Ward Taleff

Katie J. Maehl is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Real Estate Law and Tax Law. Katie J., who practices law in Billings, Montana, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katie J. 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 ...

Alan’s primary practice focus is land use, zoning, real estate and local government law with a particular emphasis on development permitting and related transactions. Alan is a former land use planner for Montana local governments, who combines his professional planning background with his work in land use law to provide clients with a unique blend of practical skills and legal analysis. He is frequently called upon to provide advice to private and government sector clients and has serv...

Cole Derks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Agriculture Law, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Cole, 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 Cole is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael Hekman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Michael, who practices law in Missoula, Montana, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Liz’s practice focuses on medical malpractice and personal injury defense. She represents a wide variety of health care clients, including physicians, hospitals, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, professional counselors, and other health care providers in medical negligence actions, HIPAA complaints, and professional licensing disputes. She also represents companies in products liability claims involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and asbestos exposure. Liz routinely app...

Jeff has a diverse practice that includes civil litigation, insurance defense, employment law, business law, construction law and workers' compensation. He is admitted to practice in all Montana Courts, the United States District Courts for the District of Montana and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also admitted to practice in California (inactive status). Jeff enjoys advising employers on all business and litigation related matters. Jeff's honors, awards and professional associati...

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...

Amy D. Christensen is the managing partner of Christensen & Prezeau, PLLP. She has over twenty-four years of experience litigating cases in state and federal court involving employment matters, health care, and professional liability. She has also appeared on behalf of clients before numerous administrative agencies involving matters such as discrimination and retaliation, unemployment insurance, wage and hour, and professional licensing. In addition to her litigation practice, Amy advise...

Brad grew up in Montana. He left the state to play college baseball in Florida and attend the United States Naval Academy. After graduating from the University of Montana law school with honors in 1977 he began private practice in Missoula. Since that time he has had a varied state wide practice involving insurance related litigation, specializing in insurance bad faith, personal injury, professional negligence and workers’ compensation law. Brad has handled more than 60 appeals before ...