Richard G. Smith

For over four decades, Chris has been a leader in the fields of water law, land use law, natural resources law, constitutional law, and road and public access law. He has extensive litigation experience at the administrative, district court and appellate levels (including 21 Idaho Supreme Court cases). Best Lawyers in America has named him “Lawyer of the Year” 11 times in the fields of water, land use, and natural resources. Three times, Super Lawyers placed Chris in the “To...

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...

With more than thirty-five years in government affairs, Ken has extensive experience with a variety of complicated public policy issues, including public utility laws, healthcare issues, agriculture, environmental regulatory matters, municipal policy and tax issues. Ken acts as an advisor, lobbyist and general counsel to several companies and professional associations. He plays a key role in policy analysis, business development, public relations and the development and implementation of gove...

Tom's practice has allowed him to work on a wide variety of commercial and civil litigation and other matters, including collection, bankruptcy, employment, insurance defense, real estate development and leasing, personal injury, as well as securities, general business and corporate law. Tom is rated "AV" by his peers and by local judges through the Martindale Hubbell rating process. Tom is periodically asked to present on real estate related issues to interested groups such as other attorney...

Samuel A. Diddle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Samuel A., 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 Samuel A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chad M. Nicholson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Chad M., who practices law in Boise, Idaho, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chad M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew Pappas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Matthew, who practices law in Boise, Idaho, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brad Dixon is co-chair of the Givens Pursley Litigation Group. In over 20 years of experience, Brad has amassed a significant portfolio of trial experiences in a variety of complex commercial disputes providing him with the creativity, knowledge and strategic know-how to do more than just litigate the steps of your case. As a trial attorney, Brad understands and excels within the entire spectrum of our dispute resolution system providing you with the best possible mechanism to resolve conflic...

Jason J. Blakley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Jason J., 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 Jason J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Clint’s real estate practice includes real estate transactions with an emphasis on real estate finance, commercial acquisitions, dispositions and leasing. Clint's business practice consists of general business planning, along with issues of organization, operation, mergers and acquisitions, and liquidation of limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships and joint ventures. Clint 's tax practice focuses on federal and state tax issues relating to business...