Christensen & Jensen Attorneys

Nate Alder is a seasoned, AV rated litigator and past president of the Utah State Bar (2008-2009). Super Lawyers magazine (Thomson Reuters) recognized him as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the Intermountain West (Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming); as one of the Top 25 lawyers in Salt Lake City; as one of the top lawyers in Utah for commercial litigation and product liability cases (2007-present); and as one of the nation's best, honored in its Business Edition, for handling litigated cases (2009-present). Utah Business magazine has named him one of the state's "Legal Elite" each year of its edition, and most recently honored him as one of the state’s top mediators (2012). Nate is co-chair of the firm’s Crisis Management and Mediation Practice Groups.

As a leader in the profession, Mr. Alder serves as President of the Western States Bar Conference (2012-2013), and as a member of two Utah Supreme Court advisory committees and an ABA Standing Committee. He is past chair of the nonprofit Utah Council on Conflict Resolution (2010-2011), the Dispute Resolution Section of the Utah State Bar, and the Personal Injury Section of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (2010-2012). He clerked for Hon. J. Thomas Greene, U.S. District Court Judge, before joining the firm.

His professional focus is helping clients solve complicated problems. Individuals and corporations hire him to investigate, assess, advise and represent them on significant and potentially devastating matters, often in crisis or on an emergency basis. His work has expanded beyond Utah as he serves regional and national clients.

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 disputes involving joint ventures, asset purchases, licensing and intellectual property claims, non-competition agreements, fiduciary obligations, theft, proprietary information, and business contracts and commercial leases
• Represented an international corporation in dispute arising from mass shooting incident
• Defended national software company being prosecuted by the State of Utah for antitrust violations
• Served as Special Master in major commercial dispute
• Hired by state political party to handle TRO hearing relating to an election
• Hired by a foreign government to enforce international treaty provision
• Respond to accident scenes to preserve evidence and establish litigation strategies.

Professional Liability: Handles cases regarding professional liability, including claims against lawyers, medical providers, insurance brokers, engineers and other design professionals, financial executives, board members, and corporate officers. Representative matters include:

• Assisted physician in obtaining reinstatement of license
• Defended engineers in soils testing / construction case
• Resolved dispute between insured and broker regarding broker’s alleged representations about coverage
• Resolved claims against medical providers relating to patient’s death
• Defended board chairman, CFO, and other leaders of corporations in fiduciary cases
• Counsel to insurance professionals regarding best practices

Catastrophic Personal Injury: Handles cases involving traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, wrongful death, eye injuries and other significant injury claims. 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 policy limits and other significant settlements for dog attacks
• Obtained numerous policy settlements for injured drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists in auto accidents

Product Liability Defense: Defends cases involving motor vehicles, machinery, appliances, chemicals, tools, exercise equipment, furniture, component parts, agribusiness, and other claims involving manufacturing processes, design, and warnings. Representative matters include:

• Defended automaker in various claims involving rollover protection, roof crush, safety restraint, air bag deployment, stability handling, and sudden acceleration, among others
• 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. Utah Business magazine has recognized him as one of Utah’s top mediators (2012). He is a Qualified Mediator on the 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

• AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 2005 to present
• "Top 100 Lawyers" and "Top 75 Lawyers" in the Intermountain West (Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, and Wyoming), Super Lawyers Magazine/Thomson Reuters, 2012, 2011
• "Utah Legal Elite” recognition by Utah Business magazine. Recognitions include: Civil Trial, 2006; Personal Injury, 2004, 2005, 2007-2011; Pro Bono, 2005; Mediator, 2012
• "Super Lawyer” recognition, 2007-2012
• Raymond S. Uno Award for the Advancement of Minorities in the Legal Profession, 2011
• "Top 25 Lawyers" in Salt Lake City, Super Lawers/Thomson Reuters, 2012

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 College, Associate of Arts, summa cum laude, Phi Theta Kappa, 1988

SELECT LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS

• 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, "The $$$ and Sense of 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, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, U.S. Supreme Court
• 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 Advisory Committee on Professionalism, 2001 – present
• Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on New Lawyer Training, 2010 – present
• Standing Committee on Professionalism, American Bar Association, 2011- present
• 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
• Defense Research Institute
• Salt Lake County Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter
• Utah Defense Lawyers Association
• Utah Association of Justice
• Brain Injury Alliance of Utah
• ALFA International