Amy F. Sorenson

Practice Areas

Amy Sorenson is a regional civil litigator with 20+ years of experience defending businesses in Utah, Nevada and California at trial, in arbitration and on appeal. She focuses her practice in financial services litigation and complex commercial litigation spanning many industries and practice areas.

Amy defends financial services clients in regional defense programs involving high-volume and pattern litigation. Her financial services litigation experience extends to representing lenders, servicers and financial industry clients in commercial and consumer matters including qui tam claims, origination claims, consumer disputes, SEC receiverships, probate matters, and commercial real estate disputes.

Amy has tried cases to verdict in the state and federal courts, and the American Arbitration Association. Her complex commercial litigation practice includes general business litigation claims in the federal and state trial courts and on appeal, including dealer termination, False Claims Act lawsuits, breach of fiduciary duty, Lanham Act claims, non-compete, contract and unfair competition claims, business torts and intellectual property and professional liability claims.

Amy assists companies when legal challenges arise from government or industry action or proposed action, employee, class and whistle-blower claims, and other circumstances involving business-threatening conflict and crisis management. She also advises businesses concerning compliance matters and related corporate policies.

Professional Memberships

University of Utah S. J. Quinney College of Law, Adjunct Professor (2021-2022)

Network of Trial Law Firms, Executive Committee (2018-Present), President (2021-2022)

Chair, Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, United States District Court, District of Utah, Northern Region (2018-2020)

Co-Chair, Utah State Bar Convention (2017)

International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) (2017-Present)

Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow (2009-Present)

Salt Lake County Bar Association, President (2014-2015)

Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter, President (2010)

Women Lawyers of Utah

Publications

“Sustainability, Risk & Opportunity: Impacts of ESG in Banking,” Moderator, Snell & Wilmer Virtual CLE (December 14, 2023)

“Internal Investigations and Regulatory Scrutiny – Navigating the Minefield,” Panel Moderator, Snell & Wilmer Corporate Counsel Forum (September 30, 2023)

“Thoughtful Planning of Remote Proceedings and Services,” Panelist, Court Technology Conference, Phoenix, Arizona (September 12, 2023)

“Soundbites: Short Class Action Lessons Over Lunch,” Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Virtual CLE (July 12, 2023)

"The Federal False Claims Act: Civil War Statute, Present Day Penalties," Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Virtual CLE Series (June 8, 2021)

"The Federal False Claims Act: Civil War Statute, Present Day Penalties," Episode Host, CalCurrent Podcast (April 1, 2021)

"Hindsight Is 2020: Looking Ahead to Loan Workouts, Financial Litigation Trends and More," Presenter, Colorado Bankers Association Webinar (December 16, 2020)

"Nev. Lenders Must Brace For The Next Wave Of Foreclosures," Co-Author, Law360 (October 6, 2020)

"Internal Investigations – Culture, Process, Ethics," Panel Moderator, Snell & Wilmer Corporate Counsel Forum (March 2019)

"In-House Counsel Pro Bono Programs: Overcoming Practical Issues and Addressing Ethical Concerns," Presenter, Network of Trial Law Firms CLE, New York, NY (August 2018)

"The Second Labor of Hercules - Battling Government Investigations," Panel Moderator, Network of Trial Law Firms CLE, Laguna Beach, CA (April 2018)

"Law Firm Management: Attracting and Retaining the Right Talent," Panel Speaker, Women Lawyers of Utah, Advancement Pledge Series (February 2018)

“After the Worst Happens: The Punitive Damages Award on Appeal”, Speaker, Network of Trial Law Firms Litigation Management Supercourse, Kiawah Island, SC (October 2016)

"Punitives Slashed in Wyoming Carbon Monoxide Case: In a win for tort reformers, an appellate court embraces a 1-1 ratio of punitive compensatory damages," Featured, The American Lawyer (May 2016)

“How Do Law Firms Retain Women, and Why It Matters,” Panel Speaker, Utah State Bar 2016 Spring Convention, St. George, UT (March 11, 2016)

"Arbitration Agreements and Practice from a Litigator's Perspective," Panel Moderator, Snell & Wilmer Corporate Counsel Forum (March 24, 2015)

Trial Academy (Faculty), Utah State Bar Fall Forum (November 21, 2014)

Work Highlights

Regularly represents lenders and loan servicers in regional mortgage foreclosure and consumer financial litigation cases and defense programs addressing pattern litigation

Defended institutional trustee in breach of trust, failure to diversify probate assets claims

Represented fintech company in putative class claims concerning appraisal management fees in loan origination

Represented financial institution in federal False Claims Act lawsuit and on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Defended national servicer in multi-district litigation concerning mortgage and deed of trust assignments and foreclosure rights

Represented financial institution secured creditor on multifamily properties in federal SEC receivership concerning Ponzi scheme allegations

Regularly represents global technology company in litigation concerning Constitutional challenges to state statutes

Regularly represents university in litigation matters and on appeal concerning state and federal governmental immunity, sovereign immunity and related Constitutional issues

Represented interstate luxury rail service provider in declaratory judgment action concerning preemption of local permitting processes under federal law

Represented multifamily property management company in federal lawsuit involving Lanham Act, unfair competition, intentional interference, and breach of fiduciary duty claims

Represented global media company in litigation concerning software implementation and breach of contract, fraud, concealment claims and counterclaims under California law

Represented commercial property owner and manager in appeal of personal injury punitive damages judgment in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on federal due process grounds

Represented global technology company in federal court involving breach of contract and copyright infringement claims concerning open source code