Matt J. Kelly

Matt J. Kelly lives in Bozeman, Montana and practices in state and federal courts in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. He represents those who have been wronged or are being bullied by large corporations, the government, or both.

Matt’s entire practice is litigation. He has worked on cases as a member of teams with dozens of lawyers across multiple law firms and has worked cases all by himself. No matter the resources available, he believes that success can only be found through hard work and by presenting the facts in a structured and compelling manner.

Matt has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases in front of judges, juries, and arbitrators. He has litigated cases ranging from hundreds of dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Matt believes that the legal system – at its best – levels the playing field and should generate the correct result for everyone. At its worst, the legal system can create winners and losers based merely on the wealth and status of the litigants. He works to be a part of a just system that recognizes everyone’s rights, equally, and forces his opponents, large or small, to play by the same rules.

Matt is active in his community, serves on local boards, and contributes his time and talent where he can.

Matt is an AV Rated lawyer and has been recognized as a Mountain States “Super Lawyer.”

Matt received his JD from the University of Wyoming, with honors, in 2007 and has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Montana State University.

Before starting private practice, Matt proudly served one year as a term clerk for the Honorable Alan B. Johnson in the Wyoming Federal District Court.

Education

Montana State University (B.S., Accounting, 2004); University of Wyoming (J.D., with honors, 2007)

Bar Admissions

Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado (Inactive), and U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming, 2007; U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 2010; Montana and U.S. District Court, District of Montana, 2011

Memberships

American Bar Association; State Bar of Montana; Wyoming State Bar Association; Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association; Gallatin County Bar Association

Representative Matters

• Successfully represented a landowner opposing eminent domain for access to a mine across privately owned property, preventing access
• Organized and negotiated favorable easements on behalf of a large group of landowners in lieu of condemnation proceedings for dozens of miles of interstate crude oil pipeline
• Vindicated through jury verdict the rights of heirs of a financially abused vulnerable adult against his abuser’s claims of inheritance
• Litigated through successful settlement a farming family’s claims of decades of pollution in a stripper oil field
• Achieved a favorable resolution of claims through settlement of class action relating to tip pooling
• Represented a class of royalty owners through favorable settlement relating to violation of the Wyoming Royalty Payment Act