SCM LAW - Key Persons
Adrienne Moss focuses her practice on general litigation defense, insurance defense, premises liability defense, products liability defense, and transportation defense. After graduating from law school and passing the California Bar in 2017, she began her civil litigation work focusing on a variety of defense cases - transportation defense, premises liability defense, governmental litigation defense, product liability defense and employment litigation. In 2019, she moved her practice to Utah.
Adrienne earned her law degree from Southwestern Law School, where she was honored with a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in national security law and served as the Alumni Relations Chair for the Women's Law Society. She received her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of California San Diego.
Education
J.D., Southwestern Law School, 2017
B.A., University of California San Diego, 2013
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of Our Appellate Practice Group
Andrew is a member of our Appellate Practice Group, which assists clients with appealing civil and criminal matters. The Appellate Practice Group also prepares an Appellate Highlight s article for the Utah Bar Journal. This article, which is published six times a year, highlights notable cases decided by the Utah Supreme Court, Utah Court of Appeals, and Tenth Circuit.
Job Titles:
- Associate ( Utah Bar Admission Pending )
Brenda is an active member of both the legal and Salt Lake communities. She sits on the board of the Young Lawyers Division, the Litigation Section Executive Committee, and the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Salt Lake County Bar Association, Women Lawyers of Utah, and the David K. Watkiss - Sutherland II Inn of Court. Additionally, Brenda plays the clarinet with the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds and the Offbeats Jazz Ensemble and presents regularly at bar conventions and CLEs. Past presentation topics include valuation in small business litigation, attorney ethics, and working with the DOJ, and SEC, and forensic accountants on securities fraud cases.
Brenda regularly provides pro bono legal services to the American Civil Liberties Union. Outside of the courtroom, she remains active in the community playing clarinet with the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds, visiting her family in St. Louis, skiing all of Utah's ski resorts, and hiking the Bonneville Shoreline Trail with her dog, Jackson.
Brian Miller is a shareholder who leads the firm's Health Care & Medical Malpractice Defense Group. For more than 25 years, Brian has defended health care providers against the full range of medical malpractice claims - including many childbirth injury claims, which are considered the most difficult and potentially the most expensive of such claims. Brian makes a close study of emerging defenses to high-damage claims involving catastrophic injuries and life care plans.
Brian helped establish and defend laws that protect the interests of health care providers in Utah, including the landmark Utah Supreme Court decision upholding the statutory cap on general damages awardable against health care providers. Much of his work is referred to him by other lawyers and current and former clients. Brian is interested in medical malpractice prevention as well as defense. He often conducts in-service programs for his clients, as well as grand rounds programs for hospital physicians.
Brian devotes a good portion of his practice to defense of Utah hospitals, hospital systems and the University medical facilities and providers. He assists these clients with a range of medical malpractice matters and issues relating to quality improvement and risk management.
In addition, Brian represents medical doctors and other healthcare providers who are insured by medical malpractice insurance providers. His clients in this area include, for example, the University of Utah, Podiatry Insurance Company of America and Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona - among others.
As a variation in his practice, Brian represents Utah's largest amusement park.
Brian was mentored by some of the most highly regarded and respected litigation and trial attorneys in Utah. In turn, he seeks to pass on what he knows to younger partners and associates. He frequently participates as a judge in mock trials and advocacy events for local law schools. He is involved as a Master of the Bench in the American Inns of Court program, and regularly lectures to pre-law and law students on legal careers.
Within the Firm, Brian Chairs the Nomination and Business Organization Committee. He is also a member of the firm's Board of Directors.
Outside of the office, Brain spends time with his family in the mountains of Utah - hiking, camping, and fishing. He also enjoys taking multi-day hikes on back-country trails in many of the National Parks including Yellowstone, Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands.
Education
J.D., Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, cum laude, 1994
B.S., Brigham Young University, Business Management / Finance, 1991
Jason Hawkins has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation. He has handled complex business and commercial litigation cases involving a wide variety of claims, including breach of contract, fraud, intellectual property, real property, commercial torts, and professional liability claims, among others.
Jason has represented clients in state and federal courts, including trials, arbitrations, temporary restraining orders, injunctions, actions for declaratory relief, appeals, and settlements. His clients range from individuals to small and medium-sized businesses, large corporations, and governmental entities.
As part of his commercial litigation practice, Jason recently represented a commercial general contractor and its president in a five-week jury trial involving a series of contractual and commercial claims asserted by a competitor. His clients were held not liable under each of the claims brought by the competitor, and the jury awarded excess of $13 million, including $5 million in punitive damages.
