Paul C. Burke
Paul C. Burke
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Mr. Burke is a shareholder, director, and general counsel of Ray Quinney & Nebeker. Mr. Burke first joined the Firm as a law clerk in 1995. He became an associate attorney in 1997, was elected partner in 2003, and was appointed by the Firm to serve as its general counsel in 2007. In 2012, the Utah State Bar recognized Mr. Burke as the "Pro Bono Attorney of the Year" for his service to the public and the legal community.
Mr. Burke is primarily a civil litigator. He has a broad range of experience, although a substantial portion of his practice has been in the realm of labor and employment law. Mr. Burke maintains an AV Preeminent (4.6) rating with Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating awarded to attorneys for professional competence and ethics.
Mr. Burke has served public and private clients, both large and small. He has represented the State of Utah as well as its Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. Mr. Burke has also represented political subdivisions and special districts of the State of Utah. He has represented educational institutions including the state's flagship universities. He has also represented several municipalities, and provided service as a city attorney. In the private sector, Mr. Burke has provided representation for some of the state's largest and fastest-growing companies.
Mr. Burke has appeared as an appellate advocate before both administrative and judicial bodies. Mr. Burke has argued before the Utah Supreme Court. He currently serves as a member of the Utah Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure. In his capacity as the Firm’s general counsel, Mr. Burke provides legal advice to the Firm’s management and coordinates the Firm’s legal affairs. He also serves as a member of the Firm’s Ethics Committee and addresses issues involving professionalism and the rules of professional ethics.
Mr. Burke is active in community affairs and has provided pro bono services to the community. He has litigated on behalf of an abused teenager, and he has advocated on behalf of crime victims and cyclists. He has also provided services to community organizations such as the Utah Youth Soccer Association.
University of Utah, J.D., 1997
- William H. Leary Scholar, Fall 1995
- Received 1997 Outstanding Achievement Award in Trial Advocacy
College of the Holy Cross, B.A. with Honors, 1993
- History Department Honors
Mansfield College, Oxford University, Visiting Student 1991-92.
- Summer Clerk, Ray Quinney & Nebeker Summer 1996
- Summer Clerk, Ray Quinney & Nebeker Summer 1995
- Utah State and Federal Courts
- Idaho State and Federal Courts
- United States Court of Appeal, 10th Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
- Utah State Bar, Labor & Employment Section
- Utah Defense Lawyers Association
- Salt Lake County Bar Association
- Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Utah State Bar, 2012
- Pro Bono Mediator, Utah Labor Commission, 2006-present
- Member, Utah Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure, 2005-present
- Chairman, Rules Committee, U.S. Soccer Federation, 2006-present
- Member, Rules Committee, U.S. Soccer Federation, 2005
- President, Utah Youth Soccer Association, 2003-2005
- Co-Chairman, New Lawyer Education Committee, Utah State Bar, 2003
- Co-Chairman, Five for Our Kids Committee. Led successful campaign for Salt Lake City Proposition No. 5 in November 2003 election
- Chairman, Protests & Appeals Committee, Utah Youth Soccer Association, 1996-2000
- Chairman, Discipline Committee, Utah Youth Soccer Association, 2000-2001
- Chairman, Rules Committee, Utah Youth Soccer Association, 2008-2009
- School Commission Member, St. Francis Xavier Regional School, 2000-2002
- First Season Ticket Holder, University of Utah Women's Soccer
- Co-Presenter, Utah State Bar's Quarterly Litigation Section Meeting, "Cross-Examination Techniques," May 3, 2006.
- Speaker, Utah State Bar's Labor & Employment Section Annual Meeting, "Smith v. City of Jackson: The New Frontier in Age Discrimination," May 25, 2005.
- Co-Author, "Strange Clockwork: Evading Liability or Limiting Damages with After-Acquired Evidence," CUE Legal Alert, January 2005
- Co-Presenter, "An Update of Utah Employment Law," Corporate Counsel Fall Meeting, Utah State Bar, November 11, 2004.
- Moderator, Council on Education in Management's "Personnel Law Update," October 27, 2003.
- Co-Moderator, Council on Education in Management's "Personnel Law Update," October 22, 2002 and May 14, 2003.
- Panelist, Utah State Bar's 2002 Summer Convention, "Security Issues in the Workplace and Beyond," June 28, 2002.
- Co-Moderator, Progressive Discipline, Coaching and Termination Law, Council on Education in Management, February 22-23, 2000.
- Speaker, Family and Medical Leave Act in Utah, Lorman Education Services, February 10, 2000.
- Co-Moderator, Personnel Law Update Seminar, Council on Education in Management, November 29-30, 1999.
- Co-Author, "Settlements: What Do They Settle?" Utah Labor Letter, May 1998.
AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.