Sean Bracken, B.A., J.D., LL.M.
Sean Bracken has extensive family law, oil and gas, real estate, corporate, construction, and commercial experience. He has completed hundreds of family law cases in Montana.
Sean also spends a significant portion of his time helping families in Montana and volunteers his time as a court-appointed child advocate and helping people with modest means. He has used his decades of litigation skills to successfully find the most efficient and cost-effective means to protect the interests of his clients, while helping the family move forward and have a positive, fresh start. From contested divorces and child custody disputes at trial, to skillful mediation, negotiation and settlement, to uncontested matters, Sean can help support and guide you through a difficult time.
Sean also has extensive experience with contracts, from multi-million dollar construction, real estate, and oil and gas contracts to mineral rights and title work. He prepares, negotiates, and reviews buy/sell agreements, merger and acquisition documents, and all types of business arrangements.
He also has managed numerous real estate transactions, including the exclusive cell tower real estate sales and leases for Sprint and Cingular in several States. He has also successfully managed large and small cases for construction project sureties, general contractors, subcontractors and owners, and he is a contributing author to the American Bar Association construction payment bond manual. He has also been a speaker for lawyers, realtors, engineers and landmen on various real estate and construction topics.
He was the editor and exam preparer for the Oil Pollution, Collision, and Limitation of Liability course books for Tulane Law School. Sean was also the on-scene legal coordinator for the 4th largest oil spill in the history of Louisiana, on behalf of BP Pipeline. He has also been a speaker for lawyers, engineers and landmen on various oil and gas, energy topics.
His successful appellate work includes a wide variety of matters, from multi-million dollar oil pipeline disputes to "bet the company" litigation. He has briefed the United States Supreme Court on behalf of lawyers associations, but he also created new law in federal courts to prevent lawyers from seizing the property of their own clients for fees. See Gulf Marine and Industrial Supplies, Inc. v. M/V GOLDEN PRINCE, 230 F.3d 178 (5th Cir. 2000).
Sean has successfully managed billion dollar plus oil platform cases for Lloyd’s of London syndicates. He was a member of the four lawyer international legal team handling all corporate matters for Carnival Cruise Lines and its affiliated companies. Sean pioneered areas of products liability on their behalf, and enabled them to recover very large amounts for construction issues with their cruise ships, including a case which received global media attention.
Whatever your legal needs, Sean Paul Bracken is the advocate you want on your side.
Education
Tulane Law School, Legum Magister (1999)
Full-ride Academic Scholarship Recipient, Academic Fellowship Recipient - awarded annually to most outstanding LL.M. candidate
Gonzaga Law School, Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude (1998)
Class Rank - Top 5%, Academic All-American, National Dean's List, Dean's Academic Scholarship Recipient, Moot Court Honor Board, Negotiation Competition Finalist, Linden Cup Finalist, Managing Editor - International Law Review
Baylor University / University of Montana, B.A. (1995)
Majors: Biology, Psychology, Political Science
Practice Areas
Contracts / Commercial / Litigation
Oil & Gas / Titles / Mineral Rights / Environmental
Admiralty / Maritime
Wills & Trusts / Probate
Personal
Sean has been happily married for over 25 years. Sean and his family enjoy many outdoor activities around Montana including boating, biking, camping, hiking and skiing.
Sean is an enthusiastic martial arts practitioner, with individual black-belt (dan) ranks in Ninjitsu (Taijitsu), Jujitsu, and Aikijitsu. He has taught special forces members and municipal S.W.A.T. teams in combatives. He was also an undefeated heavy-weight boxer and is an avid powerlifter, with combined totals over 2000 pounds (bench, deadlift, and squat). Sean is currently affiliated with and counselor for Sakura Warrior Arts and Bushidokan Yudanshakai.
Testimonial
"Sean is a very hard worker and has a pleasant demeanor and personality. I would not hesitate to employ Sean. He is a good lawyer." - Dennis Lind, Managing Shareholder, Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C.
