Seven Snell & Wilmer Attorneys Named to 2026 Legal 500 Salt Lake City Elite

SALT LAKE CITY – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce that Salt Lake City Partners Troy J. Aramburu (Commercial Disputes), Denise A. Dragoo (Energy and Natural Resources), Matthew L. Lalli (Commercial Disputes), Brad W. Merrill (Corporate and M&A), Mark O. Morris (Commercial Disputes), Amy F. Sorenson (Commercial Disputes), and John G. Weston (Corporate and M&A) have been named to the 2026 edition of Legal 500 Salt Lake City Elite.

Legal 500 US Elite recognizes leading lawyers at top regional firms across major U.S. business centers, highlighting practitioners handling high-level legal work in their respective markets.

Aramburu focuses his practice on bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, committees, receivers, and other fiduciaries in a variety of contested actions before bankruptcy, federal, and state courts. Troy has also represented members, partners, and shareholders in disputes with other owners or the company in bankruptcy and other courts. He also regularly seeks creative solutions to his clients’ problems through reorganizations and workouts.

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. She 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.

Lalli has tried dozens of cases in courts and arbitration tribunals throughout the United States. Licensed in Arizona, California, and Utah, Matt has a go-anywhere do-anything attitude so long as he can be in a courtroom advocating for his clients. He takes cases from inception through trial and appeal, but frequently takes over cases shortly before trial. As one interviewee reported to Chambers USA, “Matt is sophisticated and able to handle any courtroom situation with poise and sophistication. He listens well, speaks well, thinks quickly and manages situations impeccably.” Another Chambers interviewee said Matt “is incredibly organized and savvy, and he wins cases.” Matt is a member of the firm’s ethics committee and loss prevention counsel.

Merrill focuses his practice on corporate and securities, with extensive experience with corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and all aspects of debt and equity financing. As part of his corporate practice, Brad has also developed extensive expertise in renewable energy transactions, bank regulatory matters, hospitality matters, and aircraft transactions.

Morris is the Managing Partner of the Salt Lake City Office. In his 40-year career, he has resolved general business disputes of all kinds, including matters in the areas of construction, real estate, securities, legal malpractice, employment, professional liability, trade secrets and defense of class action matters. Mark has been recognized by his peers for not only his litigation skills, but also for his judgment and background in general corporate and business issues that have been informed by his many years of resolving primarily business disputes. Mark 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, Mark’s clients benefit from his extensive experience in getting results from judges, juries, and arbitrators. Mark has tried over 75 cases.

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, Amy 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, Amy also has led and resolved difficult internal investigations matters. Her industry-specific knowledge includes financial services, higher education, and sports and technology.

Weston focuses his practice on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis 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. John 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.