Wes joined Pia Hoyt in the fall of 2021. He is a litigation attorney who focuses on many areas of law including Partnership Disputes, Securities Fraud, Multi-jurisdictional Litigation, Employment Disputes and Professional Liability. Wes has been a partner with a number of firms including Bendinger Crockett, Howrey, and Sidley Austin. Wes has a world-class legal education earning his law degree from Stanford Law School, as well as a Ph.D in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University and Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and Economics from Whitman College. Wes has over 30 years experience representing companies of all sizes, property owners, and professionals in high-stakes litigation. Wes brings first-seat trial experience to the courtroom and sophisticated results-oriented negotiation and mediation experience. Wes has prevailed in numerous appeals at Utah and Federal appellate courts.
Juris Doctor / Stanford Law School / 1990-1993
Ph.D., Philosophy / Vanderbilt University / 1982-1986
B.A., Philosophy, Economics / Whitman College / 1977-1981
Utah State Bar
Federal Bar Association
Utah Supreme Court
Federal District Court of Utah
Ninth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
Tenth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
Listed in America's Best Lawyers
Complex Commercial Litigation
-Partnership Disputes
-Corporate Control Disputes
-Shareholder Derivative Actions
-Qui tam Actions
-Securities Fraud
-Multi-jurisdictional Litigation
-Business Torts
-Employment Disputes
-Professional Liability
Real Property and IP Litigation
-Unfair Competition
-Trade Secret Misappropriation
-Copyright Infringement
-Trademark Infringement
Business Law, Commercial & Real Estate Litigation
- Obtained 3.3 million dollar judgment in federal fude case in 2022.
- Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of a real estate developer in a multi-million dollar action involving breach of a management agreement.
-Successfully resolved an eminent domain dispute between the State of Utah and a Salt Lake City area business owner.
Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, and Employment Disputes
-Successfully defended an individual and a company in case alleging claims including, breach of non-competition agreement, passing off, claims of copyright violations, theft of trade secrets, passing off, tortious interference, and breach of duty of loyalty.
Trade Secrets and Intellectual Property
-Defended several cases alleging copyright infringement of stock photos.
-Represented major auto manufacturer in copyright dispute actions.
-Successfully defended individual in multi-million-dollar trade secret and copyright case.
Securities Fraud
-Obtained prejudgment writ of attachment on securities fraud claims exceeding $50 million.
-Defended against allegations of $200 million securities fraud and Ponzi scheme by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Department of Justice.
Professional Malpractice
-Successfully defended international accounting firm in multiple class action cases and matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
-Successfully defended law firm stet.