Parsons Behle & Latimer

Michael Larsen brings 38 years of complex litigation and problem-solving experience to every case he undertakes. Utilizing a team specifically designed for the case at hand, Mr. Larsen's experience allows him to quickly identify the core issues and chart a path to resolution, whether by trial, arbitration, mediation or settlement.

Biography

With 38 years of complex litigation experience, there are few areas of the law that Michael L. Larsen has not encountered. As a very active trial lawyer and the former chairperson of Parsons Behle & Latimer’s litigation practice group, he has been involved in every aspect of dispute resolution from virtually every vantage point. His experience ranges from serving as litigation counsel for some of Utah’s largest and best-known companies to representing individuals impacted by devastating personal loss or tragedy; representing or monitoring national insurance carriers’ interests in high stakes commercial litigation to seeking to enforce insurance policies according to their terms; and representing multinational corporations uniquely qualifies him to understand all angles of many types of disputes from a two-person partnership dispute to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster.

Examples of cases tried, arbitrated, negotiated or mediated by Mr. Larsen include:

Defending HireVue in an ownership dispute
Defending the Intermountain Power Agency ("IPA") and related parties against stray voltage claims by commercial dairy operators
Counsel to Chubb Atlantic in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster and resulting litigation
Enforcing an LLC operating agreement against Chinese members and product manufacturers
Defending Huish Detergents against claims of patent infringement
Defending USX against ERISA, ADEA and contract claims asserted by 2,000 steelworkers
Enforcing Novell's rights in a misappropriation of software trade secrets case
Enforcing ATK's rocket motor patents
Representing Kennecott Utah Copper in environmental litigation
Defending TenFold Corporation in a dozen complex software cases, a SEC investigation and a securities class action
Defending Eaton Corporation and Cutler-Hammer in product liability actions
Enforcing Altiris, Inc.'s patents against infringers
Enforcing contractual non-compete provisions in favor of Overstock.com
Representing a refinery in a construction and engineering dispute
Representing clients in False Claims Act cases
Representing ATK in a contract dispute involving Titan IV Rocket Motors
Representing Eaton Corporation in a commercial lease dispute
Enforcing DYNO Nobel's patents against another explosives manufacturer
Representing Novell in a software licensing disputes
Representing Questar Pipeline Co. in construction disputes
Acting as national monitoring counsel for Chubb & Sons on numerous major matters across the country
Representing Overstock.com in patent infringement and commercial litigation
Representing ATK in trade secret litigation
Representing Novell in a case against Microsoft for unfair competition
Representing Barrick Gold Corporation against challenges to its Cortez Hills gold mine
Successfully arbitrating a shareholder breach of fiduciary action in Nevada
Obtaining a jury verdict in favor of Eaton Corporation in a breach of contract action venued in Las Vegas
Representing cities and counties in disputes with the EPA
Securing large damage awards and settlements for victims of catastrophic personal injuries or medical malpractice

Experience

Successfully Represented Rio Tinto In Clean Air Lawsuit

Parsons Behle & Latimer attorneys successfully represented Rio Tinto Kennecott in a significant clean air lawsuit argued before a federal judge of the United States District Court, in Utah. On June 8, 2016, the ruling sided with Parsons’ arguments in support of Kennecott.

A coalition of environmental groups filed a citizen suit against Kennecott under the Clean Air Act seeking to significantly limit mining activity at Utah’s Bingham Canyon Mine.

The team, led by Michael A. Zody, successfully argued the cross motions for summary judgment in court. Senior litigation attorney Michael L. Larsen and environmental attorneys Michael A. Tomko and Jacob A. Santini, laid out key factual and legal arguments before the court. Federal Judge Robert Shelby determined that the State of Utah had granted Kennecott the necessary permits each time it planned to increase mine production and did not violate any laws.

Accomplishments

Academic

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School (J.D., 1983)

Utah State University (B.A., Business Finance, 1980)

Professional

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Trade Secrets Law and Litigation - Intellectual Property

Named Best Lawyers in America 2021 "Lawyer of the Year" for Trade Secrets Law, Salt Lake City

Recognized by Utah Business magazine as one of "Utah's Top

100 Legal Elite"

Order of the Barristers

International Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Award

Recognized in Mountain States Super Lawyers

Recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers For Business

Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rating

Associations

Professional

American Inns of Court
Member
(1988 - 1996)

Utah State Bar Association, Litigation Section
Member

American Bar Association, Litigation Section
Member

Community

CHOICE Humanitarian

Smiles for Life

Insights

Super Lawyers Names 30 Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorneys

Parsons Behle & Latimer Ranked Among Top Law Firms by Chambers USA - 30 Shareholders Ranked Among Nation’s Leading Attorneys

Credentials

Licensed

U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Nevada

U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. of California

U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit

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

Utah

Education

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School