Meet the Team
A small firm on purpose. You work directly with the people handling your case, not a rotating cast of associates.
A&M Law is built around two attorneys, not a rotating roster of associates: Misty Gaubatz and Ashley Hurlbert, both co-founders with a combined 24+ years handling criminal defense, family law, and personal injury cases across Western Montana. Dakota Holman keeps the office running and is often the first person clients talk to, and Roscoe greets everyone who walks through the door at 319 West Pine Street in Missoula.
Partner
Misty Gaubatz
Co-founder of A&M Law. Criminal defense, DUI, and family law, with federal and state court experience, a Certificate in Mediation, and NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing certification.
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Partner
Ashley Hurlbert
Co-founder of A&M Law. Lead counsel in 50+ jury and bench trials, a Certified Mediator, and a Certified Guardian ad Litem appointed by courts to represent children's interests.
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Legal Assistant
Dakota Holman
The organizational backbone of the firm. Criminology and forensic science graduate, commissioned Notary Public, and a former Missoula court clerk.
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Law Dog
Roscoe
A gentle, comforting presence in the office, and a friend to clients facing some of the hardest days of their lives.
Full profileWant the fuller story of how the firm came together? Read about A&M Law.
Who You Will Actually Deal With
At a larger firm, the attorney who signs you up and the attorney who appears at your hearing are often different people, and you find that out on the morning of the hearing. A&M Law is four names on one page for a reason. This is the whole list.
- 1
The first call
Usually Dakota. She takes down what happened, works out how urgent it is, and books you with one of the partners.
- 2
The consultation
Misty or Ashley, in person at the Missoula office or by phone. Whichever partner you meet is the one who will run your case.
- 3
The work between hearings
Your partner does the legal work; Dakota handles filings, scheduling, records requests, and notarising what needs to be sworn.
- 4
The courtroom
Your partner. Both attorneys know every file in the office well enough to cover a hearing if a trial runs long, but the case does not change hands.
If you would rather read the two attorneys' credentials side by side before you call, the attorney profiles page sets out their admissions, courts, and certifications together.
A Small Firm, On Purpose
Misty Gaubatz and Ashley Hurlbert could have grown A&M Law by hiring associates and pushing files down to them. They did not, and the reason is the practice they built. Cooperative Family Law only works if the attorney in the room has the standing to make decisions and the history with the client to be trusted when they advise against a fight. That does not delegate well.
The trade-off is honest: a two-attorney firm takes fewer cases than a large one, and there are weeks when the calendar is full. The upside is that nobody at A&M Law has to be briefed on your case before they can talk to you about it.
Ready to Talk With an Attorney?
Confidential consultation. No pressure. We're here to listen and help you understand your options.