Law Advisory Council

Tolman, Brizee & Cannon
B.A., University of Washington, ’88, J.D., University of Idaho, ’94

Jennifer K. Brizee has been practicing law in Idaho since 1994. Her trial experience includes: medical malpractice defense; products liability; commercial liability; general liability (casualty and personal injury); civil rights actions; professional liability for architects and engineers; and employment law.

Ms. Brizee currently represents a number of hospitals and numerous physicians in both northern and southern Idaho. Her practice extends from Coeur d’Alene to Boise, and from Weiser to Rexburg. She has or is currently handling cases in the following cities in Idaho: Preston, Montpelier, Malad, Pocatello, Blackfoot, Rexburg, Driggs, Soda Springs, Idaho Falls, Salmon, Rupert, Burley, Twin Falls, Sun Valley/Hailey area, Jerome, Gooding, Mountain Home, Weiser, Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Orofino, Cottonwood and Coeur d’Alene.

Jennifer has a unique understanding of the delivery of health care in small hospital settings. Jennifer advises hospital CEOs, risk managers, and chief nursing personnel on a daily basis providing clarity and thoughtful advice on the day-to-day challenges of Idaho’s small rural hospitals. That said, she is counsel to one of Pocatello’s primary hospitals and regularly consults on the unique issues facing larger hospitals. She successfully defends these institutions in claims of malpractice, working closely with the co-defendant physicians and their counsel. Jennifer is a veteran in the courtroom and is well known to all of the judges in Southern and Eastern Idaho. She manages all forms of civil litigation from the Twin Falls office. Jennifer has tried multiple cases acting as primary and secondary trial counsel involving everything from auto accident disputes to complex medical malpractice litigation.

Idaho Power Company – Boise, ID
B.S., University of Idaho ’01, M.B.A, Gonzaga University ’02; J.D., University of Idaho ‘05

An Idaho native, Mr. Buckham holds a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the University of Idaho, a Master of Business Administration from Gonzaga University and a Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from the University of Idaho College of Law.

Mr. Buckham assumed the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of IDACORP and Idaho Power in March 2022. Prior to this appointment, he was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of IDACORP and Idaho Power since March 2017 after serving as Vice President and General Counsel of IDACORP and Idaho Power since April 2016. Since joining Idaho Power in 2010, Mr. Buckham has also held the roles of corporate counsel, senior counsel, and lead counsel. Previously, Mr. Buckham was an attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Portland, Ore., and at Greenberg Traurig LLP in Phoenix where his practice focused on securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and commercial transactions.

Mr. Buckham is the recipient of the Idaho Business Review’s Leaders in Law award and Accomplished Under 40 award, and of the global Association of Corporate Counsel’s Top-10 30-Something award. Mr. Buckham is a member of the Board of Directors of the Treasure Valley YMCA and is a member of the Governing Council of the Idaho State Bar Business and Corporate Law Section. Mr. Buckham has also acted as an adjunct at the University of Idaho College of Law teaching the Securities Regulation course and is a member of the College of Law Advisory Council.

Cooper & Larsen, Chtd – Pocatello, Idaho
B.S., University of Idaho, '72; J.D., University of Idaho, '75

Gary is an Idaho native. He graduated from the U of I in 1972 and the U of I College of Law in 1975. Gary has practiced law in Pocatello since 1975 focusing on complex litigation matters involving personal injury, product liability, construction defects, business disputes, employment disputes and professional liability. He is licensed in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. He has been inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Gary also represents the Pocatello Chubbuck Auditorium District and the City of Lava Hot Springs and serves as a tribal judge for the Shoshone Bannock Tribal Court in Fort Hall.

Coulter Harsh Law
B.S., University of Idaho ’80, J.D., University of Idaho ’87

Curtis coulter ‘87 is a seasoned attorney who earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1987 and was admitted to the Nevada State Bar and Federal District Court of Nevada in 1987. At the University of Idaho College of Law, he served as an Executive Editor of the Idaho Law Review and Symposium Editor. Curtis also served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable William N. Forman, District Judge, Second Judicial District Court, Washoe County, State of Nevada. From 1987 through 1989, he worked for multiple insurers, focusing on insurance coverage and claim evaluation. He has litigated insurance coverage claims under various policies of insurance, including commercial and personal lines. Curtis has been lead counsel in class action, mass tort, multi-party litigation, and handles complex personal injury claims. In 2017, he was certified by the Nevada State Bar as a Personal Injury Specialist.

