roots across the nation to those homegrown giants who understand the local devout, which can often be more important than just a solid marketing strategy. This is due to the fact that Utah is generally considered to be a conservative state that houses a significant portion of its population in Salt Lake City and its suburbs. Due to these generalities, clients will regularly look for legal counsel that understands their way of life and can apply their specialties accordingly. It is important to note that although neighbors, the legal climate of Utah and Idaho are worlds apart. The companies that succeed in one state may not be the same in the other as regulations and rules may change from state to state. Indeed, the two are based on complete opposite demographics, however, they are the largest contributors to Northern Utah’s economy.
Finding a Utah attorney that has experience in your field can help strengthen your case. For example, many of the largest law firms in Utah offer seasoned attorneys who have the expertise in both litigation and transactional law. This is especially significant for those planning to transfer assets during estate planning. For example, those transferring ownership of a family business through succession planning should account for free transfer of shares. There are many important things to consider when transferring assets.
Largest Law Firms in Utah by Size
A new survey of the largest law firms in Utah has yielded an interesting grouping of companies: large, small, full-service, niche, regional, and national players, with two international law firms making the cut. The survey was performed by The Ziman Group, which makes use of results from the Salt Lake City and Utah County Bar Associations found in the annual Utah 200 survey, along with information taken from the Utah Legal Directory 2015. As a result, we have an aggregate assortment of thirty firms, although Utah’s law firms have been sorted to show only the biggest. Starting with the ten biggest firms by number of lawyers: Next up in size are these firms, possessing between 50 and 100 attorneys each. Following them are firms with 25 to 50 attorneys each. The last two groups are those with 10 to 24, and between 1 and 9 attorneys.
Key Practice Areas of Leading Firms
The largest firms in Utah maintain their competitive bodies by fine-tuning their areas of specialization to match the demands of a growing and dynamic local economy. Utah’s law firms increasingly deal with technology, environmental issues and energy law as the State continues its efforts to attract these types of industries to the Mountain West. Corporate law is a key area of focus for many of the largest firms in Utah. With the Beehive State seeing high rates of corporate profitability, mergers and acquisitions are on the rise. The state’s business-friendly tax policy is also appealing to heavily incorporated companies, making them ripe for discovery by some of the biggest firms in the state. In addition to mergers and acquisitions, the largest firms are well positioned to assist with business structuring and asset protection. Litigation is also a key area of specialization for some of the largest firms in Utah. A diverse and ever-changing state economy means there are almost always business disputes to hash out. Experienced lawyers who can assist with litigation proceedings may help establish organizations’ long-term success as part of the commerce industry in Utah. Like corporate law and litigation, intellectual property law is another key area of focus for many of the State’s largest firms. Utah is one of fastest-growing states in the Nation, further exacerbating the issue of IP protection. The Salt Lake City metro area experienced an 8.09% increase in high-tech employment in 2014 as compared to 2013. Given the fact that many of the State’s most popular and thriving industries are connected in some way to high-tech production, this sector is one in which the largest firms in Utah have a prominent place. Intellectual property is complex and wide-reaching, covering everything from copyright and trademark law to patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation. It is imperative that businesses retain competent counsel for such sensitive and well-protected information, especially high-tech businesses. Further, global technology markets continue to expand, and entities seeking to target international markets need the help of experienced attorneys familiar with topics such as international licensing, the European Union’s Data Protection Directive and export restrictions. Other important practice areas specializing in health care, real estate, energy and environmental law, among others, continue to play a major role in the overall economic growth of the region. Because of the constant flux of the state’s economy, firms must stay on the cutting edge of new practice areas. The day-to-day operations of a law firm must move in sync with the local economy in order to establish a prominent position within the market.
Impact on the Utah Economy
The largest law firms in a region and state are often some of the most significant employers. In Utah, the largest firms — Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Perkins Coie, Sidley, Winston & Strawn, Kutak Rock — employ attorneys from a variety of specialties. In large cities like Salt Lake City, law firms are often the largest private employers in the area.
From the local economy perspective, the influence of the largest law firms in Utah is not limited to the jobs they provide. Having a higher concentration of big law firms increases the ability of clients seeking the services of these firms to attract out-of-state clients.
As well , these large law firms contribute to housing and real estate values in the area. With many of their workers coming from outside the region, these firms can also increase the demand for housing. The influx of new employees also means that they will support local businesses.
The large law firms also help to create opportunities for smaller law firms that have established themselves before the heavier influx of new law firms.
Notable Cases and Successes
The largest law firms in Utah boast an impressive record of handling high-profile cases. Some notable examples include:
- The Salt Lake City office of Dorsey & Whitney has been involved in several landmark employment law cases. Most notably, the firm successfully defended the state of Utah in a whistleblower case involving allegations of wrongful termination. In another case, they were instrumental in the defense of a major telecommunications company against a class-action lawsuit over data privacy issues.
- One of the largest firms in the state, Holland & Hart LLP has an extensive track record in corporate litigation, real estate development, and land use law. They have represented several Fortune 500 companies in litigation regarding the development of properties in and around Salt Lake City.
- A key player in antitrust litigation, Ray Quinney & Nebeker P.C. acted as lead counsel in a prominent anti-monopolization case that was reported on by the Wall Street Journal and sparked debate in the U.S. Congress.
Several of the largest law firms in Utah have been recognized with national awards and honors. Perhaps most impressive is the Chambers & Partners survey, which ranks the top law firms and lawyers non-U.S. based in America. One prominent firm, Paul Hastings LLP, leads the state in rankings across multiple practice areas, such as Banking & Finance.
Awards and accolades have come from The Legal 500, another highly respected rating and benchmarking organization. Their selection of the top 15 firms in the U.S. identifies three Utah-based firms.
Trends and Future Outlook
Looking ahead, it is expected that big law firms in Utah will become increasingly specialized, focusing on niche areas of law that are in high demand. This could include areas such as cybersecurity, data privacy, and renewable energy. As clients seek more tailored legal services, firms that have a deep understanding of specific industries and legal issues will be well positioned to succeed.
The rise of artificial intelligence and big data analytics is also likely to have an impact on the legal services sector in Utah. Firms that can harness these technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance client service will be at an advantage . This may include automating routine legal tasks, streamlining document review, and using data analytics to forecast legal outcomes and inform litigation strategy.
In terms of legal trends, there is likely to be a continued focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the hiring and promotion practices of big law firms in Utah. Clients are increasingly demanding diversity in their legal teams, and firms that prioritize diversity will be better positioned to compete for business.
Finally, as the legal services market becomes more competitive, it is expected that big law firms in Utah will continue to explore alternative fee arrangements and other innovative pricing models in order to provide more value to clients.