MANAGING PARTNER
Michael S. Dockery (Managing Partner) born Lewistown, Montana, May 13, 1955; admitted to bar, 1983, Montana. Education: Southeastern Louisiana University; Montana State University (B.A., with high honors, 1980); University of Montana (J.D., with high honors, 1983). Member, Moot Court Team. Listed in Best Lawyers in America in the areas of real estate law and business litigation, in Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers, in the area of real estate law, and in Mountain States Super Lawyers for business litigation. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; American College of Real Estate Lawyers; National Association of Bond Lawyers; Montana Land Title Association; American Land Title Association. Reported Cases: Whistler v. Burlington Northern Co., 228 Mont. 150, 741 P.2d 422; Yellowstone II Development Group v. First American Title Co., 304 Mont. 223, 20 P.3d 755; Langemeier v. Kuehl, 307 Mont. 499, 40 P.3d 343; Yurczyk v. Yellowstone County, 2004 MT 3, 319 Mont 169, 83 P.3d 266; Collier v. Kincheloe, 2008 MT 100, 342 Mont. 314;. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Real Estate Law; Public Finance Law; Zoning Law; Planning; Land Use.Email: Michael S. Dockery
PARTNERS
Colby L. Branch (Partner) born Billings, Montana, April 19, 1961; admitted to bar, 1999, Montana; 2000, Wyoming and North Dakota. Education: Montana State University (B.S., Geology, 1983); Texas Tech University (M.S. Geology, 1988); Gonzaga University (J.D., with highest honors, 1999). Co-Author, "Crossing the 49th Parallel: Land Issues for Oil and Gas Operations in the U.S. and Canada," presented at 46th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Annual Institute. Author: "Indian Lands - Surface Access and Use," Paper No. 7 (Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2005); "Accessing Indian Lands for Mineral Development," Natural Resources Development in Indian Country, Paper No. 3 (Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. 2005). Member: Wyoming State Bar; State Bar Association of North Dakota; Montana Petroleum Association (Director); Petroleum Association of Wyoming. Practice Areas: Oil and Gas Law; Indian Law; Water Law.Email: Colby L. Branch
Gary G. Broeder (Partner) born Kalispell, Montana, June 25, 1946; admitted to bar, 1974, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.A., 1968); University of Montana (J.D., 1974). Editor-in-Chief, University of Montana Law Review, 1973-1974. [With U.S. Army, 1968-1971]. Practice Areas: Oil and Gas Law.Email: Gary G. Broeder
Alan C. Bryan (Partner) born Williston, North Dakota, February 14, 1969; admitted to bar, 1996, Wyoming and U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming; 1997, Montana, U.S. District Court, District of Montana, Crow Tribal Court, Crow Tribe of Indians, Montana and Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court, Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Indians, Montana; 1998, Ft. Peck Tribal Court, Assiniboine and Sioux Tribe of Indians Montana, Chippewa-Cree Tribal Court, Chippewa-Cree Tribe of Indians, Montana, Ft. Belknap Tribal Court, Ft. Belknap Indian Community, Montana and Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Court, Shoshone and Arapaho Tribe of Indians, Wyoming; 2000, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Court, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe of Indians, Montana. Education: University of Wyoming (B.S., 1993; J.D., 1996). Member: Yellowstone Area Bar Association; Wyoming State Bar; State Bar of Montana. Reported Cases: Espy v. Quinlan, 4 P.3d 1212 (Mont. 2000). Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Commercial Litigation; Collections; Commercial Law; Banks and Banking; Finance; Indians and Native Populations; Mortgages; Real Estate.Email: Alan C. Bryan
Ashley Burleson (Partner) born Fort Worth, Texas, March 31, 1972; admitted to bar, 1998, Montana. Education: University of Texas (B.B.A., with honors, 1994); University of Montana (J.D., with high honors, 1998). Member, Montana Law Review, 1997-1998. Member: State Bar of Montana; American Bar Association; Yellowstone Area Bar Association. Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Trust Law; Probate; Taxation; Commercial Law.Email: Ashley Burleson
