Renee L. Coppock is a Partner in the firm’s Billings Commercial Department. She has practiced in the areas of agricultural law, water law, real estate transactions, bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and environmental law since joining the firm in 1987. She has substantial experience representing landowners in disputes with government agencies. Her practice also includes commercial litigation in the Northern Cheyenne, Fort Belknap, and the Crow Tribal Courts as well as working with governmental and private entities on farm and ranch benefits and entitlements, water permitting, water court adjudication, land acquisitions, trades, and conservation easements. She has been on the faculty at Rocky Mountain College for paralegal studies and the Land Trust Alliance’s annual National Land Trust Rally. Renee has authored chapters in the Montana Environmental Law Handbook and has also presented seminars on water law, conservation easements, environmental law, land surveys, bankruptcy, and collections.
Renee received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois School of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude. While in law school, she worked as a teaching assistant in Agricultural Law. Prior to law school, she graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Illinois, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing.
Practice Areas
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- Business Organizations
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Other Business Transactions
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- Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy
- Personal Property Foreclosures, Claim and Delivery, Replevin, and Injunctive Remedies
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- Oil and Gas
- Indian Law
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- Real Estate
- Access, Title and Property Disputes
- Commercial Real Estate Acquisition, Sales and Leasing
- Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations
- Development, Zoning and Land Use
- Farm and Ranch Transactions
- Water Rights
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- Comprehensive Water Law Practice
- Other Water-Related Matters
- Water Right Transactions
Bar Admission
U.S. Supreme Court, 2000
9th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1990
Fort Belknap, 1989
Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court, 1988
State Bar of Montana, 1987
U.S. District Court, State of Montana, 1987
Crow Tribal Court, 1987
Education
1987 – J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, Magnum Cum Laude
1984 – B.S., Business Administration and Marketing, Highest Honors, University of Illinois
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law (2013 – Present)
Best Lawyers in America – Lawyer of the Year 2023 – Real Estate Law
Mountain States Super Lawyers for Real Estate (2021)
AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
Top 5% Women Attorneys in US, Martindale Hubbell
Order of Coif, University of Illinois College of Law
Phi Delta Phi, Phi Beta Kappa
DAR Award
YWCA Salute to Women Award
Strathmore’s Who’s Who
Community Involvement
Montana State University-Billings, Trustee
President, Montana Women’s Run Board of Directors
Vice-President, Montana Velo Bella Cycling Club
Board of Directors, Member, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
International Bylaws Committee, Area 1 Director, District 12 Board, Member and past President, Zonta Club of Billings
Professional Affiliations
American College of Real Estate Lawyers
American Bar Association
State Bar of Montana
Yellowstone Area Bar Association