Parsons Behle & Latimer

Parsons Behle & Latimer (Parsons) was founded in 1882 and is one of the oldest and best-known law firms offering litigation and business law services in the Intermountain West. Our first clients were in the business of mining—one of the major industries that helped fuel the growth of the area. Over time, our reputation and client base have grown with the dynamic Intermountain West.

Parsons offers the resources and capabilities of a large and diverse firm, coupled with the highest levels of accessibility and responsiveness. With more than 180 attorneys, the firm offers businesses a depth and range of experience in the following areas: Antitrust and Competition; Banking and Finance; Bankruptcy and Insolvency; Corporate Transactions and Tax; Cybersecurity and Data Privacy; Employment and Labor; Energy; Environmental and Natural Resources; Government Relations and Lobbying; Healthcare; Intellectual Property; Litigation; Mining; Real Estate; and Water law. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the firm has offices in Boise and Idaho Falls, Idaho; Helena and Missoula, Montana; Reno, Nevada; and Lehi and Park City, Utah.

Parsons Behle & Latimer’s Water Right Professionals

Some of the best water right professionals in the West!

Abigail R. Brown is a member of Parsons Behle & Latimer’s environmental and natural resources team and the firm’s water law practice groups. She has more than a decade of experience representing a diverse range of water users, from small individual family farms to large irrigation districts, in water law and real property matters. Ms. Brown holds an L.L.M. in Water and Environmental Law from McGeorge School of Law, where she focused on contemporary water law and environmental issues facing the greater Intermountain West region.

In her water law practice, Ms. Brown represents water users through all stages of water rights adjudication proceedings in the Montana Water Court, water rights distribution and enforcement conflicts in state district courts and administrative permitting in state agencies. Ms. Brown also represents clients in a wide range of transactional matters, including water rights due diligence investigations for clients’ existing water portfolios or for clients who are purchasing water rights or real property with appurtenant water rights.

Contact Abby: abbybrown@parsonsbehle.com | (406) 410-5022

John E. Bloomquist has been involved in natural resources legal matters for more than 30 years. His practice includes litigation in state and federal district courts, administrative hearings before state and federal agencies and appellate practice before the Montana Supreme Court, the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Bloomquist has been involved in water adjudication matters before the Montana Water Court for decades and has been the lead attorney in numerous precedent-setting decisions shaping Montana water law. His practice in natural resources law has included important decisions affecting a variety of subjects including CERCLA liability, endangered species, federal land use management and wildlife management throughout Montana. In the course of his career, Mr. Bloomquist has represented a wide variety of agricultural clients, water supply entities, municipalities, local government entities, corporations and the State of Montana on water and natural resource issues and disputes.

Contact John: jbloomquist@parsonsbehle.com | (406) 410-5020

Prior to joining Parsons Behle & Latimer, Betsy Story worked as an associate attorney at the Bloomquist Law Firm, P.C. for three-and-a-half years, serving clients across the state of Montana in Water Court, State District Court and Federal Court. Ms. Story received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Montana School of Law in 2019. During her time as a law student, Ms. Story served as president of the Federalist Society Student Chapter and was the recipient of the Dean of Students Award for Highest Academic Achievement in Land Use & the Environment.

While in law school, Ms. Story served as a law fellow for U.S. Senator Steve Daines, where she gained experience working on federal lands litigation reform and legislation. She also worked on several pre-indictment cases as well as a successful appeal brief to the 9th Circuit Court while a summer law clerk at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact Betsy: bstory@parsonsbehle.com | (406) 410-5021

Diana J. Abbott received her J.D., cum laude, from Vermont Law School in 2022. During her first two summers of law school, Ms. Abbott interned for the Trout Unlimited legal team based in Bozeman, Montana, assisting their attorneys in the water rights adjudication process before the Montana Water Court and DNRC water permit actions. Ms. Abbott also participated in unprecedented Clean Water Act issues while interning at Trout Unlimited and as a student clinician at the Environmental Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law School.

During her final year of law school, Ms. Abbott worked as a judicial extern and intern for Chief Water Judge Russell McElyea, Associate Water Judge Stephen Brown and various Water Masters at the Montana Water Court. As the top student in an Environmental Dispute Resolution course focusing on negotiation and mediation, Ms. Abbott received the Academic Excellence Award.

Contact Diana: dabbott@parsonsbehle.com | (406) 317-7242

Water rights are complex. We highly recommend working with an experienced water right professional who can help evaluate your needs and assist with your listing, transaction, and associated transfer. We are proud to partner with Parsons Behle & Latimer, whose water right professional is here to answer your questions and provide expert support.

Parsons Behle & Latimer Office Locations

Helena - 201 E. Broadway St., Helena, Montana 59601 | (406) 410-5050

Missoula - 127 E. Main St., Suite 301, Missoula, Montana 59802 | (406) 317-7220