W. Andrew Figel

Counsel

Andrew Figel is an experienced attorney with more than two decades of litigation and transactional experience.  Mr. Figel’s litigation practice is focused on the areas of construction and design throughout Colorado and Wyoming.  He has successfully defended contractors, architects, engineers, and other construction professionals in complex construction defect matters and contract disputes. Additionally, he has assisted contractors and suppliers with filing mechanic’s liens and pursuing lien foreclosure and payment bond actions.

Mr. Figel also has extensive experience in personal injury defense, including defending business owners, property managers, and contractors in premises liability actions.

On the transactional side of his practice, Mr. Figel assists with commercial leases, confidentiality agreements, employment and consulting agreements, organizational documents, and shareholder and ownership agreements for corporations and limited liability companies.

Before private practice, Mr. Figel served as subrogation counsel for a national insurance carrier.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 1998
  • Wyoming, 2021
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: Villanova University School of Law, 1998
BS: Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, 1995, Finance, Dean’s List

Contact

figela@hallevans.com

More About
Andrew

Resume

Linkedin

Decisions
  • Fowler & Peth, Inc. v. Regan, 151 P.3d 1281 (Colo. 2007)
  • In re Regan, 477 F.3d 1209 (10th Cir. 2007)
Blog Posts About Andrew
Professional Associations
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association

T. Thomas Singer

Of Counsel

Tom Singer was raised in northern Wyoming and educated in Montana and Massachusetts.  After law school, he returned west, where he worked for the Wyoming Legislature, managed a congressional campaign in eastern Washington, and taught at Gonzaga Law School before settling in Billings.  For the last 35 years, Tom has been defending transportation companies and product manufacturers, and counseling and representing businesses and individuals through employment and business litigation.

Tom speaks regularly at seminars hosted by the International Association of Defense Counsel, the State Bar of Montana, and other organizations.  He is known for incorporating game theory, neuroscientific research, and karaoke into presentations about legal ethics and trial advocacy, and he also enjoys expostulating about employment law, covenants not to compete, product liability, and civil procedure.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 1985
  • Wyoming, 1978
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Location

Billings Office

175 North 27th Street
Suite 1101
Billings, MT 59101

Education

JD: Harvard University Law School, 1978, cum laude
BA: Eastern Montana College, 1975, Speech Communications and Theater Arts
AA: Northwest College, 1973, Communications

