Marquis Who's Who Millennium Magazine

383 A Marquis Who's Who Magazine S ince 1962, James Thompson has been in private practice in Billings, Mont., where he is a well-respected attorney and dedicated community servant. Known for his skill in translating complex issues and jargon into terms that can be easily understood by the average person with limited legal prowess, he has earned a reputation for being straightforward, ethical and meticulous in pursuit of his clients’ desired outcomes. Mr. Thompson received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Montana’s School of Business Administration, He also earned a CPA license and was an accountant for a New York City firm before returning to the West to teach business administration at Eastern Montana College and the University of Montana. After receiving a JD from his alma mater, he was an associate and assistant attorney for several firms in Billings, then served a term as the city’s official attorney from 1964 to 1966. Admitted to appear in front of Montana state and federal courts, as well as the U.S. Tax Court, Mr. Thompson has built his practice as an authority on wills, trusts and estates. He has also been a public speaker on the topics of asset protection and estate planning, the latter of which is the subject of seminars offered by his firm to residents of Billings. In 2015, Mr. Thompson partnered with Sam S. Painter, an esteemed attorney with more than 20 years of general litigation experience, to expand his practice and continue providing clients with the type of personalized, results-oriented service they have come to know and expect. Through their affiliation with the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, they are committed to empowering their clients with the knowledge that they are backed by professionals who have their best interests at heart. Mr. Thompson is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and served as president of the Yellowstone Area Bar Association from 1985 to 1986. Mr. Thompson previously held several leadership roles with the Billings Community Action Program, now the District 7 Human Resources Development Council, as well as many other organizations. For more information about his firm, please visit www.estatelawmontana.com . James Thompson Lawyer Thompson Painter Law P.C. Billings, MT