David L. Charles (Partner) born Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1950; admitted to bar, 1975, Iowa; 2003, Montana. Education: University of Denver and Parsons College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1972); University of Iowa (J.D., with high distinction, 1974). Phi Kappa Phi; Order of the Coif. Author: "Aggregation of Sentences: Obtaining Jury Trials for Petty Offenders," 59 Iowa Law Review 614, 1974. Assistant Secretary of the Iowa Senate, 1975-1977. Formerly with: Gamble, Reipe, et. al, Iowa, 1977-1994; Belin, Lamson et. al, Iowa, 1994-2003. Member: Polk County (President, 1990-1991; Member, Board of Directors, 1982-1995), Iowa State (Member, Board of Governors, 1991-1995) and American (Member, Litigation Section) Bar Associations Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Association of Trial Lawyers of Iowa (Member, Board of Directors, 1989-1990); Iowa Defense Counsel Association; American Board of Trial Advocates. (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy) (Also practicing individually in Des Moines, Iowa). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Employment Litigation.Email: David L. Charles
Paul C. Collins (Partner) born Baltimore, Maryland, August 7, 1966; admitted to bar, 1993, New Mexico, U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico and U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit; 2003, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: Davidson College (B.S., 1988); Wake Forest University (J.D., cum laude, 1993). Member, Wake Forest Law Review. Member: State Bar of New Mexico; State Bar of Montana; Yellowstone Area Bar Association; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Products Liability; Medical Malpractice; Litigation; Water Quality.Email: Paul C. Collins
Renee L. Coppock (Partner) born Verdun, France, December 27, 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, Montana, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court, Crow Tribal Court; Fort Belknap Tribal Court; Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Court and U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Illinois (B.S., with highest honors, 1984; J.D., magna cum laude, 1987). Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Alpha Delta; Golden Key. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Real Estate Transactions, Tax and Finance, Natural Resources. Listed in Stratmore's Who's Who. Author: "Solid and Hazardous Waste Regulation," "Asbestos Control Act, and "Miscellaneous Environmental Regulations," Montana Environmental Law Handbook (1992 and 1996). Member, National Land Trust Rally Faculty (1997-2006). Member: Yellowstone Area and American (Member, Probate, Property and Trust Law Section) Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana (Member, Bankruptcy Section; Secretary-Treasurer, 1988-1991, 1993); American Agricultural Law Association. Practice Areas: Conservation Easements; Bankruptcy Law; Commercial Law; Indian Law; Agricultural Law; Environmental Law; Real Estate Law; Leases and Leasing.Email: Renee L. Coppock
Jon T. Dyre (Partner) born Park Rapids, Minnesota, August 19, 1959; admitted to bar, 1985, Montana; 1986, Wyoming. Education: University of Minnesota (B.A., cum laude, 1981); University of Wyoming (J.D., with honors, 1985). Order of the Coif. Co-Author: Comment, "Establishing the Tort of Bad Faith in Wyoming," XX Land and Water Law Review, Vol. 2, 1985. Author: "Insurance Coverage for Environmental Liability,"; "Montana Environmental Tort Theories," Montana Environmental Law Handbook (1992-1996). Special Assistant Attorney General, 1989-1990. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Practice Areas: Personal Injury Law; Workers Compensation Law; Insurance Coverage Issues Law; Insurance Bad Faith Law.Email: Jon T. Dyre
Robert C. Griffin (Partner) born Niagara Falls, New York, July 5, 1955; admitted to bar, 1993, Florida; 1995, Montana. Education: Denison University (B.F.A., with honors, 1977); University of Denver (M.A., 1986); University of Miami (D.M.A., 1989; J.D., magna cum laude, 1993). Order of the Coif. Member, University of Miami Law Review. Member: State Bar of Montana. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Intellectual Property; Technology Licensing; Covenants Not To Compete; Trade Secrets; Publishing Contracts; Internet Law; Commercial Litigation.Email: Robert C. Griffin
Peter F. Habein (Partner) born Wiesbaden, Germany, August 21, 1956; admitted to bar, 1983, Montana. Education: Dartmouth College (A.B., cum laude, 1979); University of Virginia (M.A., 1980); University of Montana (J.D., with honors, 1983). Editor-in-Chief, Montana Law Review, 1982-1983. Law Clerk to Hon. W. J. Jameson, U.S. Senior District Judge, District of Montana, 1983-1984. Member: Yellowstone County and American (Member, Section of Litigation) Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; International Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; Montana Defense Trial Lawyers (Board of Directors; President, 2001). Practice Areas: Insurance Litigation; Personal Injury Law; Product Liability Litigation.Email: Peter F. Habein
