Attorneys

Emily Adams

Appellate Attorney

Freyja Johnson

Appellate Attorney

Cherise Bacalski

Appellate Attorney

Sara Pfrommer

Appellate Attorney, Of Counsel

Hannah Leavitt-Howell

Appellate Attorney

MJ Townsend

Appellate Attorney

I am an appellate attorney based in Utah. My practice at The Appellate Group is focused exclusively on appeals. I counsel with clients to determine their best strategy on appeal and strategize with clients and attorneys about preparing for an appeal while in district court.

Apart from appellate briefs, in my practice I have submitted amicus briefs before the United States Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit, and the Utah Supreme Court; I have represented criminal defendants and civil clients on appeal to the Utah appellate courts; I have drafted motions for permission to file an interlocutory appeal in the Utah appellate courts; and I have filed petitions for certiorari.

I am licensed to practice law in Utah and admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. I love being enormously tall, being a celiac in a bread-filled world, trying to do a pull-up, and dragging my kids on hiking trips.

Education

University of Minnesota Law School
J.D., magna cum laude
Order of the Coif
Lead Managing Editor, ABA Journal of Labor and Employment Law

Brigham Young University
B.A., Linguistics, cum laude

Clerkships

Federal District Court for the District of Minnesota

Minnesota Court of Appeals

Awards

Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2019–2020
Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Distinguished Service Award, 2019

Experience

Adams Legal, LLC (2014 to 2020)
Shannon Law, LLC (2013 to 2014)
Law Clerk, Nichols Kaster (2010 to 2011)
Legal Extern for the Honorable Christine Durham, Utah Supreme Court (2009)

Admissions

Utah
The United States Supreme Court

CLE Presentations

2020 

Indigent Defense Commission, How to Litigate Rule 23B Motions
Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual Seminar, Appellate Update
Indigent Defense Commission, Exceptions to Preservation and the Evolving IAC Standards
Parental Defense Alliance Annual Conference, Appellate Update on Child Welfare Case

2019

Utah Association for Justice Auto Spectacular, PIP Threshold Statute and Issues Moving Forward
Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual Seminar, Petitions for Certiorari

2016

Strong & Hanni CLE series, Recent Developments in Utah Appellate Jurisdiction