Gary W. Bjelland

Leah was born and raised in Whitefish, Montana. She attended Boston College and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Hispanic Studies. Upon graduation, Leah returned to Montana and worked as a compliance specialist at a local credit union. Leah then attended law school at the University of Montana School of Law. While in law school, Leah worked at GLR as a legal intern, as a teacher’s assistant and tutor for fellow law students, an...

Shane D. Colton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance. Shane D., who practices law in Billings, Montana, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shane D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

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 ...

Adam Tunning is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Litigation - Municipal and Litigation - Real Estate. Adam, who practices law in Billings, Montana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Adam is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Maxwell “Max” Kirchhoff is a partner at Western Justice Associates. His practice is exclusively dedicated to civil litigation for plaintiffs, where he focuses on personal injury, product liability, and class action litigation. Max is a third-generation Montanan, born and raised in Bozeman. He has proudly represented Montanans from all corners of the State. Max understands that most Montanans will have a hard time getting a fair settlement from insurance companies and other corpora...

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...

Jill Gerdrum is a civil litigator with a practice focused on product liability, transportation, premises liability, insurance defense, professional liability, and employment law. Jill’s product liability experience includes claims related to farm equipment, RV component parts, engine components, loading dock equipment, lawn mowers, medical supplies, livestock feed, and underground fuel tanks. In the transportation and premises liability arenas, she represents trucking companies, insurer...

Christopher T. Sweeney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Christopher T., who practices law in Billings, Montana, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kristy Buckley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Kristy, who practices law in Bozeman, Montana, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kristy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.