Kevin P. Heaney (Partner) born Anaconda, Montana, 1972; admitted to bar, 1999, Montana; 2000, U.S. District Court, District of Montana, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Montana, Crow Tribal Court, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court. Education: University of Montana (B.A.B.A.-Finance, Economics, with highest honors, 1994); University of Montana School of Business (M.B.A., with honors, 1998); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., with honors, 1998). Former Adjunct Professor, Business Law, Montana State University-Billings. Member: Montana State and American (Member, Sections on: Real Property; Business Law; Uniform Commercial Code) Bar Associations; Yellowstone Area Bar Association.. Practice Areas: Banking and Finance; Real Estate Transactions; Commercial Transactions; Commercial Litigation; Creditor's Rights; Commercial Real Estate; Landlord and Tenant Law; Bankruptcy.Email: Kevin P. Heaney
James R. Hintz (Partner) born Marquette, Michigan, August 22, 1955; admitted to bar, 1999, Montana. Education: Northern Michigan University (B.S., 1977; M.A., 1980); University of Montana (J.D., 1999). Author: "Wilson v. Marchington: The Continuing Erosion of Tribal Civil Jurisdiction," Public Land and Resources Law Review, 1999. Teaching Assistant, University of Montana School of Law, 1997-1999. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Reported Cases: Lee v. Musselshell County, 320 Mont. 294, 87 P.3d 423 (2004); Ray v. Nansel, 311 Mont. 135, 53 P.3d 870 (2002). Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Labor and Employment; Real Property.Email: James R. Hintz
William D. Lamdin, III (Partner) born Baltimore, Maryland, August 8, 1956; admitted to bar, 1983, Montana. Education: Rocky Mountain College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1979); University of Montana (J.D., with high honors, 1983). Listed: Best Lawyers in America, Banking Law; Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, Corporate/M&A Law; Super Lawyers, Banking Law. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; American Judicature Society; Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association; Montana Bankers Association, Bank Counsel Division. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Banking Law; Finance; Creditors Rights in Bankruptcy; Commercial and Real Estate Transactions.Email: William D. Lamdin, III
John R. Lee (Partner) born Grand Forks, North Dakota, October 1, 1957; admitted to bar, 1989, Montana; 1990, North Dakota. Education: University of North Dakota (B.S.B.A., cum laude, 1981; J.D., with distinction, 1989). Order of the Coif. Member, Senior Editorial Staff, North Dakota Law Review, 1988-1989. Author: "Oil and Gas Operations and Environmental Regulations," Montana Environmental Law Handbook (1992-1996); Co-Author: "Unitization and Communitization Issues," 1994 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Special Institute on Federal Drainage Protection and Compensatory Royalties; Faculty: Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Short Course. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards in Oil and Gas Law, Real Property Law, Evidence, and Debtor-Creditor Relations. Member: Yellowstone County, Upper Missouri River and American (Member, Probate, Property and Trust Law Section) Bar Associations; State Bar Association of North Dakota; State Bar of Montana; Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (Landmen's Chair, 46th Annual Institute); American Association of Professional Landmen (Regional Director, 1993); Montana Association of Professional Landmen (Treasurer, 1991-1992; Secretary, 1992-1993; 1st Vice-President, 1993-1994; President, 1994-1995). Practice Areas: Oil and Gas; Mineral Title Examination; Commission Practice; Natural Resources Law; Commercial Law; Environmental Law.Email: John R. Lee
Jared Le Fevre (Partner) born Mountain Home, Idaho, March 7, 1974; admitted to bar, 2001, Montana; 2002, Idaho; 2003, Crow Tribal Court and Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court. Education: Ricks College (A.A., 1996); Brigham Young University (B.A., 1998); University of Utah School of Law (J.D., 2001). Articles Editor, Journal of Law and Family Studies, University of Utah, 2001. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Collections; Creditors Rights; Bankruptcy; Real Estate; Property Tax; Property Tax Appeals.Email: Jared Le Fevre
