Ward Taleff

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. Her professional recognitions include an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, sustained for more than ten years, designation as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in both 2018 and 2019 and a Super Lawyer in 2026, and inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®. She grew up in Helena and now lives in Bozeman with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time in th...

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,...

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...

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...

Robert J. Phillips has been practicing since 1978 in areas of insurance defense or all kinds, including coverage opinions, coverage litigation and bad faith defense. He has tried numerous civil jury trials in various areas, including automobile, trucking, railroad, products liability, professional liability, construction defect and insurance bad faith, in State, Federal and Tribal courts. He has been lead counsel in many of the leading cases in Montana insurance law before the Montana Supreme...

Justin K. Cole is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Health Care Law and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Justin K., who practices law in Missoula, Montana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin K. 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...

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...

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 ...