In addition to his litigation skill, Curtis is an accomplished legal educator, who has taught over 50 seminars on insurance and handling of claims, both locally and nationally, to attorneys for continuing education, claims adjusters, and medical professionals alike. Curtis has authored numerous articles on insurance and litigation practices, he is an author of Chapter 20 of the Nevada Civil Practice Manual.

Shoshone Bannock Tribes 
B.A., Boise State University, J.D., University of Idaho, '20

Directly out of high school Gaylen Edmo ‘20 attended the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island where he wrestled for the Navy and attended school. Following that year Gaylen was honorably discharged from the USN and chose to attend Boise State University where he finished his wrestling career.

Edmo holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from BSU in Environmental Studies with a minor in Sustainability and a Juris Doctorate (law degree) from the University of Idaho. He was awarded his law degree with emphases in Federal Indian Law and Natural Resources-Environmental Law.

During law school Edmo gained legal experience clerking for Echo Hawk & Olsen, PLLC in Pocatello, Idaho; Native American Rights Fund in Boulder, Colorado; and for the United States District Court for the District of Idaho in Boise, Idaho. Prior to his legal experience, Gaylen held temporary positions at the Tribal Water Resources Department and the Tribal Resident Fisheries Program.
Before serving on Council, Gaylen worked for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) as a post-graduate law fellow working under attorneys on various legal issues throughout Indian Country. Edmo also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Idaho, College of Law co-teaching their semester-in-practice programs at both the Moscow and Boise campuses.

Elam & Burke – Boise, ID
B.A., University of Montana ’82, J.D., University of Idaho ‘85

Mr. Ford joined Elam & Burke in 1987. Prior to joining Elam & Burke, he practiced law for two years with an insurance defense firm in both its Boise and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, offices. While in law school, he participated in summer internship programs with the Ada County and Valley County Prosecuting Attorney offices. Mr. Ford’s practice consists primarily of insurance defense (personal injury), workers’ compensation, and civil litigation. Mr. Ford is currently the Managing Director at Elam & Burke.

Mr. Ford’s interests outside the practice of law include biking, golf, and coaching his sons in their sports activities. Mr. Ford is married to Chandra Zenner Ford and they have two sons.

Racine Olson
B.S., Brigham Young University ’96, J.D., University of Idaho ’99

Mr. George received his undergraduate education at Brigham Young University receiving a B.S. in 1996. He obtained his legal education from the University of Idaho College of Law where he received his Juris Doctor Degree, cum laude, in 1999. Prior to joining the firm of Racine Olson in 2001, Mr. George clerked for the Honorable James J. May in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Mr. George was born in Bear Lake, Idaho. He and his wife have three children. Pat and Stacey enjoy long walks, and golfing. As evidenced by his walls in his office, they both enjoy amateur photography.

Meuleman Mollerup LLP
B.S., University of Idaho ’81, J.D., University of Idaho ’84

Kimbal L. Gowland 84'- Kimbal retired as a partner with the law firm Meuleman Mollerup LLP in 2014, specialized in the areas of commercial real estate, business law and estate planning. For 15 years he primarily represented Albertsons and became familiar with matters of critical importance to major “anchor” retailers and to developers, landlords, and lenders.

The partners of the law firm, Meuleman Mollerup LLP, are Wayne Meuleman, Richard Mollerup, Mike Baldner, Jonathan Bauer, Geoff McConnell, Rick Stacey, Jeff Sykes and Arnie Wagner.

Mr. Gowland, a Martindale-Hubbel “AV” Peer Review Rated attorney, has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers & Partners USA and Mountain States Super Lawyers as one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the field of real estate law. He is a member of WealthCounsel, a national group of estate planning attorneys, and the Boise Chapter of BOMA International (Building Owners and Managers Association). He is a former member of the Tax Policy Committee of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, and the Boise Valley Economic Partnership’s Committee on Economic Development.

