Bret R. Evans, Partner at our Salt Lake City law office
Bret R. Evans vcard
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Bret R. Evans

Partner
Biography

Bret Evans focuses his practice in high-stakes litigation, including complex commercial disputes and bankruptcy adversary proceedings. Bret also regularly seeks creatives solutions for his clients’ problems in reorganizations, works outs, foreclosures, and receiverships, including through fraudulent/voidable transfer litigation and replevin actions. Bret approaches each case, no matter the size, with strategic precision and insight. He represents clients at all stages of litigation, including in pre-litigation discussions and throughout trial and appeal, and he regularly appears in both state and federal courts, including bankruptcy and appellate courts.

Bret’s clientele spans a diverse range, including large banks and investments firms, Fortune 500 companies, and small businesses, particularly those in the banking and finance industries. In difficult circumstances where there are no obvious solutions, Bret works hard to find a way forward, keeping his clients’ goals foremost at each step.

Before coming to Snell & Wilmer, Bret clerked for the Honorable Jill N. Parrish while she was a Justice of the Utah Supreme Court. In addition to his diverse commercial litigation and bankruptcy practice, Bret is committed to promoting diversity in the legal profession and providing public service. He sits on the Board of Directors of both the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion and the LGBTQ+ and Allied Lawyers of Utah. Bret is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center. In recognition of his commitment to diversity and success in the legal profession, Bret was recently recognized as one of Utah Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Utah


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Utah
  • United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Colorado
  • United States District Court, District of Utah


Education

  • University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., with highest honors)
    • Faculty Award (2nd Highest Cumulative GPA)
    • Order of the Coif
    • William H. Leary Scholar
    • Articles Editor, Utah Law Review
  • Brigham Young University (B.A., Political Science)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • Snell & Wilmer Community Involvement Award (2024)
  • Utah Business Magazine, 40 Under 40 (2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones To Watch
    • Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law (2021-2025)
    • Bankruptcy Litigation (2023-2025)
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Business Litigation (2019-2024)

Representative Experience

  • Regularly represents lenders, servicers, and other financial industry clients in a wide variety of commercial disputes, including defending and prosecuting fraudulent transfer actions, and repossessing assets through receivership, foreclosure, and replevin actions
  • Represents lenders and other creditors in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcy litigation, including claim objections, Chapter 11 plan confirmation disputes, stay motions, avoidance, preference, and non-dischargeability litigation, as well as motions to dismiss, appoint Chapter 11 trustee, to convert to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy
  • Advises creditors, debtors, and guarantors in breach of contract, breach of guaranty, and receiver actions. Bret also has represented creditors, including banks, lessors, and individuals in all avenues of judgment collection, including debtor examinations and related discovery, writs of attachment, garnishment, and execution
  • Assists special servicers, lending institutions, banks, and private capital in connection with foreclosures and loan workout strategies in various debt collection scenarios
  • Represents receivers in complex business restructurings, litigation, and in collection of distressed assets
  • Regularly advises secured parties with the protection of their collateral through the appointment of receivers and other legal remedies.
  • Counsel to largest unsecured creditor in prosecuting fraudulent transfer action against iron mining operation culminating in two-week trial in bankruptcy court
  • Counsel to largest unsecured creditor in prosecuting non-dischargeability complaint against debtor culminating in trial in bankruptcy court and arguments before the Tenth Circuit
  • Assisted in prosecuting $100M+ fraudulent transfer, breach of contract, and alter-ego claims
  • Defended lender in defending claims involving more than $10 million in alleged fraudulent transfers
  • Counsel to lender in judicial foreclosure, receivership, and collection of $100M+ claim concerning resort property and real property assets near Park City, Utah

Previous Professional Experience

  • Utah Supreme Court, Judicial Clerk to Justice Jill Parrish (2014-2015)
  • Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy, Summer Associate (2013)
  • U.S. District Court, Judicial Intern to Magistrate Judge Paul Warner (2012-2013)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Utah State Bar
    • LGBT & Allied Lawyers of Utah, Board Member (2019-present)
    • Young Lawyers Division, Wellbeing Committee Member (2018-2019)
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Salt Lake County Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute

Community Involvement

  • Rocky Mountain Innocence Center, Board Member (2020-Present)
  • Utah Center for Legal Inclusion, Board Member (2019-Present)
  • Volunteer Tax Preparer (2012-2014)