Paul Durham | Durham Jones & Pinegar

Mr. Durham began practicing law in 1980 and founded Durham Jones & Pinegar (D|J|P) in 1991. He has helped grow the firm from two lawyers in 1991 to more than 80 lawyers today. Mr. Durham is recognized nationally as a leading attorney in the areas of real estate law, corporate law and litigation. Mr. Durham is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating awarded to attorneys for professional competence and ethics.

In real estate matters, Mr. Durham counsels clients regarding complex development projects, hotel and resort properties, office buildings, retail properties, residential properties, multi-use projects, industrial parks, apartment buildings, condominiums, and raw land. He advises clients with respect to purchases and sales of real property, leasing, joint venture agreements, development agreements, land-use matters, construction activities, real estate-based financing, condemnations, easements and other property interests. He recently handled all the real estate work associated with the purchase of over 30 grocery stores in a single transaction.

Regarding corporate law matters, Mr. Durham represents companies in mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, and joint ventures. He has substantial experience regarding the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. He advises companies on corporate and limited liability laws. He drafts and reviews legal opinion letters and is the chair of the firm’s Opinion Letter Review Committee. He has handled stock and asset transactions involving the purchase or sale of construction companies, chemical companies, a resort hotel, car dealerships, etc.

Mr. Durham advises and represents clients in civil litigation involving real estate and commercial matters. He has experience trying cases before both the court and juries. He has handled appeals to state and federal appellate courts in Utah, Idaho and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. He is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts of Utah and Idaho, in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and in the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Durham recently defended a claim in a multi-week trial involving tens of millions of dollars, with no damages assessed against his client.

Mr. Durham received the Professionalism Award from the Utah State Bar in November, 2012. Mr. Durham is listed in Best Lawyers in America (in the areas of real estate, corporate law, and litigation). He has been named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Mountain States by Super Lawyers Magazine. He was featured in Forbes Magazine (June, 2004), and was named one of Utah’s “Legal Elite” by Utah Business Magazine.

Mr. Durham served as President, CEO, and Chairman of D|J|P’s Board of Directors for 16 years from 1991 to 2007. Currently, he is a director and General Counsel to the firm. As D|J|P’s General Counsel, Mr. Durham provides legal advice to D|J|P management and attorneys, and coordinates the firm’s legal affairs. He also chairs D|J|P’s Ethics Committee, and addresses issues involving the rules of professional ethics.