David H. Bjornson's Profile Image

David H. Bjornson, LL.M.

Fax: (406) 541-8037

David Bjornson has spent his thirty-seven year legal career practicing both in Seattle, Washington, and in Missoula, Montana. He enjoys an AV Preeminent Lawyer Rating by Martindale Hubbell, which is the highest rating available for attorneys. His practice is focused on business transactions, contracts, loan transactions, corporate law, business organizations (including corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships), private and public business financings, real estate (both residential and commercial), tax litigation, tax planning, estate planning, trusts and probate, and alternative dispute resolution in lieu of litigation.

Before founding Bjornson Jones Mungas, David was formerly associated with Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, PLLP, and Boone, Karlberg & Haddon, both in Missoula. He also practiced with the Seattle law firms of Monahan & Biagi and Bogle & Gates, a large 200+ attorney firm. Prior to law school, David was employed as a certified public accountant by the international accounting firm of Touche Ross & Co. He has a depth of experience in structuring and nurturing companies in their early growth phases through and into substantial revenues, multiple owners and classes of owners, investors and lenders, and a formal board of directors and officer slate.

David holds a Masters of Laws degree (LL.M.) in taxation from New York University, a J.D. degree (with honors) from the University of Montana, a B.A. degree in Business Administration (with honors) from the University of Montana, and a Certified Public Accountant Certificate. He is a member of the American Association of Attorneys – Certified Public Accountants, and sits on the Advisory Board for the Annual UM Tax Institute. David is honored in the 2013-2018 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® as among the best in the corporate law field. Recognized by both the legal profession and the general public as a leading guide to legal excellence in the United States, The Best Lawyers in America selects attorneys based on a comprehensive survey in which thousands of the top lawyers in the U.S. confidentially evaluate their professional peers.

Since 1990, David has focused his practice in real estate development and land use, including significant work for affordable housing projects, many of which are supported by IRC Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credits and/or subsidized through other loan and guarantee programs. His development practice also emphasizes representing for-profit and nonprofit owner and/or developer clients in projects - both large and small, and with a variety of tax credit investors/syndicators - located throughout Montana, Washington, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Areas of Emphasis

  • Transactional
  • Real Estate
  • Business and Corporate
  • Business Formation and Financing
  • Commercial
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Administration
  • Tax

Education

  • New York University, LL.M. in taxation (1988)
  • University of Montana School of Law, J.D., with honors (1985)
  • University of Montana, B.A. in Business Administration, with honors (1979)
  • Certified Public Accountant Certificate (1981) (not maint.)

Highlights

  • Best Lawyers in America®
  • American Association of Attorneys – Certified Public Accountants
  • Annual UM Tax Institute, Advisory Board Member
  • Missoula Estate Planning Council