Law is not exactly like it’s portrayed on TV.
"Hollywood tends to exaggerate it a little bit. It certainly can be exciting, but not 24 hours, seven days a week," said Kevin Simon, a lawyer for the Park City-based firm Strachan Strachan and Simon.
Simon has been with the firm since 2001 and recently was named as one of Utah’s Legal Elite by Utah Business Magazine. He came to Park City after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law. He then worked at a firm in Salt Lake for about four years before joining Strachan.
"He is an excellent litigator," wrote Gordon Strachan, the founder of the firm. "He has tried numerous significant cases with me in federal state courts and several to juries as lead counsel."
Strachan’s son, Adam, and Simon were recently named partners in Strachan’s newly restructured law firm. The firm mostly works in ski resort defense, sports, catastrophic injury and complex commercial litigation.
"We are a full-service law firm that specializes in ski resort liability defense," Simon said. "We defend nearly every ski resort in Utah and several others outside the state. We also do business and real estate litigation."
The law scene in Park City is diverse.
"We’ve defended all kinds of cases running the gamut," Simon said, "mostly every case conceivable."
Park City has unique mix of a small town with sophisticated individuals and corporations, Simon said, to make the job interesting.
"We have the typical things you’d see in a small town and we have the litigation you’d see in a major metropolis," he said.
The resorts have the potential to face lawsuits regularly throughout the year. Simon has seen suits against ski instructors. He’s defended against mountain bike injuries, skier/skier collisions and Alpine Slide accidents.
"Not to slap myself on the back, but we have an undefeated track record," Simon said. "We’ve never lost and it’s not because we settle. In part of the firm’s track record, there are not many lawsuits filed (anymore). There are far less here than there are in other places."
Adam Strachan is a welcome addition to a firm that has a growing client base, Simon said.
"We have a lot of work so it’s good to have more lawyers," he said.
While there has been an addition to Strachan Strachan and Simon, it’s still considered a small firm, which suits Simon who started off with a large firm in California.
"I prefer a small firm atmosphere," he said. "It’s friendly and personal. I love it in Park City and love the clients and firms I represent, and Gordon and I have a great relationship."
The work itself is fulfilling for Simon. He enjoys litigation, the research and defending his clients.
"It’s intellectually engaging," he said. "I meet a lot of interesting people. We take pride in being hard-nosed attorneys but are still ethical."
The firm often defends its clients from people who are sue-happy and looking for a quick buck. People even go as far to fake an injury, he said.
"There are plaintiffs who were lying or malingering, absolutely," Simon said.
He revels in halting those who are "defrauding the system."
"I take a lot of pride in stopping what I feel is the proliferation of frivolous lawsuits," he said. "I consider ourselves to be experts in that field."
Simon is dedicated to his defendants who otherwise might not be able to protect themselves. It mostly defends businesses but it also will take individual cases.
"I take great pride in representing whoever they are," he said
Strachan Strachan and Simon law offices are located at 401 Main Street. For more information, call 649-4111 or log on to www.strachanlaw.com.