Montana Lawyer October/November 2025

SECTION & MEMBER NEWS

CAREER MOVES

2025, graduating Cum Laude. During law school, John interned and gained valuable experience at Cooney Law Offices, P.S., a general practice firm specializing in personal injury and crimi nal defense matters. John’s practice areas will include representing individuals in insurance, personal injury and wrongful death matters, and those criminally charged in misdemeanor and felony criminal matters. When not practicing law, John enjoys spending time outdoors, fly fishing or backpacking, spending time with family and friends and his black labs Harley and Otis, and competing in billiards tournaments.

Davis, Hately, Haffeman, & Tighe announces that Eric D. Monroe has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Eric received his B.S. from the University of Montana in 2012 and earned his J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2023. During law school, Eric served as

Editor-in-Chief of the Montana Law Review and was a member of the school’s negotiation team. After graduating, he complet ed a clerkship with the Honorable Justice Laurie McKinnon at the Montana Supreme Court. He then gained valuable experi ence practicing criminal defense and civil litigation in both state and federal courts before joining the firm. A Great Falls native, Eric is excited to join a firm with deep roots in Great Falls and throughout Montana. He is admitted to practice in Montana state courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Shyne Law Group, PLLC announces that Attorney Melanie D’Isidoro has joined the firm.

Melanie grew up on the highline in Cut Bank. She attended New Mexico State University, then the University of Montana School of Law.

After graduation, she clerked for the Honorable Judge Laurie MacKinnon at the Montana Supreme Court and then for the Honorable Judge Reynolds at the First Judicial District Court. Melanie then joined the public de fender’s office in Hamilton, Montana, where she discovered her love for the courtroom. Since that time, Melanie has practiced courtroom litigation in various areas, including major crimes, divorce, dependency and neglect cases, juvenile defense, and guardianships. She was voted Bitterroot’s Best Attorney in 2021. Melanie previously worked as the Prosecuting Attorney for Stevensville, Montana. Melanie has sat on the board for the First Judicial Bar, the board for the Ravalli Head Start, volunteered with SAFE in the Bitterroot, and was the vice president of the Ravalli County Bar. Melaine is currently on the board of Befrienders of Bozeman. Melanie enjoys birding, spending time with her dogs Doodle Bug & Mr. Reynolds; and reading sci-fi and horror.

Worden Thane P.C. welcomes Ryan Shaffer.

Ryan has extensive experience with all stages of litigation from initial case evalu ation through the post-trial phase. He has established a record of success in high stakes cases involving Fortune 500 com panies, significant damages, and complex factual and legal issues. Ryan has prepared

and tried cases to administrative agencies, judges, and juries in state and federal courts. He has also won important victories for clients in state and federal appellate courts. Ryan has worked closely with in-house counsel and business executives to ensure alignment of business objectives, risk tolerance, and litigation strategy. Ryan is admitted to practice in Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota, in addition to the Eighth and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hinchey & Hinchey, P.C. Welcomes John Hinchey. Kalispell-based personal injury and criminal defense firm Hinchey & Hinchey welcomes John Hinchey as a new Associate. Born and raised in Kalispell, John pos

Silverman Law Office welcomes Ivy Newman Fredrickson to the Butte office. Silverman Law Office of

ficially opened its Butte office on Oct. 1, expanding its full range of transactional and litigation services to the Mining City and surrounding area. The new office allows the firm to better serve its many existing clients in Butte Silver Bow while welcoming new clients from across the region. The office is led by attorney Ivy Newman

sesses keen legal intellect and demonstrates meticulous attention to detail, as well as an unwavering commitment to excellence, serving individuals in both civil and crimi

nal litigation matters. John earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management/ Entrepreneurship from Montana State University, Bozeman in 2022, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He then earned his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane in

Fredrickson, a fifth-generation Butte native who returned home in 2015 after building a successful legal career in Washington,

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