Wes Harward is a senior counsel attorney in Foley’s Salt Lake City office and is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and the Business Litigation Dispute Resolution Practice Group. He is a commercial litigator who regularly represents clients in complicated, high-stakes disputes. Clients rely on his legal acumen to protect them on their most important issues — executives, boards of directors, and in-house counsel turn to Wes to manage crises, protect their intellectual properties, represent them in “bet the company” litigation, and conduct sensitive internal investigations.

Wes is known for his practical approach to achieving his clients’ goals, whether that means reaching a quick business solution to a dispute or zealously defending his clients’ rights in court. He understands and uses a variety of dispute resolution tools, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation, to successfully resolve clients’ problems. Wes has successfully resolved numerous matters before they escalated to litigation, demonstrating his commitment to efficient and effective legal strategies.

Wes often advises on matters that have attracted public attention, and he works effectively with his clients to advise them on public relations and crisis management. He understands that in such cases, developing an effective public communication strategy is just as important as developing a successful trial strategy. Wes has conducted many internal investigations for organizations, addressing abuse allegations, prevention, and response. He appreciates the sensitive nature of these cases and provides comprehensive legal representation as these matters arise.

In addition to his work for businesses, Wes frequently represents churches and other nonprofit organizations. He has extensive experience handling aspects of litigation that are unique to these organizations, including issues concerning the Establishment Clause, the Free Exercise Clause, and other First Amendment rights.

Wes began his career clerking for the Honorable Jill N. Parrish at the United States District Court for the District of Utah.