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Judge Building, Suite 740 8 East Broadway Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-2204 Telephone: 801-363-0940 |
Attorneys
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James B. Hanks Paul W. Mortensen Robert W. Peterson |
| James B.
Hanks Mr. Hanks has practiced law in Utah state and federal courts since receiving his law degree from Gonzaga University in 1984 and has obtained experience in most major areas of law practice. After receiving his license, Mr. Hanks practiced with the labor law firm of Cook and Wilde where he received training and experience in employment and labor matters. Thereafter, he worked for Kipp and Christian, a Salt Lake City law firm, and handled a wide variety of cases including personal injury and insurance defense matters, and provided legal counsel to a Salt Lake City Bank. In 1992, Mr. Hanks began his own law practice, working subsequently as Hanks & Rooker, P.C., Hanks, Rooker & Denning, P.C., and presently, as Hanks & Mortensen, P.C. Early in his career, Mr. Hanks began taking family law/divorce cases and that portion of his practice has grown over the years to where it has now become a major part of his practice. Mr. Hanks has successfully litigated numerous high conflict complex divorce/family law cases involving substantial assets, large alimony awards and difficult custody issues and has broad experience in adoption matters and cases involving the termination of parental rights. He has argued cases before the Utah Supreme Court, the Utah Court of Appeals and has substantial courtroom experience. He was included in the 2007 edition of Mountain States Super Lawyers in Family Law. He has also been recognized in Utah Business Magazine (2004-2008) as one of Utah's premier family law attorneys. He has attained Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating (AV rating) for legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Hanks has been a frequent lecturer and presenter at family law seminars. Mr. Hanks' practice also includes personal injury actions, civil litigation, criminal defense, and wills and trusts. He has practiced before administrative agencies, including workman's compensation cases. He has served as a judge pro tem. Mr. Hanks received a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering from the University of Utah in 1981 and received an engineer in training license (E.I.T.) the same year. Prior to his legal training, he worked in an underground coal mine in Carbon County, Utah, and worked in open pit copper mines in Utah and Arizona. Paul W. Mortensen Mr. Mortensen has over thirty years of experience since receiving his law degree from the University of Utah in 1977. He has practiced in state and federal district courts and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Court rulings have described Mr. Mortensen's work as "meticulous" and "zealous advocacy of the highest order." Mr. Mortensen's extensive divorce and family law practice includes complex marital estates and alimony, child custody and child support, prenuptial agreements, termination of parental rights, guardianships, and protective orders. Mr. Mortensen emphasizes accessibility and communication with his clients, recognizing the importance of the attorney-client relationship during the high stresses of divorce litigation. He has successfully protected clients and children from abuse and has successfully protected clients from false accusations of abuse. He has fought many cases involving child custody evaluators, therapists, DCFS workers, forensic examiners, and guardians ad litem. At the same time, Mr. Mortensen has utilized his legal and MBA skills regarding marital investments, trusts, family businesses, asset discovery and tracking, and income verification. He has helped many clients reach optimal divorce settlements through mediation. Mr. Mortensen also has extensive experience representing individuals, user groups, county governments and municipalities regarding issues involving federal environmental and land use planning laws (ESA, NEPA, FLPMA, NFMA). This practice has occurred before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including the Interior Board of Land Appeals and Forest Service-EMC. Mr. Mortensen has served as a municipal attorney, as legal counsel to special service districts, and as legal counsel to one of Utah's largest homeowners associations. His real estate litigation practice has included actions regarding easements, rights-of-way, public thoroughfare, quiet title, inverse condemnation, mortgage foreclosure, mechanics liens, assessment liens, boundary by acquiescence, and planning and zoning. Mr. Mortensen earned an MBA, accounting-finance emphasis, from the American Graduate School of International Management ("Thunderbird") in December 1990 and passed the May 1991 Certified Public Accountant examination. Mr. Mortensen has presented and lectured at national and local seminars. He is admitted to practice law in Utah and Arizona. He has authored numerous articles and has a bachelor's degree in mass communications. Mr. Mortensen is also an experienced criminal defense attorney, having served as a public prosecutor, public defender, and private defense counsel. He has represented defendants charged with crimes, including alcohol and drug offenses, theft and forgery offenses, sexual offenses, assaults, and homicides. Robert W. Peterson Mr. Peterson is a strong part of the firm's family law team and represents clients regarding divorce, child custody, and protective orders. Mr. Peterson also practices extensively in the areas of water rights, natural resources, real estate, energy and utility law. He has wide-ranging experience representing purchasers and sellers of water rights; conducting evaluations and due diligence reviews of water rights; acquiring administrative approval to change the points of diversion, places of use and types of use of water rights; handling complex private and public water development projects; negotiating and drafting real estate and energy leases; researching, reporting and curing title to developed and undeveloped property; resolving complex real estate probate issues; and litigating various civil matters, including family law. He has experience working with state and federal regulatory agencies, and has represented clients in proceedings before administrative agencies and courts. He also has experience in local government law and has assisted clients with planning and zoning activities before city and county planning and zoning authorities. Mr. Peterson has represented electric utilities, gas utilities, public water supply entities, financing institutions, developers, commercial resorts, mining companies, water companies, agricultural water users, oil and gas companies, and individuals. He has written articles and given presentations on a variety of water rights issues. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Peterson received a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology and a master's degree in natural resource policy. He understands the complex competing demands for property and natural resources and the political, economic, and social contexts in which disputes arise, and how to effectively represent clients dealing with natural resource issues. Prior to joining Hanks and Mortensen, Mr. Peterson practiced law with the firm of Holme, Roberts & Owen, LLP, and was a whitewater rafting guide on numerous rivers throughout the western U.S. |
