Smith Hartvigsen was formed in 2002 when Craig Smith and David Hartvigsen left a long-established Salt Lake City law firm to pursue their vision of a practice that would not only be responsive to its clients today but also continually excel in a quickly evolving legal environment. Since 2002, Smith Hartvigsen has grown to a firm recognized as leading experts in our specialized areas of practice. Smith Hartvigsen has grown through loyal and longtime clients who recommend us and from referrals by other attorneys.
About Nathan Bracken
Nathan is a partner at Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC, where he represents cities, special districts, irrigation companies, and non-governmental organizations on water, land use, and policy issues. Among other things, he serves as general counsel for the Upper Colorado River Commission and as the legal counsel for the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust, which the National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy operate to preserve and enhance flows to Great Salt Lake and its wetlands.
As a lobbyist, Nathan works frequently on water and land use legislation, and helped develop Utah’s Water Banking Act and other legislation involving instream flows, split season leasing, fixed time change applications, and other matters. He also helped prepare the “HCR-10 Report,” which the Utah Divisions of Water Resources and Water Quality released in 2020 on ways to ensure adequate water flows for Great Salt Lake and its wetlands.
In addition to serving on the Board of Advisors for Dividing the Waters Program, Nathan serves as an advisor to the Utah Association of Special Districts, as the past president of the Utah Chapter of the American Water Resources Association, and on the Utah Land Use and Eminent Domain Advisory Board. U.S. News and World Report has recognized Nathan as a “Best Lawyer” for Water Law and Utah Business Magazine has recognized Nathan as a “Legal Elite” for Energy and Natural Resources. In 2020, The Nature Conservancy awarded Nathan its Utah Conservation Partner Award.
About J. Craig Smith
Craig Smith was one of the founders of JRCLS’s Government & Politics Legal Society, creating a forum for law students interested in public law. He formed Smith Hartvigsen in 2002, following his practice with Nielsen & Senior. He has more than 40 years of experience as an attorney and city attorney in which he has successfully resolved a number of complex water, land use, and environmental matters, and represented parties in initiative and referendum matters such as the Holladay land use matter.
He represents cities and counties in all aspects of municipal law and assists municipalities with zoning, land use, general litigation defense and prosecution, eminent domain issues, impact fees, and other legislative matters. He represents utilities and other parties before the Utah Public Service Commission, with extensive experience with the State of Utah and the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, including land purchases, leases, and swaps.
He has regularly appeared before appellate courts, trial courts, and administrative agencies in Utah and other western states. He also served as Law Clerk for the Hon. J. Robert Bullock, Fourth District Utah, 1983-1984. Smith is admitted to practice and licensed in Utah, Wyoming, District of Columbia, United States Supreme Court and Court of Federal Claims, and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
About Ethan M. Smith
Ethan represents individuals, businesses, non-profits, and local governments in a wide range of water, environmental, land use, and municipal law matters. During Utah’s legislative session, Ethan is a registered lobbyist assisting in drafting and revising legislation. Ethan attended William & Mary Law School and was a member of its Special Education Advocacy Clinic. After graduating Law School in 2018, he clerked for the Honorable William R. Greer, Jr. of the Charles County District Court in Maryland, then was a Litigation Fellow for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Foundation in Washington D.C. After his time on the east coast, Ethan moved back to his home state and joined Smith Hartvigsen in 2020. He has been named a Rising Star in the area of Energy and Natural Resources by Super Lawyers in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
