Brooke Kuhl

Bio

Brooke Castle Kuhl is an associate attorney in BKBH's Missoula office, where she practices in the following areas of law:  Commercial Litigation, Employment Defense and Environment & Natural Resources.  Born and raised in Superior, Montana, Brooke earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Montana State University-Billings, where she also participated in Women’s Tennis. She earned her Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2004. Following law school, Brooke served as a judicial law clerk for Justice John Warner of the Montana Supreme Court. She went on to practice law in the Spokane and Seattle offices of K&L Gates LLP (formerly Preston Gates & Ellis). Brooke joined BKBH in July of 2011. Brooke is admitted to practice in Montana State and Appellate Courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Washington State and Appellate Courts and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington. 

Representative Matters

• Successfully challenged local air agency’s attempt to cite railroad and assess penalty for locomotive emissions as preempted by federal law.
• Obtained directed defense verdict and attorney fee award in favor of client accused of fraud and breach of contract in connection with real estate transaction. Dismissal and attorney fee award were upheld on appeal.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of title insurer accused of insurance bad faith, breach of contract, and breach of duty to defend. Summary judgment dismissal affirmed by Washington Court of Appeals, Division III and the Washington Supreme Court.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of client accused of violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
• Advised client in EPA investigation of conditions at waste water treatment facility.
• Represented corporate clients in state environmental agency investigations and proceedings. Defend clients in actions brought by private parties claiming damages for trespass, nuisance and negligence.
• Assisted clients accused of age, sex and disability discrimination, and wage & hour violations in administrative investigations. Defended against such claims in state and federal court.
• Represented clients in litigation regarding easements and rights of access to real property.

Professional Experience

BROWNING, KALECZYC, BERRY & HOVEN, P.C.
Missoula, Montana
July 2011-present
Areas of Practice: General Commercial Litigation, including corporate defense of environmental claims, corporate defense of employment claims, corporate defense of claims brought under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act, and Medical Malpractice Defense.

K&L Gates, LLP
Spokane, Washington/Seattle, Washington
October 2005 - June 2011
Areas of Practice: General Commercial Litigation.