Parsons Behle & Latimer (Parsons) a preeminent Intermountain West law firm has hired three new associates, expanding the bench of the firm’s Environmental and Litigation teams. Megan A. Olmstead joins the firm’s Environmental and Natural Resources department in Salt Lake City. Jordan E. Westgate joins the firm’s Litigation, Trials and Appeals department in Salt Lake City, and Zachary S. Shea joins the litigation department in Parsons’ Reno, Nev. office.
Olmstead is highly knowledgeable about natural resource regulatory and management processes including the Endangered Species and Migratory Bird Treaty Acts; NEPA; public land management; space law and the aerospace industry; and energy development. She is experienced in conducting government investigations; planning congressional hearings and preparing witnesses; and advising clients about legal and political strategy. Megan’s prior experiences includes serving as counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, the Idaho Office of Energy and Mineral Resources and as appropriations counsel for a chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science.
A northern Nevada native, Shea joins Parsons after years of experience representing entertainment industry clients in Los Angeles negotiating entertainment-related transactions like intellectual property sales and licenses; motion picture production and distribution agreements; talent and key crew attachment deals as well as formation of entertainment businesses and intellectual property holding companies.
Westgate is the newest member of the litigation group in Salt Lake City and comes to the firm after clerking for the Honorable Diana Hagel of the Utah Court of Appeals and for the Honorable Paige Petersen of the Utah Supreme Court. She focuses her litigation practice in the areas of family law and employment and labor.
Parsons President and CEO Hal J. Pos says, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to add this caliber of associates to the firm. They are the next generation of shareholders at Parsons. We are confident that their skills and knowledge, combined with the opportunity to work and train with our seasoned attorneys, will maintain the firm’s proficiency in providing exceptional client service.”
