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Attorney Profiles

James B. Lee 
Salt Lake City, Utah
phone (801) 532-1234
fax (801) 536-6111
email jlee@parsonsbehle.com
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James Lee is senior attorney and served as president from 1979-93. He is a member of the Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources department and has extensive experience in general corporate matters, including taxation, government relations and administrative law; commercial and environmental litigation; mining, oil and gas and public land matters. James was admitted to the Utah State Bar in 1961.

Related Activities and Skills:

  • Member, Board of Trustees, State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, 2003-2009; Chair 2005-2006 
  • Recipient of the Utah State Bar Lifetime Achievement Award, September 21, 2006
  • Member (10th Circuit Representative) Federal Judiciary Standing Committee of American Bar Association, 2003-2006
  • Recipient of the Utah Mining Association's General Patrick E. Conner Award, August 25, 2005
  • American Bar Association, Board member, 2000-2003 and Executive Committee, 2002-2003
  • Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, Board of Directors, 1994-97
  • KUED Board of Trustees, 1990-97; Chair 1996-97
  • State Executive and Judicial Compensation Commission, 1992-96
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 1987, Corporate, Energy, Environmental, Mining, Water and Natural Resources Law
  • Tax Review Commission, 1990-2000
  • Fellow of American Bar Foundation since 1988: Utah Chapter Chairman, 1994-99
  • Utah Bar Foundation - Board of Trustees 1990-96; President, 1994-96
  • Family Court Task Force, Chairman, 1992-94
  • Utah State Bar Future Commissions: Chairman, 1992-93
  • Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce: Board of Governors, Vice President, 1990-93
  • Commission of Justice in the 21st Century: Vice-Chairman, 1990-92
  • Utah Foundation, President, 1986-92
  • Advisory Committee to Utah Supreme Court on Rules of Evidence, Chairman, 1987-91
  • Utah State Bar, Energy and Natural Resources Section; Distinguished Service Award, 1989-90
  • Governor's Commission on Tax Recodification, 1984-90
  • Utah State Bar, Outstanding Lawyer of the Year, 1988
  • Supreme Court Nominating Committee, 1983-1987
  • Amicus Curie Award, Utah Judicial Council, 1982
  • Utah Mining Association Executive Committee, 1981-97; President, 1981-82
  • Utah Legal Services: Chairman, Board of Directors, 1978-80
  • Rowland Hall/St. Mark's: Board of Trustees, 1975-79
  • Utah State Bar: President, 1977-78; Bar Commissioner, 1971-78
  • Board of Pardons, 1975
  • Judicial Qualifications Commission, Chairman, 1974-75
  • Salt Lake County Bar Legal Services: Chairman of the Board, 1972-75
  • Family Services Counseling Center: Board of Directors, 1969-1972
  • Salt Lake County Bar Association: President, 1968-69
  • Utah National Guard Association: President, 1966-67
  • American Inns of Court II, Master of the Bench
  • American Bar Association: Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Section; Litigation Section; Senior Lawyers Section
  • Utah National Guard, Retired Brigadier General, 31 years of service
  • Federal Court ADR Panel Arbitrator
  • Chair, Ethics and Discipline Committee of Utah Supreme Court, 2000-03
  • Fellows of the American Bar Foundation Outstanding Service Award, 2005
Areas of Practice:
Estate Planning
Natural Resources Law
Election Campaign & Political Law
Government Agencies & Programs
State, Local & Municipal Law
Bar Admissions:
U.S. Supreme Court, 1971
U.S. District Court District of Utah, 1961
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1967
Utah, 1961
Education:
George Washington University National Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, 1960
J.D. degree with honors


U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 1952
B.S. degree with honors
Major:  Civil Engineering


Representative Clients:
Kennecott Corporation
Honors and Awards:
Lawyer of the Year, Utah, 1988


Amicus Curiae Award, Utah Judicial Council, 1982


Distinguished Service Award, Energy and Natural Resources Section, Utah State Bar


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Utah State Bar, 1977 - 1978
President


Salt Lake County Bar Association, 1968 - 1969
President


American Bar Foundation, 1988 - 2007
Fellow


Utah Legal Services, Trustee, 1975 - 1978


Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, 1990 - 1993
Board of Governors


Utah Bar Foundation, 1990 - 1996
Trustee


Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Kappa Phi
Office Locations
  • Salt Lake City Headquarters
    201 South Main Street,
    Suite 1800
    Salt Lake City, UT 84111
    Tel: 801-532-1234
    Fax: 801-536-6111
    Toll free: 800-293-9669

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  • Reno
    50 West Liberty Street,
    Suite 750
    Reno, NV 89501
    Tel: 775-323-1601
    Fax: 775-348-7250
    Toll free: 800-293-9669

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  • Las Vegas
    3753 Howard Hughes Parkway,
    Suite 200
    Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
    Tel: 702-599-6000
    Fax: 702-599-6001
    Toll free: 800-293-9669

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The law firm of Parsons Behle & Latimer provides legal counsel and representation to Intermountain West businesses in Salt Lake City, Reno, Las Vegas, Boise, Phoenix, Billings and Denver. We regularly represent clients in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, California, Montana and Wyoming.