Nate Alder litigates, tries, and resolves complex civil cases. His focus is successful outcomes for clients. He is recognized as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the five-state Intermountain West (Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming], and has been honored as one of Salt Lake City's Top 25 Lawyers (Super Lawyers/Thomson Reuters]. He has received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Nate has served as the elected president of the Utah State Bar (2008-2009), the 15-state Western States Bar Conference [2012-2013), the National Caucus of State Bar Associations (2014 - 2015), and the National Conference of Bar Presidents (2019-2020). He is Utah’s state delegate to the American Bar Associations House of Delegates.
Nate's leadership service includes three Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committees, ABA Standing Committees, Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (appointed by Governor Herbert); House of Delegates, American Bar Association ; Centre for Innovation, Governing Council. ABA; Executive Council, National Conference of Bar Presidents; The Utah State Bar Commission ; Salt Lake City Police Foundation Board of Directors.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Commercial Litigation and Crisis Management:
Advises and represents individuals and corporations in commercial cases and hot-button disputes. Representative matters include:
- Represented corporations and professionals in matters involving joint ventures, asset purchases, licensing and intellectual property claims, non-competition/non-disclosure agreements, fiduciary obligations, theft, proprietary information, and business contracts and commercial leases
- Represented International Corporation in a mass-shooting case
- Defended national software company being prosecuted by the State of Utah for antitrust violations
- Hired by political party to handle TRO relating to an election
- Hired by a foreign government to enforce an international treaty
- Responded to accident scenes to preserve evidence and establish strategies.
Professional:
Handles cases regarding professionals, including claims against lawyers, medical providers, insurance brokers, engineers, designers, financial executives, board members, and corporate officers. Representative matters include:
- Represented lawyers and law firms in complex client, corporate and regulatory situations
- Assisted physician in obtaining reinstatement of license
- Consulted with doctors on their credentialing and privileges
- Assisted in closing of medical office, negotiations between clinics
- Defended engineers in soils testing / construction case
- Resolved disputes between insureds, brokers, agents, and insurers regarding coverage
- Resolved claims against medical providers
- Defended board chairmen, president, CFO, and other leaders of corporations
Catastrophic Personal Injury:
Handles an extensive range of injury and death cases. Representative matters include:
- Obtained seven-figure settlement for injured plaintiff with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury who was able to return to work and receive promotions
- Obtained seven-figure settlement for plaintiff involved in auto-pedestrian accident
- Obtained seven-figure settlement for plaintiff in motorcycle accident
- Obtained multiple settlements for family members in vehicle rollover accidents
- Obtained six-figure settlement for plaintiff injured in equestrian accident
- Obtained significant six-figure policy limits settlement for ankle injury
- Obtained significant six-figure policy limits settlement for single-vehicle rollover
- Obtained policy limits and other significant settlements for dog attacks
- Obtained many policy settlements for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists in accidents
- Obtained seven-figure settlement in highway design case
- Obtained significant six-figure policy limit settlement gun-related death of minor child
Product Liability Defense:
Defends cases involving motor vehicles, machinery, appliances, chemicals, tools, household items, exercise equipment, furniture, component parts, agribusiness, and other claims involving manufacturing processes, design, warnings, and fines. Representative matters include:
- Defended automaker in various claims involving rollover protection, roof crush, safety restraint, air bag deployment, stability handling, sudden acceleration, etc.
- Defended fertilizer companies in multi-million dollar crop destruction claims
- Defended product manufacturers in asbestos litigation
- Defended tool manufacturer in alleged defect claim arising from eye injury
- Defended parts manufacturer in multi-million dollar brain injury claim
- Defended recreation equipment maker in spine injury case
Dispute Resolution:
Mediations with Nate are scheduled through Utah ADR Services, 801-943-3730, www.utahadrservices.com. Nate is a Qualified Mediator (Utah State Court Roster of Mediators) and received his mediator training at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University's School of Law in Malibu, California.
