Derek Williams, PartnerAfter growing up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, I served a mission for my church in the south of France. After my mission I attended Rick’s College in Rexburg, Idaho, and then graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor of Arts (1997) and Juris Doctorate degrees (2003).

In 2020, after working for 17 years at the downtown Salt Lake City law firm of Snow Christensen & Martineau, I was honored to be asked to join Dave Ference and Vaun Hall as a partner at their firm. Like them, my primary practice area is in representing doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers involving regulatory, insurance, and professional liability matters.

Derek Williams Adoption Attorney Family PhotoAfter my wife and I adopted our two children, hopeful adopting parents started asking me to help them with building their families through adoption. After nearly seventeen years, I have developed a fulfilling adoption practice. I am a Fellow of the invitation-only American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. I represent adopting parents, agencies, and birth parents. Some of my most rewarding moments as an attorney are appearing before a judge and seeing adoptive parents’ dreams come true. I am featured in “Adopting in America: How to Adopt Within One Year (2018-2019),” one of the best resources on adoption. I am grateful and humbled to get to play a small role in helping my clients find and adopt their children.

Prior to law school, I worked for the Utah Attorney General’s Office, where I was significantly involved in the complex litigation and subsequent settlement between the state and numerous tobacco companies. I also served a Judicial Clerkship for Judge Pamela T. Greenwood on the Utah Court of Appeals. I am grateful for the many mentors and valuable stepping stones I have had placed before me along my path to becoming the lawyer I am today.

Throughout my career I have presented on topics related to electronic medical records, nursing and physician documentation, and other legal considerations for health care providers. I have also taught seminars and spoken on adoption law and practices in Utah. I have long believed that we should all share our information, experiences, and knowledge for the benefit of others, and I try to live by that principle by freely answering questions and helping other lawyers navigate their adoption cases.

I also try to offer my time serving in my Church, community, and on committees for the Utah State Bar and Utah Supreme Court related to the practice of law. I am the past chair and longtime member of the Utah State Bar’s Office of Professional Conduct Diversion Committee, and am currently serving on the Ethics and Discipline Screening Panel. I am a Past President and member of the Utah Adoption Council, a member of many local and national professional organizations.

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children, and friends. I also enjoy reading, cycling, traveling, skiing, exploring new places, and watching sports, particularly local college football.

Derek Williams, PartnerAfter growing up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, I served a mission for my church in the south of France. After my mission I attended Rick’s College in Rexburg, Idaho, and then graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor of Arts (1997) and Juris Doctorate degrees (2003).

In 2020, after working for 17 years at the downtown Salt Lake City law firm of Snow Christensen & Martineau, I was honored to be asked to join Dave Ference and Vaun Hall as a partner at their firm. Like them, my primary practice area is in representing doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers involving regulatory, insurance, and professional liability matters.

Derek Williams Adoption Attorney Family PhotoAfter my wife and I adopted our two children, hopeful adopting parents started asking me to help them with building their families through adoption. After nearly seventeen years, I have developed a fulfilling adoption practice. I am a Fellow of the invitation-only American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. I represent adopting parents, agencies, and birth parents. Some of my most rewarding moments as an attorney are appearing before a judge and seeing adoptive parents’ dreams come true. I am featured in “Adopting in America: How to Adopt Within One Year (2018-2019),” one of the best resources on adoption. I am grateful and humbled to get to play a small role in helping my clients find and adopt their children.

Prior to law school, I worked for the Utah Attorney General’s Office, where I was significantly involved in the complex litigation and subsequent settlement between the state and numerous tobacco companies. I also served a Judicial Clerkship for Judge Pamela T. Greenwood on the Utah Court of Appeals. I am grateful for the many mentors and valuable stepping stones I have had placed before me along my path to becoming the lawyer I am today.

Throughout my career I have presented on topics related to electronic medical records, nursing and physician documentation, and other legal considerations for health care providers. I have also taught seminars and spoken on adoption law and practices in Utah. I have long believed that we should all share our information, experiences, and knowledge for the benefit of others, and I try to live by that principle by freely answering questions and helping other lawyers navigate their adoption cases.

I also try to offer my time serving in my Church, community, and on committees for the Utah State Bar and Utah Supreme Court related to the practice of law. I am the past chair and longtime member of the Utah State Bar’s Office of Professional Conduct Diversion Committee, and am currently serving on the Ethics and Discipline Screening Panel. I am a Past President and member of the Utah Adoption Council, a member of many local and national professional organizations.

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children, and friends. I also enjoy reading, cycling, traveling, skiing, exploring new places, and watching sports, particularly local college football.