JC

J. Craig Smith, Business Attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah

focused on Business, Environmental, and General

Smith Hartvigsen PLLC

Salt Lake City, UT

Trusted business attorney serving Salt Lake City.

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Quick answer

J. Craig Smith is an attorney based in Salt Lake City, UTAH. The practice focuses on Business, Environmental, and General. Currently practicing at Smith Hartvigsen PLLC.

Based in
Salt Lake City, UTAH
Experience
attorney
Known for
Business · Environmental · General
  • Handles Business, Environmental, and General matters from Salt Lake City, UTAH.
  • Recognized with Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026).

About J. Craig Smith: J. Craig Smith is an attorney based in Salt Lake City, UTAH. The practice focuses on Business, Environmental, and General. Currently practicing at Smith Hartvigsen PLLC.

Areas of practice

Practice areas handled by J. Craig Smith

J. concentrates on business, environmental, general, and litigation. Each area below outlines the kind of case J. handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

Business cases in Salt Lake City, Utah

J. takes business matters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before J. agrees to represent you.

Environmental cases in Salt Lake City, Utah

J. takes environmental matters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before J. agrees to represent you.

General cases in Salt Lake City, Utah

J. takes general matters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before J. agrees to represent you.

Litigation cases in Salt Lake City, Utah

J. takes litigation matters in Salt Lake City, Utah. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before J. agrees to represent you.

Biography

About J. Craig Smith — Attorney of Utah business experience

J. Craig Smith is an attorney based in Salt Lake City, UTAH. The practice focuses on Business, Environmental, and General. Currently practicing at Smith Hartvigsen PLLC.

J. Craig Smith, Esq., is a founding member of the Salt Lake City firm of Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC, where he practices in the areas of water law, land use, and redevelopment law. He has argued more than 30 appeals before the Utah Supreme Court. Mr. Smith is listed in Utah Legal Elite, Superlawyers and Best Lawyers publications. Major accomplishments include, lead counsel for the development of the Amangiri Resort in southern Utah and obtaining the passage of federal legislation to obtain water rights for Duchesne City. He was a law clerk for the Hon. J. Robert Bullock for the 4th District of Utah, and an assistant city attorney for Park City, Utah. Mr. Smith has written “Local Government Regulation and Bankruptcy: To Stay or Not to Stay,” Urban Lawyer 151-176, Volume 21, Number 1, Winter, 1989; “Bankruptcy and Development Regulations,” Urban Land, April 1991; “Ethics and the Government Lawyers,” Utah Bar Journal, Volume 6, Number 2, February 1993; “Basic Utah Water Law,” Utah Bar Journal, Volume 7, Number 2, February 1994; and “A Preference for Domestic Use in Utah: A Relic of The Past?” ABA Water Resources Committee Newsletter, Volume 12, No. 1, Fall 2009. He earned his A.S. degree, with high honors, from the College of Eastern Utah, and his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, and J.D. degree, cum laude, from Brigham Young University. Mr. Smith is a member of the American Bar Association and the Utah State Bar’s Sections on Urban, State and Local Government Law, Natural Resources and Litigation. In 2004 the Utah State Bar, Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section recognized him as Lawyer of the Year

J.'s approach to business cases

J. Craig Smith, Esq., is a founding member of the Salt Lake City firm of Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC, where he practices in the areas of water law, land use, and redevelopment law. He has argued more than 30 appeals before the Utah Supreme Court. Mr. Smith is listed in Utah Legal Elite, Superlawyers and Best Lawyers publications. Major accomplishments include, lead counsel for the development of the…

Clients J. works with

J. reviews new inquiries case-by-case for business, environmental, and general matters in Salt Lake City and the surrounding Utah area.

Credentials

J. Craig Smith's legal education and bar admissions

  • Brigham Young University

    J.D. · 1983

J. studied at J.D. in Brigham Young University.

Law school and academic background

J. completed J.D. in Brigham Young University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice J. runs in Utah is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Recognition

Awards, publications, and recognition of J. Craig Smith

J. has received 5 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.

  • Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Natural Resources Law

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Water Law

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:

    2026

  • Best Lawyers in America — Environmental Law

    2026

Legal awards and honors

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Natural Resources Law (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Water Law (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Best Lawyers in America — Environmental Law (2026).

Locations

J. Craig Smith's office in Salt Lake City

J.'s primary office is at 257 East 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

Smith Hartvigsen PLLC

257 East 200 South, Suite 500

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

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Client feedback

Client reviews of J. Craig Smith

J. has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.

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Hiring guide

How to hire J. Craig Smith — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new business attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with J. usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

J. charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain J.'s office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; J. will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a business attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah

A short list to run through before you commit: How many business matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for J.

J. discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in business practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every business matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. J. confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

J.'s office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many business practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about J. Craig Smith

  • How much does it cost to hire J. for a business case?

    Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. J. walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

  • Does J. offer a free consultation?

    J. charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain J.'s office. Some business attorneys offer free consults — check J.'s current terms during booking.

  • How long do business cases in Utah typically take?

    Simple business matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. J. gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

  • Can J. take my case if I'm outside Salt Lake City?

    J. is licensed in Utah. Matters governed by Utah law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — J. will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

  • What should I bring to my first meeting with J.?

    Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. J. will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

  • Is J. accepting new business clients right now?

    J.'s intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

Business attorneys serving Salt Lake City, Provo and Sandy in Utah

J. handles business matters throughout Utah. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified business attorneys in that community.

More counsel

If J.'s intake is full or the fit isn't right, these business attorneys in Salt Lake City handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.