KIRTON MCCONKIE PC - Key Persons
Adam Wahlquist is an experienced domestic and international arbitration attorney with a track record of success. He has represented clients in a wide range of commercial disputes, investment disputes, and construction disputes before leading domestic and international arbitration institutions, including the ICDR, the AAA, the ICC, and the Vienna International Arbitration Centre. He has served as counsel in ad hoc matters, including those governed by the English Arbitration Act.
Mr. Wahlquist is also an experienced litigator. He has successfully represented clients in bench and jury trials in state and federal courts. His successes include a multimillion-dollar jury verdict on a counterclaim in a securities fraud dispute, an eight-figure settlement on a products liability claim, and a collective settlement of over $30 million in a class action against a special services district on behalf of a class of developers.
Mr. Wahlquist has lectured on international arbitration topics. He is also an adjunct professor of international arbitration at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. In that capacity, he has assisted with the BYU International Commercial Arbitration Academies to Singapore and Geneva.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Wahlquist was a business litigation associate at McCormick Barstow, LLP in California and a federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Earl H. Carroll at the United States District Court, District of Arizona.
Mr. Wahlquist is fluent in English and French, and has lived abroad in Europe and Africa.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Firm
Alex Clark is a member of the firm's First Amendment and Religious Organizations section. His practice focuses on risk management, litigation prevention, investigation, and religious liberty.
Prior to joining Kirton McConkie, Mr. Clark represented juveniles in delinquency matters and provided appellate work as an attorney with the Utah County Public Defender Association. Mr. Clark is a graduate of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University and a former law clerk for the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Practice Areas
First Amendment and Religious Organizations
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Firm
Alyssa Depew is a member of the firm's Tax and Estate Planning section. Her practice is focused on all aspects of international, federal, state, and local taxation. She advises clients with a variety of tax structures within several industries, including health care entities, public charities, and private foundations. She provides guidance on complex tax rules and regulations, ensuring that tax exemptions, operational structures, and transactions follow all guidelines.
Ms. Depew has experience advising and assisting clients with the formation and operation of nonprofit organizations, planned giving and donor-advised funds, and investments in private equity and hedge funds.
Experience
Judicial Intern for Judge Douglas Dodd, U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Middle District of Louisiana, 2017
Judicial Intern for Judge John W. deGravelles, U.S. District Court - Middle District of Louisiana, 2016
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / St. George
- Member of the Firm
Amanda Todd is a member of the firm's Litigation section. Her journey to law came through building a successful real estate company spanning three states and garnering national attention. An insatiable learner, Ms. Todd wanted to broaden the scope of her professional expertise by becoming an attorney.
Ms. Todd strives for a collaborative approach, even when litigation is complex and intense. She has successfully represented clients who received legal relief and peaceful resolutions despite difficult situations. Her client care and attention to detail are unmatched.
Ms. Todd is a mentor to many and a motivational speaker who always looks to add value to any room she is in. In her free time, she competes in Ironman triathlons and enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and dogs. Ms. Todd is an honest and compassionate person, and a trustworthy and fierce advocate. Her goal is to exceed and expand the expectations of all of her clients.
Practice Areas
Litigation
Education
Mitchell Hamline School of Law, JD, 2023
Brigham Young University, BS, 2003
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Firm
- Shareholder / Boise
Ammon Hansen is a member of the firm's International section where he helps guide companies on international business matters involving international trade, export controls, enforcement matters, due diligence efforts, sanctions, and disputes. Prior to joining Kirton McConkie, Mr. Hansen worked as a legal director and senior trade counsel at one of the world's largest defense contractors advising on global trade and compliance matters, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and other government regulations.
As a former prosecutor, Mr. Hansen also assists companies dealing with government investigations, grand jury and document subpoenas, search warrants, and other government inquiries. He conducts internal investigations for small and large businesses and helps clients navigate state and federal criminal investigations and prosecutions. He has represented companies involved in government investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Idaho Attorney General's Office, and other federal and state law enforcement.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Firm
Amy McDonald is a member of the firm's Litigation section. Her practice focuses on all aspects of civil, commercial, and healthcare litigation. She has handled litigation matters related to employment, construction, and torts. Ms. McDonald has specialized experience in defending hospitals, healthcare facilities, and healthcare providers, including the two largest hospital chains in Utah. She also assists in handling physician privileging matters.
Ms. McDonald was awarded the Utah State Bar's Young Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year in 2020 and 2021 for her assistance with pro se litigants in debt collection matters in conjunction with the Utah State Bar.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Firm
Brad Lowe is a member of the firm's Tax and Estate Planning section. His practice focuses on employee benefit programs of all kinds, including executive compensation, qualified retirement plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, equity incentive plans, payroll practices, health plans, and various other fringe benefit arrangements.