RECOGNITIONS
- Recognized as a 2024 "Best Lawyers" in Utah since 2020
- AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 2005 to present
- Mountain States Super Lawyers Top 100 (2017-2023)
- "Top 100 Lawyers" in the Intermountain West (Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming), Super Lawyers Magazine/Thomson Reuters, 2011-2016
- "Utah Legal Elite” recognition by Utah Business magazine. Recognitions include: Civil Trial, 2006; Personal Injury, 2004, 2005, 2007-2011, 2013, 2020; Pro Bono, 2005; Mediator, 2012, 2016, 2017; Civil Litigation, 2015
- "Super Lawyer” recognition, 2007-2016
- Raymond S. Uno Award for the Advancement of Minorities in the Legal Profession, 2011
- "Top 25 Lawyers" in Salt Lake City, Super Lawyers/Thomson Reuters, 2012, 2013
- Nate has been recognized by his peers in the 30th edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” for his work in Commercial Litigation, Mediation, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.
EDUCATION
- Indiana University-Bloomington School of Law, J.D., 1995
- Indiana University-Bloomington School of Public and Environmental Affairs, M.P.A., 1995
- Utah State University, Bachelor of Arts, University Honors, cum laude, Phi Kappa Phi, 1991
- Dixie State University, Associate of Arts, summa cum laude, Phi Theta Kappa, 1988
SELECT LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS
- Speaker, "When is Mediation Useful and How to Make it Most Effective" Utah Association for Justice, Salt Lake City, 2018
- Speaker, "Screening Automobile Accident Injury Cases," National Business Institute, 2016
- Speaker: "Innovation for Bar Leaders," Bar Leadership Institute, Chicago, 2016
- Author, "Avoiding Prohibited Statements at Trial," Utah Trial Journal, 2012
- Speaker, "Negotiations: Why the Deal is the Real Deal," Utah Council on Conflict Resolution, 2012
- Speaker, “Deposing a Brain Injured Plaintiff,” Brain Injury Conference, 2012
- Speaker, “New Lawyer Training,” Western States Bar Conference, 2012, Nevada
- Presenter, “Evidence Seminar: Experts,” National Business Institute, 2012
- Presenter, “Personal Injury 101: Damages, Liens, Insurance,” National Business Institute, 2012
- Speaker, “Anatomy and Physiology for Attorneys,” National Business Institute, 2011
- Speaker, “Professional Practice Pointers,” Utah State Bar, 2011, 2012
- Presenter: “New Lawyer Training,” Oregon State Bar, 2010
- Speaker: “Oral Persuasion for Lawyers,” Utah State Bar, 2010
- Speaker, "Brain Injury: A View from Both Sides of the Fence," Brain Injury Conference, 2010
- Speaker, “Legal Writing Seminar,” Utah State Bar, 2009, 2012
- Speaker, "ADR Systems for Institutions," Utah Council on Conflict Resolution, 2009
- Speaker, "Defense Perspectives on Brain Injury Litigation," Brain Injury Conference, 2009
- Speaker, "Utilizing Paralegals," Utah State Bar Annual Convention, 2008
- Speaker, “Mediation Musings: Stories, Tips, Trends,” Utah State Bar Annual Convention, 2007
- Author, “Are ‘Peace of Mind’ Letters Discoverable After Green v. Louder?” Utah Trial Journal 2005
- Speaker, “Rule 35 Medical Exams,” Utah Association of Justice, 2003.
- Speaker, “Direct Examination of a Neuropsychologist,” Utah Brain Injury Conference, 2003.
- Faculty, “ADR Academy,” Dispute Resolution Section, Utah State Bar, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Admitted to practice in all Utah state and federal courts, Colorado Federal District Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, U.S. Supreme Court
- President, National Caucus of State Bar Associations, 2014-2015
- President, Western States Bar Conference, 2012-2013
- President, Utah State Bar, 2008-2009
- Co-founder, Dispute Resolution Section, Utah State Bar
- Chair, Utah Council on Conflict Resolution, 2010-2011
- Board of Bar Commissioners, Executive Committee, Utah State Bar, 2003 – 2010
- Utah Supreme Court Task Force to Examine Limited Legal Licensing, 2015
- Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Professionalism, 2001 – 2014
- Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on New Lawyer Training, 2010 – 2014
- Standing Committee on Professionalism, American Bar Association, 2011- 2014
- American Bar Association, Sections: Tort Trial and Insurance Practice; Litigation; Dispute Resolution
- Judge Pro Tem, Salt Lake City Justice Court, 2002 – 2008
- Bar Examiner, Utah State Bar, 2003 – 2007
- Salt Lake County Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter
- ALFA International
- Chair of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Constitution & Bylaws
- Member of the ABA’s Strategic Planning Committee
- Utah State Delegate, ABA’s House of Delegates
.png)
