(406) 534-4872

Dear Potential Client:
Welcome to our Website!  If you find yourself in our office, chances are you’re not having a great day.  We will treat you with kindness and respect.  We will try our best to listen carefully and understand your goals.  A few things you should know before we meet:

  • We do not file frivolous lawsuits or represent mean people with evil motives. If you’re one of those, please do not call us.
  • We represent great people and businesses with serious legal problems who need a lawyer who is thoughtful, strategic, passionate and aggressive.
  • We are not a high volume, burn and churn law business. We take on a limited number of cases so that we can try to recover top dollar for each client.
  • We are selective and take on high-stakes, complex litigation. Before we agree to represent you, we will conduct a case evaluation to make sure we think we can win. While we can’t guarantee a win, please know that one of our mottos is “more winning, less billing.”

We invite you to give us a ring.  Let’s chat about whether you have a case worth pursuing.

Best wishes,
Liz Varela

PRACTICE AREAS

Devoted to 100% Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Wills, Trusts and Estate litigation (contested probate)

Employment law (wrongful discharge/termination, wage claims, etc.)

Discrimination (disability, gender, race, marital status, age, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation, etc.)

Insurance (disputes, consumer protection, bad faith, coverage opinions)

Contract and business/commercial disputes, including construction

Local Counsel

Tort law (wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, construction, professional negligence, etc.)

Real Estate and Property law (farm/ranch/agricultural disputes, boundary disputes, easements, encroachments, access issues, partition of real property, mineral rights, water rights, zoning/permitting, condemnation/eminent domain etc.)

Civil Rights/Constitutional law

Education/School law

Mediation

PRACTICE FOCUS

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation, Mediation & Dispute Resolution

BAR ADMISSIONS

Montana, 2011
U.S. District Court District of Montana, 2011
Formerly Admitted to Wyoming & North Dakota State Bars

EDUCATION

Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D.
(magna cum laude)
University of Virginia, B.A.
Majors: German & Foreign Affairs

PUBLISHED WORK

The Shale Energy Revolution: A Lawyer’s Guide,
Chapter Two: Common Litigation Issues – Condemnation

HONORS AND AWARDS

National Moot Court Team Member
Final Four at National Finals
2nd Best Brief in the Nation
Gonzaga Law Review: Associate Editor

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

American Bar Association
Montana Trial Lawyers Association
State Bar of Montana
Yellowstone Area Bar Association

PAST FIRM EXPERIENCE

Crowley Fleck, PLLC
Harris, Gannett & Varela, PLLC
Crist, Krogh & Nord, PLLC

HOBBIES

Hiking
Camping
Yoga
Cooking

OUR TEAM

liz

Elizabeth M. Varela

Liz stands up to bullies. If she decides to take your case, she will be “in it to win it.” Liz has significant legal experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants, which makes her highly skilled

steve

Steven C. Varela

Steve solves serious problems with spreadsheets. He is an Excel genius (at least in Liz’s eyes). Steve earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University.

CONTACT US

ELIZABETH M. VARELA
VARELA LAW FIRM PLLC
401 North 24th Street
Billings, Montana 59101