Steven J. Lehman (Partner) born Madison, Wisconsin, June 8, 1950; admitted to bar, 1978, Wisconsin and Montana. Education: University of Wisconsin (B.A., with distinction, 1972; J.D., cum laude, 1978); National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1981. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; American Judicature Society. Reported Cases: Kukuchka v. Zeimet, 710 P.2d 1361 (Mont. 1985); Lueck v. UPS, 851 P.2d 1041 (Mont. 1993); Kenyon vs. Stillwater County, 835 P.2d 742 (Mont. 1992); Koepplin vs. Zortman Mining, Inc., 881 P.2d 1306 (Mont. 1994); Hollister vs. Rosebud County, 22 F.3d 950 (9th Cir. 1994); Mysse v. Martens, 926 P.2d 765 (Mont. 1996); Clark v. Eagle Systems, Inc., 927 P.2d 995 (Mont. 1996); Russell v. Masonic Home, 147 P.3d 216 (Mont. 2006). Practice Areas: Litigation; Insurance Defense Law; Labor Law; Health Care Law; Mediation and Arbitration.Email: Steven J. Lehman
Denise D. Linford (Partner) born Billings, Montana, July 19, 1976; admitted to bar, 2001, Montana; 2002, Wyoming. Education: University of Wyoming (B.S., 1998; J.D., 2001). Member: State Bar of Montana; Wyoming State Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Mineral Title; Oil and Gas Title Examination; Trusts and Estates.Email: Denise D. Linford
Christopher Mangen, Jr. (Partner) born Miles City, Montana, January 29, 1954; admitted to bar, 1980, Montana. Education: Miles Community College (A.A., with honors, 1974); Montana State University (B.A., with honors, 1976); University of Montana (J.D., with high honors, 1980). Special Assistant Attorney General, 1990-1991. Author, "Montana Environmental Policy and Administration," Montana Environmental Law Handbook (1996). Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Reported Cases: Continental Oil v. Elks Nat'l. Foundation, 235 Mont. 437, 767 P.2d 1324 (1989); Elks Nat'l Foundation v. Weber, 942 F.2d 1480 (9th Cir. 1991); Norbeck v. Crawford 254 Mont. 256, 836 P.2d 1231 (1992); McCabe Petroleum Corporation v. Easement and Right-Of-Way, 2004 MT 73. Practice Areas: Oil and Gas Law; Water Law; Natural Resources Law and Litigation.Email: Christopher Mangen, Jr.
William J. Mattix (Partner) born Butte, Montana, February 11, 1956; admitted to bar, 1983, Montana. Education: Montana State University; Carroll College (B.A., 1978); University of Arkansas; University of Montana (J.D., with honors, 1983); Defense Counsel Trial Academy (1988). Phi Delta Phi. Member, Montana Law Review, 1982-1983. Author: "Montana Supreme Court Survey: Family Law," 44 Montana Law Review, 1983. Editor, The Barrister, 1981-1983. Special Assistant Attorney General, 1989-1991. Co-Editor, Montana Environmental Law Handbook (1996). Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation Law; Employment Law; Personal Injury Law; Products Liability; Americans with Disabilities Act Litigation.Email: William J. Mattix
Joe C. Maynard, Jr. (Partner) born Butte, Montana, March 1, 1959; admitted to bar, 1987, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.S., with honors, 1983); University of Montana (J.D., with high honors, 1987). Law Clerk to Montana Supreme Court Justice John C. Sheehy, 1987-1988. Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 1995 -present; Chambers 2004; Mountain States Super Lawyers 2007. Member: Yellowstone County (Member, Board of Directors; President) and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; Workers Compensation Court Rules Committee; Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation Law; Medical Negligence; Personal Injury Litigation; Estate Litigation.Email: Joe C. Maynard, Jr.
Robert G. (Jock) Michelotti, Jr. (Partner) born Great Falls, Montana, March 15, 1951; admitted to bar, 1979, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana; 1980, California and U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., 1973; J.D., 1979); University of Southern California Graduate School of Business (M. Bus. Tax., 1976). Certified Public Accountant, Montana, 1976. Billings School District 2 Board of Trustees, 1993-1999; Chair, 1995-1999. Billings Catholic Schools Board of Trustees, 2002-2008; Chair, 2002-2006. Recipient: 2003 Yellowstone Area Bar Association Professionalism Award; 2007 Friend of Billings Clinic Award; 2009 Distingusihed Graduate of Billings Catholic Schools. Member: State Bar of Montana (Member: Trust Law Revision; Corporate Law Revision Committees) State Bar of California; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Probate Law; Trusts; Commercial Law; Real Estate Law; Corporate Law; Tax Law.Email: Robert G. (Jock) Michelotti, Jr.
