Smith Knowles is recognized for its legal services relating to trusts and estates, including formulation and implementation of planning for all sizes of estates. Smith Knowles also provides valuable guidance to clients to accomplish orderly, thorough, and efficient estate transactions and administration in cases of death and disability, including probate, tax, guardianship, conservatorship, and litigation where called for. This includes, for example...
After law school, Zack started his legal career as a clerk for Utah’s Second District Court in Bountiful, Utah, where he worked for Judges Thomas L. Kay and David J. Williams. Following his clerkship, Zack worked for a few years gaining experience in general civil litigation and criminal defense matters before joining Smith Knowles in 2022. In addition to his work at the firm, Zack also teaches preparatory courses for prospective law students at the University of Utah.
The general area of Business and Corporate Formation, Planning, and Transactions includes the following areas of more specialized practice...
Business Formation
Our team of business transaction attorneys advises clients in these areas, as well as business formation and structure; property acquisition and financing; estate and asset protection, and succession planning.
Business Disputes
Mr. Dove was a former lawyer at Fingerhut Companies Inc. and practices in the areas of real estate, foreclosure, landlord/tenant, commercial and residential evictions, creditors right in bankruptcy, collections, litigation, and business law. In his free time, Mr. Dove enjoys singing, playing guitar, hunting, camping, and traveling. Read More
From the choice of the appropriate entity, formation, raising capital, procuring financing, dealing with securities law compliance issues, structuring compensation and employment agreements, providing tax advice and tax audit representation, protecting intellectual property, facilitating ownership succession, advising on government regulation, resolving business disputes and providing representation in litigation, through the end stages of selling the business, tax-free reorganizations, dissolution, and liquidations. or bankruptcy.
Employment Litigation
Mr. Johnson started his legal career in Oregon at a general practice civil law firm where he focused on litigation involving real estate, businesses, contracts, trust and estate, and employment issues. After six years he moved back to Weber County when he joined the attorneys at Smith Knowles, P.C. He continues to focus his practice on HOA law, real estate, employment law, and general litigation throughout Utah.
Smith Knowles construction law practice group has experience in almost every area of construction law. The Firm’s construction attorneys are ready to provide innovative and quality advice, assistance, and representation to clients through all phases of construction from initial planning and development to contract formation and all types of dispute resolution processes.
Land Use and Zoning
Established in 1990, Smith Knowles Attorneys provides transactional and litigation counseling, services, and representation to businesses and to individuals. We have developed the resources and experience necessary to effectively provide legal services in general litigation, real estate construction, commercial transactions, and estates. Our litigation and trial attorneys represent business clients in all complex matters with a focus on commercial real estate and construction; zoning, land use and development; insurance defense; estates; and employment and labor disputes.
Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Mr. Gardner practices in the areas of community associations and landlord-tenant law. Mr. Gardner is a member of the Idaho State Bar. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Lexi and their two children.
Ryan D. Poole is a trial attorney that has represented individuals, entities, and government institutions in all manner of disputes – through trial and appeal – relating to severe personal injury/wrongful death, real estate, construction, land use, water law, contracts, insurance, malpractice, civil rights and many other types of civil matters. He represents clients across Idaho and Utah, and has represented clients ranging from individuals to multi-billion dollar companies, and in high-value disputes with many-millions of dollars at stake. Ryan is also an active member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and assists homeowner associations in making strategic and beneficial choices relating to governance, enforcement, risk management, and disputes.
As our family law specialist, Mr. Kawaguchi knows what is like to deal with divorce and other emotionally, finacially, and physically demanding legal issues. Mr. Kawaguchi handles legal issues with honesty and respect. Kawaguchi is a member of the Utah State Bar in the Family Law Section, Probate/Estate Planning Section, and Davis County Bar Association. Read More
Wills
Estate administration is the process of winding up an individual's lifetime financial affairs and distributing their property and assets after they die. This can include wills and trusts, power of attorney, living wills, beneficiary designation, and more.
Trusts
Paul K. Bachman practices in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and probate guardianship and conservatorship matters. He also focuses on all aspects of business planning and operation with respect to business entities and a wide variety of corporate, tax, contract, and employment matters. In addition, Mr. Bachman has experience involving disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.
Smith Knowles has an extensive bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice group. Smith Knowles represents many local and national financial institutions in the state of Utah. From simple bankruptcy filings to complex bankruptcy litigation, our experienced attorneys can do it all.
Foreclosure
Real Estate: Assistant general counsel for Utah’s largest independently owned real estate brokerage defending brokerages in negligence actions, litigation, title work, foreclosures, commission disputes, quiet title actions, 1031 exchanges, warranty actions and corporate protection.