Lauren A. Shurman

Lauren's practice spans complex commercial and employment litigation, where she guides businesses through high-stakes disputes. She also advises clients on best practices for compliance with a range of employment laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the WARN Act. She regularly assists employers in drafting employee handbooks, employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and severance agreements. Lauren also serves as an employment specialist on complex transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and venture capital financing, performing diligence on employment-related risks and assisting with post-deal integration issues, such as onboarding, offboarding, and transition services arrangements. Her clients range from technology innovators to energy companies, reflecting her ability to master diverse industries and deliver results across sectors.

Recent matters include*:

• obtaining judgment and treble damages in favor of investor for violation of blue sky law’s antifraud provisions.
• obtaining dismissal of discrimination claims against investment fund for lack of jurisdiction.
• obtaining dismissal of tort claims asserted against private equity fund by founder of one of its portfolio companies and negotiating resolution of contract claims.
• representing CEO and co-founder of consumer services business on exit following sale to private equity fund.
• advising Taco Bell Corp. on employment aspects of its acquisition of 128 Taco Bell restaurants.

• Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Utah) by Chambers USA (currently: Litigation: General Commercial), 2017–2023
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America (currently: Commercial Litigation), 2022
• Included in Utah Business Legal Elite (Civil Litigation), 2021
• Recipient, Pro Bono Service Award 2017, Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association

• Duke University School of Law, JD, cum laude
  Stanley Star Scholar; Moot Court Board Member; Editor-in-Chief, Alaska Law Review
• University of Utah, MS, Educational Psychology
• University of Utah, BS, cum laude, Biology

• Utah

• President, Women Lawyers of Utah, 2022–present
• Board Member, National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations, 2021– present
• Chair, Utah Supreme Court Professionalism & Civility Counseling Board, 2018–present
• Co-Chair, Utah Judicial Council’s Standing Committee on Model Utah Civil Jury Instructions, 2017–present
• Member, Utah State Bar Character and Fitness Committee, 2015–2021
• Salt Lake County Bar Association, President (2019–2021), Executive Committee Member (2007–2019)