About Utah

Salt Lake City and the surrounding Wasatch Front are recognized on a regular basis as one of the most attractive places in the country in terms of quality of life and desirable business locations. For example, Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 list recognized more than 70 Utah companies as some of the “fastest-growing private companies in America” in 2007. Some of these companies were also ranked in the top 500 of the Inc. 5000. Recently, Provo, Utah was named as one of the “best cities for jobs” by Forbes Magazine. According to Forbes, Provo experienced a 5.5% employment growth in 2007 – the highest in the country. Forbes has also included both Provo and Ogden in their recent top 25 list of “Best Places for Business and Careers.” Provo ranked 11th on the list and Ogden ranked 23rd. In August of 2006, Forbes ranked Utah as the 4th Best State in the U.S. For Business. This ranking was based on Utah's cumulative excellence in each of six categories: business costs, labor regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects, and quality of life.

Utah was ranked as the second most livable state in the county by CQ Press in their 2008 State Rankings: A Statistical View of America. The rank of “second most livable state” is based on a total of 44 factors which reflect Utah’s basic quality of life including education, economic development, public safety, environment, public health, median household income, crime rate, sunny days and infant mortality rate.

Utah has also been recognized for its “pro-business environment” in the Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States Report for 2008. The ranking is based on the “Pollina study” which evaluates and then ranks states according to 28 factors such as taxes, human resources, energy costs, workers compensation legislation and jobs lost or gained. Dr. Brent A. Pollina, author of the study, noted that “Utah continues to place strongly in the areas of employee quality, good infrastructure, low corporate taxes, and high quality of life.”

The Kauffman Foundation's 2007 State New Economy Index listed Utah among the top five in nine of its categories. Utah ranked No. 1 in Economic Dynamism, No. 2 in Inventor Patents, No. 4 in Fastest Growing Firms, and No. 5 in Venture Capital. Utah's current unemployment rate is 2.3%, one of the lowest in the nation.

Utah's technology industry increased by 10.4% from September 2005 - September 2006. Utah's IT and life science industries employ over 62,000 Utahns.

With three major universities located within an hour of downtown Salt Lake, and strategically located within just a few hours by air travel to some of the major technology centers on the West Coast, including Silicon Valley, Southern California, and Seattle, W|N attorneys enjoy some of the most challenging and rewarding intellectual property work available anywhere in the country. At the same time, a more affordable cost of living, combined with Utah's significant cultural and recreational opportunities, provide our attorneys with unparalleled lifestyle as well as professional advantages.

Known worldwide for its scenic beauty and geographic diversity, Salt Lake City and its many nearby ski resorts recently hosted the world during the 2002 Winter Olympics, bringing international recognition for locations such as Park City and Sundance. These locations bring culture, diversity, entertainment, and economic opportunity to Utah. Beautiful red rock deserts to the South attract many visitors annually, and provide unparalleled opportunities for mountain biking and hiking enthusiasts. The state also features cosmopolitan attractions such as the Utah Symphony, the Capitol Theatre and highly rated hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls. Additionally, professional and collegiate Utah sports teams have found in Utah fans an enthusiastic and supportive crowd.