Richard (Tim) Bush is a partner in Coal Creek Law, LLP.  He has been with the Firm since 1990 following a clerkship with the Wyoming Supreme Court. Richard has extensive experience in many areas of education law. He was involved, at both the trial and appellate levels, in all four (4) of the Campbell school finance decisions. Richard has presented at regional and national seminars regarding school finance litigation. He has also presented school law issues to Wyoming attorneys for their continuing legal education credits. He has represented a School District in a contested case hearing before the Wyoming School Facilities Commission, and in a successful tax assessment appeal before the Wyoming State Board of Equalization. Richard has also represented and advised several school districts on various educational issues. He has been retained to represent districts regarding various liability claims. Richard has conducted investigations regarding personnel issues for school districts. He has also served as a hearing officer in employment matters for educational institutions. Richard is co-counsel for eight (8) School Districts in the current school finance lawsuit brought by the Wyoming Education Association.

Dr. Diana Clapp is a longtime educator in Wyoming and is currently serving as the Coordinator for the Wyoming State Board of Education. Her teaching experience spans from elementary to high school classroom. She is an educational leader who has served as an elementary principal, curriculum director, and 17 years as a district superintendent. During her time as a district leader, she was able to work with her community, staff, and school board to implement a nationally recognized early childhood program which serves children ages birth to five and open a school-based community medical clinic. Diana Clapp earned her doctorate degree from the University of Wyoming. Diana is an advocate for quality education and committed to serving the State Board in its vision to, “ . . . support a student-centered learning system in which all Wyoming students graduate prepared and empowered to create and own their futures.”

Tracy Copenhaver is the senior partner in Copenhaver, Kitchen & Kolpitcke, LLC. He graduated from the University of Wyoming Law School in 1982. Tracy is licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of Wyoming, as well as the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Current areas of practice include insurance defense work for all liability claims, as well as public entity representation. Tracy does a considerable amount of work in education law and defense of public employers and employees.

Alison Gee is a shareholder in Lubnau Law. She holds a B.A. from UW in Education, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado, and an LL.M. in Tax Law from the University of Alabama. Alison has been practicing law since 2005 and is rated an AV Preeminent attorney by Martindale Hubbell. Alison represents Wyoming School Districts and Hospital Districts and has broad experience in estate planning, real estate, business, and contracts. She is a Trustee for Gillette College and a Bar Commissioner for the Wyoming State Bar. When not practicing law or serving her community, Alison and her family enjoy hiking, fly fishing, downhill skiing, and riding horses.

After graduating from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1996, Scott passed the bar exams in Wyoming and Colorado and began working for a small law firm in Laramie, WY. Scott joined Copenhaver, Kitchen & Kolpitcke, LLC in 1998 and represents school districts, cities, towns, hospitals, and other local governmental agencies in Wyoming. Scott regularly gives presentations to school boards, city councils, and other groups on issues such as employment law, school law, public records, open meetings, government ethics and other issues.

Bill Lambert has served on his local school board, as a county commissioner, and as a member of the Wyoming Livestock Board. As a Wyoming rancher in Weston County, Lambert knows the power of work ethic. He is pleased that the SBE has turned its attention to Career and Technical Education, and he believes that students should be given every opportunity to maintain balance in career education and academics.

Dr. Mark Mathern has served in education for 32 years as a classroom teacher, school principal, and associate superintendent in Natrona County School District. He facilitated the process of establishing dual language immersion, beginning in kindergarten, for Mandarin and Spanish in several districts across Wyoming. His work also included expanding college and career readiness learning opportunities through the Pathways Innovation Center in Casper and ensuring all NCSD preschools were National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited. Mathern has a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University in classical languages, a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming in educational administration, an Ed.D. from Seton Hall University, and maintains his certification as a school administrator.

Dr. Jason McConnell is a true University of Wyoming legacy. He followed in the footsteps of his parents – the other two Drs. McConnell – to attend UW where he earned both B.S. and M.A. degrees in Political Science. After working in the private sector for some time, he returned to UW’s College of Law, where he also earned a Juris Doctorate, completing a U.W. academic trifecta! Eventually returning to academia, after another stint in the private sector, Jason earned his Ph.D. from Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. His research interests are the product of his diverse and eclectic education: free speech, campaign advertising, and courts as political entities.

Dami was born and raised in Wyoming and has completed all of her education at Wyoming public education institutions. She began her legal career practicing family and juvenile law. Since joining Coal Creek Law, LLP in 2021, her practice has focused primarily on serving the firm’s educational clients. Dami has worked with various districts on interpreting, implementing, and revising policies and administrative rules.  She has also advised the firm’s educational clients on issues relating to due process, Title IX, and FERPA. Dami is co-counsel for eight (8) School Districts in the current school finance lawsuit brought by the Wyoming Education Association. Dami practices in all state and federal courts in Wyoming.

Amy Pauli is general counsel for Laramie County School District No. 1. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Creighton University, Amy graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming, College of Law in 2007. She began her legal career with the School Finance Litigation division of the Wyoming Attorney General's Office. In 2015, Amy joined the Human Services division of the AG’s Office, representing the Department of Health and the Department of Transportation, before becoming Chief of the Consumer Protection Unit. Amy left the State in 2021 to serve as LCSD1’s first in-house counsel. She is admitted to practice before the Wyoming Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. A lifelong Wyoming resident, Amy is married and has two children.

Alexa graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2022 and was admitted to the practice of law in 2023. Alexa and her husband, Fred, and their three dogs moved to Cody in May 2022. As a new attorney, Alexa is working in many avenues of civil practice that include municipal law, education law, healthcare, guardianships, guardian ad litem work, real estate, and estate planning. In her free time, Alexa enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, camping, horseback riding and cooking. Alexa is available to see clients in both Powell and Cody.