Attorney Kris A. McLean began his legal career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Montana in 1986. For three decades, he continued to work as an attorney for the Department of Justice, fighting fraud and other criminal behavior, protecting privacy, and ensuring rights guaranteed by the Constitution were upheld.

Kris retired from federal service after 30 years, but even after resolving hundreds of civil and criminal matters both in and out of the courtroom, he wasn’t ready to give up the practice of law. He established Kris McLean Law Firm to offer the benefit of his extensive trial experience to clients in the Missoula area and throughout Montana. The firm is a general litigation practice with a focus on commercial, environmental, construction defect, and tort litigation; Kris is especially known for his federal and environmental litigation practice.

For Kris, the most satisfying aspect of practice is being able to correct or prevent an injustice for his clients. Despite the number of cases he has handled, he never loses sight of what the case at hand means to the client who has trusted him with it. Kris takes pride in using his decades of experience to achieve the right outcome for the people and businesses who count on him.

Clients appreciate Kris’s responsiveness and empathy, and how hard he works for them. Colleagues respect his air of calm in the courtroom and his communication skills, which enable him to clearly explain complex issues and fact patterns to judges and juries. Everyone who works with Kris knows they can count on him to be honest and forthright, and tireless in his pursuit of justice.

As deeply as Kris is committed to his work, he also values his time away from the desk with family and friends. He and his wife Barb have been married for over 45 years. They have three adult sons, one of whom joined him in practice and all of whom share his love for the outdoors. Kris is an avid fly fisherman, and he and his longtime friend and fishing partner were the subjects of a short documentary on their streak of catching at least one trout a month for 20 years from their boat on the Bitterroot River.