Richard Tingey: the diverse roles of in-house counsel.

• Author: Haraldsen, Tom
• Position: In the Spotlight - Larry H. Miller

Larry H. Miller was already a highly successful businessman when he became sole owner of the Utah Jazz in 1986. His automobile dealerships were just the beginning of an empire that was estimated to be valued at near a half billion dollars when he died in 2009. But he was never content to rest on his laurels, and for the next two decades after the Jazz acquisition, the Larry H. Miller Companies grew at an amazing rate.

Richard Tingey observed much of that initial growth. As the primary legal contact at the Salt Lake City firm of Winder and Haslam, which did the legal work for LHM, he got to know Miller quite well. When the need arose for Millers companies to add an in-house counsel in 2000, Miller tapped Tingey for the job. "It's been my pleasure to work here for nearly 15 years," the Salt Lake City native says. "As his business enterprises grew, so did the opportunities for more legal work, and I was pleased when Larry offered me the position."

"For over 20 years, we have been able to handle all of our legal matters through outside counsel," said Miller in a press release when Tingey was hired. "At this point in the growth of our company, it just makes sense to have someone in-house to advise us on legal issues. Robert knows the company well, and his experience and expertise will be invaluable to our company."

Tingey did his undergraduate work, and later earned his law degree, from the University of Utah. He practiced law in Arizona before returning to Utah in 1986. A huge sports fan and an avid golfer, he never envisioned he'd be a huge player in a sports juggernaut that's part of the LHM Group. "Truly, had you told me that someday, I'd be able to...