Contact

singert@hallevans.com

More About
Thomas

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2021-2023
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Employment Law-Management; Litigation-Labor and Employment; Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, 2008-2025
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation, 2008-2024
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of The Year” in Billings, MT for Employment Law-Management, 2022
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of The Year” in Billings, MT for Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, 2016, 2019
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2008-present; Barrister, Order of Juris; Advocate, Order of Certus
  • George L. Bousilman Professionalism Award, State Bar of Montana, 2002
Professional Associations
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, 1999-present
  • State Bar of Montana, Professionalism Committee, 1992-present; Chair 1998-2004
Business & Community Service
  • Riverstone Health Clinic Board of Directors, 2010-present; Chair, 2018-2021
  • Billings Symphony Artistic Advisory Committee, Chair, 2005-present
  • Billings Symphony’s “Concert Cues,” Host, 2015-present
  • Northwest College Alumni Association, Board Member, 1996-present; Chair, 2017-2019
  • Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, Former Director
  • Billings Depot, Inc., Former Director
  • Billings Preservation Society, Former Director
  • Red Lodge Music Festival, Former Director
  • NAMI-Billings, Former Director
  • Tumbleweed Runaway Program, Former Director
  • Billings Studio Theatre, Former Director
Other Activities
  • In his spare time, Tom likes to read, hike, ride bikes, paddle rivers, act in community theatre productions, play guitar, and sing with the Symphony Chorale and other ensembles. He lives in Billings with his wife, a retired school psychologist and transition coach. They have four grown children and four grandchildren.
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Presenter, “Ain’t It a Shame (How Discrimination Law Perpetuates Inequality),” ALFA International’s Virtual International Client Seminar, March 2021
  • Presenter, “It’s How You Tell the Tale,” ALFA International Webinar, July 2020
  • Speaker, “Condemned if You Do, Doomed if You Don’t – Advocating in the Age of Social Media,” ALFA International’s 2020 International Client Seminar, March 2020
  • Speaker, “Safe Spaces at Work: Bullying, Intimidation, Firearms, and Threats of Violence,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2019
  • Program Chair, “The Game Is On: Are You In?  You Have to Play or You’ll Never Win,” ALFA International’s 2019 International Client Seminar, March 2019
  • Moderator and Presenter at dozens of interactive seminars addressing issues of ethics and professionalism through the State Bar of Montana’s Professionalism Committee, January 1996 through May 2018
  • Speaker, “Championship: Rights, Fights, and Popular Opinion,” ALFA International’s 2018 International Client Seminar, March 2018
  • Speaker, “Loyalty Has Limits,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2017
  • Speaker, “Teaching a Lawyer to Fish: The Karaoke Session,” ALFA International’s 2017 International Client Seminar, March 2017
  • Speaker, “What the Heck Happened?,” ALFA International’s 2016 International Client Seminar, March 2016
  • Speaker, “Creating an International Practice No Matter Where You Are,” Annual Business Meeting, ALFA International’s Annual Business Meeting, October 2015
  • Speaker, “Tribalism in the Courtroom: What Lawyers Need to Learn from Neuroscience about Bias, Loyalty, and the Behavior of Groups,” State Bar of Montana, January 2015; ALFA International’s 2015 International Client Seminar, ALFA International, March 2015; The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2015
  • Speaker, “How and Where Your Business Can Be Sued in the U.S.,” ALFA International’s Asia Regional Seminar with Product Liability and IP/IT, May 2014
  • Speaker, “Honesty is Such a Lovely Word:  Is It Too Much to Ask?,” State Bar of Montana, January 2014; ALFA International’s 2014 International Client Seminar, January 2014
  • Speaker, “Protecting Rights or Picking Fights:  What Should Lawyers Really Be Doing for Their Clients?,” ALFA International’s 2013 International Client Seminar, March 2013
  • Speaker, “Implicit Bias,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2012
  • Speaker, “Non-Competes and Other Baggage of Relationships Past,” State Bar of Montana’s Beat the Deadline CLE, May 2011
  • Speaker, “Strategies for Working with Evidence at Trial and Attacking Opposing Evidence,” NBI’s Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices Seminar, February 2011
  • Speaker, “FLSA and Wage and Hour Issues and Non-Competes and Other Post-Employment Obligations,” Lorman’s Employment Law From A to Z Seminar, January 2011
  • Speaker, “Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality,” The Seminar Group’s Montana Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2009
  • Speaker, “Post-Courtal Separation Anxieties:  What Can Go Wrong After the Verdict Is In,” State Bar of Montana, January 2009
  • Author, “To Tell the Truth, Memory Isn’t That Good,” 63 Montana Law Review 337, 2002
  • Speaker and Mentor on Trial Skills and Legal Ethics, International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, July 2001
  • Speaker, “Appellate Brief Writing,” State Bar of Montana, October 1989
  • Author, “Reappraising Reapportionment,” 22 Gonzaga Law Review 527, 1988
Blog Posts About Tom

Jill M. Gerdrum

Member

Jill Gerdrum is a civil litigator with a practice focused on product liability, transportation, premises liability, insurance defense, professional liability, and employment law.  Jill’s product liability experience includes claims related to farm equipment, RV component parts, engine components, loading dock equipment, lawn mowers, medical supplies, livestock feed, and underground fuel tanks.  In the transportation and premises liability arenas, she represents trucking companies, insurers, and national retailers in matters involving serious personal injuries and fatalities.

Jill is often called upon for early accident scene investigations and serves as an independent investigator for entities facing potential claims. She has successfully defended companies and individuals at the administrative level, and at the trial and appellate levels throughout state and federal courts in Montana.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 2006
  • Idaho, 2022
  • Wyoming, 2022
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Idaho
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Location

Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802

Education

JD: University of Montana, 2006, High Honors
BA: University of Montana, 1997, Political Science

