During business hours, they are a dynamic and high-performing ensemble of professionals based in St. George, Cedar City and Kanab. Operating together under an intentional team framework, the local law firm of Snow, Jensen and Reece, PC, serves clients from throughout Utah and into Nevada—addressing their most pressing legal needs across a spectrum of practice areas.
Although their experience, preeminent ratings and accolades are impressive, including Best Lawyers of America, Utah’s Legal Elite Lawyers and Utah State Bar Lifetime Service Award among them, it’s what members of the firm do after hours that distinguishes them even more.
Beginning with the Founding Partners
Founding Partner V. Lowry Snow served in the Utah House of Representatives for 11 years and continues to serve on numerous boards and commissions, including as Chair of the Central Utah Red Cross Advisory Board; Co-Chair of the Point Commission; the State Bar Foundation; Utah’s Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee; and the nonprofit Human Rights for Kids.
Earlier this year, the Sutherland Institute honored Lowry as a George A. Sutherland Award Recipient for “his dutiful civil service, his advocacy for policies to support families and education throughout the state, and his unwavering dedication to the state of Utah.”
In the arts, Lowry chairs the Southern Utah Performing Arts Foundation Board, with a mission to procure funding to remodel the Cox Auditorium at Utah Tech University—a much-needed upgrade and expansion to better serve patrons and artists alike.
Says Lowry, “Our firm has consistently recognized and supported the arts in southern Utah by our financial contributions to the Southwest Symphony, Heritage Choir, Tuacahn Theater and numerous performing arts events hosted by schools in the community. We recognize the important role the arts play in the quality of life in our community.”
From its inception, the firm's leaders have fostered a culture of public service by supporting financially a multitude of organizations and individuals, and by supporting members of the firm who show an interest in serving on boards, community councils and holding public office.
"I’m proud of one of the earliest statewide recognitions our firm received in 1998, when we were awarded the Pro Bono Service of the Year award by the Utah State Bar," says Lowry.
Curtis M Jensen, also a founding partner, serves on the Board of Trustees for the S.J. Quinney Law School at the University of Utah and as chairman of the Washington County Indigent Defense Committee, a group dedicated to protecting civil liberties through indigent defense services.
Curtis additionally serves on the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, which helps citizens know their judges and make informed choices during elections. He also serves as a New Lawyer Training Program mentor and is a Utah Pro Bono Attorney provider—but that is not all.
Team Giving and Education Impact
In April, attorneys Tyler King, Victoria Calton, Devon Herrmann and Kathryn Lusty participated in a unique educational opportunity for students—a moot court, or simulated court proceedings, where the attorneys presided as judges and students acted as attorneys.
“From the moment we arrived, it was clear the students were taking the simulation seriously—from their attire to their demeanor,” Tyler says. “The presenting ‘attorneys’ did a fantastic job delivering their arguments, taking questions from the judges, and thinking on their feet. It was fun getting to peel back the curtain and pass on some of the things we’ve learned.”
“We especially love helping the schools,” underscores Curtis. As past chairman of the Washington County School District Foundation, Curtis and other board members on behalf of the foundation, awarded scholarships and classroom grants to help teachers defray costs.
“I think we have attorneys and firm members living in every school boundary, so we’ve tried to spread the support around. And the schoolteachers deserve and value all the support we can give them, especially in the classrooms,” Curtis explains.
Civic Engagement and Women’s Leadership
Christa Hinton, operations and communications manager, has expanded her footprint into civic engagement, leaning in the direction of her father, Lowry. A love for politics was fostered while helping Lowry run his campaigns for the Utah House; she now serves on the Santa Clara City Council.
Victoria is a member of the Women’s Influence Network Board, a group dedicated to empowering women, and is former vice president of Red Rock Center for Independence, a local charity dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities.
Together, Christa and Victoria served on the Fifth District Judicial Court Nominating Commission—an all-women commission that narrowed down applicants for the Governor’s selection of judges in that district. Christa also serves on the Utah Women Run Board, which promotes women’s leadership and community involvement through political office and campaigns at all levels, issue advocacy, and service on boards and commissions; and the Utah Outdoor Adventure Commission, which is developing a strategic plan to meet future needs of outdoor recreation in Utah.
