Jacob S. Gunter joined Howard, Lewis & Petersen, P.C. as an associate in 2008, and is a current shareholder of the firm. Prior to this he maintained a solo practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan directly out of law school. He is also a Soldier with the Utah Army National Guard. Prior to that he was a Special Forces JAG for 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group Airborne for nearly 7 years.

Jake received a Political Science B.S. with a Geology minor from Utah State University in 2001, and his law degree from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan in 2004. He graduated in the top nine percent of his class and participated on the school’s law review.

Jake is passionate about representing people state wide who are injured through no-fault of their own. He has handled cases in Moab, Ogden, Logan and St. George. The majority of his cases are car wrecks, representing passengers, children and drivers who are hurt. Since joining HLP, Jake has successfully litigated cases in trial and arbitration, as well as negotiating settlements for his clients. His legal work includes car collisions, boating accidents, ATV collisions, insurance disputes, wrongful death, slip and fall/trip and fall, dog bites. If you need an experienced personal injury attorney in Provo, Jacob Gunter is the man for you. The remainder of his practice involves civil litigation and criminal defense.

He has been the lead attorney in 30 jury trials, over 150 plus bench trials and roughly 2,500 plus court appearances. He believes in frank, honest and open communications with his clients as he helps them navigate through their legal problems.

As a Soldier, Lieutenant Colonel Gunter is Airborne (military parachuting) and Air Assault (helicopter attack and utilities) qualified. His official military jump log has 22 jumps from C-130s, a South Korean balloon, helicopters and an Army fixed wing Sherpa plane. His foreign jump wings include Thai, Japanese and Korean(2x).  His current job with the Utah Army National Guard is commanding the 653 Trial Defense Services with downtrace elements in Idaho, Montana and Utah defending adervse actions against National Guard Soliders.

In December 2010 he deployed with his Special Operations unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and has participated in five Southeast Asia international military exercises.

He has been married for 23+ years and has three children attending Timpview High School.

Professional Memberships

Central Utah Bar Association – Member: 2009 to Present.

  • Secretary: 2015-2016.
  • Vice President: 2016-2017.
  • President: 2017-2018.

Utah County Justice Court Nominating Commission–Chair. 2020 to Present.

Utah Association for Justice – Member: 2009 to Present.

Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – Member: 2009 to Present.

Utah State Bar Association – Member: 2009 to Present.

Michigan State Bar Association – Member: 2004 to 2010.

Utah Army National Guard – Soldier: 2008 to 2017;  10/2022 to Current.

United States Army (Deployed) – Soldier: 12/2010 to 05/2011.

United States Army Reserve – Soldier: 2017 to 10.2022.

American Inns of the Court. 2009 to Present.

Jake primarily works with:  Firm secretary (of 43 years) Julie Heelis (heelisj@provolawyers.com).