Parsons Behle & Latimer

Francis M. Wikstrom is one of the premier bet-the-company trial lawyers in the nation with more than 45 years’ experience in high-stakes litigation. Mr. Wikstrom possesses deep experience trying complex, high-dollar litigation matters and arguing appeals in the areas of intellectual property; white-collar crimes and fraud; natural resources; real property and construction; toxic torts and more.

Capabilities

Biography

Fran Wikstrom is a trial attorney at Parsons Behle & Latimer. He is a fellow and past president of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization that is recognized as the leading trial lawyers’ organization in the United States.

Fran’s practice consists of complex civil litigation and white collar criminal defense. He has tried a diverse range of cases in numerous jurisdictions, including patent infringement, trade secrets, contracts, toxic torts, real property, stray current, shareholder disputes, construction claims, employment discrimination, premises liability, franchises, fraud and white collar crimes. He has argued appeals before the U.S. Ninth and Tenth Circuits, the Federal Circuit, the Utah Supreme Court, the Utah Court of Appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

He has practiced with Parsons since 1982 and formerly served as an Assistant United States Attorney and U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah.

Additionally, Fran is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers and the American Bar Foundation. He is recognized as one of Utah’s leading attorneys by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation and Mountain States Super Lawyers.

Experience

Nevada Gold Mines, LLC

Represented Nevada Gold Mines, LLC as lead counsel against the Pershing County Water Conservation District who contended that priority water rights had been negatively impacted by the State Engineer’s alleged improper actions regarding water appropriations and conjunctive management of water rights in the Humboldt River Basin. After years of litigation, the District agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice.

Accomplishments

Academic

Yale Law School (J.D., 1974)

Weber State College (B.S., 1971)

Honors: Summa Cum Laude

Professional

Recognized in Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, and Mountain States Super Lawyers

Sr. Super Lawyer and Top 100 Ranking in Business Litigation by Mountain States Super Lawyers

Recognized in Utah Business Magazine’s 2023 Legal Elite

Named Best Lawyers’ 2013, 2018 and 2024 Salt Lake City Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year

Named Best Lawyers’ 2012 Salt Lake City Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year

Utah State Bar "Lifetime Service Award" (2011)

Utah Judicial Council "Friend of the Court" award for outstanding contribution to the improvement of Utah's judicial system (2012)

Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rating

Associations

Professional

American College of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, Past President

International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Fellow

International Society of Barristers

Fellow

American Bar Foundation

Fellow

American Inns of Court II

Master of the Bench

Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure

Former Chair

Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Professionalism

Member

Utah Judicial Conduct Commission

Chair

(1998 - 1999)

Member

(1994 - 1999)

Utah State Bar

Commissioner

(1994 - 1999)

Insights

Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America

Parsons Behle & Latimer Celebrates 32 Attorneys Ranked as Top Practitioners in the Mountain States Region

Parsons Behle & Latimer Ranked Among Top Law Firms by Chambers and Partners USA

Parsons Behle & Latimer attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in America

Credentials

Licensed

Utah

U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Utah

U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

Education

Yale Law School