Five Snell & Wilmer Partners Named to Utah Business’ 2026 Legal Elite

SALT LAKE CITY – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce that five partners have been named to Utah Business’ 2026 “Legal Elite.” The annual recognition honors leading Utah attorneys who are making a meaningful impact in their respective areas of practice. Honorees are peer-nominated and selected by a panel of experienced legal and law enforcement professionals based on their legal knowledge, commitment to ethical standards, and professional achievements.

Wade R. Budge is a land use and real estate lawyer with significant experience advising developers and owners in all aspects of real estate development. He has negotiated entitlements for master planned communities, industrials projects, retail centers, office buildings, subdivisions, and mountain resorts throughout Utah. He also regularly represents clients in the use, acquisition, and disposition of real estate projects throughout the Western United States. Budge has advised developers in obtaining public incentives and using public finance tools, including tax increment financing, to facilitate new and redevelopment projects, and regularly advises clients with government relations matters involving state and local governments. Budge has negotiated public-private partnerships with dozens of local governments and with every one of the state’s development agencies, including the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, the Military Installation Development Authority, and the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District.

Denise A. Dragoo is a partner in Snell & Wilmer’s Salt Lake City office, where she focuses on natural resources, coal law, water law, environmental law, mining law, public land law, and issues affecting the oil and gas industry, as well as mine safety and health law. She has worked extensively on environmental permitting for mining and energy-related projects, many of which are located on public land. Dragoo also assists clients with compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and related administrative appeals. She practices before the U.S. Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals, the Utah Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining, and state and federal environmental agencies. Most recently, Dragoo was selected for inclusion in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Energy.

Mark O. Morris is 41-year trial lawyer who works among and with many of the firm’s practice groups including Litigation, Investigation, Trial, Construction, Real Estate, Labor and Employment, Intellectual Property and Corporate and Securities. In his 40-plus year career, he has resolved general business disputes of all kinds in these areas, including defense of class action matters. Morris has been recognized by his peers for not only his litigation skills, but also for his judgment and background in general corporate and contract issues that have been informed by his many years of resolving primarily business disputes. Morris always seeks efficient, amicable, and reasonable resolutions to his clients’ problems, including informal and formal negotiation and mediation before and after a case commences. When agreed resolutions satisfactory to his clients fail, Morris’s clients benefit from his extensive experience in getting results from judges, juries, and arbitrators. Morris has tried over 75 cases.

Amy F. Sorenson is a nationally recognized civil litigator with nearly three decades of experience in the federal and state courts of Utah, Nevada, and California. With a collaborative approach and an energizing presence, Sorenson has led high profile matters ranging from complex business litigation to federal Constitutional and statutory “bet-the-company” challenges and beyond. A trusted advisor to business both in and out of the courtroom, Sorenson also has led and resolved difficult internal investigations matters. Her industry-specific knowledge includes financial services, higher education, sports, and technology.

John G. Weston concentrates his practice in corporate and securities law, with a focus on complex business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, leveraged recapitalizations, and restructurings. He also advises on corporate governance, securities offerings and compliance, private equity, venture capital, and general corporate matters. Weston has significant experience representing clients in a variety of industries, including hospitality, retail, healthcare, life sciences, family offices, ski resorts, outdoor lifestyle companies, transportation, construction, defense, sports, consumer products, real estate joint ventures, food and beverage products, heavy equipment, and technology products and services.