Deep Montana roots and global perspective unite in David F. Knobel’s approach to litigation. As a fifth-generation Montanan whose ancestors homesteaded the Sweet Grass Hills in the 1800s, David brings an authentic understanding of the region to his role as Partner in Crowley Fleck’s Billings office.
David’s journey to becoming one of Montana’s leading commercial litigators began at the University of Montana, where he earned his Political Science degree with high honors. His intellectual curiosity and drive for excellence led him to participate in the Model United Nations in New York City and secure a U.S. Senate internship. However, it was his decision to study abroad—first aboard the MV Explorer with Semester at Sea and later at University College Cork in Ireland—that would shape his unique approach to legal practice in Montana.
During the year in between college and law school, David gained invaluable knowledge of the Montana business landscape working in a Bozeman communications firm’s network operations center. This experience proved transformative, providing him with a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities his future business clients would face. This real-world perspective, combined with his academic excellence, set the stage for his exceptional legal career.
At the University of Miami School of Law, David’s academic and legal prowess became more apparent. He achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA during one of the first semesters of law school, and graduated Magna Cum Laude, while serving as staff editor for the Inter-American Law Review. His international experience and outstanding academic performance earned him selection for the competitive Miami-Zurich Exchange Seminar, and his exemplary writing skills led to his appointment as a Writing Dean’s Fellow, mentoring first-year law students with legal writing.
David’s early legal career focused on financial services litigation, where he represented some of the country’s largest mortgage servicers and financial institutions. This demanding practice involved everything from contested foreclosure litigation to regulatory compliance and consumer protection matters. This diverse experience provided him with a sophisticated understanding of multi-jurisdictional litigation and regulatory frameworks that continues to benefit his clients today.
Since joining Crowley Fleck in 2017, David has built a thriving practice focused on commercial, construction, and real estate litigation. His clients—ranging from local businesses to national corporations and from individuals to farm and ranch families—value his strategic approach to complex legal challenges. At the core of his practice is a dedication to transparent communication and informed decision-making. David takes pride in presenting his clients with clear analysis of their options, helping them navigate the implications of each potential path forward.
David’s commitment to excellence, the rule of law, and his community extends beyond his legal practice. He is an elected precinct committeeman on the Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee. He serves as State Committeeman for the Yellowstone County Republican Party. He chaired a committee at the Montana Republican Party Platform Convention. He serves on the Litigation Advisory Council for Mountain States Legal Foundation. He regularly offers his services pro bono or low bono to such public interest law firms as the Institute for Justice.
David is also a regular on Montana Talks with Aaron Flint, Montana’s leading statewide talk radio program. As a member of Leadership Billings 2024, he actively works to strengthen his community. His dedication to access to justice is evident in his pro bono work, where he has successfully mediated numerous parenting plan disputes through Crowley Fleck’s family law project for low-income parents.
When not advocating for his clients or pursuing his passion for improving the law and improving the community, David continues to feed his passion for exploration and adventure. He has visited 23 countries around the world. His travels have taken him from the ancient temples of Angkor Wat to the depths of the Amazon rainforest, where he recently introduced his wife to the wonders of Ecuador’s Tiputini River. These experiences, combined with outdoor adventures in Montana’s wilderness areas, reflect the curiosity and determination that define his legal practice.