BIRCH HORTON BITTNER & CHEROT - Key Persons
Mr. Sperbeck's practice is primarily focused on private and multi-party commercial litigation but also includes insurance defense, municipal law, and criminal defense. As a former district attorney, Mr. Sperbeck has conducted numerous jury and bench trials throughout Alaska, as well as administrative board and appeal hearings in both state and federal jurisdictions.
With respect to the increasingly complex state and federal regulatory environment governing employee rights and business compliance, Mr. Sperbeck is well versed at interfacing with various regulatory compliance entities overseeing the administration and enforcement of state and federal law. He is experienced in identifying and developing policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure corporate compliance and litigation strategy.
Mr. Sperbeck advises employers regarding best employment practices and counsels employers concerning regulatory compliance over a broad array of legal areas, including but not limited to personnel policies, internal practices, hiring, discipline, and termination decisions.
Education
Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, Washington
J.D. - 2005
Willamette University
B.S. - 1999
Job Titles:
- Certified Paralegal
- Paralegal
Bobbie Manson is a certified paralegal who has worked in the legal field for 24 years. She specializes in data collection, electronic discovery, research, and case management. She also has extensive experience in supporting attorneys with discovery management, deposition preparation, and trial preparation for complex multi-party civil litigation, including commercial disputes, personal injury, and insurance coverage disputes. Ms. Manson is a lifelong Alaskan who enjoys snowboarding, traveling, and camping. She has been with BHBC for 16 years.
Education
Associate of Arts (2012), University of Alaska Anchorage (cum laude)
Paralegal Certificate (2012), University of Alaska Anchorage
Mr. Gerd joined the firm's D.C. office in 2021. His practice primarily concentrates in the field of regulatory law and litigation, natural resources and wildlife law, and government contracting. In his career Mr. Gerd has further experience representing clients in all stages of civil litigation, advocating before governmental agencies, and counseling corporate clients in aspects of business and contract law. Mr. Gerd attended the University of Minnesota Law School graduating magna cum laude in 2017. Prior to joining the firm Mr. Gerd completed a clerkship with the Honorable Erin B. Marston with the Alaska Superior Court and practiced in Anchorage, Alaska as an associate with a full-service insurance defense firm.
Education
University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
J.D. 2017
Ms. Chong's background stems from advocating for the best interests of indigent Alaskans. Her experience includes working with the Office of Public Advocacy's Child Advocacy Unit, Court-Appointed Special Advocate program, and Public Guardian/Adult Conservatorship program, in addition to the Public Defender Agency's Statewide Services program as a Conflict Analysis Paralegal. During her time with the State of Alaska, she also served as Co-Chair for the Governor's Denali Peak Performance Award program that recognizes State employees for exemplary public service.
She joined Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot in 2019. She primarily supports the firm in Municipal Law, Personal Injury, Employment Law, Criminal Law, and Community Association Law, though she continues to grow in other practices. She prides herself in her ability to effectively manage data, conduct investigative research, and tailor her administrative skill set for the unique needs of each case and each client.
Education
University of Alaska Anchorage
Bachelors of Business Administration in Management and Marketing, 2014
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Firm
Mr. Gross is a member of the firm's litigation practice and is the lead attorney in the contingency fee/personal injury section of the firm. His practice focuses on complex multi-party civil litigation, including product liability claims, commercial disputes, serious personal injury, large loss subrogation, and insurance coverage disputes. He does not limit himself to representing defendants or plaintiffs but represents both, which adds to his level of experience and allows him a unique perspective in each case.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Head of the Firm 's Energy
Ms. Ross is the head of the Firm's Energy and Public Utility practice in Washington D.C. She represents a variety of clients before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and other state and federal agencies, and on legislative issues, focusing on energy and communications.
Mr. Pitts has served as lead counsel in appellate matters, including reported cases from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Ms. Wells is a partner at Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot and has been practicing law for over 15 years. She has dedicated her practice to advocating for government, nonprofit organizations, native corporations and tribes as well as private entities in local governance, election law, and constitutional law. Ms. Wells has substantial experience representing clients in administrative proceedings, court, and in the board room; appearing before the Alaska Supreme Court, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal Maritime Commission, and the Alaska Public Offices Commission ("APOC"). In addition to court briefings, permits, and contracts, Ms. Wells drafts local ordinances and proposed State legislation, complex land use documents, petitions before the Local Boundary Commission, and training materials regarding land use actions, enforcement, good governance, and taxation.
