Attorneys
Our attorneys are experienced in all types of civil legal matters—land use and real estate transactions, business and employment law, wills and estates, probates, lawsuits, construction law, tech and communications law, family law and divorces, bankruptcy, collections, homeowner and condo associations, and much more. As experienced advocates, we strive to provide our clients the legal outcomes they deserve. Located in the heart of downtown Missoula, Montana, our firm represents clients throughout Montana and the United States.
Calvin T. Christian | Of Counsel
Farm & Ranch, Real Estate, Land Use Planning & Water Rights
Cal is a native Montanan, originally from Shelby. After graduating from the University of Montana in the early 1960s, Cal practiced in Polson both as the city attorney and Lake County attorney. When his son Kirby graduated from law school at UM, in 1989 father and son joined with Richard Samson to open their own firm. For location, they chose a group of historic and architecturally distinctive brick homes in downtown Missoula.
Cal is not only highly knowledgeable in agricultural and water law, but he also has personal experience in ranching. He has owned large ranches in Montana, Colorado and Hawaii. Additionally, he has spearheaded large developments in Lake County, including Jette Lake and Jette Meadows. This experience supports his legal expertise in agricultural law and real estate transactions.
Cal served as a U.S. Magistrate under the Honorable Russell Smith in the late 1960s-1970s.
Cal was a member of the Governor’s Crime Commission in the 1970s and also served on the State Board of Pardons and Parole for six years.
Cal has been actively involved in the Missoula business community since the 1980s and is an avid Grizzly fan.
Kirby S. Christian
Business, Real Estate, Land Use Planning & Water Rights, Estate Planning
Kirby is a native of Polson, Montana and proud graduate of The University of Montana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with high honors, as well as his Juris Doctor. Since helping found the firm in 1989, Kirby has focused his practice on real estate transactions, business law, banking law, contract law, and more. His experience in planning and permitting – along with his understanding of regulatory and financial issues – enables him to steer his clients through every stage of real estate and business development processes. Kirby places a high value on investing in long-term relationships with his clients and guiding them through the complex legal issues that impact land use and development. He also prioritizes maintaining strong relationships with government agencies and other resources within the community – knowledge and resources that allow him to effectively help his clients meet their business goals.
Outside of the office, Kirby has undertaken numerous leadership roles, serving on The University of Montana Dean’s Advisory Board from 2005-2011, the Board of Directors of the Pleiades Foundation, and founding the Discovery Foundation and the Christian Family Foundation, both of which engage in philanthropic endeavors providing funds to charities and qualified projects.
Richard J. Samson
Bankruptcy, Creditors Rights, Wills and Probates
Dick is one of the firm’s founding members and was born and raised in Montana. His practice is primarily devoted to the area of bankruptcy law and creditor rights. He represents clients in all phases of bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court restructuring agreements, secured financing transactions and state court receiverships. Since 1989, Dick has also served continuously as a Chapter 7 panel trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana.
His clients represent the gamut of diverse interests in a wide variety of bankruptcy and insolvency matters. His practice emphasis in the area of bankruptcy law and creditor rights often includes issues related to real estate law, business law, commercial transactions, banking law, probate law and litigation issues – both in federal and state courts.
In addition to his legal practice, he has shared his expertise as an adjunct instructor in bankruptcy law at the University of Montana School of Law and was recognized in the 2014 edition of Best Lawyers in America for his work in the areas of bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law.
Richard M. Baskett
Tax Law, Estate Planning, Probate & Estates
Rick Baskett is an Attorney and CPA, with over 40 years of experience. A graduate of both the business school and the law school at the University of Montana, he has worked in the tax department of Price Waterhouse (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers) in New York City and Baltimore, Maryland, as general counsel for Washington Corporations (now The Washington Companies), and for tax law firms in both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. He has been adjunct lecturer of Partnership Taxation at the University of Montana School of Law, and has spoken at various continuing education courses on tax. In 1994, he established Baskett Law Office, emphasizing estate planning, probate, tax, and business. On January 1, 2020, he merged his practice with Christian Samson to form Christian, Samson & Baskett, PLLC. Rick is a Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel and is listed as a Super Lawyer for the Rocky Mountain Region.
Rick is a Montana native, born and reared in Livingston, Montana, a town known for its surrounding natural beauty and high winds. He enjoys the many things Montana has to offer: skiing, fishing, and hunting, included. Hanging on his office wall is his grandfather’s hunting and fishing license from 1919, which back then cost $1.50 for everything: bird hunting, big game hunting, and fishing. He comes from a long line of doctors, so his father had to swallow hard when Rick went to law school. He feels fortunate to have grown up in Montana but have had the opportunity to live, study, and work in New York City, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and St. Paul, and enjoy all that those metropolitan areas had to offer both personally and professionally, yet still be able to return to his native state.