Jason also represented hundreds of the victims of the 2012 Wood Hollow Fire in Central Utah (which destroyed dozens of homes, recreational properties, agricultural businesses, and more), recovering significant amounts on behalf of his clients.
Job Titles:
- Inn of Court, Member, 2016 - Present
Justin Hitt is a trial lawyer who has handled civil cases from filing of complaint through resolution by informal settlement, mediation, arbitration, trial, and appeal. Before joining Snow Christensen & Martineau, Justin was in-house counsel for Farmers Insurance, defending as "first-chair" hundreds of personal injury cases in Utah and Idaho from inception to trial, mediation, arbitration, and appeal. He tried twenty cases to jury verdict with many no-cause verdicts. In his time at Farmers Insurance, his cases involved a wide array of injury claims arising from automobile, bicycle and dog bite incidents to construction defect and slip and falls.
Heather White leads the firm's Governmental Law Practice Group and is also a vital member of the firm's Medical Malpractice group. While she primarily focuses on the defense of Utah governments in high-profile civil rights disputes, her work in defense of healthcare organizations and providers has become a branch of her practice. She defends doctors, nursing staff, other Utah medical professionals, and Utah medical facilities from complex malpractice claims.
Heather defends Utah 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, Heather has been involved in multiple officer-involved shooting cases from inception, including investigations by the Utah Department of Justice and press inquiries, through conclusion.
Heather deeply respects her Utah police officer clients and their dedication to society at great personal expense. She listens closely to determine their individual needs - whether in out-of-court settlements or in public trials. To better understand and closely connect with her clients and the matters they are involved in, she regularly participates in police ride-alongs, is certified by the Force Science Institute, and conducts training sessions for law enforcement throughout the state, including entities who are not her clients.
Heather also represents the two primary insurers of government entities in the State of Utah-the Utah Risk Management Agency and the Utah Local Governments Trust-and a number of self-insured governmental agencies. She believes in educating her clients on legally-related elements of their complex, public careers. She regularly speaks to agencies and insurers on police training, liability, risk management, and incident-prevention issues in this effort.
Heather has tried many governmental civil rights cases to a favorable defense verdict in state and federal trial and appeals courts. In addition, Heather regularly defends governments against claims involving accidents with government vehicles and premises liability, such as "slip and fall" accidents that might involve sidewalks, water meters, or swimming pools, cemeteries, playgrounds, recreational centers, and others.
Heather White is a highly experienced in Utah employment law, specializing in complex misconduct claims. Her expertise in the field makes her an ideal choice for private employers in Utah who are facing similar legal challenges, as she has a proven track record of successfully navigating such cases.
Education
J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 1996
B.A., University of Utah, cum laude, 1993
Joel Taylor's practice focuses on complex commercial disputes, transportation and trucking cases, catastrophic injury cases, extra-contractual bad-faith litigation, and all aspects of insurance law and litigation. He is committed to providing his clients exceptional legal counsel with favorable results. He also guides clients through state insurance department interfacing and compliance. As part of his practice, Joel handles rapid-response requests to provide guidance and counsel to clients when trucking and other transportation-related accidents occur. Joel has unique expertise in handling underinsured motorist claims and uninsured motorist claims.
As a trial lawyer, he has substantial first-chair trial experience in front of juries, judges, and arbitrations. He represents clients in both state and federal courts. In addition, Joel has an active appellate practice and has argued cases before both the Utah Court of Appeals and the Utah Supreme Court. He has been at the forefront on issues of first impression in Utah and developing Utah's insurance-related caselaw.
As a testament to his dedication to client service and successful results, Joel has been named as a rising star and a Top-Rated Personal Injury Attorney by Mountain States Super Lawyers for the past five years. In addition, Utah Business Magazine lists Joel as among "Utah's Legal Elite."
During law school, Joel interned with the honorable Judge Dee Benson in the United States District Court for the District of Utah. Following law school, he clerked with the honorable Judge Richard Wagner in the Sixth Judicial District Court in Nevada. Joel went on to work as Deputy District Attorney for Humboldt County, Nevada. In 2012, he returned to Utah to build his current civil litigation practice.
Education
J.D., Creighton University School of Law, 2010, cum laude
B.S., University of Utah, Economics, 2007
John Gates is a trusted and highly sought-after Utah business and estate planning lawyer, representing many of Utah's most successful and long-standing businesses and individuals.