Contact

gerdrumj@hallevans.com

More About
Jill

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment, 2019-2023
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2020-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2020-2025; Civil Rights Law, 2024-2025; Employment Law – Management, 2024-2025; Personal Injury Litigation –Defendants, 2024-2025; Transportation Law, 2024-2025
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2017-2024
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers ®, Top 50 Women, 2022-2024
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers ®, Top 100 Lawyers, 2023
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Civil Litigation: Defense, 2014-2016
  • Montana Judicial Standards Commission, appointed by Montana Supreme Court, 2017-present
Professional Experience
  • Partner, Axilon Law Group, PLLC, Missoula, Montana, 2006-2021
  • Clinic Law Clerk, U.S. Magistrate Judge Leif Erickson, Summer 2005
  • Deputy Commissioner of Insurance & Securities, Montana State Auditor, Helena, Montana, 2001-2003
Decisions
  • Barstads v. Albert Burney, Inc., et. al, DV-16-68; DV-16-69;DV-17-12, Montana’s Third Judicial District, Powell County, (order of dismissal and to compel arbitration on behalf of defendant Riverbend Realty)
  • Hathaway v. Zoot Enterprises, Inc., DV-19-809B, Montana Eighteen Judicial District Court (summary judgment and denial of motion for leave to amend for defendant)
  • Janik v. Town of Whitehall et. al., DV-18-01, Montana’s Fifth Judicial District Court, Jefferson County (summary judgment for Town clerk)
  • Outland v. Montana Department of Corrections, HRB Case No. 956-2018, (decision for Outland at hearing and on appeal to HRC)
  • Adami v. Nelson, DR-16-199, Montana’s Fourth Judicial District Court, Missoula County (bench trial decision for Adami)
  • Chyatte v. Missoula County, et al., CV-13-174-M-DWM-JCL, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Missoula Division; Case No. 16-35046, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (defense verdict on behalf of Missoula County)
  • Scotten v. Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, DE-1221-16-0087-W-1, United States Merit System Protection Board (decision for Scotten on whistleblower protection claim)
  • Frank v. Town of West Yellowstone, CV-15-25-BU-SEH, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division; Case No. 16-35218, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (on behalf of Town of West Yellowstone) (summary judgment for Town and order of dismissal for Individual defendants)
  • Orr v. Anaconda Deer Lodge County, CV-14-BU-SEH, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division; Case No. 15-35612, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (summary judgment on behalf of Anaconda Deer Lodge County)
Appeals
  • Hathaway v. Zoot Enters., 2021 MT 292, 406 Mont. 239, 2021 Mont. LEXIS 905, 2021 WL 5194919
  • Ramsbacher v. Jim Palmer Trucking, 2018 MT 118, 391 Mont. 298, 417 P.3d 313
  • Adami v. Nelson, 2019 MT 286, 398 Mont. 72, 454 P.3d 642
  • S. Mont. Tel. Co. v. Mont. PSC, Dep’t of Pub. Serv. Regulation, 2017 MT 123
  • TC Fuel Components, LLC v. Mont. Eleventh Judicial Dist. Court, 374 Mont. 540, 346 P.3d 363 (2014)
  • Johnson v. W. Transp., LLC, 2011 MT 13, 359 Mont. 145, 247 P.3d 1094
  • Hilten v. Bragg, 2010 MT 273, 358 Mont. 407, 248 P.3d 282
Professional Associations
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 2015-present
  • Transportation Lawyers Association, 2020-present
  • Trucking Industry Defense Association 2021-present
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Co-Author, “Danger! Danger! Will Robinson:  Are My Warnings Enough? Impact of the “heeding presumption” of on warnings labels and situations in which post-sale warnings may arise,” ALFA International Products Liability & Complex Torts Seminar, 2022
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “Employment Law Update – Return to Work, COVID-19 Issues, & Changes to Montana Law,” Jim Tillotson Service Program for Montana City Attorneys, 2021
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “Navigating the City/Client Landscape under Rule of Prof. Conduct 1.13,” MMIA Defense Counsel Summit, 2020
  • Author and Presenter, “Record Retention, Litigation Holds, and Electronic Discovery: How Employers Can Navigate Rough Waters,” Seminar Group Employment Law Institute, 2020
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “It’s How We Play the Game, Ethical Considerations in Litigation,” ALFA International Client Seminar, 2019
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “Culture is the New Black, The Value of Company Culture and It’s Impact on Litigation,” ALFA International Client Seminar, 2018
  • Author, “The United States Supreme Court’s Recent Personal Jurisdiction Decisions: Federalism and Restriction on Forum Shopping, or a “Parade of Horribles”?,” FDCC Insights, September 2017
  • Author and Presenter, “Workplace Whistleblowers: The Tension Amongst Fairness, Loyalty, & The Motivating Factors of Whistleblowing,” The Seminar Group Employment Law Institute, 2017
  • Author and Presenter, “Representing Your Client in Federal Court, National Business Institute Seminar,” 2015
  • Co-Author, “Transportation Mini Compendium – Montana,” American Trucking Association, 2013
  • Co-Author and Presenter, “When the Party is Over: What do Former Employees and Their Former Employers Owe Each Other,” The Seminar Group, 2012
  • Author and Presenter, “Employment Discrimination Law Issues,” Sterling Education Seminar, Missoula, 2011
  • Co-Author, “Transportation Law Compendium – Montana;” “Insurance Law Compendium – Montana;”“Labor & Employment Law Compendium – Montana,” ALFA International, 2012-2021
  • Co-Author, “Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee’s Guide to Montana’s Complex Law Regarding Joint and Several Liability and Contributory Negligence,” ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2009
Business & Community Service
  • Montana Legal Services Association, Volunteer, 2020-present
  • Missoula Childcare Resources, Member/Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, 2008-2011
  • Myrna Loy Center-Helena, Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2003
Other Activities
  • Outside of work, Jill can be found running, backpacking, and shuttling her daughters around to all kinds of activities.  She also continues to be involved in her family’s cattle ranch in Grass Range, Montana.
Blog Posts About Jill