Winston & Cashhatt
B.S., University of Idaho ’92, J.D., University of Idaho ’99

Mike obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and Chemistry from the University of Idaho in 1992, and his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1999. Mike served as a judicial law clerk for Idaho Supreme Court Justice Cathy Silak in 1999-2000, and has been in private practice since.

Mike represents plaintiffs and defendants in complex general litigation, with an emphasis in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, construction defects, and insurance coverage disputes. Mike is licensed in Washington, Idaho and Montana, and practices in both state and federal courts.

Holland & Hart
B.A., Boise State University ’08, J.D., University of Idaho ’13

In her litigation practice, Jenn has significant experience in complex commercial disputes and class actions, including claims of tortious interference, business defamation, consumer protection, fiduciary claims, fraud, and breach of contract. Her practice has also focused on special remedies like punitive damages, disgorgement of profits, injunctive relief, and contempt. With a balanced practice on both sides of the “v,” Jenn knows how to strategize and work a case efficiently from the perspective of either plaintiff or defendant, to help achieve a favorable outcome for her clients.

In her appellate practice, Jenn assists clients with state and federal civil appeals. For a limited term, she previously served as deputy attorney general in the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, where she handled criminal appeals on behalf of the state.

Jenn served as a law clerk to the Honorable N. Randy Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley, LLP – Boise, Idaho
B.A., College of Idaho, '94; J.D., University of Idaho, '97

Paula Landholm Kluksdal is co-chair of the firm’s banking practice group and a member of the firm’s board of partners. Her practice entails real estate and finance, and she represents a wide variety of lenders and borrowers in the documentation and due diligence necessary for securitized lending, compliance with Idaho’s commercial lending regulations, loan documentation, and collection. She has extensive experience in the negotiation and drafting of legal opinions on commercial lending laws. She actively represents various municipalities and 501(c)(3) borrowers in the negotiation, documentation, and compliance in connection with public finance transactions.

Smith & Malek, PLLC – Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
B.A., University of Arizona, ’07, J.D., University of Idaho, '11

Tara was born in England, but she grew up in Washington State and Arizona. Tara is an Idaho licensed attorney practicing in state and federal Court in business and commercial litigation. Tara has experience in both civil and criminal law. Previously, she worked as a Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor, a Special Assistant United States Attorney, and an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office in Boise. She is now the Chief Litigator at Smith + Malek as well as co-owner.

American International Group, Inc. – New York, New York
B.S., University of Idaho, '97 (Accounting); J.D., University of Idaho, '01; LL.M., New York University School of Law '03

Ms. Sellman is the Head of Tax Advisory-Domestic Insurance at American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Prior to that, she was Tax Director for AIG’s Global Tax Research and Modeling Team and Senior Tax Counsel, where she participated in AIG’s recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, including the repayment of bailout funds and the sell-down of the equity interest held by the United States Government. Before joining AIG, she was an attorney at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in New York, NY specializing in tax issues.

During her third year of law school, Angela was an extern for Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. From 2001-2002, Angela was a law clerk for Chief Justice Linda Copple Trout on the Idaho Supreme Court. Angela was also previously with the law firm Stoel Rives LLP in Boise, Idaho. Angela was born and raised in Mountain Home, ID.

Blue Cross of Idaho
B.S., University of Idaho, ’92, J.D., University of Idaho, ’99

Brian Wonderlich ‘07 serves as Vice President and General Counsel at Blue Cross of Idaho. He is responsible for managing and coordinating the legal services provided to all divisions of Blue Cross of Idaho.

Prior to joining Blue Cross, Wonderlich was General Counsel to Idaho Governor Brad Little and, before that, a partner in a regional law firm where he practiced in corporate, healthcare, real estate and administrative law and appeared in courts throughout Idaho and the western United States. He served as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Idaho and as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Stephen S. Trott of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Wonderlich holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Idaho and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho College of Law.  He is active in the community and has served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Ada County for nearly a decade.  Brian is a member of the Idaho State Bar Character and Fitness Committee and Governor Little’s Leadership in Nuclear Energy (LINE) Commission.  In 2017 he was appointed to the Idaho Judiciary’s Civil Justice Reform Task Force by Idaho Chief Justice Roger Burdick.