His practice primarily focuses on assisting individuals, families, and businesses in tax and organizational planning for current operations and long-range objectives. This involves the preparation of wills, trusts, and other estate planning documentation and probate and trust administration.
John is experienced in deferred compensation, qualified retirement, and cafeteria plans, as well as the organization and operation of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and their sale, merger, and acquisition. He has also represented medical groups, professional corporations, and medically related businesses.
John also has a general real estate practice that includes representing clients in purchase, sale, leasing, real estate financing, condominium organization, and planned unit developments.
John is involved in his community and legal professional organizations and has a legacy of successful endeavors that represent and benefit the culture and history of Utah and the firm. He serves and manages the firm's curated collection of Utah art.
Education
LL.M, New York University, Taxation, 1970
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1965
B.A., University of Utah, 1962
Korey Rasmussen is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses predominately on litigation involving contract disputes, real estate, construction, and the insurance industry.
He has been practicing law for 28 years, representing clients through every phase of the litigation process. From initial stages of the conflict, through minor or lengthy complex jury trials, Korey's experience covers the full range.
Korey has a solid track record of successful trials. He has handled cases such as fraud, defamation, conversion, construction, franchise disputes, real estate, contract law, title insurance and tort law issues such as wrongful death, negligence, personal injury and Dramshop Law (alcohol liability for businesses).
He draws on his extensive background and years of mentorship under attorneys such as Hal Christensen and Reed Martineau.
Education
J.D., Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark School of Law, 1990
B.S., Brigham Young University, 1987
Melinda Bowen loves collaborating with clients to address complex issues at the most difficult times of life. Her experience ranges from guiding families through difficult personal matters, to defending those facing criminal charges and related civil liability, to leading organizational clients through high-stakes disputes.
Melinda has consulted with individuals attempting to rebuild after divorce and other family challenges. She has represented white-collar criminal defendants accused of various charges, such as tax offenses, trade secret violations, and bribery. She has assisted professional clients whose reputations and licenses were at risk in the wake of government investigations and liability suits. She has worked in teams handling complex commercial litigation for corporate clients. She has also litigated on behalf of governmental entities facing constitutional challenges, employment issues, property tax appeals, and land use disputes. With diverse litigation experience over many years, Melinda has honed her ability to organize complicated cases in an understandable way and to present a client's position in its most persuasive form.
Melinda spent the early years of her career at the firm before serving as a judicial law clerk for Judge Tena Campbell in the United States District Court for the District of Utah and for Judge Carolyn McHugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. After her clerkships, Melinda had the opportunity to return to her alma mater, this time as a full-time professor teaching courses in criminal law and criminal procedure. Although Melinda enjoyed teaching, she missed working closely with clients to address legal needs in real-time. She therefore returned to practice, first as a civil litigator at the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and now back at the firm.
In addition to her work for clients, Melinda gives extensive time to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, both in the law and in the larger community. She regularly presents on these topics, mentors students of all ages, and assists with programs that provide resources to those with diverse identities as they navigate individual paths to professional careers. Outside of these efforts, Melinda also enjoys traveling, running, eating good food with good friends, watching sporting events (especially when her kids are participating), and doing all things outdoors. Whenever possible, she does these things with her husband, four boys, and their trusty black lab, Tupac.
Education
J.D., Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark School of Law, 2010
B.S., Brigham Young University, 2006
Michael Carlston leads the firm's Real Estate Practice Group. His work focuses on counseling developers, investors, businesses, and governmental entities in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions including negotiating and implementing the terms of commercial real estate and other complex transactions, preparing loan documents, and commercial litigation.
Michael also represented hundreds of victims of the 2012 Wood Hollow Fire in Central Utah (which destroyed dozens of homes, recreational properties, agricultural businesses, and more), recovering significant amounts on behalf of his clients.
Education
J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 1973
B.S., University of Utah, cum laude, 1970
Michael Lowe is an accomplished trial attorney. He has practiced for more than 50 years, appearing primarily for the defense, and has dealt with a wide range of legal issues in numerous industries, businesses, and market sectors.
Michael has handled lengthy mediations, arbitrations, and trials to verdict of complex litigation matters in multiple areas of legal discipline, with a practice emphasis on construction industry claims. These include representing general and sub-contractors surety bond loss and work-out difficulties and complex primary, excess, umbrella, and reinsurance coverage matters with an emphasis on environmental pollution, asbestos, sub-prime lease fraud, and other forms of commercial litigation.