Steven Robert Milch (Partner) born Great Falls, Montana, May 25, 1957; admitted to bar, 1987, Idaho, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1989, Montana; 1990, U.S Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Fort Peck Indian Tribal Court; 1999, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Montana State University (B.A., 1979); University of Idaho (J.D., cum laude, 1987). Law Clerk for: Hon. J. Blaine Anderson, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1987-1988; Hon. Stephen S. Trott, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1988-1989. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; Idaho State Bar; State Bar of Montana (Member, Law Related Education Committee); Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Steven Robert Milch
Kristin L. Omvig (Partner) born Scobey, Montana, August 7, 1967; admitted to bar, 1992, Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.S., with high honors, 1989); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., 1992). Beta Gamma Sigma. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Subdivision; Zoning Litigation; Commercial Transactions; Partnership Law.Email: Kristin L. Omvig
Jeffery J. Oven (Partner) born Delta Junction, Alaska, March 26, 1972; admitted to bar, 1999, Montana; 2000, Wyoming. Education: Western Michigan University (B.A., 1996); University of Wyoming (J.D., 1999). Author: "A Practitioner's Guide to Statements of Fault and the Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Exception to the Hearsay Rule," XXXIII Land and Water Law Review, No. 2 (1998); "Wyoming's Last Great Range War: The Modern Debate over the State's Public School Lands," XXXIV Land and Water Law Review, No. 1 (1999). Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; Wyoming State Bar. Reported Cases: Nixon v. State, 994 P.2d 324 (Wyo. 1999) (Argued on Appeal); Wells v. Young, 47 P.3d 809 (Mont. 2002). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Oil and Gas Litigation; Natural Resources Litigation.Email: Jeffery J. Oven
Herbert I. Pierce, III (Partner) born Seattle, Washington, March 17, 1945; admitted to bar, 1971, California; 1981, Montana and District of Columbia. Education: University of Montana (B.A., 1967); Hastings College of the Law, University of California (J.D., 1970). Member: Yellowstone County Bar Association; State Bar of Montana; The District of Columbia Bar. Practice Areas: Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense Law; Insurance Defense Law; Health Care Law.Email: Herbert I. Pierce, III
Steven P. Ruffatto (Partner) born Sidney, Montana, September 24, 1949; admitted to bar, 1976, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.S., Engineering, with distinction, 1971); University of Montana (J.D., with high honors, 1976). Authorships: "Cohabitation of Wilderness and Mining: Can The Marriage Be Saved," 38 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute 11-1 (1992); "Mine Reclamation and Environmental Regulation," Montana Environmental Law Handbook 1992 and 1996; "A Scrivener's Concerns in the Creation and Transfer of Severed Mineral and Royalty Interests," 9 Public Land Law Review 31 (1988), republished 26 Public Land and Resources Law Digest 43 (1989); contributions to Law of Federal Oil and Gas Leases and American Law of Mining, 2nd Ed., Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. Montana Reporter to the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Mineral Law Newsletter, 1994. Editor-in-Chief, Montana Environmental Law Handbook (1996). Listed in: Best Lawyers in America, Natural Resources Law; Chambers America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Natural Resources; Who's Who in American Law; The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers; International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers; Mountain States Super Lawyers. Trustee, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 1993-2008. Chair, Annual Institute Program, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 2002. Chair, Mining Section, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 1993. Member: Publications, Long Range Planning and Special Institutes Committees, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Executive Committee, 2003-2005; Montana Mining Association; Northwest Mining Association; American Association of Professional Landmen; Montana Association of Professional Landmen; Mountain States Legal Foundation Board of Litigation; American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Certified Christian Conciliator, Peacemaker Ministries Institute for Christian Conciliation. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Practice Areas: Oil and Gas Law; Title Law; Real Estate Law; Mining Law.Email: Steven P. Ruffatto
