Idaho

Founded in 1928, Elam & Burke offers the Intermountain Region a full array of legal services. The firm is highly experienced in many areas of litigation and has 17 lawyers dedicated to the practice. James LaRue joined the firm in 1975. His primary concentration is first- and third-party defense along with work in professional malpractice and product liability defense. William Dryden came to Elam & Burke in 1980. His practice concerns environmental, commercial, construction, banking litigation, insurance defense work, and mediation.

The law firm of Greener Burke Shoemaker Oberrecht represents both individuals and corporate entities as plaintiffs and defendants. Its services include assistance with personal and business needs, representation in litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. Among the firm's many clients are the City of Boise, Idaho State Homebuilders Association, Mobil Oil Corporation, Holiday Inn, and 7-Eleven. Richard Greener is one of the firm's leading attorneys. His litigation practice includes securities, construction, environment, employment, patent infringement, professional legal and medical malpractice, drug and medical product liability, and general business. A peer says, "He's very experienced and very hard-working - a very good lawyer." Christopher Burke is also a standout litigator whose practices primarily emphasizes commercial, business, products liability, personal injury, and civil litigation.

With some 65 attorneys and a supporting staff of paralegals, Hawley Troxell is Idaho's largest full-service business law firm. It was founded in 1964 in Boise, where it maintains its office. The firm serves local, national, and international clients addressing all their legal needs from antitrust, banking, and bankruptcy to employment, health care, and intellectual property. "Hawley Troxell is one of the premier firms in Idaho," says a peer. With offices in Boise, Pocatello, Coeur d'Alene, and Reno, Hawley Troxell's presence stretches across the state and into Nevada.

Merlyn Clark offers the firm more than 50 years of experience managing complex litigation. He has argued more than 30 cases before the Idaho Supreme Court and specifically practices real property, contracts, business and commercial law, administrative law, and corporate and partnership disputes. Steven Berenter is the chairperson of the firm's employment group. He excels at counseling his clients on employment law and related statutes. He also practices health care law. His clients include Blue Cross of Idaho, College of Idaho, Boise State University, and Home Federal Bank. A significant amount of his practice has been dedicated to defending clients in employment discrimination cases. Peers recommend Craig Meadows because he is "very experienced and very capable." His practice covers aviation, product liability, legal and medical malpractice, insurance and bad faith litigation, subrogation cases, and commercial litigation.

A well-established Rocky Mountain-based firm with 15 offices across the western US and Washington, DC, Holland & Hart opened shop in Boise more than 70 years ago. More than 40 attorneys work out of the office and attend to Idaho residents legal needs. They are prepared to handle a number of issues including bankruptcy, labor and employment, environmental compliance, health care, intellectual property, securities, torts, and real estate, among others. "Holland & Hart is an excellent law firm," one peer attests.

Newal Squyres has extensive experience with complex civil litigation. He attends to matters of business and commercial litigation, labor and unemployment, appellate, product liability, and health care. Squyres recently completed a three-year term as an Idaho State Bar commissioner. With more than 40 years of trial experience, Walter Bithell is a "long-time litigator, and he's very good," says a peer. The Idaho Trial Lawyers Association created the Walter H. Bithell Professionalism Award, which honors an attorney each year for excellence in their practice. His own concerns business and commercial litigation, construction litigation, individual and class action tort litigation, product liability, professional liability, and general litigation. Formerly of Stoel Rives, Walter Sinclair has practiced law since the late 1970s. He focuses on business and commercial litigation and regularly is involved in complex contract disputes, product liability matters, antitrust issues, securities, and class actions. He has extensive trial experience, with 30 jury trials and 11 bench trials under his belt. Outside of Idaho, Sinclair has practiced in federal and state courts in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, and New York. A peer remarks that he is "very experienced and a very good lawyer."