During his career, Michael has also handled serious injury cases and professional liability defense, including medical, legal, accounting, engineering, and premises liability. He has tried more than 90 cases to verdict in state and federal trial courts and has appeared in state and federal trial courts nationwide. He has argued matters in most California Appellate Districts and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
Michael was selected by the Los Angeles Daily Journal to be profiled in an article series devoted to prominent insurance defense counsel in Southern California. He has been a guest speaker and panel member on subjects related to insurance and commercial litigation and trial tactics, the trial of the complex commercial case (both claim and defense), the handling of experts in trial and discovery, and other aspects of defending the insurance industry and defending and pursuing affirmative commercial business claims.
In May 2002, Michael served as one of three lead trial counsel in one of the ten largest cases ever tried to verdict in California. The case involved a six-month trial in three separate phases: insurance coverage, including umbrella/excess policies, admissible evidence, and jury presentation on fact issues. He has also tried cases to verdict in Federal "MDL" (Multidistrict Litigation) lawsuits in California, Nevada, and Ohio Federal District Courts.
Before joining SCM in 2015, Michael was a trial partner for 35 years in the Southern California litigation firm of Booth, Mitchel & Strange.
Education
J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 1970
B.A., University of Utah, 1967
Nathan Crane is a Utah criminal defense lawyer who primarily represents individuals and companies accused of criminal activity anywhere in the country. He has successfully defended individuals charged in both state and federal court for many offenses, including theft and fraud charges, sexual assault, tax and securities fraud, violent crime, drug offenses, and other serious and complex felonies.
Matthew Cox is a shareholder with the firm and leads its Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights Practice Group. His practice focuses on representing financial institutions and other lenders in efforts to protect their collateral and loan rights in federal and state courts, including bankruptcy courts. In particular, Matt defends these lenders and other clients against avoidance, preference, and fraudulent transfer claims made by trustees and receivers. Additionally, he assists creditors in obtaining relief from the bankruptcy automatic stay and in prosecuting objections to confirmation.
Matt defends clients against claims from borrowers or customers related to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Utah Consumer Sales Practice Act; and against claims asserted in bankruptcy court for the return of funds received by creditors. In these matters, he has represented law firms, hospitals, businesses, and collection agencies. Matt works closely with banks and lenders to help create robust loan and loan modification documents for compliance with federal and state guidelines to forestall litigation. He also works closely with real estate professionals and related parties in negotiating purchase contracts, leases, options, and litigation.
For nearly a decade, Matt devoted much of his time to defending dozens of trustee preference, fraudulent transfer, and other avoidance actions, with total damages in excess of $45 million, revolving around the C.W. Mining Bankruptcy case. In addition, he represents well-known national auto lenders in numerous consumer bankruptcy cases each month.
Richard Van Wagoner is the Chair of the firm's Board of Directors. He also leads the firm's Criminal Defense Practice Group. His practice focuses on criminal defense-primarily white-collar and some street crime-commercial litigation and First Amendment law.
Much of Rick's practice involves representing clients who are either under criminal investigation or who have been charged with crimes. He regularly defends individuals charged in both state and federal court for many offenses, including theft and fraud charges, rape and sexual assault, tax and securities fraud, drug offenses, and other serious and complex felonies. He has been involved in numerous significant cases of alleged white-collar crime. He approaches his cases with a deep commitment and attempts to understand both the mistaken mindset prosecutors and investigators attribute to his clients and the criminal mind.
A substantial part of Rick's criminal defense practice focuses on working with prosecutorial and investigative agencies to prevent charges from being filed in the first place. When charges are filed, he provides his client with a vigorous defense.
Robert Cummings has a distinctly varied litigation and business formation practice through a variety of courts, including federal and state courts across the nation. His success is based on over a decade of expansive experience practicing law. He is respected, innovative, and conscientious and provides sound solutions for his clients.
Business Advising and Transactions. Robert has assisted many clients with business formations and, after that, remained involved in drafting organizational and operational documents, minutes, resolutions, and other necessary business records. He also assists clients with risk analysis, internal investigations, general contract drafting, and change-in-control transactions. Robert has also advised many clients on various transactions, including equity purchases and sales, asset purchase agreements, and other changes in control matters.