Mr. Lowe has been recognized by his peers as a Mountain States Super Lawyers rising star for employee benefits law.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Chairman of the Energy
Brian Burnett handles a wide variety of energy, natural resources, and environmental law matters for clients before federal, state and local agencies, and governmental entities. Mr. Burnett is also involved in various aspects of energy and utility development, including contract negotiation, obtaining governmental approval and related permits, as well as project operation and compliance. His practice includes water, property, contract, and telecommunications law and related litigation. He has represented developers and landowners in the development of cogeneration, small power production, and renewable energy facilities, including geothermal and solar facilities and solar farms.
Mr. Burnett has served as the chair of the Energy, Natural Resources & Environmental Law Section of the Utah State Bar, serving previously as chair of the Energy Committee. He served twice as the chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Utah State Bar. He was previously the chair of the Bonneville School Community Council. He is currently on the Leadership Committee of "and Justice for all" and vice-chair of the Foothill-Sunnyside Community Council in Salt Lake City.
Brittney Herman is in the firm's Tax and Estate Planning section. In her practice, she represents exempt organizations seeking to obtain or maintain tax-exempt status. Her practice is focused on multiple aspects of international, federal, state, and local taxation, with a focus in tax-exempt organizations. She advises clients with a variety of tax structures, with experience representing clients from several industries, including public charities, private foundations, health care entities and systems, and industrial businesses. Brittney provides a range of guidance on complex tax rules and regulations, ensuring that tax exemptions, entity structures, and transactions follow all applicable guidelines. Her experience has included advising and assisting clients with the formation and operation of nonprofit organizations, large gift transactions, and tax concerns relating to mergers of small businesses.
Previously, Ms. Herman worked as a faculty research fellow at Brigham Young University Law School where she co-taught a class and wrote a book about Abraham Lincoln's legal career and leadership as president.
Ms. Herman graduated with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center with an LLM in taxation. She received her JD degree cum laude from J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Tennessee Technological University, where she graduated at the top of her class with a degree in English and a music minor.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing
- Marketing Director
- Member of the Executive Committee
As the firm's marketing director, Brooke Wright oversees all marketing and communication efforts. She manages advertising, website, PR, media, conference participation, and event initiatives and leads marketing collateral development, creation, and fulfillment. She also oversees client development opportunities, including community and firm events.
Ms. Wright is an experienced corporate, internal, and nonprofit marketing and communication professional with more than 15 years of experience. She's skilled in event management, social media, fundraising, public speaking, and leadership. She's a member of both the Legal Marketing Association and the Utah Association of Legal Administrators.
In her free time, Ms. Wright loves quilting, playing the piano, studying subcultures, going on walks, trying new foods, traveling, puns, and spending time with family and friends.
Education
Westminster College, Master of Strategic Communication
Brigham Young University, B.A. Communications
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Firm
Bryce Dalton is a member of the firm's Real Estate section. His practice primarily focuses on commercial, agricultural, industrial, and residential real estate matters throughout the country. He represents clients in all aspects of development, including acquisition, due diligence, financing, zoning, entitlements, leasing, and sales. Additionally, Mr. Dalton has extensive experience in corporate, construction, and probate and estate law, as well as in representing clients in complex civil litigation matters.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Dalton worked in corporate finance and real estate development, specializing in ski resort and golf course projects. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in business management (with a corporate finance emphasis), with secondary studies in civil engineering.
Affiliations
American Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association, Real Property Section
Texas State Bar Association, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section
Urban Land Institute
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Firm
Cameron Hancock is a member of the firm's Litigation, Real Estate, and Intellectual Property sections. He joined Kirton McConkie in 2012 after 20 years practicing at one of Salt Lake City's largest local law firms and three years at a national firm. Mr. Hancock is one of nine members of the firm's Board of Directors and serves on the Executive Committee, which oversees and manages all aspects of firm business as the Vice President.
His educational training, work experience and legal practice have culminated into significant expertise prosecuting and defending commercial litigation matters in areas such as anti-trust, bankruptcy, real estate transactions, construction disputes, contract disputes, commercial torts, fraud claims, patent, trademark, copyright and false advertising litigation.
Mr. Hancock has represented financial institutions and banks in lender liability actions, creditors' rights litigation, civil RICO claims and other related bank litigation and has successfully defended clients in disputes with financial institutions. Mr. Hancock has litigated and taken cases to trial or arbitration in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Illinois, Texas and Colorado.
Other areas of emphasis include representing motor vehicle dealers in litigation with manufacturers such as against General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Lamborghini, Audi, and Volkswagen as well as all matters related to the operation of their dealerships. In addition, he has represented clients in real estate matters involving purchase and sale agreements, construction agreements, defective construction claims, liens, easements, zoning and use of real property. He also has significant experience representing clients in shareholder disputes.
