Michael E. Ramsden

James A Ford (“Jim”) is an experienced and successful litigator at Elam & Burke, specializing in workers’ compensation, insurance defense, and civil litigation. Since joining the firm in 1987, his dedication and remarkable work have resulted in recognition in the Best Lawyers in America, including Lawyer of the Year in Workers’ Compensation in 2022, and membership in the International Association of Defense Counsel, acknowledgments of his expertise and influence. P...

Melodie focuses her practice on litigation, including commercial, employment, business tort, eminent domain, construction, real property, and procurement matters. Experienced in all stages of dispute resolution, Melodie handles cases from the pre-litigation phase through trial and appeal. Before joining Givens Pursley in 2013, Melodie worked as an associate attorney at a litigation firm in Washington, D.C., and as a trial-level judicial law clerk in Virginia.

Deborah is a partner and land use attorney at Givens Pursley. She helps clients navigate the land use process from start to finish, performing due diligence, preparing applications, negotiating with agency staff, presenting projects at hearings, and handling any challenges. She also helps companies obtain the legal entitlements required for the siting or expansion of a business or development. These entitlements include land use and zoning permits, transportation approvals, tax and workforce ...

Matt is an effective, strategic, and solution-oriented attorney who has been an integral part of the Elam & Burke team for nearly two decades. He joined the firm in 2003, and in 2009 he became a shareholder and has served on the firm’s Executive Committee for 15 years. Matt is currently serving, for a second time, as the firm’s Managing Director. Born and raised in Montana, Matt learned the value of hard work at a young age where he spent much of his childhood working on a far...

Chris's practice is concentrated in the area of commercial transactions, principally shopping center, office and hotel developments, acquisitions and dispositions of investment properties, commercial financing, entity formations and capital structures , limited liability companies, joint ventures and corporate organizations. recently has done extensive work in the real estate aspects of energy projects. Chris is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Bob is the lead attorney in the Employment Law Group at Givens Pursley LLP, and counsels and represents employers on a broad range of employment matters. His expertise includes counseling employers on how to avoid litigation of workplace issues. Bob advises employers on compliance with federal and state employment laws, including developing employment policies and practices, implementing and providing employer training programs, and providing guidance on specific issues including discriminati...

James D. Hovren is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Compliance Law and Corporate Governance Law. James D., who practices law in Boise, Idaho, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph Wager is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Construction. Joseph, who practices law in Boise, Idaho, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mike Roe represents individuals and entities in a wide variety of business matters, transactions, and commercial litigation. His primary focus is in the areas of business-related litigation, entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, finance, and more recently, oil and gas matters. In addition, he represents business clients in criminal and administrative proceedings. Mr. Roe also has extensive experience with loan workouts and business restructuring. He has successfully tried a...

Kyle Duren is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Kyle, who practices law in Boise, Idaho, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kyle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.