Our Firm
Our Attorneys
The attorneys at Campbell, Williams, Ference, Nelson & Hall collectively possess more than 85 years of experience as trial attorneys. They openly discuss and strategize each case, providing insight and planning for every client and every case.
Vaun Hall | Partner
Vaun Hall is a partner with the law firm Campbell, Williams, Ference, Nelson & Hall. His practice areas include medical malpractice defense, professional licensing, personal injury negligence law, torts and criminal defense. Mr. Hall graduated from the University of Utah and the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University. Following law school, Mr. Hall worked for six-years with the Washoe County Public Defender’s Office in Reno, Nevada. During his service in Washoe County, Mr. Hall was elected President of the Washoe County Public Attorneys’ Association (1999-2000). As a Public Defender, Mr. Hall was lead counsel in more than fifty trials.
In 2001, Mr. Hall returned to his native Utah and has served as legal counsel to Utah’s medical professional liability insurers. His clients include Utah Medical Insurance Association, Intermountain Healthcare, Medical Protective, CHS, and Western Litigation Specialists, as well as other local and national professional medical liability insurers. Mr. Hall is a member of the Utah Society of Healthcare Risk Management, and Utah Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Hall also represents personal injury clients in all types of accident cases with the exception of medical malpractice.
Derek Williams | Partner
Derek Williams is a partner with the law firm Campbell, Williams, Ference, Nelson and Hall. His practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis in medical malpractice defense, adoption law, product liability, and personal injury defense. He represents doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers involving regulatory, insurance, and professional liability matters.
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After adopting his two children, Derek started getting asked to represent other families in their adoptions. In nearly fifteen years, this has developed into a very fulfilling adoption practice. Derek is now a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Derek represents adopting parents, agencies, and birth parents. Some of his most rewarding moments as an attorney are appearing before a judge and seeing a couple’s dream of adopting a child come true. Derek is featured in "Adopting in America: How to Adopt Within One Year (2018-2019)," one of the best resources on adoption. Derek is grateful and humbled to get to play a small role in helping his clients build their families.
Prior to law school, Derek worked for the Utah Attorney General's Office, where he was significantly involved in the complex litigation and subsequent settlement between the state and numerous tobacco companies. He also served a Judicial Clerkship for Judge Pamela T. Greenwood, Utah Court of Appeals.
Jessica Reed | Associate
Jessica Reed grew up in Star Valley, Wyoming. After high school, she served a mission for her church in Mexico City. Following her mission, she attended Utah State University, where she met and married her husband and had our first child.
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After graduating from Utah State, Ms. Reed attended law school at the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of law. She spent the summer in between her first and second years of law school clerking for Judge McClellan of Utah's Eighth Judicial District Court. The following summer, she returned to Vernal to work for a local law firm. During those summers, she fell in love with Vernal, Utah and its surrounding areas, and decided to make Vernal her permanent home to be close to family, raise her children, and get away from the city. She loves being able to enjoy the outdoors without competing for parking!
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Jessica graduated from law school with honors in 2023
and moved to Vernal shortly thereafter, where she diligently serves clients throughout Uintah Basin. When she is not working, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. Together, they like to go hiking, camping, and attend sporting events – especially cheering on the Uintah Utes!​
Dave Ference | Partner
Dave Ference is a partner with the law firm Campbell, Williams, Ference & Hall. His practice areas include medical malpractice defense and adoption law. Dave graduated from the University of Utah (B.A. & J.D) with honors. He has served as legal counsel to some of Utah’s largest medical professional liability insurers for more than twenty-four years. Dave's clients include Intermountain Healthcare, Florida Physicians Insurance Corporation, Fresenius Healthcare, General Electric, Western Litigation, National Association of Social Workers, Enve Composites and Otto Save.
He is a member of the Utah Society of Healthcare Risk Management and Utah Defense Lawyers Association. Dave enjoys endurance sports, following Chelsea Football Club, and spending time with his wife (Marilyn), children, and his growing list of grandchildren.
Jacob Nelson | Partner
Jacob Nelson joined the team at Campbell, Williams, Ference, Nelson & Hall as an associate attorney in 2018. He graduated cum laude from the University of Utah in 2014 with a business degree in marketing and immediately continued his education at the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he graduated in 2017. During law school, he participated in several moot court competitions, received several academic awards, and was also invited to assist other students as a teaching assistant, where he had the opportunity to help fellow law students learn the art of legal writing. ​​
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Mr. Nelson maintains a multi-faceted practice and enjoys helping clients avoid, navigate, and resolve complex legal problems in a variety of commercial and civil litigation practice areas. Currently, he enjoys representing clients in personal injury claims and lawsuits, defending medical malpractice claims, assisting with property and real estate matters, and resolving business disputes. He also has experience assisting clients with drafting, interpreting, and enforcing contracts as well as advising clients regarding compliance and liability avoidance.
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Jacob's diverse experience litigating cases as counsel for both injured plaintiffs and healthcare defendants gives him unique insight in evaluating cases and strategically pursuing optimal outcomes for clients on both sides of complex injury cases. He has experience litigating high value and complex legal matters and has represented clients in many types of legal proceedings, including private negotiations and settlements, small claims court, administrative hearings, mediation, arbitration, lawsuits in state and federal court, and (if necessary) appeals.
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Outside of work, Jake enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fly-fishing, hunting, golf, and music.
Cynthia Campbell Erickson | Of Counsel
Cynthia Campbell Erickson began practicing in the field of medical malpractice defense in 1984. She graduated from Utah State University, with honors, in 1979, and from the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University, with honors, in 1984. While in law school she was a member of the National Moot Court Team. She and her father, Richard W. Campbell, formed a law partnership in 1992, focusing their work primarily on defending Utah health care providers against claims of medical negligence. She has been a partner with the firm since that time. She continues to focus her practice at Campbell, Williams, Ference & Hall in the areas of litigation, arbitration and mediation of health care malpractice claims. Ms. Erickson is a member of Utah Defense Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute, and the litigation section of the Utah State Bar.