By Nell Gluckman, From The Am Law Daily

Why let nine felony charges stop you from opening your own law firm?

So seems to be the thinking behind former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff’s decision to unveil the Shurtleff Law Firm in a YouTube video late last week, despite him facing charges of bribery, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.

“Take it from me, dealing with the complex criminal legal system can be difficult and intimidating for most people,” Shurtleff says in the video. “It’s critical that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney who will protect you every step of the way.”

Shurtleff, who spent six months as a partner at Troutman Sanders after three terms as Utah attorney general beginning in 2001, goes on to tout his skills in defending clients in drunk driving cases, theft, white-collar crime, domestic violence, assault, murder and sex- and drug-related crimes before offering a free consultation.

Shurtleff Law Firm, a general practice firm, lists Shurtleff as its only attorney. News of the firm’s opening was first reported Monday by The Salt Lake Tribune.

Shurtleff joined Troutman Sanders as a partner in the firm’s regulatory compliance and government litigation practice in January 2013. He left the firm that June, citing the long commute between Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.

In July 2014, following an investigation by the Utah House of Representatives, Shurtleff and his successor, John Swallow, who had previously served as chief deputy attorney general, were arrested and charged with receiving or soliciting bribes, among other felony charges.

The criminal case concerns allegations that Shurtleff and Swallow intervened in the case of Utah businessman Jeremy Johnson, sibling publication The National Law Journal reported at the time of their arrest. As noted by The Salt Lake Tribune, the two former attorneys general were accused of accepting gifts from Johnson at a time when he was awaiting a legal opinion as to whether he could process online poker transactions.

Shurtleff also allegedly dismissed a mortgage-fraud suit against Bank of America, a client of Troutman Sanders, while he was negotiating his job with the firm, among other charges.

Since leaving Troutman Sanders almost two years ago, Shurtleff opened a government relations consulting business called The Shurtleff Group before starting his own firm, which according to his LinkedIn profile, he has worked at since November 2014.

Attempts to reach Shurtleff were not returned by the time of this story, but he did tell The Associated Press on Monday that he is facing mounting attorney fees, has a family to feed and has a lot to offer as a lawyer himself.

A preliminary hearing in Shurtleff’s criminal case is scheduled for June 15.

IMAGE: Rick Bowmer/AP

For more on this story go to: http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202722891323/Undeterred-by-Felony-Charges-ExTroutman-Sanders-Partner-Starts-Own-Practice#ixzz3WimpOtEs