Ryan A. Phelan
Family Law, Divorce & Parenting, Estate Planning, Probate & Estates, Mediation & Arbitration
Ryan was raised in the Missoula area, and is a graduate of Loyola Sacred Heart High School. In 2000, Ryan graduated from Montana State University – Bozeman with a degree in Business. Ryan graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2003. While in law school, Ryan performed her clinical internship for Judge Donald Molloy, who was the chief judge of the Federal District Court of Montana at the time. Ryan worked for more than 18 years at her prior firm, practicing in the area of complex family law litigation. Ryan served as Judge Pro Tem for Justice of the Peace Marie Anderson from 2015 to 2018. In 2018, Ryan successfully completed the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorney’s Family Law Arbitration Training Course.
Ryan joined Christian, Samson & Baskett, PLLC, as a partner in 2019, and heads the family law division of the firm. She practices in the area of family law, including divorce and parenting issues, as well as estate planning and probate. Ryan also serves as a mediator, settlement master and family law arbitrator.
Ryan is the Vice Chair of the Family Law Section of the Montana State Bar and the Chair of the continuing legal education subcommittee. She serves on the MCT, Inc. Board of Directors.
Eric R. Henkel
Litigation, Personal Injury, Criminal Defense
Eric was born and raised in Missoula, Montana. After graduating from Sentinel High School, he attended Carroll College where he played basketball. Following college, Eric attended the University of Montana School of Law, graduating with high honors.
While attending law school, Eric received eight separate awards for academic excellence, served as business editor of the Montana Law Review and interned with United States District Judge Donald Molloy. Eric is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Districts of Montana and North Dakota, the Montana Supreme Court, and Montana State district courts.
In 2020 and 2021, Eric briefed and argued a criminal defense case in front of the United States Supreme Court, leading and working alongside a team of some of the nation’s best criminal defense attorneys. See United States v. Cooley, 593 U. S. ____ (2021).
Bridger Christian
Tax Law, Tax Controversy, Litigation, Contested Probates, Personal Injury, Business, Non-Profit Law
Bridger, a third-generation lawyer hailing from five generations of Montanan roots, embarked on his academic journey by achieving a B.A. in Political Communication from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He then moved to Minneapolis and The University of Minnesota, where he earned his J.D., establishing a solid foundation for his legal career at one of the nation’s top 20 law schools.
At the University of Minnesota, Bridger showcased his litigation skills as part of the intercollegiate mock trial team, facing off against other schools at regional competitions throughout the Midwest. Simultaneously, he contributed his knowledge to the university's tax clinic and honed his courtroom strategies through active participation in moot court.
Additionally, Bridger possesses a diverse set of experiences which serve to further deepen his legal understanding. He has spent time working at The United States Trade Representative, The United States Senate, The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, and the Office of the Chief Counsel of the IRS in St. Paul, Minnesota. These professional experiences have enriched his perspective on legal practice, culminating in his further specialization in tax law at Northwestern University, where he earned an LL.M. in taxation, with honors.
Bridger's practice has evolved to encompass a broad range of areas, including probate litigation, personal injury, tax controversy, general litigation, nonprofit law, and business planning. He has made notable contributions to the establishment of multiple non-profit organizations and has successfully tackled intricate tax disputes with the IRS.
Bridger, licensed to practice law in both Montana and Minnesota, is known for blending his solid academic training with a diverse array of practical experiences. His ability to navigate complex legal issues and strategize effectively makes him a strong ally for clients in the complex legal landscape. Always keen on meeting new challenges head-on, Bridger invites opportunities to apply his expertise and drive positive results.
Michael Gulledge
Estate Planning, Litigation, Contested Probates, Personal Injury
Michael is from Billings, Montana, where he attended the Billings Catholic Schools. He completed his undergraduate work at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, graduating in 2019. After college, Michael attended the University of Montana where he earned his Juris Doctor in 2022. Michael was a member of the Marjorie Hunter Brown Indian Law Clinic during his final year of law school.
Prior to law school, Michael worked at two newspapers in the sports department and covered athletic events ranging from Billings Mustangs minor league baseball to Gonzaga basketball. Michael also shadowed two Montana District Court judges before law school.
Before joining Christian, Samson, and Baskett, PLLC in 2023, Michael spent his first year of practice focusing on estate planning before making the adjustment to a litigation-focused practice. Michael is admitted to practice in Montana state courts and the United States District Court for the District of Montana.
Outside work, Michael enjoys water skiing, golfing, and exploring Montana’s vast outdoors, specifically the Beartooth Mountains and Glacier National Park.