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Attorney Profiles
James B. Lee 
Salt Lake City, Utah
phone 801-532-1234
fax 801-536-6111
email jlee@parsonsbehle.com
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James Lee is senior attorney and served as president from 1979-93. He is a member of the Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources department and has extensive experience in general corporate matters, including taxation, government relations and administrative law; commercial and environmental litigation; mining, oil and gas and public land matters. James was admitted to the Utah State Bar in 1961.

Related Activities and Skills:

  • Member, Board of Trustees, State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, 2003-2009; Chair 2005-2006 
  • Recipient of the Utah State Bar Lifetime Achievement Award, September 21, 2006
  • Member (10th Circuit Representative) Federal Judiciary Standing Committee of American Bar Association, 2003-2006
  • Recipient of the Utah Mining Association's General Patrick E. Conner Award, August 25, 2005
  • American Bar Association, Board member, 2000-2003 and Executive Committee, 2002-2003
  • Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, Board of Directors, 1994-97
  • KUED Board of Trustees, 1990-97; Chair 1996-97
  • State Executive and Judicial Compensation Commission, 1992-96
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 1987, Corporate, Energy, Environmental, Mining, Water and Natural Resources Law
  • Tax Review Commission, 1990-2000
  • Fellow of American Bar Foundation since 1988: Utah Chapter Chairman, 1994-99
  • Utah Bar Foundation - Board of Trustees 1990-96; President, 1994-96
  • Family Court Task Force, Chairman, 1992-94
  • Utah State Bar Future Commissions: Chairman, 1992-93
  • Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce: Board of Governors, Vice President, 1990-93
  • Commission of Justice in the 21st Century: Vice-Chairman, 1990-92
  • Utah Foundation, President, 1986-92
  • Advisory Committee to Utah Supreme Court on Rules of Evidence, Chairman, 1987-91
  • Utah State Bar, Energy and Natural Resources Section; Distinguished Service Award, 1989-90
  • Governor's Commission on Tax Recodification, 1984-90
  • Utah State Bar, Outstanding Lawyer of the Year, 1988
  • Supreme Court Nominating Committee, 1983-1987
  • Amicus Curie Award, Utah Judicial Council, 1982
  • Utah Mining Association Executive Committee, 1981-97; President, 1981-82
  • Utah Legal Services: Chairman, Board of Directors, 1978-80
  • Rowland Hall/St. Mark's: Board of Trustees, 1975-79
  • Utah State Bar: President, 1977-78; Bar Commissioner, 1971-78
  • Board of Pardons, 1975
  • Judicial Qualifications Commission, Chairman, 1974-75
  • Salt Lake County Bar Legal Services: Chairman of the Board, 1972-75
  • Family Services Counseling Center: Board of Directors, 1969-1972
  • Salt Lake County Bar Association: President, 1968-69
  • Utah National Guard Association: President, 1966-67
  • American Inns of Court II, Master of the Bench
  • American Bar Association: Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Section; Litigation Section; Senior Lawyers Section
  • Utah National Guard, Retired Brigadier General, 31 years of service
  • Federal Court ADR Panel Arbitrator
  • Chair, Ethics and Discipline Committee of Utah Supreme Court, 2000-03
  • Fellows of the American Bar Foundation Outstanding Service Award, 2005
Areas of Practice:
Estate Planning
Natural Resources & Water
Political/Governmental Law
Bar Admissions:
U.S. Supreme Court, 1971
U.S. District Court District of Utah, 1961
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1967
Utah, 1961
Education:
George Washington University National Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, 1960
J.D. degree with honors


U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 1952
B.S. degree with honors
Major:  Civil Engineering


Representative Clients:
Kennecott Corporation
Honors and Awards:
Lawyer of the Year, Utah, 1988


Amicus Curiae Award, Utah Judicial Council, 1982


Distinguished Service Award, Energy and Natural Resources Section, Utah State Bar


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Utah State Bar, 1977 - 1978
President


Salt Lake County Bar Association, 1968 - 1969
President


American Bar Foundation, 1988 - 2007
Fellow


Utah Legal Services, Trustee, 1975 - 1978


Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, 1990 - 1993
Board of Governors


Utah Bar Foundation, 1990 - 1996
Trustee


Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Kappa Phi