AttorneyEmily Smoak is the owner and Principal Attorney at Smoak Law P.C. A significant focus of her practice has been in the areas of Family Law including Divorce and Paternity Modifications, but she is also accredited and experienced in Criminal Defense, and General Civil Litigation cases.
Emily is a proud resident of Park City. She was born in the Pacific Northwest and raised in Southern California. She received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts where she graduated cum laude in Legal Studies in the spring of 1991. Emily stayed on the East coast for Law School attending the University of Maine School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor with Honors in 1994.
After graduation, Emily joined the Law Office of William Maselli in Auburn Maine as a Criminal Defense attorney. She worked on cases in both State and Federal Court in Maine before eventually joining the Law Practice of Laskoff & Associates in 1996. This marked the beginning of her career in Family Law, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury and Probate Litigation, in addition to Criminal Defense
Emily was admitted to practice law in the State of Utah in May of 2004. Prior to beginning her own practice in family law and dissolution, Emily worked as an Associate and eventually a Partner of the SLC office of Cohne, Rappaport and Segal. There she was able to exercise her gifts, not just in Family Law, but also in Civil Litigation, Probate, and Criminal Defense. Emily then took her talents to the offices of Durham, Jones and Pinegar where she joined as a Partner in April, 2007. Emily’s colleagues and clients credit her versatility both on the Criminal and Civil sides of the law as her strongest asset. The strong negotiating skills and financial literacy Emily has developed gives her a particular advantage in her Family law practice, particularly when dealing with high income individuals with multi-million dollar businesses whom often have special challenges during marital dissolution.
Emily’s education and work experience reflect her comprehensive knowledge and expertise, while her numerous trial successes highlight an ability and desire to stand up for her clients’ rights in a court of law. Although settlement is generally the preferred choice in family law matters, clients can rest assure that should litigation become necessary, Emily is an experienced attorney who has the requisite ability to expertly evaluate trial strategy and bring the matter to effective conclusion.
Emily’s belief is that “Each person is unique, every case is different, and therefore it is necessary to give each client individualized personal attention. It is the attorney’s obligation to provide quality representation. A seasoned attorney knows that a person’s foundation often lies in their familial roots; thus dissolution can be a particularly emotional time.”
Emily is able to be aggressive and stern, as well as compassionate and kind, depending on the client’s needs. She understands the importance of being an excellent listener and giving each client the undivided patience and support they deserve during their journey to another chapter in their life.