CURRICULUM VITAE

MATTHEW B. THIEL
Thiel Law Office, PLLC
327 West Pine Street
P.O. Box 8125
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 543-1550

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor with honors.

University of Montana, 1993

Montana Law Review

Staff Member, 1991-1992
Associate Editor, Winter Edition 1993
Editor-In-Chief, Spring Edition 1993

Awards

Justin Miller Award for best student contribution to the Montana Law Review
Scribes Award for the outstanding member of the Montana Law Review

B.A., Political Science with honors, Minor in Economics.

University of Montana, 1986
Phi Eta Sigma (national honorary)

PUBLICATIONS

Defining Appropriate Criteria for the Public Employee Strike Injunction in Montana, 53 Mont. L. Rev. 317 (1992).http://scholarship.law.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1581&context=mlr

Co-Author Adjusting the Automobile Injury Claim in Montana, Published by NBI, 2000.

COURTS and ORGANIZATIONS

Admitted to the Montana Courts, U.S. District Court, District of Montana, and U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.

Member State Bar of Montana, American Bar Association, ABA Labor Law Section, Montana Trial Lawyers Association and Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Member First United Methodist Church Trustees (2003-2007).

Board of Directors Missoula Humane Society (2002-2006).

Montana Facility Finance Authority (Appointed by Governor).

Montana Insurance Guarantee Association (Appointed by State Auditor).

Board of Trustees, State Bar of Montana.

Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" (2012-Present).

SEMINARS TAUGHT

Elder Law Issues, State Bar of Montana, October 25, 1995.

Legal Issues For Chiropractors, Missoula, MT., 1998.

Strategies for Handling Low Impact Connective Tissue Auto Cases, Montana Trial Lawyers Association, Co-Chair, October 20, 2000.
Adjusting the Automobile Injury Claim in Montana, National Business Institute, November 28, 2000.

Handling the Automobile Injury Claim in Montana: Considerations for the Legal Support Professional, April 26, 2002.

Preparing for Arbitration, AFSCME Montana Council 9 State Convention, May 12, 2002.

Focus on Negotiations, Effective Strategies, AFSCME Montana Council 9 Convention, May 2, 2004.

26th Annual Montana Labor Relations Conference, Missoula, September 21, 2005.

27th Annual Montana Labor Relations Conference, Bozeman, September 21, 2006.

Probate, Estate and Guardianship, Montana Association of Legal Assistants (MALA) sponsored CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) Short Course Review Seminar, March 8, 2007.

Your Local Union: Increasing Effectiveness and Unity, AFSCME Montana Council 9 Convention, April 21, 2007.

28th Annual Montana Labor Relations Conference, Helena, September 21, 2007.

29th Annual Montana Labor Relations Conference, Missoula, September 17-18, 2008.

Estates & Trusts, Montana Association of Legal Assistants (MALA) sponsored CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) Short Course Review Seminar, March 6, 2009.

31st Annual Montana Labor Relations Conference, Bozeman, September 23, 2010.

Fundamentals of Employment Law, Labor Law Section, Sterling Education, Missoula, March 4, 2010.

UFCW Local 4 Steward Training, Butte, February 28, 2011.

32nd Annual Montana Labor Relations Conference, Great Falls, September 21, 2011.

33nd Annual Montana Labor Relations Conference, Bozeman, September 20, 2012

Grievance Case Preparation from the Union Perspective and the Duty of Fair Representation, AFSCME Montana Council 9 Convention,
June 21, 2013.

EXPERT TESTIMONY

Milltown Addition Homeowners Assoc. v. Geery, Mont. Fourth Judicial Dist. Court, Cause No. 85367, July 19, 1999 (Reasonableness of Attorney Fee Award).

Bargas v. Blakely, Fee Arbitration Panel, June 22, 2000 (Contingent Fee Dispute).

Spooner v. Maner, Mont. Fourth Judicial Dist. Court, May 23, 2003 (Reasonableness of Costs and Hourly Fee Bill).

Tripp v. Jeld-Wen, Inc., Mont. Fourth Judicial Dist. Court, 2003 (Reasonableness of Costs and Hourly Fee Bill).

Ward v. Laursen, Mont. Fourth Judicial Dist. Court, 2006 (Reasonableness of Costs and Hourly Fee).

GMAC v. Wilber, Mont. Fourth Judicial Dist. Court, September 24, 2007 (Reasonableness of Costs and Hourly Fee Bill).

PUBLISHED or REPORTED CASES

B.M. et al v. Boy Scouts of America, Mont. Law Week (9/14/13)

Estate of Wilcock, Mont. Law Week (11/19/11)

Mercer (Union Square Apartments) v. McGee, 2008 MT 374, 346 Mont. 484, 197 P.3d 961.

In Re Estate of Wilcock, 2007 MT 313N, 175 P.3d 305.

Hunter v. Hartford Ins., 2006-1734 3/19/07, Mont. Law Week (3/31/07).

Shott (Conservator for Cheff) v. Blattner & Sons, Mont. Law Week (11/25/06).

St. Peter & Warren, P.C. v. Purdom & Tenenbaum, 2006 MT 172, 333 Mont. 9, 140 P.3d 478.

Valley Christian School v. Montana High School Association, 2004 MT 41, 320 Mont 81, 86 P.3d 554.

Reese v. Winter Sports Inc., 31 MFR 1, Mont. Law Week (4/19/03).

State v. Houlihan, Mont. Law Week (10/2/99).

Stormont v. National Union Fire Ins. and Constitution State Services, Mont. Law Week (5/01/99).

State v. Greenup, Mont. Law Week (6/15/96).

WORK EXPERIENCE

Matt was employed by the Montana Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO from 1987 to 1990, working extensively in the area of union organizing and contract negotiations. Matt has also worked as a registered lobbyist and campaign consultant, having worked on over thirty political campaigns. Matt began his private practice of law in 1993 and practiced as an owner and partner in the firm of Smith & Thiel from 1995 to 2006. Matt has been the owner of Thiel Law Office, PLLC since 2006.

Matt’s main practice areas are Personal Injury and Labor Law with extensive experience in motor vehicle cases, worker injuries, insurance bad faith and labor law arbitration. Matt also has extensive experience in the areas of probate and estate litigation and conservatorships and guardianships. Representative Union Clients are American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO; United Food and Commercial Workers; Amalgamated Transit Union, AFL-CIO; UNITE HERE! Local 427, AFL-CIO; SEIU Healthcare NW 775, AFL-CIO; Laborers International Union of North America Local 1686, AFL-CIO; Graphic Communications Union Local 2426, AFL-CIO; and International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 19, AFL-CIO.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Voter Protection Program, New Mexico Democratic Party and Kerry-Edwards Campaign.
Albuquerque, NM October 2004

Western Regional Democratic Campaign Workshop, Democratic National Committee, Estes Park, Colorado, September 1989.

TV Media Training, Michael Sheehan, Helena, Montana, May 1989.

Direct Mail Workshop, Rich Schlauchman, Helena, Montana, April 1989.

Winning Your Next Campaign, Campaigns and Elections Magazine 6th Annual Campaign Workshop, Sacramento, California, April 1989.

Grass Roots and Fundraising Seminar, Northern Rockies Action Group, Helena, Montana, February 1989.

Full Membership Program, Union Leadership Institute/AFT, San Francisco, California, June 1988.

Union Leadership Institute, George Meany Center for Labor Studies, Silver Spring, Maryland, October 1987.

Campaign Management Training, Project 500, Democratic National Committee, Washington, D.C., June 1986.