Missoula, MT

Sydney McKenna

Syd McKenna is a partner focusing on workers’ compensation and personal injury law in Montana, with over 30 years of experience. She was named 'Trial Lawyer of the Year' in 2012 by the Montana Trial Lawyers Association and recognized as a Super Lawyer and a top 50 women lawyer in the Mountain States. She has held leadership roles in the Montana Trial Lawyers Association.

Craig Swapp is the founder of Craig Swapp & Associates and a passionate advocate for victims' rights. He is a member of the American Association for Justice and the Board of Governors of the Utah Association for Justice.

David R. Paoli

David Paoli, a native of Great Falls, Montana, graduated from Charles M. Russell High School and the University of Montana, where he played football and earned a B.A. with honors in Political Science. He graduated with honors from the University of Montana School of Law in 1986 and clerked for Judge Jack D. Shanstrom. He began his civil litigation practice in 1992, focusing on personal injuries, insurance bad faith, products liability, medical negligence, and bank bad faith. He served on the Montana Human Rights Commission and was elected to the Montana Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) Board of Directors in 1990, serving as president in 1999-2000. He received the MTLA Public Service Award in 1992 and was recognized as MTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2011. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2007, holds an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and is a Super Lawyers designee since 2009. He has also taught products liability at the Law School and is involved in Rotary International and Grizzly Athletics.

Peter Lacny

Peter is a skilled litigator with extensive experience in criminal and civil cases. Since 2006, he has defended clients in high-stakes criminal matters and represented companies and individuals in civil cases across Montana. Peter's criminal defense practice includes everything from misdemeanors to complex felonies, with a focus on federal cases, grand jury investigations, and white collar crimes. An accomplished trial lawyer, he has secured acquittals for clients in state and federal courts. In addition to defending the accused in court, Peter represents professionals facing disciplinary actions from their licensing boards, as well as students facing discipline for conduct code and Title IX violations. In his civil practice, Peter handles plaintiff's personal injury cases and civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts. He is also recognized as an expert in federal and state firearm laws and frequently consults with other attorneys on those matters. Peter is a proud member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel in both Montana and Alaska, a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (2023-2026), and a member of the Ninth Circuit's Standing Committee on Federal Public Defenders (2024-2026). He earned the ACLU's 2007 Vern Klingman Award for his work securing pardons for Montanans convicted under the Sedition Act and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and as a Best Lawyer in America in White Collar Criminal Defense. Peter is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Membership in the College is limited to no more than one percent of the total lawyer population of any state. Fellowship is extended by invitation only, following a rigorous investigation process, to experienced trial lawyers who have demonstrated the highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Candidates must have at least fifteen years of trial experience before consideration for Fellowship.

Eric Rasmusson

Eric Rasmusson grew up in Helena, Montana, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Montana in 1989, earning his Juris Doctor degree from the same institution in 1992. He founded his first law firm in Boulder, Montana, and later returned to Missoula, eventually establishing Rasmusson Law Offices, PLLC in January 2020. He focuses on Workers Compensation, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Social Security Disability, and Medical Malpractice & Negligence. Eric is admitted to practice law before the US District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is a member of the Bar Association of Montana and the Bar Association of America.

Sara S. Berg

Partner and Attorney Sara S. Berg is an esteemed legal professional with a Juris Doctor from the University of Montana School of Law. With an impressive career spanning over two decades, she is a celebrated expert in her field and has achieved extensive recognition as a top Montana lawyer. As a seasoned litigator and attorney-mediator, Sara is able to deftly navigate intricate legal landscapes such as complex medical malpractice suits, civil defense cases, and family law matters including divorce and child custody cases. Her exceptional insight and work ethic make her an invaluable asset. Sara leads our Helena office and is a key contributor to its success.

John M. Fitzpatrick

John M. Fitzpatrick is a Missoula attorney with over 25 years of experience handling Plaintiff's personal injury, medical malpractice, and accident injury litigation. He has successfully represented hundreds of people and families injured by negligence, covering car accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, premises liability, birth injuries, failure to diagnose cancer, and products liability. John also handles insurance issues, including bad faith, across Montana and other states. He graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 1996 with highest honors and is an inductee of Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. He received several awards in law school, including the Weymouth D. Symmes Award for Appellate Advocacy. Before co-founding Towe & Fitzpatrick, PLLC, he specialized in complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases for 16 years and previously worked for Montana's largest defense firm, Crowley Fleck, PLLP. John holds the highest possible attorney rating, AV Preeminent, from Martindale-Hubbell. He is a member of the Montana State Bar, the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, the Montana Trial Lawyers Association (past President), and the Western Montana Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in all Montana state and federal courts.