Daniel Brister
I am a staff attorney at Wilderness Watch, the premier organization in America committed to protecting the 112-million-acre National Wilderness Preservation System and keeping it wild. My passion for writing, wildlife, and environmental conservation is deeply rooted in my academic background. I hold a B.A. in English from the University of Vermont and both an M.S. and a J.D. from the University of Montana. During my studies, I earned certificates in Environmental & Natural Resources Law and Federal Indian Law.
While attending law school, I took on the role of editor-in-chief for the Public Land & Resources Law Review. I also had the privilege of serving as a judicial intern for the Honorable Dana L. Christensen, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. My commitment to environmental issues extended into my work with the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station, where I engaged in international policy work concerning the trans-boundary impacts of mining. Before my tenure at Wilderness Watch began in 2024, I spent three years in private practice, focusing on water and property law.
Outside of my professional life, I cherish time spent with my daughter, traveling, and embarking on adventures in the mountains and on the water. My nearly two decades as the executive director of Buffalo Field Campaign, protecting wildlife in the Yellowstone ecosystem, not only inspired my book of essays, "In the Presence of Buffalo," but also fueled my ongoing commitment to safeguarding public lands and wildlife.
- Montana
- State Bar of Montana
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- Water Law, Administrative Law, Federal Indian Law