Melinda Bowen loves collaborating with clients to address complex issues at the most difficult times of life. Her experience ranges from guiding families through difficult personal matters, to defending those facing criminal charges and related civil liability, to leading organizational clients through high-stakes disputes.
Melinda has consulted with individuals attempting to rebuild after divorce and other family challenges. She has represented white-collar criminal defendants accused of various charges, such as tax offenses, trade secret violations, and bribery. She has assisted professional clients whose reputations and licenses were at risk in the wake of government investigations and liability suits. She has worked in teams handling complex commercial litigation for corporate clients. She has also litigated on behalf of governmental entities facing constitutional challenges, employment issues, property tax appeals, and land use disputes. With diverse litigation experience over many years, Melinda has honed her ability to organize complicated cases in an understandable way and to present a client’s position in its most persuasive form.
Melinda spent the early years of her career at the firm before serving as a judicial law clerk for Judge Tena Campbell in the United States District Court for the District of Utah and for Judge Carolyn McHugh on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. After her clerkships, Melinda had the opportunity to return to her alma mater, this time as a full-time professor teaching courses in criminal law and criminal procedure. Although Melinda enjoyed teaching, she missed working closely with clients to address legal needs in real-time. She therefore returned to practice, first as a civil litigator at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and now back at the firm.
In addition to her work for clients, Melinda gives extensive time to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, both in the law and in the larger community. She regularly presents on these topics, mentors students of all ages, and assists with programs that provide resources to those with diverse identities as they navigate individual paths to professional careers. Outside of these efforts, Melinda also enjoys traveling, running, eating good food with good friends, watching sporting events (especially when her kids are participating), and doing all things outdoors. Whenever possible, she does these things with her husband, four boys, and their trusty black lab, Tupac.
Education
- J.D., Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark School of Law, 2010
- B.S., Brigham Young University, 2006
Bar & Court Admissions
- Utah State Bar
- United States District Court for the District of Utah
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals