Jean E. Faure

AV Rated Civil Trial Attorney
Labor & Employment Law • Education Law • Civil Litigation

Jean E. Faure is an AV-Rated civil trial attorney with over 35 years of experience in labor and employment law, education law, and complex civil litigation. She represents public and private employers in all aspects of labor and employment-related matters, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, trade secret, non-compete, Family and Medical Leave Act, and National Labor Relations Act claims.

Jean regularly appears before Federal and State Courts, administrative agencies, and arbitration panels throughout Montana. Her extensive experience also includes traditional labor law – representing employers in union organizing campaigns, unfair labor practice proceedings, grievance arbitration, and collective bargaining negotiations.

Jean’s practice emphasizes proactive employer counseling, strategic litigation defense, and effective dispute resolution, combining rigorous preparation with a practical understanding of Montana workplaces and industries. 

Employment & Labor Law Practice
  • Wrongful discharge and discrimination defense 
  • Workplace harassment and retaliation claims 
  • Wage and hour disputes and compliance 
  • Trade secret and non-compete litigation 
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) compliance 
  • National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and unfair labor practice defense 
  • Union organizing, grievance arbitration, and contract negotiation 
  • Employment and separation agreements 
  • Internal investigations and policy development 
  • School district and education employment matters 

Jean has defended public and private employers before juries, judges, administrative bodies, and arbitrators statewide. 

Representative Litigation Successes
  • Flexible Lifeline Systems v. Precision Lift, Inc., D. Mont. – Preliminary injunction in trademark infringement. 
  • Vogel v. Intercontinental Truck Body, Mont. Supreme Court – Summary judgment for employer in wrongful discharge defense. 
  • Carlstrom v. Title Cash of Montana, Mont. Supreme Court – Successful defense of arbitration provision in employment claim. 
  • Sanchez v. Great Falls Public Schools, Mont. Supreme Court – Successful defense of school district in discrimination claim. 
  • Driscoll v. Montana Silversmiths, D. Mont. – Successful motion to dismiss in trademark infringement defense. 
  • Cash v. Montana Silversmiths, Mont. Supreme Court – Summary judgment for employer in wrongful discharge action. 
  • Kibbee v. ACP Sales West, D. Mont. – Summary judgment in favor of employer in wrongful discharge action. 
  • ADF International, NLRB – Successful defense of 37 unfair labor practices and unit certification petition. 
  • State of Montana, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Board of Personnel Appeals – Successful defense of union decertification petition and three unfair labor practice claims. 
Recognition & Honors
  • AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell (2004–present) 
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers® – Employment Litigation Defense (2009–present) 
  • Top 100 Lawyers, Mountain States Super Lawyers (2015–present) 
  • Top 50 Women Attorneys, Mountain States Super Lawyers (2016–present) 
  • Best Lawyers in America® – Employment & Labor, Litigation (2009–present) 
  • Employment Lawyer of the Year – Great Falls, Best Lawyers (2017–present) 
  • Chambers USA Guide to Leading Lawyers – Employment Litigation (2011–present) 
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (2015–present) 
  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (2021–present) 
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) – Member (2024–present), Executive Committee, Montana Chapter 
  • Bousliman Award for Professionalism, State Bar of Montana (2024) 
Professional Service
  • Commission on Practice, State of Montana (2005–2024) 
  • Past President, Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Association 
  • State Representative, Defense Research Institute (DRI) (5 years) 
  • Member, Defense Research Institute – Employment & Labor Law Committee 
  • Member, Council of School Attorneys (COSA) 
  • Founding Member, Montana Association of School District Attorneys (MASDA) 
  • Member, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel 
  • Member, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys 
  • Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) 
  • Member, Former Staff Attorneys, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 
Education
  • J.D., with high honors, University of Montana School of Law (1986) 
     – Editorial Board, Montana Law Review 
     – Co-Author: “The Model Rules of Professional Conduct: No Standard for Malpractice,” 47 Mont. L. Rev. 363 (1986) 
     – Outstanding Law Student 
     – Dean’s Award 

  • B.S., University of Montana  
         Jean currently serves on the Board of Visitors for the University of Montana School of Law. 
Court Admissions
  • State Bar of Montana 
  • United States District Court, District of Montana 
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas 
  • United States District Court, District of North Dakota 
Background

Following law school, Jean clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco and for the Honorable Judge David R. Thompson in San Diego. She later served as a Civil Motions Attorney for the Ninth Circuit before returning to Montana, where she has practiced statewide since 1988. 

Jean is a 30-year member of the Defense Research Institute and a frequent national speaker on labor and employment law. She is recognized across Montana for her professionalism, leadership, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of trial lawyers.