Parr Brown Gee & Loveless

09/01/2026

Parr Brown Gee & Loveless has secured a significant appellate victory for the firm's client, the Utah State Bar, with the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirming judgment for the Bar in a First Amendment challenge to Utah's integrated bar. The published opinion in Pomeroy v. Utah State Bar, issued August 31, 2026, preserves the Utah Supreme Court's mandatory bar membership and licensing-fee structure and rejects an effort to challenge activities undertaken by the Utah State Bar to serve Utah’s legal profession, the judiciary, and the public.

The case was part of a coordinated, multi-state campaign challenging the existence of integrated bar associations, in an effort to alter basic principles of First Amendment law. The plaintiff, a licensed Utah attorney represented by the Goldwater Institute, argued that requiring her to join the Utah State Bar and pay annual licensing fees violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, and that the Bar's procedures did not adequately protect members' licensing fees from being spent on activities unrelated to regulating the legal profession. She challenged the Bar's activities including lobbying, information published in the Utah Bar Journal, and social media posts, and asked the court to declare the Utah State Bar’s licensing requirements unconstitutional and enjoin the enforcement of the Utah Supreme Court’s rules governing the Utah State Bar. The district court reviewed the Bar’s procedures and conduct and rejected the plaintiff’s arguments, granting summary judgment to the Bar. The plaintiff appealed that decision to the Tenth Circuit.

The ruling marks another significant appellate victory for Parr Brown Gee & Loveless and underscores the firm’s strength in constitutional litigation and high-stakes appeals. Businesses, institutions, or individuals facing complex appeals or seeking experienced appellate counsel may contact Dick Baldwin, Chair of Parr Brown’s Appellate Practice Group, at [email protected] or 801-257-7967.

Read our full press release: https://parrbrown.com/parr-brown-successfully-defends-the-utah-state-bar-against-constitutional-challenge/

08/26/2026

Parr Brown Shareholder Jonathan Hafen recently spoke with the Deseret News about the evolving legal landscape surrounding NCAA eligibility following the California state court injunction allowing BYU basketball player Jaxon Kohler a fifth season.

The Cougars’ newly-committed big man was granted a fifth year of NCAA eligibility as part of a recent California injunction.

08/20/2026

Congratulations to our 64 attorneys who were recognized in the 2027 Edition of Best Lawyers in America!

This number includes seven of our attorneys recognized as "Ones to Watch": Chaunceton Bird, Austin Bybee, Kody Hasebi, Claire McGuire, Jonathan Routson, Michael A. Stevens, and Chase Wilde.

Also included are the Firm's nine "Lawyer of the Year" honorees: Marty Banks, Paul Barrus, Joseph Covey, Jonathan Hafen,Stephen Hale, Jeffrey Hunt, Seth King, Justin Matkin, and David Reymann.

Find out more here:

08/18/2026

Parr Brown's Jonathan Hafen, who also serves as chairman of the Tuacahn Board, was quoted in the New York Times in an article on Tuacahn Center for the Arts and their production of "Les Misérables."

(Article behind paywall)

Regional theaters can once again produce “Les Misérables” because a national tour has ended. One veteran actor called the popular show “an instant moneymaker.”

08/17/2026

Shareholder Jonathan Hafen spoke at a press conference last Thursday about the launch of Sego Leadership (formerly the Women's Leadership Institute of Utah) at The Other Side Village in Salt Lake City.

The organization’s makeover seeks to distinguish the organization and tailor to a Utah-based audience.

08/12/2026

Parr Brown is pleased to announce that Shareholder Sean Sigillito has been appointed by the Utah Supreme Court to be a member of its Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct. Sean joins a group of Parr Brown attorneys who serve as appointed members of advisory committees to the Utah Supreme Court, including Dick Baldwin, Ash McMurray, and Kade Olsen.

07/27/2026

Environmental Law Alert: Shareholder Marina Thomas on the EPA's clarification of the applicability of the Clean Air Act's Acid Rain Program for islanded power generation facilities, and why it matters.

Read the full update here: https://parrbrown.com/epa-clarifies-acid-rain-program-applicability-for-islanded-power-generation-facilities/

07/21/2026

Please join us in welcoming Emily Strong to Parr Brown!

We have been fortunate to have Emily as one of our Summer Associates, and now, as a member of our Business and Finance practice, she will focus on helping our clients with estate planning, corporate tax issues, charitable giving, and more.

Emily received her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, and her J.D. from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.

We're thrilled to have you on board, Emily!

Find out more about Emily and her practice here: https://parrbrown.com/attorney/emily-strong/

07/09/2026

Parr Brown officially welcomes Ian McLaughlin to the Firm!

After his experience clerking with the Utah Supreme Court and the Utah Court of Appeals, Ian joined our Commercial Litigation practice, where he where his focus includes LLC membership disputes, securities litigation, employment law and entertainment and trademark matters.

Ian received his J.D., cm laude, from BYU, where he also received his undergraduate degree.

We're fortunate to have you on our team, Ian!

Find out more about Ian and his practice here: https://parrbrown.com/attorney/ian-mclaughlin/

06/10/2026

In a noteworthy decision, the Utah Court of Appeals has delivered a significant win for Parr Brown clients, reviving major claims arising from a catastrophic construction-site fire that destroyed a neighboring residence.

Parr Brown represented two individuals whose home was destroyed by a fire that began at a multi-story apartment project under construction in Ogden, and resulted in the tragic loss of their pets. The homeowners brought claims against the developer and contractor of the project, alleging that they failed to exercise reasonable care in securing and managing the construction site. The district court dismissed the claims, concluding that the defendants owed no duty to protect neighboring property owners from damages caused by a third party who allegedly started the fire.

On appeal, the Utah Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s summary judgment ruling and held that "landowners owe a duty to adjoining landowners and inhabitants to exercise reasonable care when they engage in construction activities on their property.” The ruling reinstates multiple claims and provides important guidance for future construction and property-damage litigation across Utah. This outcome reflects Parr Brown’s continued strength in sophisticated appellate advocacy and complex civil litigation.

The Parr Brown team of attorneys representing the homeowners includes Dick Baldwin, Steve Glauser, Daniel Sorenson, and Jonathan Schofield.

If you are evaluating a potential appeal or seeking experienced appellate counsel, contact Dick Baldwin, Chair of Parr Brown’s Appellate Practice Group, at [email protected] or 801-257-7967.