Mark M. Kovacich
PARTNER
Mark Kovacich, a principal at Kovacich Snipes Johnson, P.C., has lived in Montana most of his life. He graduated from Colstrip High School in Colstrip, Montana, where he was named Valedictorian in 1991. Mark later attended college at Montana Tech of the University of Montana in Butte, Montana. He obtained a bachelor of science in environmental engineering, graduating with honors in 1996. In 1999, Mark graduated with honors from the University of Montana Law School.
Mark’s practice focuses entirely on representing plaintiffs in cases involving environmental litigation, toxic torts, serious personal injury, products liability, workers’ compensation, and safe workplace litigation. He has recovered more than $350 million on behalf of his clients, including a $41 million jury verdict. Mark was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Montana Trial Lawyers Association in 2005, 2019 and 2023, and received the association’s Appellate Advocacy Award in 2008 and 2016. Mark has been named as one of the Best Lawyers in America since 2016, and as a Super Lawyer by Mountain States Super Lawyers dating back to 2014.
In 2004, Mark served as trial counsel, along with his partners, Tom Lewis and David Slovak, in the case of Sunburst v. Texaco, which resulted in a record $41.2 million verdict. In 2012, Mark acted as trial counsel in Livingston v. BNSF, ending with a $36 million settlement during the second week of trial. Mark and the other lawyers in the firm have successfully represented hundreds of plaintiffs in high profile cases, many of which are highlighted on the Case Results page.
Mark spends most of his free time with his family. He enjoys running, playing golf, hunting, and fishing.
- University of Montana School of Law, Missoula, Montana: J.D., With Honors, Law Review: Public Land & Resources Law Review, 1997 – 1999
- Montana Tech of the University of Montana, Butte, Montana: B.S. – 1996. With Honors, Major: Environmental Engineering
- Best Lawyers in America, 2016-Present
- Mountain States Super Lawyers, 2014-Present
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2023-2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental Lawyers, 2024
- MTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2005, 2019 & 2023
- MTLA Appellate Advocate of the Year, 2008 and 2016
- Mountain States Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2008, 2011-2013
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Nation’s Top One Percent, 2015-Present
- Montana Trial Lawyers Association, 2000-Present, Board Member since 2012, President 2019-2020
- American Association for Justice, 2000 – Present, Montana State Delegate, 2017 – 2019, Member of Board of Governors, 2019-Present
- State Bar of Montana, 1999 – Present
- Cascade County Bar Association, 2000 – Present
- National Trial Lawyers, Member, 2011 – Present
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Lawyer Representative, 2017 – 2019
- Montana, 1999
- U.S. District Court District of Montana, 1999
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2008
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
- Environmental Torts and Damages, Montana Trial Lawyers Association, 2008
- Seminar of the Masters’ Remedies in Toxic Tort and Environmental Litigation, Montana Trial Lawyers Association, 2008
- Safe Place to Work Litigation, Montana Trial Lawyers Association Winter Seminar, 2010
- Pretrial Tactics and the Use of Experts, Montana Trial Lawyers Association Fall Seminar, 2011