Holland & Hart LLP – Boise, Idaho
B.A., Gonzaga University, ’90, J.D., University of Idaho, '94

Mary York’s practice focuses on condemnation cases and real estate litigation. She helps her clients assess legal issues, evaluate resolution options, and achieve favorable outcomes. As a former Deputy Attorney General for the Idaho Transportation Department, Mary gained broad experience in eminent domain cases and transportation- and construction-related matters. She now applies that experience to representing her clients, which include both governmental agencies and landowners alike, in condemnation disputes and other litigation matters.

† Denotes Deceased
* Denotes Former Chair

• Edward D. Ahrens ‘71, Eagle, Idaho
• John Robert Alexander ‘64, Twin Falls, Idaho
• Hon. J. Kelley Arnold ‘61, Tacoma, Washington
• Sally Geisler Bagshaw ‘76, Seattle, Washington
• Michael Beatty, Denver, Colorado
• Dwight Baker ‘71, Blackfoot, Idaho
• M. Sean Breen ’93, Boise, Idaho
• Hon. Robert E. Bakes ‘56, Boise, Idaho
• Bill Batt ‘82, Boise, Idaho
• Laura MacGregor Bettis ‘03, Boise, Idaho
• James Bevis ‘74, Boise Idaho
• Dwight V. Board, ‘69, * Boise, Idaho
• Michael Bogert ‘85, Washington, D.C.
• William Boyd ‘65, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• Hon. Larry Boyle ‘72 †
• Amanda Brailsford ‘93, Boise, Idaho
• Hon. Roger Burdick ’74, Boise, Idaho
• Laura Burri ’86, Nampa, ID
• Merlyn W. Clark ‘64, * Boise, Idaho
• Meghan Sullivan Conrad ’04, * Boise, Idaho
• Hon. Linda Copple Trout ‘77, * Boise, Idaho
• Nick Crawford ’84, Boise, Idaho
• Theodore “Ted” O. Creason ‘73, †
• Hon. Candy Wagahoff Dale ‘82, Boise, Idaho
• James C. Dale ‘82, * Boise, Idaho
• Sen. Bart Davis ‘80, * Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Dennis Davis ‘77, * Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho
• Allen R. Derr ‘59 †
• M. Allyn Dingel †
• Margaret “Peg” Dougherty ’99, Boise, Idaho
• Curtis Eaton ‘74, Twin Falls, Idaho
• Roy E. Eiguren ‘77, Boise, Idaho
• Hon. Daniel Eismann ‘76, Boise, Idaho
• J. Ford Elsaesser ‘78, Sandpoint, Idaho
• James M. English ‘73, * Hayden, Idaho
• J. Dennis Faucher ‘62, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Trudy Hanson Fouser ‘81, Boise, Idaho
• Chief Judge David Gratton ’85, Boise, Idaho
• Helaman “Helo” Hancock ’05, Coeur d’Alene
• Jennifer Hedlund ’07, Spokane, Washington
• Connie Taylor Henderson ‘93, Vancouver, Washington
• Mary R. Giannini ‘84, Spokane, Washington
• Raymond D. Givens ‘46, †
• Karen E. Gowland ‘84, * Boise, Idaho
• Tore Beal Gwartney ‘93, * Boise, Idaho
• Fred J. Hahn †
• Thomas High ‘79 †
• Mary Stiles Hobson ‘77, Boise, Idaho
• Hon. John Hohnhorst ‘78, †
• Charles Homer ‘74, * Idaho Falls, Idaho
• C. Timothy Hopkins * Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Danielle Hunsaker ‘04, Portland, Oregon
• Pamela Jacklin ‘78, Portland, Oregon
• Dennis Johnson ‘79, Meridian, Idaho
• Brian Kane, Boise, Idaho
• Julie Kane ’89, Lapwai, Idaho
• Fred Kennedy †
• Hon. Juneal Kerrick ’81, Caldwell, Idaho
• Charles R. Kozak ‘68, Reno, Nevada