James P. Sites (Partner) born Detroit, Michigan, September 17, 1948; admitted to bar, 1973, Maryland; 1974, District of Columbia; 1978, U.S. Supreme Court; 1984, Montana and U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Oslo; Haverford College (B.A., 1970); Georgetown University (J.D., 1973; LL.M., in Taxation, 1979). Law Clerk to: Judge Orman W. Ketcham, District of Columbia Superior Court, 1975-1976; Judge James C. Morton Jr., Senior Associate Judge, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, 1974-1975. Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, 1977-1984. General Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1976-1977. Norwegian Consul for Montana, 1987. Chair, Montana State University-Billings Local Board. Chair, Board of Directors, Billings Chamber of Commerce. Member: Yellowstone County, Maryland State, Federal and American Bar Associations; The District of Columbia Bar; State Bar of Montana (Chair, Tax Litigation Subcommittee, 1992; Tax and Probate Section, 1991-1992; Co-Chair, Committee on Income and Property Taxes, 1987-1991); American Immigration Lawyers Association. Reported Cases: Montana Department of Revenue v. Dray, 879 P.2d 651; Montana Department of Revenue v. United Parcel Service, 830 P.2d 1259; Holly Sugar Corporation v. Montana Department of Revenue 830 P.2d 76; Norfolk Holdings v. Montana Department of Revenue, 813 P.2d 460. Languages: German and Scandinavian. Practice Areas: Administrative Law; Immigration and Naturalization Law; Tax Law; Tax Litigation.Email: James P. Sites
Leonard H. Smith (Partner) born Seattle, Washington, May 15, 1964; admitted to bar, 1990, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: Montana State University (B.A., with honors, 1986); Washington University (J.D., 1990). Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Practice Areas: General Civil Litigation.Email: Leonard H. Smith
Christopher C. Voigt (Partner) born Thermopolis, Wyoming, June 2, 1973; admitted to bar, 1999, Wyoming; 2001, Montana. Education: University of Wyoming (B.S., 1996; J.D., with honors, 1999). Order of the Coif. Senior Staff Editor, Land and Water Law Review, University of Wyoming, 1999. Author: "Wyoming's Last Great Range War: The Modern Debate Over the State's Public School Lands," XXXIV Land and Water Law Review, No. 1 (1999). Member: State Bar of Montana; Wyoming State Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Christopher C. Voigt
ASSOCIATES
Matthew Brahana (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Montana, Wyoming and U.S. District Court, Districts of Montana and Wyoming. Education: University of Missouri-Columbia (B.J., 1999); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., with honors, 2006). Member: State Bar of Montana; Wyoming State Bar.Email: Matthew Brahana
Bruce F. Fain (Associate) born Mexia, Texas, 1958; admitted to bar, 1990, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1995, U.S. Supreme Court; 1996, Texas; 2004, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado and U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., 1980); University of Idaho (J.D., magna cum laude, 1990). Member, Idaho Law Review. Judicial Survey Editor, Judicial Survey, Environmental Law, 25 Idaho Law Review, 126, 1989-1990. Member: Yellowstone County and American (Member, Sections of Torts and Insurance, Litigation, General Practice) Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana (Member, Sections of Bankruptcy and Federal Practice); State Bar of Texas (Member, Computer Section and Litigation Section); American Bankruptcy Institute; Transportation Lawyers Association. [Capt., USAF, 1981-1987]. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy Law; Commercial Litigation; Creditors Rights; Employment Law; Business Associations; Zoning, Planning and Land Use; Real Estate.Email: Bruce F. Fain
G. Trenton Hooper (Associate) born Provo, Utah, 1979; admitted to bar, 2008, Montana. Education: Weber State University (B.A., cum laude, 2005); Gonzaga University (J.D., summa cum laude, 2008). Member, Moot Court Honors Council, Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Competition, 2006-2007. Recipient, CALI Awards in Federal Jurisdiction and International Intellectual Property, 2002. Extern to Hon. Fred Van Sickle, Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 2006-2007. Co-Author: "Copyright Litigation Committee 310 Report," American Bar Association, 2006. Languages: Japanese and Portuguese. Practice Areas: Litigation; Intellectual Property; Constitutional Law.Email: G. Trenton Hooper
Steven Jennings (Associate) born Lansdale, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1964; admitted to bar, 2003, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: The Ohio State University (B.A., Anthropology, 1986); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., 2003). [Major, United States Marine Corps Reserves, 1983]. Practice Areas: Workers' Compensation; Litigation.Email: Steven Jennings
