Julie L. Sanpei

Counsel

Julie Sanpei is a seasoned civil litigator and estate planning attorney with over 30 years of experience.  Her civil practice includes complex business litigation, contract disputes, real estate, insurance defense, creditor law, receiver representation, judgment enforcement, and appeals before the Nevada Supreme Court and U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  She represents clients through all phases of litigation in state and federal court and has assisted entities in defense of NERC and EEOC claims.  Ms. Sanpei also assists individuals with guardianship, general estate planning, wills, revocable trusts, probate and trust administration.

Bar Admissions

  • Nevada, 1994
  • California (inactive), 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nevada

Location

Las Vegas Office

Education

JD: University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1993
BA: University of California, Los Angeles, 1989, Psychology

Contact

sanpeij@hallevans.com

More About
Julie

Professional Experience
  • Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Ms. Sanpei practiced at a boutique law firm in Las Vegas, Nevada for 27 years. While attending law school, Ms. Sanpei participated in pro bono programs assisting underserved community members facing legal challenges.
Professional Associations
  • Clark County Bar Association

Nolan W. Wright

Associate

Nolan Wright focuses on the defense of personal injury and premises liability claims. Mr. Wright represents drivers of personal and commercial vehicles, common carriers, retail stores, and restaurants throughout all phases of litigation.  Mr. Wright is also experienced with matters involving construction, real estate, contract disputes, intra-business disputes, local government law, and misdemeanors and traffic defense.  Before joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Wright was an Associate at a general civil litigation firm in Wichita, KS where he gained extensive litigation experience.

Mr. Wright graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law. He is licensed in Kansas and Missouri. While earning his J.D., he was a Law Intern with the Honorable Judge Eric Melgren in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, interned for a civil defense firm in Topeka, Kansas, and for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas.

Bar Admissions

  • Kansas, 2018
  • Missouri, 2026
  • U.S. District Court, District of Kansas

Location

Kansas City Office

Education

JD: University of Kansas School of Law, 2018
BSW: University of Kansas, 2014, Social Work

Contact

wrightn@hallevans.com

More About
Nolan

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America; Municipal Law; Trusts and Estates; Litigation – Trusts and Estates; 2025-2027

  • Wichita Business Journal, Young Professionals, Legal Services, 2023

  • Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, Horizon Award, 2021

  • Intern, U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, Hon. Eric F. Melgren, 2016

Professional Associations
  • Kansas Association of Defense Counsel

Hannah Huval

Associate

Hannah Huval joined Hall & Evans, LLC as an Associate in 2025. Ms. Huval’s practice includes general insurance defense, construction defect, trucking matters, premises liability, real estate matters, special district and municipal law, and complex business transactions. 

Ms. Huval graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law.  While in law school, she clerked at a transactional firm in Mississippi and a corporate firm in Krakow, Poland. She also served as Staff Editor for the Journal of Space Law, participated in several law school societies, and was the recipient of the 1L Dedication Award and Outstanding Student Award. 

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2022
  • Montana, pending
  • Texas, pending
  • Arizona, pending
  • Wyoming, pending
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

Denver Office

Education

JD: University of Mississippi School of Law, 2021, magna cum laude
BA: Millsaps College, 2016, Sociology-Anthropology, and History, Minor in Archaeology

Contact

huvalh@hallevans.com

More About
Hannah

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Outstanding Student Award, Phi Delta Phi International Honor Society, Fall 2019
  • O’Brien Service Scholarship, 1L Dedication Award
  • Staff Editor, Journal of Space Law, 2020-2021

Sylvia Grace Acosta

Counsel

Sylvia Grace Acosta has over 25 years of wide-ranging litigation experience.  Ms. Acosta’s current practice includes insurance defense, construction defect, dram shop, premises liability, insurance bad faith litigation, and coverage disputes.  She also handles commercial litigation, real estate matters, estate planning, and workers’ compensation.   

Ms. Acosta is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, where she instructs and mentors students on arbitration and negotiation. She is an active member and Past President of the Utah Minority Bar Association, and active with the Women Lawyers of Utah and Utah Center for Legal Inclusion.

Bar Admissions

  • Utah, 2003
  • Nebraska (inactive), 1997
  • California (inactive), 2002
  • Idaho (inactive), 2010

Location

Salt Lake City Office

Education

JD: University of Nebraska College of Law, 1997
BA: Auburn University, 1994, Psychology and English

Contact

acostag@hallevans.com

More About
Grace

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Law Clerk, Utah Court of Appeals, Hon. William A. Thorne, Jr., 2002-2004
Professional Associations
  • Utah Minority Bar Association
  • Women Lawyers of Utah
  • Utah Center of Legal Inclusion

Briana K. Smith

Senior Associate

Ms. Smith provides general civil litigation defense to individuals, businesses, and insurers. Her practice includes transportation, hospitality & retail, premises liability, business law, and administrative law. Ms. Smith also has a background in family law and general civil litigation.

Before joining Hall & Evans, she was an attorney with the State of Wyoming’s Office of the Public Defender, providing criminal defense for indigent clients. She was also an Adjunct Professor at the Park University-Warren Air Force Base, where she taught the course American Government.

Bar Admissions

  • Wyoming, 2020
  • Montana, 2020
  • Arizona, 2024
  • Colorado, 2024
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming

Location

Phoenix Office
Billings Office
Cheyenne Office

Education

JD: University of Wyoming College of Law, 2018
BA: University of Wyoming, 2015, Criminal Justice

Contact

smithb@hallevans.com

More About
Briana

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Student of the year, University of Wyoming Family & Immigration Justice Clinic, 2017-2018
  • M.F. Blackstone Scholarship Recipient, University of Wyoming Foundation, 2015-2018
Professional Associations
  • Wyoming State Bar

Professional Experience
  • Attorney, State of Wyoming Office of the Public Defender, Cheyenne, WY, 2021-2022

Business & Community Service
  • Wyoming Towing & Recovery Professionals, President, 2019-2021