- President: Stephen D Swindle
- Number of Shareholders: 33
- Number of Attorneys: 58
FIRM OVERVIEW: Van Cott is a nationally recognized law firm with a long history of excellence and professional leadership in the Intermountain West. Since 1874, the firm has provided a wide range of legal services to local, national and international clients. Van Cott maintains its long-standing tradition of excellence, balancing client expectations of cost-effective practical advice,with quality representation and creative solutions.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Banking & Financial Services: Van Cott is experienced in all aspects of banking and lending law fundamentals, which include complex commercial and financial transactions, such as the formation of bank holding companies, mergers and acquisitions and related securities, corporate and tax issues, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, financing, revolving credit arrangements and loan workouts. The firm serves many of the nation’s largest financial institutions and bank holding companies.
Natural Resources & Environmental Law: The firm represents clients in all phases of exploration, acquisition, development and use of natural resources throughout Utah and the Intermountain West. Clients include major oil and gas companies, pipeline companies, alternative fuel producers, producers of coal and hard rock minerals, limestone, potash and phosphate. Van Cott has a strong background and clear understanding of the issues in balancing the applications of natural resources and environmental law.
Labor & Employment: Van Cott works with business clients to develop and implement effective employment strategies,with a focus on identifying and resolving problems early. The firm recognizes that pro-active investments in proper personnel practices, company policies and procedures can reduce overall expenses by minimizing disruptions and increasing productivity, while keeping human capital focused on profits. Additionally, the firm provides benefit planning for business owners and their employees.
Wealth Management: Van Cott provides sophisticated personal estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, asset protection planning, business succession planning, retirement benefit planning and charitable planning, including formation and operation of nonprofit organizations.Clients include individuals, families, family offices, closely held businesses, foundations, trusts and estates. The firm also represents clients in tax controversies before the IRS, the Utah State Tax Commission and other tax authorities.
Real Estate: Van Cott’s services include the sale and exchange of real and personal property, including tax deferred exchanges, real estate lending, finance and collateralization, due diligence review, insurance coverage and bonding issues and requirements, leasing and landlord/tenant matters, management arrangements, all aspects of construction contracting, environmental compliance, state and federal civil rights and disability law compliance issues, zoning and development approvals, brokerage, water and public lands law. The firm also assists with title evaluation and insurance, investment partnerships and trusts, real estate workouts and real estate and construction litigation.
Litigation: The Litigation Team at Van Cott focuses on expedient resolutions, whether mediation, arbitration or litigation. The firm understands the costs of litigation and the benefits of alternative resolution methods. However, when litigation is necessary, the attorneys ofVan Cott vigorously advocate for their clients’ rights and interests.Van Cott’s litigators handle complex commercial litigations comfortably.
Construction: Van Cott provides a wide range of legal services to owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, construction managers, suppliers, utilities, lenders, and insurance and bonding companies throughout the construction industry and design professions.
Corporate & Securities: Van Cott regularly participates in large, complex transactions involving national and multinational companies. The firm represents both buyers and sellers, ranging from investors and large corporations to small family businesses, in all types of business formations, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, funding and venture capital, business governance and tax strategies. Additionally, the firm counsels clients on private placements and other exempt transactions, public offerings, public company reporting, broker/dealer regulation, investment company regulation, enforcement proceedings, state Blue Sky laws, as well as antitrust and other trade regulation matters.
Energy: Van Cott represents government entities and private industry, regulated and unregulated, as they meet growing demands for energy.Van Cott offers legal support in the form of due diligence, negotiation, regulatory compliance documentation and general counsel to clients developing, financing, licensing, operating, and transferring natural gas-fired, coal-fired, hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind powered-generation projects and energy transmission facilities.
Intellectual Property: Van Cott serves a broad client base in obtaining, protecting, and licensing intellectual property. The firm assists clients in the selection, registration and protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights, service marks and domain names. Services include negotiation of licensing, franchise and distribution agreements, as well as the distribution, sale and other commercialization of innovative products and services within the United States and internationally.The firm has recognized expertise in preparing and prosecuting patent applications.
Government Relations: Van Cott has a broad range of experience in representing governmental entities of all types, ranging from federal agencies to state, county, and special service districts throughout Utah and immediate surrounding states. Services include the establishment and incorporation of towns and special service districts, land grants, purchases and sales, water issues, contract drafting and reviews, labor and employment concerns,monitoring and analyzing new legislative and regulatory developments.
Insolvency & Creditor Rights: Van Cott offers comprehensive legal services in bankruptcy, workouts, foreclosures, insolvency and business reorganization situations,many of which involve complex legal and business issues.
INTERNATIONAL WORK: Van Cott represents companies based in the US and foreign clients with multinational interests. The firm’s membership in Lex Mundi provides access to legal resources around the world.