Brooke A. Churchman

Member

Brooke Churchman’s practice centers on civil litigation with matters involving transportation, premises liability, gig economy, employment, oil and gas, professional liability, and insurance.  Ms. Churchman recently relocated to Colorado after practicing civil litigation in Austin, Texas.  Before entering private practice, she served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Raymond Moore in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and as Assistant General Counsel with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Ms. Churchman graduated with the highest honors from the University of Oklahoma College of Law where she was a Research Editor for the Oklahoma Law Review, and a member of the USD National Criminal Procedure Team and the John J. Gibbons National Moot Court Team.  While earning her degree, Ms. Churchman was awarded the Cole E. Adwon Scholarship for Outstanding Oral Advocacy and received the American Jurisprudence Awards for Torts and Legal Research and Writing.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2019
  • Illinois (inactive), 2015
  • Oklahoma, 2014
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: University of Oklahoma College of Law, 2014, with highest honors
BS: University of Oklahoma, 2010, Zoology, Dean’s Honor Roll

Contact

churchmanb@hallevans.com

More About
Brooke

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • 5280 Magazine, “Top Lawyers,” Transportation, 2024-2025
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Civil Litigation: Defense, 2023-2024
  • NextGen 30 Under 30, 2016
  • Oklahoma Law Review, Research Editor, 2012-2014
  • American Jurisprudence Awards: Torts and Legal Research and Writing, 2011
  • Order of the Solicitors
  • Cole E. Adwon Scholarship for Outstanding Oral Advocacy, 2012-2013
  • Dean’s Fellows Leadership Class
  • Pro Bono Service Award, 2014
Professional Experience
  • Associate, Nix Patterson, LLP, Austin, TX, 2018-2020
  • Law Clerk, Honorable Judge Raymond Moore, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, Denver, CO, 2017-2018
  • Assistant General Counsel, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma City, OK, 2015-2017
  • Associate, Holden & Carr, Oklahoma City, OK, 2014-2015​
Professional Associations
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Trucking Industry Defense Association
  • Oklahoma Bar Association
  • Illinois Bar Association
Blog Posts About Brooke

Tucker E. Allen

Senior Associate

Tucker Allen joined Hall & Evans, LLC as an Associate in 2021. Tucker routinely tackles complex and technical cases in state and federal court across a wide variety of industries. He coordinates customized strategies for clients at every stage of litigation from discovery, pre-trial motions, depositions of party and expert witnesses, to trial. Tucker also regularly handles the settlement of high-stakes cases at mediations and through informal settlement discussions. Tucker’s civil litigation practice is focused on transportation, premises liability, products liability, and professional liability. He also has experience in employment law, medical malpractice, and general commercial litigation.

Tucker earned his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law along with an Environmental and Natural Resources and Environmental Law Certificate.  While in law school, Tucker was Vice President of the University of Denver Land-Use Law Society, Articles Editor for the University of Denver Water Law Review, and a member of the Natural Resource and Environmental Law Society.  Tucker also served as Law Clerk for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, clerked for a lobbying firm, and a civil litigation firm specializing in real estate litigation.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2018
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2018

BA: University of Colorado, 2015, Journalism-News Editorial, Emphasis in Public Relations, Minor in Political Science

Certificate: Environmental and Natural Resources Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2018

Contact

allent@hallevans.com

More About
Tucker

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors

  • Vice President, University of Denver Land-Use Law Society, 2017-2018

  • Articles Editor, University of Denver Water Law Review, 2016-2018

Professional Experience
  • Law Clerk, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, Denver, CO, 2016
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars

  • Co-Author, “Key Implications of The Denver Green Roof Initiative,” Colorado Real Estate Journal, January 2018

  • Co-Author, “Legislature Passes ‘Standard Form’ Requirements,” Colorado Real Estate Journal, October 2017

  • Co-Author, “No-Pet Policies Don’t Apply to Service Animals,” Colorado Real Estate Journal, July 2017

  • Author, “Conflicts and Cooperation: The Past, Present, and Future of Interstate Water Compacts,” Colorado River Compact Issues Affecting the Navajo Water Projects, University of Denver Water Law Review, April 2016

Professional Associations
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
Blog Posts About Tucker

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