Brent D. Ward brings to Parker & McConkie decades of courtroom experience and a career defined by standing up for victims, enforcing accountability, and protecting civil rights. A seasoned trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor, he has spent his life ensuring that those harmed by crime, abuse, and misconduct have their voices heard and their rights vindicated.
A graduate of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, Mr. Ward began his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney before being appointed by President Ronald Reagan as U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. For eight years he directed all federal criminal and civil litigation in the state, prosecuting major cases involving fraud, violent crime, drug trafficking, and threats to public safety. He also championed legislative reforms—including the Utah Communications Fraud Act and the Utah Child Kidnapping and Sexual Abuse Act—to strengthen protections for victims and hold offenders fully accountable.
Mr. Ward later held senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he led national enforcement initiatives and managed complex, high-stakes prosecutions. His DOJ service honed the skills that now define his civil litigation work: rigorous investigation, strategic coordination, and unwavering advocacy on behalf of those harmed by wrongdoing.
In addition to his public service, Mr. Ward has practiced extensively in the private sector, including serving as a partner at WardLambert, PLLC and holding executive-level legal positions in industry. These roles broadened his understanding of corporate misconduct, regulatory failures, and the systemic issues that often lead to preventable injuries and civil-rights violations.
Throughout his career, he has been deeply engaged in public-interest and community work, serving in leadership positions within the Utah State Bar, the Federal Bar Association, and multiple task forces focused on victims’ rights, fraud prevention, youth safety, and ethical governance. His lifelong dedication to public service reflects his belief that the legal system must protect the vulnerable and empower victims to seek justice.
Brent and his wife, Esther Jane Peterson, are the parents of seven children.
At Parker & McConkie, Brent draws on his unmatched trial experience and his passion for justice to help victims of crime, abuse, and catastrophic injury rebuild their lives. Clients benefit from a powerful advocate who has operated at the highest levels of the U.S. justice system—and who now uses that experience to fight for them.