“I love the outdoors,” she laughs, “as long as it’s not too hot.”
Youth Sports, Healthful Lifestyles and Life Skills at Scale
For Cameron M. Morby, attorney and shareholder, love of football and coaching helps the young athletes he serves in the community get active, get connected and build skills for life.
“Football is an ultimate team game—not so much an individual sport. You need all these individual parts working together to succeed,” Cameron says.
“And the kids learn that if they work at something and put time and effort into it, then they can be good at it and that will translate into anything they do. Hard work equals results,” he emphasizes.
Co-founder of Southern Utah Flag Football, a national youth flag football franchise of NFL Flag Football, he has grown the league over 10 years to 80 teams and 600 kids. He also coaches his sons with the Southern Utah Nevada Youth Football League and serves as the head coach of the Dixie High School Freshman Football Team.
“As a coach, you can be a mentor for those young men that may need it in life. They come from all different backgrounds, and sometimes you can inspire kids in ways that parents can’t.”
Cameron also serves on the Utah Tech University Foundation Board, which raises funds for various university projects; the board also holds the annual Fire and Ice Gala, which raises money for needs-based scholarships.
Curating Their Own Way of Giving Back
Snow, Jensen and Reece was the first firm to introduce the “Talk to a Lawyer” free legal clinics in southern Utah—a service during which “the attorneys would invite people to come in on Tuesday nights and answer legal questions, help fill out forms, or direct the client’s next course of action,” explains Lewis P. Reece, attorney and firm shareholder.
For the firm’s efforts, the Utah State Bar recognized them with the Pro Bono Firm of the Year award. As an extension of the free legal clinics, Snow, Jensen and Reece—and Lowry in particular—founded the Southern Utah Community Legal Center.
“We even donated our furniture,” Curtis says. “The clinics filled an unmet need. In the community there are so many people who can’t afford an attorney and are in need of legal services. We tried to bridge a gap there by starting the free legal clinics in southern Utah and opening that community.”
Lewis remains an active supporter today.
“I enjoy doing that,” he says. “Any profession, lawyers included, has an obligation to give back. Sometimes we think professionals are just here to make money, but one of the reasons I became a lawyer was to help people. I like helping people and I think it’s important for us to serve.”
Lewis also serves on the Modest Means Committee, which helps low-income families find affordable legal aid, and the Lawyers Helping Lawyers committee, which supports attorneys struggling with substance abuse.
Tying it All Together
For this southern Utah law firm, contributing to the welfare of the place where it put down roots 37 years ago is among its highest priorities and greatest rewards. Collectively, members of the firm support 12 nonprofit foundations and serve on at least 30 governing boards across the state. A number of them also serve in ecclesiastical leadership positions. Yet it has always been about much more than the numbers.
“We feel we have a commitment to our neighbors, and we want to serve,” says Curtis. “We just like to give back to the community.”
Snow Jensen & Reece Practice Areas
Litigation: Strong and accomplished litigators tackle complex cases.
Business Law: Business law lawyers assist with legal needs from inception to dissolution.
Real Estate & Land Use: Attorneys provide support for both commercial and residential real property.
Government & Public Policy: Attorneys help preserve rights in governmental legal issues.
Municipal Representation: Attorneys provide services to cities in Utah and Nevada.
Construction Law: Legal team is experienced in complex construction law cases.
Estate Planning: Experienced lawyers enable clients to accomplish estate planning goals.
Family Law: Lawyers help clients understand rights from the simple to the complicated.
"I’m proud of one of the earliest statewide recognitions our firm received in 1998, when we were awarded the Pro Bono Service of the Year award by the Utah State Bar." – V. Lowry Snow
“The presenting ‘attorneys’ did a fantastic job delivering their arguments, taking questions from the judges, and thinking on their feet. It was fun getting to peel back the curtain and pass on some of the things we’ve learned.” – Tyler King
" ... the kids learn that if they work at something and put time and effort into it, then they can be good at it, and that will translate into anything they do. Hard work equals results." – Cameron M. Morby
"Sometimes we think professionals are just here to make money, but one of the reasons I became a lawyer was to help people. I like helping people and I think it’s important for us to serve.” – Lewis P. Reece
