Mr. Van Wagoner’s law practice focuses in three primary areas of specialization: criminal defense—including white collar crime, commercial litigation and First Amendment law.  Mr. Van Wagoner has been involved in a number of significant cases of alleged white collar crime.  He has tried many cases for criminal defendants and commercial litigants.  Much of Mr. Van Wagoner's practice involves people who are either under criminal investigation or have been charged with crimes.  His civil practice often involves the potential for criminal cross-over, which often complicates the strategies for the civil case.  A substantial part of his criminal defense practice focuses on working with prosecutorial and investigative agencies in an effort to prevent charges from being filed in the first instance, and for those who are charged, to make sure the government complies with his clients’ constitutional rights, pertinent case law and rules.

Mr. Van Wagoner's constitutional law practice focuses primarily on the defense of governmental entities in cases involving alleged violations of individuals’ First Amendment or other constitutional rights.  He has, however, been involved in representing certain clients whose constitutional rights have been impaired by governmental entities.

Mr. Van Wagoner has been licensed to practice law in the State of Utah since 1985.  During law school he served as Managing Editor of the Utah Law Review, and graduated Order of the Coif.  He is admitted to practice in the Courts of the State of Utah, the United States District Court, District of Utah, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.  He has served as President of the Young Lawyers Section of the Utah State Bar, among other Bar assignments and services.  He has worked at Snow, Christensen & Martineau since 1983 to the present, except for one year as a law clerk to Judge J. Thomas Greene, United States District Judge, District of Utah, from 1985-86.  His practice has evolved over the years but for the past 15 years, has focused on commercial litigation, criminal defense (primarily white collar), and the First Amendment.  He is a member of the Utah State Bar, Salt Lake County Bar, Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Utah Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and has participated in the Southerland Inns of Court.  He has presented at a number of seminars involving trial practice and issues relating to the interplay between civil and criminal matters.  He has been and is recognized by Best Lawyers in the areas of First Amendment and white collar litigation.  He has also been recognized in Mountain States Super Lawyers from 2009 to the present.  Since 2000, he has been and remains AV rated by Martindale-Hubble, the highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards.  He is also currently serving as a mentor in the Utah State Bar Circle Mentoring program. 

• Civil Rights Defense
• White Collar Defense

Federal Bar Association

Presentations: