About

Our Attorneys

A Bitterroot Valley native and
graduate of the University of Washington.

Mike grew up in Hamilton near the Bitterroot River and is a graduate of Hamilton High School.  Mike returned to the valley in 1994 after completing law school at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he graduated in the top ten percent of his class and is a member of the Order of the Coif.  In 1997, Mike became a partner in the Hamilton law firm of Recht, Hays and Hayes.  His practice currently emphasizes personal injury & insurance claims, probates, guardianships, wills, and trusts.


While in law school, Mike clerked in the civil claims division of the United States Attorney’s Office in Seattle.  Early in his career, Mike represented the State of Montana handling guardianship, conservatorship, trust, fraud, and elder exploitation matters in Ravalli County. 

Mike and Holli (his wife) enjoyed raising their five daughters in the Bitterroot.  Each of their girls graduated from Hamilton High School, where they were active in music and sports, and have now earned or are pursuing college degrees.  Mike is a past-president of the Friends of the Hamilton Schools Foundation and is a current board member.  Mike’s family enjoys getting together often for cross-country and alpine skiing, kayaking, hiking and boating. 

JEFFREY B. HAYS (Retired)

Jeff graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) law school with Honors, in 1984, where he was on the Law Review.  Jeff began his legal career at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro, San Francisco’s largest, oldest and most prestigious law firm.  Between 1984-1995, Jeff represented Fortune 500 companies in state and federal, national and multi-national litigation.  Jeff relocated to Hamilton, Montana in 1995.  Jeff’s practice emphasized personal injury and insurance claims.  He also represented individuals and small companies in real estate and other civil legal issues and local municipalities in civil and trial matters.

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