Higgins Is the First Woman to Serve as a Presidentially Appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah

Bolstering the Firm’s Expanding Litigation and Appellate Practices, She Joins as Of Counsel

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, is pleased to announce that Trina Higgins, former United States Attorney for the District of Utah, has joined the firm as Of Counsel in its litigation and appellate practices. Based in the firm’s Salt Lake City office, she will draw on her distinguished background in public service and leadership to strengthen the firm’s capabilities in complex regulatory and enforcement matters, criminal and civil.

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Trina Higgins, Of Counsel, Wilson Sonsini (Photo: Business Wire)

Prior to joining the firm, Higgins served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, making history as the first woman to hold this esteemed position. Nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in April 2022, she earned recognition for her exemplary leadership, dedication to upholding the rule of law, and efforts in prosecuting financial crimes. Furthermore, she played a pivotal role in addressing issues such as environmental justice, firearm and fentanyl trafficking, and violent crime.

Before her tenure as U.S. Attorney, Higgins spent over two decades as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, where she handled a wide range of criminal cases and held various leadership roles, including Senior Litigation Counsel and Chief of the Violent Crime Section. She also served as the Mediterranean Regional Legal Advisor at the U.S. Embassies in Valletta, Malta, and Nicosia, Cyprus, helping train foreign governments on investigating international money laundering, terrorism financing, and corruption.

"We are thrilled to welcome Trina to Wilson Sonsini, where she joins an exceptional group of former prosecutors who counsel our clients on their most pressing enforcement and regulatory matters," said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. "Her strong relationships within the Salt Lake business and legal communities will be an invaluable asset to our clients, enhancing our litigation and appellate practices in Utah and across the firm."

As U.S. Attorney, Higgins led several impactful initiatives to enhance public safety and uphold justice. Under her leadership, the office founded the Utah Drug Overdose Task Force in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration to tackle the fentanyl crisis, started an Environmental Justice Initiative, and took proactive measures by appointing an Election Officer to protect the integrity of the 2024 general election.

"I jumped at the chance to recruit Trina to our Salt Lake City office," said former Justice Deno Himonas, a partner at Wilson Sonsini. "Having known her for many years, I am familiar with her remarkable skill set, dedication, and tireless work ethic. She will be a tremendous resource to our clients in handling their most complex legal matters and will greatly enhance our presence in the region."

Beyond her public sector work, Higgins has made significant contributions to the legal community as an adjunct professor at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where she taught trial advocacy for a decade. During several of those years, she taught with Wilson Sonsini partner Jess Krannich.

"I had the privilege of teaching trial advocacy alongside Trina for many years," said Krannich. "She has likely tried more cases than any other active practitioner in the state, and she is one of the best courtroom lawyers I’ve ever seen. I could not be happier that she has chosen to join us for the next chapter of her extraordinary career."

Higgins is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, previously serving as Utah State Vice Chair and Diversity Coordinator. Additionally, she is a former president of the Salt Lake County Bar Association and an active member of Women Lawyers of Utah.

Higgins earned her J.D. from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and her B.A. from Weber State University. Her professional accomplishments have been widely recognized, including receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in 2024. She is also committed to public outreach, exemplified by her recent appearance in an FBI-produced video designed to educate the public about romance scams.

Wilson Sonsini opened its Salt Lake City office in November 2021 with three partners: Marc Porter, Matt Squires, and former Justice Deno Himonas, following his 2022 retirement from the Utah Supreme Court. Five months later, the firm welcomed another former Utah Supreme Court Justice, Christine Durham, the first woman to serve on both the state's highest court and its district court. More recently, Jess Krannich and Paul Sampson joined the firm, bringing the total number of attorneys in the Salt Lake City office to nearly 40.

"I am delighted to join such an impressive and talented group of attorneys at a firm leading the way in this dynamic and rapidly evolving market," said Higgins. "I was drawn to Wilson Sonsini’s reputation for handling challenging cases and taking them to trial when needed to safeguard its clients' interests. I look forward to using my experience to further enhance the firm's ability to deliver exceptional results for clients, both in Utah and beyond."

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1,000 attorneys and 18 offices in 17 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, China, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.

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