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.