About Amanda Coyne

Amanda Coyne Articles written 3

Articles written by Amanda Coyne

Defending Palin

thomas Van Flein’s life changed when he took on a client named Sarah Palin

Last summer, Thomas Van Flein became privy to one of politics’ best-kept secrets: the identity of Sen. John McCain’s soon-to-be-announced running mate. He knew the same day she did. Van Flein was former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s lawyer, hired to represent her against accusations of letting her personal life spill into state business by firing the state public safety commissioner. Van Flein, a partner with Clapp, Peterson, Van Flein, Tiemessen & Thorsness in Anchorage, has a strong …

Hard to Pigeonhole

‘Troopergate’ brought more drama than Jeffrey M. Feldman expected

Until Sen. John McCain chose his vice presidential candidate last year, the probe into then-Gov. Sarah Palin’s firing of Alaska’s public safety commissioner seemed like a small investigation by a state legislature.  Jeffrey Feldman just wanted to make sure his client, Walter Monegan—the terminated commissioner—was protected during the process. But in August 2008, “Troopergate” ended up in living rooms across the country. Feldman was in the thick of things—a natural place for him …

A Special Breed

Not everyone is cut out to live-let alone practice law-in Alaska. Four local attorneys explain the allure of their frosty home state

They live in a place where there are more caribou than people and the state capital can't be reached by driving. Like most people in Alaska, they live there because they want to, though one who resides in Fairbanks-where the average temperature a couple of Januarys ago was 22 below zero-has passed the bar association exams in two other states for later in life, "when it gets too cold and dark up here." Like all the attorneys on the Alaska Super Lawyers listings, the four profiled below are big …

Find top lawyers with confidence

The Super Lawyers patented selection process is peer influenced and research driven, selecting the top 5% of attorneys to the Super Lawyers lists each year. We know lawyers and make it easy to connect with them.

Find a lawyer near you