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Through our governmental affairs practice, we monitor legislative developments that impact clients, and represent their interests through changes in the law.

Governmental Affairs > Governmental Affairs

Montana Governmental Affairs Lawyers & Attorneys

Not all solutions to business problems will be found in the board room, the courts, or before regulatory review boards. Sometimes the only solution is to ask the Legislature to fix a problem with the law.

Businesses need to be vigilant of legislative proposals or agency rulemaking which may adversely affect their interests. We provide a full range of legislative services, from monitoring developments in both the Montana Legislature and regulatory development in state agencies, to actively representing our clients before the Legislature and state agencies.

Our firm’s state legislative support resources and systems in Helena are among the best available in Montana. Governmental Affairs professionals at BKBH have developed a wide array of technical support services to enhance their effectiveness in communicating with our clients, grassroots contacts, and government employees in the legislative process, and most importantly, the legislators themselves.

We have developed a proven, sophisticated process to monitor legislation, to provide a comprehensive review of legislative or administrative proposals, and to keep our clients apprised quickly and regularly of legislative or administrative activities that could potentially impact their interests.

Our Clients

BKBK clients include oil and gas companies, refiners, pooled interest organizations, corporations, contractors, railroad companies, water projects, and a number of associations and businesses.  We often advocate on behalf of clients in environmental, tax, appropriations, and general business matters.

Election and Campaign Finance Laws

Federal and state election and campaign finance laws often present challenging compliance issues to many businesses and associations. In addition, in recent years there has been an increase in the use of initiatives and referendums to regulate business in Montana. Our attorneys advise clients on issues related to contributions, election law, and reporting related to candidate campaigns, independent expenditure campaigns, PAC activities, initiatives, and referendums. BKBH develops and implements public relations campaigns related to initiatives and referendums.

BKBH has experience representing clients in government procurement activities and contract disputes. Our Governmental Affairs professionals represent clients with interests that involve legislative project or service appropriations, including contract development and procurement as a result of those appropriations. Our governmental contract practice consists of negotiation of contracts, litigation in state and federal courts, including the Court of Claims, as well as a wide variety of state and federal administrative proceedings.

Bidding and Procurement Advice and Counsel

We also advise clients on competitive bidding and procurement with the state of Montana. These projects have included representing clients before the Legislature, the Montana Land Board, and various agencies when bidding opportunities are created or enhanced, and continuing that representation during the governmental entity’s drafting and creation of the request for proposals or request for bids. We are committed to providing guidance during the formulation of a client’s response to the proposal or bid requests, product demonstrations and contract awards.

Representative Matters

  • Public Campaign Strategy Development
  • Representing Clients Before the Legislature and State Agencies
  • Client Advice for Contributions, Election Law, and Reporting
  • Grassroots Campaign Initiatives
  • Advice on Competitive Bidding Process

Practice Contacts