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“We the People:
The Citizen and the Constitution”
2018 North Dakota State Competition
The law firm of
Is please to announce the following Partners to the firm:
Kimberly Backman is a member of the Bismar ck, Nor th
Dakota office. Her practice encompasses various areas of
natural resources law and estate administration with an em-
phasis on title examination. Ms. Backman handles projects
containing complex oil and gas title issues and also assists
clients with general oil and gas matters. Ms. Backman gradu-
ated with distinction from the University of North Dakota
School of Law.
Wiley Barker is a Par tner in the Helena, Montana office.
His practice includes state and local taxation, regulatory law,
and insurance law. He is focused on helping businesses and
individuals obtain fair tax treatment, helping regulated entities
navigate various state regulatory issues, and assisting insur-
ance companies in evaluating and litigating coverage issues.
He regularly advises clients regarding these areas of law, and
litigates disputes when necessary.
SBAND Executive Director Tony Weiler and students from Standing Rock High School,
his alma mater.
The North Dakota “We The People” State Competition was held on Jan. 17 at the North
Dakota State Capitol. Seven teams participated, including a first-year team from Standing
Rock, and more than 140 North Dakota students experienced the competition. This year,
Kidder County won the state competition at the high school level. More than 18 judges
from across the state volunteered to evaluate the students' knowledge of the material, critical
thinking skills, and presentations.
The primary goal of the program is to promote civic competence and responsibility in
students by emphasizing student involvement and encouraging students to relate important
constitutional concepts and principles to historical and contemporary situations, as well as
to their own experiences. As a culminating activity, students are encouraged to participate
in simulated congressional hearings. These hearings provide an opportunity for students to
demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles.
The “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” program was developed by the Center
for Civic Education, funded by Congress, and administered through the U.S. Department of
Education. Congressional funding no longer exists, but the program is still administered at
the state level with a national competition held in the spring in Washington, D.C.
Alissa Chambers is a Par tner in the Helena, Montana
office. She helps clients navigate through all stages of their
business needs, including entity formation and structure
advice; ongoing corporate governance issues; purchasing an
existing business; selling an existing business; and exiting a
business (shareholder buy-sell agreements, redemption agree-
ments). Alissa’s experience includes target and acquirer
representation in mergers and acquisitions and private securi-
ties offerings.
Matthew Hibbs is a Par tner in the Bozeman, Montana
office. Over the course of his career, Matthew has helped
successfully litigate numerous employment, construction,
personal injury, medical malpractice, and products liability
disputes. Matthew graduated with honors from the University
of Montana School of Law in 2009 and served as a law clerk
to the Hon. Mike Salvagni prior to joining the firm in 2012.
Matthew is Treasurer of the Gallatin County Bar Association
and coaches youth sports in addition to his work for the firm.
Whitney Kolivas is a Par tner in the Bozeman, Montana
office. Her practice is focused on representing clients in a
variety of commercial litigation matters involving complex
commercial, business, real estate, contract, and banking
disputes. Throughout her practice, she has represented busi-
nesses and individuals in the state and federal courts across
Montana. Whitney graduated with high honors from the
University of Montana School of Law. Whitney served as a
law clerk to the Honorable Carolyn S. Ostby, United States
Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the
District of Montana.
Megan McCrae is a Par tner in the fir m’s Billings, Montana
office. Megan’s practice focuses primarily on healthcare law.
She regularly advises hospitals, physicians, and other health
care providers on a broad range of business, operational and
regulatory matters. During her time with the firm, Megan
graduated from Loyola University Chicago with an LL.M. in
Health Law. In 2011, Megan graduated with high honors from
the University of Montana School of Law, where she was an
Editor for the Montana Law Review, a member of the Nation-
a