Mr. Guerra has knowledge on all sides of the legal field with experiences at the United States District Courts for the District of Idaho, a local criminal defense firm, and as a former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Ada County. Currently, his practice areas focus on administrative law, civil rights, governmental entity law, and all aspects of civil litigation.

• Bilingual in Spanish/English
• Concordia University College of Law – Law Review, Associate Editor
• University of Idaho College of Law – Law Review, Associate Editor
• Award: CALI Excellence for the Future Award (Legal Research and Writing II, Property II, and Environmental Justice)

Education: Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, University of Idaho College of Law, 2022; Bachelor of Science in Political Science, cum laude, Boise State University, 2018

Bar Admissions: Idaho 2010; U.S. District Court (Idaho) 2012; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (2024)

Mr. Peterson’s practice concentrates on municipality and public entity representation and defense,
administrative law, general litigation, and wills, trusts, and probates. Mr. Peterson joined the firm in 2018.

• Legal Research and Writing teaching assistant for Professor Deborah McIntosh, 2014-2016.
• Idaho Trial Lawyers Association award for Excellence in Legal Research and Writing, 2014.
• McNichols Moot Court Competition Best Brief award, 2015.
• Chief Research Editor of the Idaho Law Review, 2015-2016.
• Previously practiced in Boise in a plaintiff civil litigation-oriented firm with a large portion of the
  work devoted to family law.

Education: Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, University of Idaho College of Law, 2016; Bachelor of
Arts in Music, Boise State University, 2009.

Bar Admissions: Idaho 2016; U.S. District Court (Idaho) 2016; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 2020.

Of Counsel

Mr. Hales’ practice over the last thirty years has concentrated on client matters involving general business and corporate law, transactions, administrative law, legislative matters, real estate, secured transactions, contracts, employment, and technology agreements. Mr. Hales has represented approximately thirty professional licensing boards and various state, county, municipal governmental entities. His transactional practice has included the purchase and sale of real property, business assets and stock.  He has personally lobbied more than one hundred law changes before the Idaho Legislature, including testifying before relevant Senate and House committees.

• Clerked for District Court Judge D. Duff McKee of the Idaho Fourth Judicial District.
• Served as an Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in its Civil Division.
• Served as hearing officer for actions before the Idaho State Board of Medicine and Idaho Department of Finance.
• Former registered lobbyist in Idaho.
• Former commercial counsel for a NASDAQ 100 high tech company.
• Served on national model legislation committee with the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA).

Education: Juris Doctorate, University of Idaho College of Law, 1987; Bachelor of Science in Political Science, University of Idaho, 1984.

Bar Admissions: Idaho 1987; U.S. District Court (Idaho) 1987.

 

 

 

Shareholder

Mr. Williams’ practice concentrates on all aspects of civil litigation and government representation, with a particular emphasis in municipality and public entity defense, general litigation, and administrative prosecution. He also represents and advises private employers, public, and non-profit entities and individuals outside of litigation, including matters involving employment law, transactions, compliance issues, contracts, administrative law, and general representation and legal advice.

• Litigated numerous cases in state and federal court, including through trial and appeal.
• Briefed or argued appeals before the Idaho Court of Appeals, Idaho Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
• Successfully defended cases before the Idaho Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and multiple Idaho state administrative agencies.
• Volunteer attorney for Family Advocates in the Court Appointed Guardian ad Litem Program (CASA) and serve on its Attorney Advisory Panel.
• Served as a volunteer attorney coach, Capitol High School Mock Trial Team.
• Served as a volunteer pro tem judge, Ada County Youth Court.
• Served as a volunteer attorney for Ada County Juvenile Court Services, Attendance Court.
• Clerked for the Honorable Patrick H. Owen of the Idaho Fourth Judicial District, August 2010 through April 2012.
• Member of the executive board of the Gonzaga Journal of International Law, supervising articles editor.
• Completed a two-year internship at a plaintiff-oriented litigation firm in Spokane, Washington, during law school.

Education: Juris Doctorate, cum laude, Gonzaga University School of Law, 2010; Bachelor=s Degree in History, Utah State University, 2005.

Bar Admissions: Idaho 2010; U.S. District Court (Idaho) 2012; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 2013; United States Supreme Court 2015.

Emeritus Attorney

Mr. Naylor has extensive litigation and appellate experience, and consults and advises in areas of municipality and public entity defense, civil rights defense, employment law, governmental liability, prisoner’s rights defense, law enforcement liability, and general litigation. He also provided extensive legal advice on employment issues and provides investigative services for employment law, law enforcement matters, and most areas requiring an independent perspective.

As of November 1, 2024, Mr. Naylor retired from active legal practice, and now devotes his legal experience in providing pro bono legal representation of Guardians ad Litem in Child Protection Cases for CASA primarily in Ada County. This service is supported through the IVLP program, and Mr. Naylor is an Emeritus Attorney pursuant to Idaho Bar Commission Rule 228, and by order of the Idaho Supreme Court.

• Served as an Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Criminal Division.
• Former Chairman and member of the Governor’s Task Force on Children at Risk 2000-2016.
• Idaho Law Foundation, served as the Chairman of Law-Related Education Committee and on numerous committees.
• 1997 recipient of the Idaho State Bar Pro Bono Award for his extensive service for the Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem Program (CASA) for abused children since 1988.
• Significant cases include: Garcia v. Brockway, 526 F.3d 456 (9th Cir. 2008); Mueller v. Auker I, 576 F.3d 979 (9th Cir. 2009); Mueller v. Auker II, 700 F.3d 1180 (9th Cir. 2012); Athay v. Stacey, 146 Idaho 407, 196 P.3d 325 (2008); Billington v. Smith, 292 F.3d 1177 (2002).

Education: Juris Doctorate, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, 1986; Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Brigham Young University, 1983.

Bar Admissions: Idaho 1986; U.S. District Court (Idaho) 1986; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 1993; United States Supreme Court 2002.

 

Shareholder

Mr. Nelson represents businesses, individuals, and governmental entities in civil and commercial litigation and advises clients on business, employment, and real estate matters. He is also one of Idaho’s most experienced administrative law attorneys, having represented nearly 45 professional licensing boards and other state agencies during his career. He has prosecuted hundreds of disciplinary actions against licensed professionals, trying contested cases before administrative law judges, negotiating settlements, and defending agency decisions in Idaho courts.

• Represents clients in civil and commercial disputes involving contracts, employment, business relationships, real estate, civil rights, whistleblower claims, and governmental liability, from negotiation and mediation through trial and appeal.
• Advises businesses on entity formation, corporate governance, contracts, employment, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Drafts and negotiates real estate agreements, including commercial and residential leases, purchase and sale agreements, easements, and other property-related instruments.
• Represents employers and employees before the Idaho Human Rights Commission and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace misconduct.
• Annually prepares and presents case law updates on significant real estate decisions to Idaho’s licensed real estate instructors for use in state-mandated continuing education courses.
• Serves on the Board of Directors of FUNDSY and volunteers as an attorney for Family Advocates in the Court Appointed Guardian ad Litem Program (CASA).
• Completed a two-year clerkship for the Honorable John A. Manglona of the Supreme Court of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Education: Juris Doctor, cum laude, Creighton University School of Law, 2007; Bachelor of Science in Journalism, cum laude, Brigham Young University–Idaho, 2004. Mr. Nelson served on the Creighton University Law Review, Moot Court Team, and Mock Trial Team and was a regional champion and national runner-up in the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition.

Bar Admissions: Idaho, 2007; United States District Court for the District of Idaho, 2010; United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2011.