Gary leads multi-disciplinary teams specializing in banking, real estate, bankruptcy, mortgage, Trust and Estate, environmental, intellectual property, water, land use, mining, oil and gas, government relations, and administrative attorneys to assist on complex and day-to-day legal issues.
Capabilities
Biography
- Over 40 years experience representing financial institutions, corporations and LLCs, large and small.
- Decade after decade, financial institutions and companies have returned for representation.
- Trains and mentors attorneys to work for financial institutions and companies at Parsons Behle & Latimer so that the firm has the breadth and depth of legal experience to meet the needs of our clients.
- Served as chairman of the firm's Real Estate and Finance Department.
- Experience in the financial institutions industry ranging from regulatory compliance to transactions to workouts to litigation to appeals to bankruptcy and to Wills and Trusts.
- Advises clients using a multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving.
- Well-versed to pursue both complex and common transactions.
- Committed to a result-oriented and cost-effective practice aimed at solving client’s legal issues and achieving their business goals.
- Represents national banks, community banks, bankers’ banks, credit unions, corporations, LLCs and individuals in large and small transactions, negotiations, workouts, mediations, litigation, appeals and bankruptcy.
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of banking and finance law, commercial litigation, litigation-banking and finance and litigation-bankruptcy.
- In 2015, 2020 and 2021 Gary was listed as “The Best Banking and Finance Lawyer in Salt Lake City.”
- Routinely gives back to his community. For over 30 years he has been a pro bono attorney to NeighborWorks Salt Lake and supporter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Salt Lake. He has also been involved with other non-profit organizations.
- Served as chairman of the Banking and Finance Section of the Utah State Bar and served and chaired other Utah State Bar committees.
Experience
Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Represented five beneficiaries in a jury trial who sued two Trustees for breaches of fiduciary duties. Clients were awarded damages, then won a post-trial motion to remove the former Trustees.
Bad Faith Insurance Prosecution
Obtained a jury verdict for a plastic surgeon client in a lawsuit against his insurance carrier for breach of the duty of good faith, then won on cross-appeal the right to pursue a punitive damages claim on his behalf. his medical malpractice insurer.
Borrower’s Counsel for Nonprofit $30M Loan
Represented non-profit home builder as borrower’s counsel for a $30M term loan from three Utah chartered industrial banks.
Accomplishments
Academic
Lewis and Clark College Northwestern School of Law (J.D., 1979)
University of Utah, (B.S., 1976)
Honors: Cum Laude
Major: Finance and Economics
Professional
Recognized as the 2017 Lawyer of the Year, Utah State Bar, Banking and Finance Section
Listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Banking & Finance Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Banking & Finance and Litigation-Bankruptcy
Named Best Lawyers in America -- Best Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year in Salt Lake City 2015, 2020 and 2021
Maintains a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rating
Listed in Mountain States Super Lawyers
Listed in Utah Business magazine as one of Utah’s Legal Elite
Honored with Utah State Bar Outstanding Mentor Award, 2017 and 2018
Associations
Professional
Utah State Bar Association, Banking and Finance Section, Chairman, (2006)
Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, (2007 - 08, 1985 - 87)
Fee Arbitration Committee, (1989 - 96); Chairman (1992 - 96)
Salt Lake County Bar Association
Utah State Bar Association, Real Estate Section
American Bar Association, Business Law Section; Real Property, Probate and Trust Section; Corporate Section
Community
2023 Community Builder Legacy Award, NeighborWorks Salt Lake
Contribution to 46th Annual Celebration of NeighborWorks Salt Lake
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Salt Lake City, President, (1979 - 85)
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Board of Directors, (1988 - 89)
“Big Legacy” awarded by Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Utah (2008)
Neighborhood Housing of Salt Lake, pro bono attorney for more than three decades
United Jewish Appeal, President, (1996 - 98)
Anti-Defamation League, Pacific Region, Board Member for more than 20 years
Anti-Defamation League, Executive Committee, Central Pacific Region, (May 2020 - current)
Temple Har Shalom, Board Member, (2008 - 13)