Stewart R. Kirkpatrick (Associate) born San Antonio, Texas, March 14, 1958; admitted to bar, 1986, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: Brigham Young University (B.A., 1983); Creighton University (J.D., 1986). Instructor, Rocky Mountain College, 1988-1991. Adjunct Faculty, Health Law and Medical Ethics, Montana State University-Billings, 2004-2007. Justice of the Peace, Pro Tem, Yellowstone County, 1996. Judge Pro Tem, Billings City Court, 2000. Billings City Board of Adjustment, 1998-1999. Member: Yellowstone County Bar (Director, 1996-1999); State Bar of Montana (Chair, Health Law Section, 2002-2003); American Bar Association (Young Lawyers Executive Council, District Representative, Montana and Idaho, 1993-1995; Member, Health Law and Business Law Sections); American Health Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Health Care Law; Real Estate Law; Business Law; Business Associations Law; Trusts and Estates.Email: Stewart R. Kirkpatrick
Trent Oram (Associate) born Ashton, Idaho, June 8, 1980; admitted to bar, 2008, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana; 2009, Wyoming. Education: Northwest College (A.A., 2002); University of Great Falls (B.S., summa cum laude, 2004); Washington State University (M.B.A., 2008); University of Idaho (J.D., cum laude, 2008). Recipient, Wall Street Journal Award, 2004. NAIA Academic All-American, 2002-2004. Idaho Law Review, 2005-2008. Inter-American Moot Court, 2006. Presidential Management Finalist, 2008. Member: Yellowstone and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana; State Bar of Wisconsin. Transactions: Aquisition of real estate for Fontier Oncology Cancer Center, 2009; RiverStone Health's counsel for bond issue, 2009. Languages: Russian. Practice Areas: Commercial Law; Secured Transactions; Bank Collections; Bank Mergers and Acquisitions; Commercial Litigation; Complex Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Corporate Organization; Natural Resources; Mineral Title; Oil and Gas Acquisitions; Oil and Gas Contracts; Oil and Gas Law; Oil and Gas Litigation.Email: Trent Oram
Eli J. Patten (Associate) born Billings, Montana, 1982; admitted to bar, 2009, Montana. Education: George Washington University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2005); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., 2009).Email: Eli J. Patten
Daniela E. Pavuk (Associate) born Bratislava, Slovakia, April 23, 1979; admitted to bar, 2006, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: University of Toronto (B.A., honors, 2001); University of Montana (J.D., 2006). Member: Yellowstone Bar Association; State Bar of Montana. Languages: Slovak. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation(100%).Email: Daniela E. Pavuk
Christopher Stoneback (Associate) born Wheat Ridge, Colorado, 1980; admitted to bar, 2006, Montana. Education: Texas A & M University (B.S., 2002); London School of Economics, London, England (M.Sc., 2003); University of Montana (J.D., 2006). Team Captain, University of Montana Jessup Moot Court Team, 2005-2006. Managing Editor, Montana Law Review, 2005-2006. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Christopher Stoneback
Michael Tennant (Associate) born Kalispell, Montana, 1983; admitted to bar, 2008, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.S., Accounting, 2005); University of Montana (M.B.A., 2008; M.Acct., 2008); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., 2008). Practice Areas: Wills; Trusts and Estates; Estate Planning; Estate Administration; Taxation.Email: Michael Tennant
Monique Waddington (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: University of Montana (B.A., English, 2004; B.A., Sociology, 2004; J.D., 2007). Phi Delta Phi. Member: Yellowstone Area Bar Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Litigation.Email: Monique Waddington
Jamie Wells (Associate) admitted to bar, 2009, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: Carroll College (B.A., 2005); University of Montana School of Law (J.D., 2008); The University of Florida Levin College of Law (LL.M., 2009). Member: State Bar of Montana; Yellowstone Area Bar Association.Email: Jamie Wells
Bryan P. Wilson (Associate) born Knoxville, Tennessee, November 8, 1977; admitted to bar, 2004, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana. Education: Washington & Lee University (B.A., 2000); Emory University (J.D., with honors, 2004). Member: Yellowstone Area Bar Association; State Bar of Montana. Reported Cases: Frontline Processing Corp. v. American Economy Ins. Co. 335 Mont. 192, 194, 149 P.3d 906, 908 (Mont. 2006). Practice Areas: Litigation; Commercial Law; Commercial Litigation; Commercial Transactions; Banks and Banking; Bank Foreclosures; Banking Litigation; Commercial Loans; Lender Law; Natural Resources; Oil and Gas Litigation; Real Estate; Quiet Title.Email: Bryan P. Wilson
STAFF ATTORNEY
