Dennis P. Conner

Ross T. Johnson is a partner at Kovacich Snipes Johnson. Mr. Johnson grew up working on the family farm and ranch, located north of Conrad, Montana. In 2008, he graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Economics. After graduating college, Mr. Johnson returned to Montana where he earned a J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2012. Since joining the firm, Mr. Johnson has litigated a wide array of plaintiffs’ civil claims including, but not limited to: wrongful death,...

A former law clerk for Ninth Circuit Judges Thomas G. Nelson and N. Randy Smith, Michael Manning’s practice focuses on appellate advocacy and complex litigation. He has argued multiple appeals in the Ninth Circuit, and regularly represents clients in both federal and state courts. His appellate and trial-level litigation experience covers a broad range of substantive topics, including environmental litigation, constitutional issues, intellectual property, bank bad faith and lender liabi...

Kevin, who was raised in Butte, focuses his practice on medical malpractice defense, as well as commercial, insurance, and media law litigation. Kevin received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1987 from the University of Montana, where he served as a reporter and later as the editor of the student newspaper. After graduation, he worked as a news reporter for more than four years, writing about police and legal issues for newspapers in Texas and Montana. He later returned to Missoula...

Jeff Sorenson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law and Tax Law. Jeff, who practices law in Billings, Montana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeff is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gary Kalkstein is a Partner in our Missoula office and focuses his practice on medical malpractice and health care matters. For the last 35 years, Gary has defended a wide range of health care clients, including physicians, hospitals, clinics, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, professional counselors, and other health care providers in medical negligence actions and professional licensing disputes throughout the State of Montana. He routinely appears before the Montana Medical Legal ...

Aaron advises individuals, startups, tech and telecommunications companies, banks, contractors, and businesses on a wide-variety of matters. With several years in private practice in Seattle and Missoula, and as the former Vice President and General Counsel of a leading technology / communications service provider operating in 16+ states in the greater Pacific Northwest, Aaron has the requisite knowledge and experience to help you and to help your business grow, minimize risk, improve operati...

Peter was born in Trondheim, Norway in 1963. After immigrating to United States as a child, he lived in New York. His family finally settled in Seattle, Washington, where he attended the University of Washington, receiving a degree in History in 1985. He received his law degree from Willamette University in 1989 and worked in the Civil Trial Division of the Oregon Department of Justice. As a prosecuting attorney in Seattle for six years, Peter prosecuted approximately 50 jury trials along wit...

Shane Reely is a fourth-generation Montanan. He graduated with honors in 1994 from the University of Montana School of Law. After passing the Montana bar exam, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Tax (LL.M.) in 1995 from the University of Florida College of Law. Soon after, Shane began working for the Crowley Law Firm in Billings where his primary focus was on tax-exempt entities as well as general commercial transaction work, such as preparing purchase agreements, lease agreements, and ot...

Christian advises clients on real estate transactions, laws relating to land conservation and tax-exempt organizations, and related areas. He specializes in conservation easement transactions. Before co-founding Neilson, Swanson, Dietrich, Smith, PLLC, Christian served as General Counsel for the Montana Land Reliance, one of the nation's preeminent land trusts. In addition to the interpretation and defense of a million-plus-acre conservation easement portfolio at MLR, he successfully advised ...

Elizabeth A. Kaleva is an attorney in Missoula, Montana, focusing her practice on representation of public and private school districts throughout the state of Montana, as well as the Montana High School Association. Bea graduated from Boston College in 1991, and the University of Montana School of Law in 1995. After clerking for a year, Bea joined the Montana School Boards Association as a staff attorney. She rose to the General Counsel position and remained with the MTSBA until 2003, when s...