Mr. Brandeis is Senior Counsel with the firm. His practice focuses on advising businesses and government entities on regulation of the marijuana industry. Mr. Brandeis has extensive experience with Alaska marijuana law and policy. He has litigated cases involving the legality of marijuana in Alaska and has published several articles on this topic, including the only comprehensive history of the development of Alaska's unique marijuana laws. His marijuana law and policy research has been cited in national and local publications and has been presented at international academic conferences. He has been recognized as "a leading scholar on the subject of marijuana laws in Alaska" by the Alaska Law Review.
Mr. Brandeis has represented clients at all levels of the state and federal court systems, including the United States Supreme Court, where he was co-counsel in Morse v. Frederick, a prominent student free speech case. He has experience with civil litigation, appellate advocacy, business development, legislative policy analysis, and compliance with political campaign finance and disclosure laws.
Prior to joining the firm on a full-time basis, Mr. Brandeis was a tenured associate professor of justice and legal studies at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He taught courses on the American legal system, constitutional law, and civil liberties.
Education
Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont
J.D. - 2001
Ohio University
Jessica Spuhler has extensive experience in natural resources, environmental, public utility, oil and gas and administrative law, assisting utilities, municipal governments, native corporations, and private entities to navigate complex federal, state, and local and regulatory requirements and laws. Ms. Spuhler regularly takes the lead in projects in the Firm's municipal and public utility law practice groups and assists clients with regulatory compliance and matters, government contracting, interconnection and power purchase agreements, and utility and pipeline tariff filings. She has assisted clients in resolving issues raised in developing efficient power generation and transmission arrangements in the Homer - Fairbanks Railbelt grid including related to incorporating renewable energy and generation from independent power producers. In addition to the assistance Ms. Spuhler provides clients in public and private transactions, she advocates for her clients interests in federal and state court and before federal, state, and local administrative agencies, including the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. She has also filed amicus briefs on behalf of clients in the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court on environmental and constitutional matters.
Ms. Spuhler began her career assisting clients in the oil and gas industry where she served her clients interests both in court and the board room. In addition to her tenure at Shell Oil during its most recent Alaska offshore exploration efforts, Ms. Spuhler served as a petroleum land manager for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Department of Interior's Solicitor's Office where she advised the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. Ms. Spuhler's breadth of experience provides her clients unique insight on the interplay of local, state, and federal law and regulation. She prides herself on seeking practical and proactive solutions for her clients and believes relationships are best built through clear and honest communication and responsiveness.
Ms. Spuhler in an active volunteer with YMCA Sports and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Challenge Alaska. She devoted time to the Alaska Small Business/Nonprofit Virtual Law Clinic, which connected small organizations with pro bono legal assistance for COVID-related matters in 2020. She previously served on the Anchorage Montessori School's Board of Directors as a member and Chair.
Education
University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado
J.D. - 2009
Lane Powell then Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, Anchorage, Alaska, Partner, 1994 to 2006
Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Mr. Widmer was an assistant Public Defender in the Anchorage office of the Public Defender Agency and an assistant Public Advocate with the Office of Public Advocacy. He handled all types of criminal defense, including post-conviction matters and parole. He was also responsible for representing Agency clients in the felony drug/felony DUI wellness court and conducted multiple trainings for Agency attorneys.
Mr. Widmer began his legal career in private practice in Bethel, Alaska, where he represented both plaintiffs and defendants in criminal, personal injury, wrongful death and other matters. He has represented clients in courts throughout the state and has extensive experience in rural Alaska.
Mr. Widmer's current practice primarily focuses on complex litigation, homeowners associations and municipal law.
Education
William and Mary Law School, Williamsburg, Virginia
J.D. - 2005
Virginia Tech
B.A. - 1999
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Firm
Mr. Schwarz is a member of the firm's Corporate, Business and Commercial practice group, with a focus in real estate and title matters. He has represented a variety of clients in connection with real estate transactions, including purchase and sale of real property, lease agreements, easements and other servitudes, and clients in connection with the purchase and sale of businesses and business assets. Mr. Schwarz is experienced with secured transactions, real estate financing, commercial loans, and with judicial and non-judicial foreclosure matters.
Job Titles:
- Senior Legislative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Chief Counsel and Legislative Director
Job Titles:
- Business Administration, District Counsel
Mr. Pitts has handled bankruptcy cases in the bankruptcy courts of the states of New York, Delaware, Michigan, California, Texas, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Pitts has handled numerous matters in state and federal courts involving receiverships, mechanics' liens, collections, foreclosures, and issues arising under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).
Mr. Pitts is experienced in both jury and non-jury trials in the federal and state courts involving matters such as unfair competition, insurance, business torts, commercial disputes, truth in lending, fair credit reporting, partnership disputes, and real estate.
Job Titles:
- Research Fellow, American Council of Learned Societies