Litigation and Trial Work. Robert began his career as a commercial and white-collar litigator but now focuses primarily on commercial and business disputes. Robert has tried multiple cases to verdict, including a six-day trial in the summer of 2021 regarding his clients' alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, resulting in a complete defense verdict, and a multi-day business valuation trial resulting in a valuation in line with the value Robert and his expert placed on the shares at issue. On the criminal side, Robert has tried criminal fraud cases, including a three-day jury trial with securities fraud and theft allegations resulting in the theft counts being dismissed in trial and the securities fraud counts reversed on appeal based upon an argument Robert raised during motion practice prior to trial, and a three-week health care fraud trial in St. George resulting in acquittals for both defendants, including Robert's client. He has also had several bench trials, including a business valuation trial that resulted in the judge essentially adopting the opinion of Robert's expert, which was a great result for his clients.
Appellate. Robert has assisted multiple clients with their appeals, including having affirmed his motion to dismiss a case involving an online comment that the plaintiff asserted was defamatory. This resulted in the first published opinion in Utah regarding the issue.
While in law school, Robert was an extern for the Honorable Johnnie B. Rawlinson of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Following graduation, he began his career at the internationally preeminent law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he represented Fortune 500 companies, investment banks, accounting firms, and other clients in defending and prosecuting a wide variety of claims. He returned to Utah with his wife and family in 2013 and opened a law firm prior to joining Snow Christensen & Martineau in 2019.
Education
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2009
M.S., University of Utah, Economics, 2006
B.A., Westminster College, 2004
Robert Keller is a shareholder with the firm. He works closely with a wide range of municipal government clients throughout Utah in land use litigation, including vested rights, zoning issues and condemnation. An experienced litigator, he has 30 reported appellate decisions.
Robert's land use practice often includes defending municipalities against claims filed by developers who disagree with local regulations or their application, or against claims by neighbors or others who oppose municipal decisions.
A significant part of Robert's land use practice also involves assisting local governments with the use of eminent domain to acquire private property that is needed for public building projects. He served on the committee establishing the Model Utah Jury Instructions to be used in condemnation actions.
Robert's practice has also included the defense of municipalities against challenges to their sign ordinances - especially in the wake of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Reed v. City of Gilbert. Under this decision, which clarified when municipalities may impose content-based restrictions on signage, many existing ordinances are problematic - and some no longer enforceable.
Robert's philosophy of practice is to use listening and logical reasoning skills and experience to de-escalate contentious interactions and reach the best possible outcome for all parties - through negotiation or, if necessary, litigation.
Education
J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 1986
B.A., Brigham Young University, 1981
Rodney Parker leads the firm's appellate practice. Rodney's practice focuses on civil and criminal appeals, family law and general litigation.
Rodney has handled more than 100 appeals in federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Utah Supreme Court, the Utah Court of Appeals, and the Arizona Court of Appeals. He has served on the Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
In addition, Rodney is a recognized resource on First Amendment cases that involve freedom of religion. Rodney has represented the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in a number of challenges to the group's beliefs and practices, including a challenge to the Utah bigamy law that went to the United States Supreme Court. In the wake of the 2008 YFZ Ranch raid, in which the court removed 462 children from the Ranch, Rodney was the group's media spokesman.
His family law practice often involves custody disputes that encompass religious beliefs. He also uses his business finance background to advise clients in the area of divorce, especially in situations involving division of significant marital estates and business assets.
Rodney is experienced in all aspects of litigation - including discovery, motion practice, evidentiary hearings, trial, and appeal. He has litigated cases involving a wide range of general and business disputes, including product liability, professional liability, employment, ERISA, and patent disputes. He offers broad experience in computerized litigation support.
Before joining the firm, Rodney served as Associate Deputy Attorney General on the immediate staff of the Deputy Attorney General of the United States in Washington, D.C. In that position, he exercised the DAG's oversight function for the Lands and Natural Resources Division and the Civil Division.
Rodney heads our Appellate Practice Group, which assists clients with appealing civil and criminal matters. The Appellate Practice Group also prepares an Appellate Highlights article for the Utah Bar Journal. This article, which is published six times a year, highlights notable cases decided by the Utah Supreme Court, Utah Court of Appeals, and Tenth Circuit.
Rodney served as President of Snow Christensen & Martineau from 2019-2021.
Rodney has always liked the technical side of things. At work, he likes to fix clients' legal problems. Outside of the office, Rodney likes to fix things - especially classic cars including Corvettes, Mustangs and Land Rovers. Rodney makes improvements around the house and at his cabin, where he enjoys stargazing with his collection of telescopes.
Education
J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 1983
B.A., University of Utah, magna cum laude, 1980
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Board