Mr. Hancock is recognized as one of Utah's Legal Elite for business litigation and as one of the Best Lawyers in America for construction litigation and mergers and acquisition litigation.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Firm
Carla Swensen-Haslam is a member of the firm's Litigation section, with a focus on commercial and general civil litigation. You may also recognize her as a TV analyst for ESPN+ and other local sports networks.
Additionally, Ms. Swensen-Haslam has immigration law experience working with asylum seekers on the United States/Mexico border. She is an acclaimed TEDx speaker and participates frequently in public events and panels to discuss recent immigration law and reform. You can watch her TEDx talk entitled "Credible Fear" here.
Ms. Swensen-Haslam earned a JD from the J. Rueben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University where she studied as a J. Reuben Clark Leadership Fellow and engaged in a rigorous study of leadership and the use of law to promote systematic change for vulnerable communities. She also served as the president of the Federal Bar Association (law school chapter).
Prior to law school, Ms. Swensen-Haslam spent time with the U-20 Colombian Women's National Soccer Team, and later went on to play soccer at BYU, where she won three conference championships and made multiple NCAA tournament appearances. She graduated with a BA in broadcast journalism and worked professionally as a TV sports analyst for professional soccer matches and a sideline reporter for college football.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Experience
- Member of the Firm
Chad Grange is a member of the firm's International and Corporate sections. He has a broad international and domestic background in general corporate, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, hi-tech/digital media, alternative energy technologies, direct sales, MLM, international and domestic distributorships, licensing, medical device, pharmaceutical, and other life science company representation. He has worked as an attorney in Tokyo, Japan, and New York City, New York, where he represented publicly-traded and privately-held clients in all facets of both the buy and sell sides of mergers and acquisitions transactions, such as cash/stock deals, tender offers, reverse subsidiary mergers, and other sophisticated corporate transactions.
Mr. Grange represents the entire spectrum of domestic and international organizations, from pre-revenue startups, to multibillion-dollar a year entities. He also acts as outside general counsel for several clients with a particular expertise in contract negotiations, drafting, and management across the entire organization. As an adjunct professor of law at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law, Mr. Grange teaches the very popular "Contracts in the Modern Economy" course.
Mr. Grange is recognized as one of Utah's Legal Elite for business, corporate, and international law, and as a Mountain States Super Lawyers Rising Star for mergers and acquisitions.
Experience
Represented a public company client in its $900 million acquisition of a 50% equity stake in numerous geothermal and natural gas energy facilities throughout the United States; managed due diligence process for the transaction.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Member of the Firm
- of Counsel / St. George
Charles Dahlquist is a member of the firm's Risk Management & Insurance Defense Practice sections working in our St. George law office. He specializes in healthcare law, including medical malpractice defense, physician credentialing, healthcare licensing, and risk management. Mr. Dahlquist represents the largest not-for-profit hospital company in the country in medical malpractice defense, physician credentialing and peer review hearings, healthcare, and healthcare provider licensing issues. He has served as a mediator in various healthcare-related cases and as a hearing officer in connection with physician credentialing cases.
He is the former Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany and has received the Order of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz) from President Johannes Rau, former president of Germany, for his service to Germany and in strengthening its relationship with the United States.
Mr. Dahlquist is recognized as one of Utah's Legal Elite for and one of the Mountain States Super Lawyers for Litigation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Firm
- Utah County Managing Shareholder
Christian Collins is a member of the firm's Employment and Risk Management sections. His practice focuses on civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels.
Mr. Collins is recognized as one of Utah's Legal Elite for business litigation and a Mountain States Super Lawyers Rising Star in employment and labor.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / St. George
- Member of the Firm
Andrew Lajoie is a member of the firm's Litigation section. His broad litigation practice includes all manner of business, corporate, real estate, and negligence disputes. He also practices corporate law, which allows him to assist clients with business formation and other contract needs. Additionally, he has extensive experience in representing creditors pre- and post-judgment.
Andrew continues to practice Nevada law, where he previously resided in Las Vegas, and has a wide range of experiences with the state and federal court systems there. He works out of our St. George law office.
Practice Areas
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Secretary
- Secretary of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Boise Managing Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
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- Executive Assistant
- Member of the Executive Committee
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- Director of Administration
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Facilities Manager
- Member of the Executive Committee
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- Director of Human Resources
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Vice President of the Executive Committee
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- Director of Information Technology
- Member of the Executive Committee
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- Member of the Executive Committee
- President
- President of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Leadership Fellow / President of the Federal Bar Association ( Law School Chapter )
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- Idaho Prosecuting Attorney
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Southern Utah Managing Shareholder
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- General President, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - Day Saints