Nathan Crane

Partner
Executive Committee Member
Contact
P 801.322.9133 | F 801.363.0400
Spencer Fane attorney Nathan Crane

Overview

Nathan Crane is a criminal defense attorney who represents individuals and companies accused of criminal activity anywhere in the country. He has successfully defended individuals charged in both state and federal court for many offenses, including serious and complex white-collar felonies.

Nathan aggressively represents adult and juvenile clients, responding to search warrants, government investigative demands, summonses, service of subpoenas, and in trial.

On matters involving cryptocurrency blockchain, Nathan has the experience and knowledge needed to support his clients’ legal rights. He has also represented student-athletes on variance, transfers, and eligibility issues. Nathan has presented before local school boards to address Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) denials and assisted in guiding parents and student athletes through the complicated process from start to finish.

Nathan formerly served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Nevada and a Deputy District Attorney in Clark County, Nevada, where he prosecuted more than 1,000 felony cases, including white collar, fraud, sex crimes, and violent crime. The experience gave Nathan an exceptional perspective in defending his clients.

A unique area of Nathan’s practice involves representing residential treatment facilities, including assisted living and hospice care centers. This work includes conducting internal investigations, assisting the centers’ leadership and staff on how best to manage difficult residents, and determining when to involve local law enforcement (and then coordinating their involvement). He also assists the centers in responding to subpoenas and, when needed, serves as a media spokesperson for all media inquiries relating to investigations and accusations.

Nathan appears regularly in court and has conducted multiple felony jury trials and numerous misdemeanor trials. He has handled cases and appeared in courtrooms across the country, including Utah, Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Nathan has also argued criminal appeals before the Nevada Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Credentials

Education

  • George Mason University, 2004 (J.D.)
  • Utah State University, 2001 (B.A.), cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Utah
  • Nevada

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Utah

  • Helped secure the return of over $809,000 seized by the government to the client in a high-profile case.
  • Obtained dismissal of all sexual assault charges prior to trial.
  • Obtained release from custody and six months of probation for a juvenile selling drugs in a high school.
  • Negotiated a plea in abeyance, return of all property seized, and eventual dismissal of all charges for a client accused of running illegal gaming machines in a high-profile case.
  • Secured the return of the client’s vehicle that was seized by federal agents.
  • Obtained a hung jury in a high-profile, eight-week felony trial in Miami, Florida, for client charged with major fraud against the U.S.
  • Obtained client’s release from custody pending appeal.
  • Obtained client’s release from custody, pending trial, in multiple cases.
  • Obtained probation for client charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Obtained dismissal of all causes of action against client in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Obtained acquittal after three-day jury trial for doctor accused of insurance fraud.
  • Obtained dismissal of dating violence protective order that had been filed against client.
  • Obtained an order vacating the conviction and dismissing the case of a client that retained Nathan after being convicted.
  • Obtained a dismissal of all charges prior to trial for juvenile charged with using a knife in a fight at school.
  • Obtained the dismissal of a civil stalking injunction.
  • Obtained probation for client charged with multiple drug trafficking felonies.
  • Obtained dismissal of four felonies after conducting a preliminary hearing.
  • Obtained dismissal of temporary protective order.
  • Obtained probation, in high-profile case, for former elected official charged with communications fraud.
  • Obtained a dismissal, in a high-profile case, of all charges prior to trial for client accused of starting a large fire.
  • Obtained a dismissal of a dating violence protective order.
  • Obtained a reduction of charges from two felonies to misdemeanor and probation.
  • Obtained a sentence of probation for a client who was facing 87 months under the federal sentencing guidelines.
  • Testified as an expert witness in a criminal case before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, Ireland.

  • Youth Basketball, Football, and Soccer, Volunteer Coach
  • KSL Radio, “The Night Side Project,” Legal Commentator

  • Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Utah Business Magazine, Utah Legal Elite, Criminal Law
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers, Super Lawyer, Criminal Defense
  • National Trial Lawyers, 40 Under 40, Invited for National Membership

  • Utah Bar Association
  • Nevada Bar Association
  • Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Section
  • University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Adjunct Professor, August 2015-present
  • Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel Member
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • American Society of Trial Consultants

  • “Anatomy of a Murder,” American College of Trial Lawyers, April 2023
  • “Preparing for the Verdict: Pre-Trial Research and Juror Focus Groups,” Utah Defense Lawyers Association, Annual Meeting, May 2019
  • “War Dogs: A Case Study of United States v. Efraim Diveroli, et al. The Case That Inspired The Major Motion Picture And The New York Times Best Selling Book,” Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Seminar, May 2017
  • “Benefit of Using Trial Prep Consulting Services for Significant Cases,” Utah State Bar Summer Convention, July 2016
  • Congress Should Follow Utah’s Lead on Sentencing Reform,” Salt Lake Tribune, February 2016
  • Criminal Justice Reform Merits Bipartisan Support,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, January 2016
  • “Preserving The Chain of Custody for Trial Evidence,” Governmental Law Seminar, 2015
  • “You Have Received A Subpoena For Your Client’s Records, Now What?” Avoiding Legal Trouble for Accountants CPA Seminar, 2013
  • “Points and Pointers Regarding Bureau of Prison Placement,” Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Seminar, 2013
  • “Law Enforcement: Warrantless Search and Seizure,” Federal Bar Association, Governmental Law Seminar, 2013
  • “The Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Avoiding Obstruction of Justice,” Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Seminar, 2012
  • “Advising Clients Facing Federal Criminal Charges,” Federal Bar Association, Southern Utah Law Symposium, 2012
  • “Interdiction Tactics,” Nevada Highway Patrol, 2008
  • “Methamphetamine: A Deadly Drug,” Boy Scouts of America, 2008
  • “Laws of Arrest: Miranda and Terry Stops,” Nevada Department of Public Safety, 2007
  • “Search and Seizure,” Henderson Police Department, 2007
  • “Narcotics Laws and Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs,” Nevada Department of Public Safety, 2007