• Congressman Raul Labrador, Meridian, Idaho
• Hon. Karen L. Lansing, Boise, Idaho
• Cynthia J. Larsen ‘78, * Sacramento, California
• Karen E. Leaffer ‘88, Denver, Colorado
• David Leroy ’71, Boise, Idaho
• Rep. Lynn Luker ’80, Boise, Idaho
• J. Frederick Mack ‘72, Boise, Idaho
• Howard I. Manweiler ‘58 †
• William Vern McCann, Jr. ‘69, Lewiston, Idaho
• Sen. James A. McClure '50 †
• Kenneth McClure ’80, Boise, Idaho
• Dennis McLaughlin ‘67 †
• Michael McNichols ‘63, Lewiston, Idaho
• James Meservy ’79, Jerome, Idaho
• Eugene Miller ‘49, * †
• Hon. John T. Mitchell ‘85, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• Briane Nelson“Nels” Mitchell ‘78, Boise, Idaho
• Katherine Moriarty ‘91, Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Nancy M. Morris ‘83, New York, New York
• Susan M. Moss ‘06, Boise, Idaho
• Thomas Moss ‘65 †
• William Warren Nixon ‘56 †
• W. Marcus W. Nye ‘74, Pocatello, Idaho
• Mary “Molly” O’Leary ’94, Boise, Idaho
• Jon Oliver ‘97, Charlottesville, Virginia
• Hon. Jim Pappas ’77, Pocatello, Idaho
• William A. Parsons ‘57, Burley, Idaho
• Louis F. Racine, Jr. ‘40, †
• Mack A. Redford ‘67, †
• Ray W. Rigby ‘50, Rexburg, Idaho
• Sen. James E. Risch ‘68, Boise, Idaho
• James E. Rogers †
• John Rosholt ‘64, * Twin Falls, Idaho
• James Daw Ruchti ‘01, Pocatello, Idaho
• Christine Salmi ’97, Boise, Idaho
• Ernesto Sanchez ‘72, Boise, Idaho
• J. Walter Sinclair ‘78, Boise, Idaho
• Gary Slette ’84, Twin Falls, Idaho
• Hon. N. Randy Smith, Pocatello, Idaho
• Hon. John Stegner ‘82, Moscow, Idaho
• John Stellmon ‘84, Eagle, Idaho
• P. Craig Storti, Boise, Idaho
• Clive Strong ’77, Boise, Idaho
• Hon. Lonny R. Suko ‘68, Yakima, Washington
• Greg Tollefson, Boise, Idaho
• Hon. Stephen S. Trott, Boise, Idaho
• Amanda Ulrich ’08, Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Hon. Jesse R. Walters ‘63, Boise, Idaho
• Hon. Lawrence Wasden ‘85, Boise, Idaho
• Lucinda Weiss ‘73, Akron, Ohio
• Paul Larry Westberg ‘68, Boise, Idaho
• Dennis E. Wheeler ‘67, * †
• James E. Whistler ‘73, * San Diego, California
• William “Bud” Yost ‘69, Nampa, Idaho
• Hon. Patricia Young ’77, Boise, Idaho
• John Zarian, Boise, Idaho

Idaho Trust Bank – Boise, Idaho
B.S., University of Idaho, '85; J.D., University of Idaho, '88

Co-Founder of Idaho Trust Bank. Experienced President focused on meeting the challenges of today’s financial services marketplace. Seeks to develop strong client relationships. Strives to build a team of experienced professionals focused on a common vision and mission. Believes in the value of a corporate culture centered on values the promote the common best interests of company, employees and clients. Skilled in Investment Management, Acting as a Trustee or Executor, Commercial Lending, Treasury Management, Customer Service, Banking, and Trusts. Knowledgeable leader of teams focused on Business Banking, Private Banking, Business Succession Planning, Family Office Services, Estate Planning and Asset Protection Planning. Strong business development professional with a Juris Doctor from University of Idaho College of Law.