Gary M. Connelley (Staff Attorney) born Livingston, Montana, September 4, 1956; admitted to bar, 1983, Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana; 1984, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: Montana State University (B.S., honors, 1979); University of Montana (J.D., 1983). Member: State Bar of Montana; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Domestic Relations; Poverty Law; Public Interest; Pro Bono.Email: Gary M. Connelley
OF COUNSEL
George C. Dalthorp (Of Counsel) born Wibaux, Montana, August 7, 1929; admitted to bar, 1958, Montana. Education: Montana State University (B.S., 1951); University of Denver; University of Montana (J.D., 1958). Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 1987-2000. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana (Chairman, Board of Trustees, 1982-1983; President, 1985-1986); International Association of Defense Counsel; American Board of Trial Advocates. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers. Lifetime Fellow: American Bar Foundation. [U.S. Naval Reserve, Active duty, 3 years and 4 months; last rank, Lt.Cmdr.]. Practice Areas: Insurance Law.Email: George C. Dalthorp
David L. Johnson (Of Counsel) born Dayton, Ohio, October 18, 1937; admitted to bar, 1964, Montana. Education: University of Cincinnati (B.B.A., 1961); Ohio State University (J.D., summa cum laude, 1964). Order of the Coif. Associate Editor, Ohio State Law Journal, 1963. Author: "Post-Mortem Tax and Estate Planning Elections," 42 Montana Law Review 199, 1981; "Post-Mortem Tax and Estate Planning Elections: A Checklist and Summary of Election Requirements," 14,001, Prentice-Hall Successful Estate Planning Ideas and Methods, 1993. Member, Board of Advisers, Journal of Agricultural Taxation & Law, 1979-1992. President, Yellowstone Valley Estate Planning Council, 1978. Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 1989-2000. Member: Yellowstone County and American (Chair, Probate and Trust Division Committee on Post-Mortem Tax Problems, 1985-1989 and Estate Planning and Estate Administration for Farmers and Ranchers, 1994-1998) Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Fellow: American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (Montana Chair, 1991-1996; Montana State Laws Coordinator, 1991-2002); American College of Tax Counsel. Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Estate and Gift Taxation; Estate Administration; Probate Law; Trust Law.Email: David L. Johnson
Gareld F. Krieg (Of Counsel) born Billings, Montana, September 28, 1930; admitted to bar, 1957, Montana. Education: Stanford University (B.A., 1952); University of Montana (J.D., 1957). Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Delta Phi. Editor, Montana Law Review, 1957. Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 1989-1999. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Practice Areas: Health Care Law; Real Estate Law; Commercial Law.Email: Gareld F. Krieg
Arthur F. Lamey, Jr. (Of Counsel) born Havre, Montana, June 11, 1930; admitted to bar, 1957, Montana. Education: University of Michigan (B.B.A., 1952); University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1957). Phi Alpha Delta. Editor, Montana Environmental Law Handbook, 1992-1996. Author: "Radioactive Materials and Radiation Regulations," "Major Facility Siting Regulation," and "Miscellaneous Environmental Regulations," Environmental Law Handbook, 1996 Ed. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Natural Resources Law; Commercial Law.Email: Arthur F. Lamey, Jr.
Louis R. Moore (Of Counsel) born Devils Lake, North Dakota, March 14, 1931; admitted to bar, 1955, North Dakota; 1957, Montana. Education: University of North Dakota (B.S.C., 1952; J.D., 1955). Author: "Title Examination of Indian Lands," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute on Indian Land Development, 1976 and 1982; "Mineral Development on Indian Lands Cooperation and Conflict," 28th Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, 1982. Law Clerk to Judge Charles J. Vogel, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1955-1956. Trustee, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 1981-1994. Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 1993-1998. Member: Yellowstone County Bar Association; State Bar of Montana; American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Practice Areas: Natural Resource Law; Oil and Gas Law; Mining Law.
Myles J. Thomas (Of Counsel) born Helena, Montana, September 22, 1930; admitted to bar, 1954, Montana. Education: DePauw University; University of Montana (B.A., 1954; J.D., 1954); New York University (LL.M., in Taxation, 1957). Author: "Leasebacks in Commercial and Family Transactions," 28 Montana Law Review 25, 1966. Member: Yellowstone County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Montana. Practice Areas: Taxation Law; Estate Planning; Probate Law; Commercial Law.Email: Myles J. Thomas