Kara L. Ellsbury
Partner

(T) 307.632.0541
(F) 307.632.4999
Paralegal:
Shelley G. Volz
PROFILE
Kara L. Ellsbury is a partner at Hirst Applegate. Practicing remotely from Sundance, Wyoming, Ms. Ellsbury represents clients in northeast Wyoming and throughout the State. Ms Ellsbury primarily practices in the areas of civil litigation, including employment, commercial, construction, personal injury and wrongful death litigation. As part of her practice, Ms. Ellsbury also provides counseling and training to employers, including regarding employee handbooks, employment agreements, covenants not to compete, and best practices to avoid allegations of wrongful termination and/or discrimination. She also practices, public utilities law, including appearing before the Wyoming Public Service Commission.
EMPLOYMENT
January 2018 to present – Partner, Hirst Applegate, LLP
- Practice areas include: Civil Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Wrongful Death Defense; Insurance Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense; Employment Law and Litigation, Trucking Litigation, Products Liability Litigation, Contract Litigation and Public Utilities and Energy Law.
June 2015 to December 2017 – Associate, Hirst Applegate, LLP
November 2013 to May 2015 – Associate, Hughes Law Office
2010 to June 2013 – Associate, Hirst Applegate, LLP
Spring of 2010 – Student Intern, UW Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project
Summer of 2009 – Law Clerk, Hirst Applegate, LLP
Summer of 2008 – Law Clerk, Hirst Applegate, LLP
Summer of 2006 – Legislative Intern for United States Senator Michael B. Enzi
EDUCATION
- University of Wyoming, J.D., (Order of the Coif, with honors), 2010
- University of Wyoming, B.S. (Accounting), cum laude, 2007
REPORTED CASES
- Williams v. State of Wyoming ex.rel., University of Wyoming Board of Trustees, 2019 WY 90, P.3d 222 (Wyo. 2019)
- In re Application of Powder River Energy Corp, Docket No. 10014-175-CT-16, Record No. 14561, Memo Opinion, Finding & Order (Wyo. Pub. Serv. Comm’n July 23, 2017)
- In re Application of Powder River Energy Corp., Docket No. 10014-172-CP-16, Record No. 14441, Memo. Opinion, Findings & Order (Wyo. Pub, Serv. Comm’n Feb. 28, 2017)
- In re Application of Powder River Energy Corp., Docket No. 10014-168-CR-16, Record No. 14314, Memo. Opinion, Findings & Order Approving Rate Increase (Wyo. Pub, Serv. Comm’n Nov. 23, 2016)
- Campbell County Memorial Hospital v. Pfeifle, 2014 WY 3, 317 P.3d 573 (Wyo. 2014)
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
- Risky Business or Business Risk? Risk Management for the Law Office. Presented with Mark Gifford, Wyoming State Bar Counsel, September 19, 2018 at the 2018 Wyoming State Bar Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference
- Workplace Investigations: Lessons Learned from Litigation. August, 2018
- Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress in an Era of Inescapable, Instantly Accessible, Live Media (authored with Amanda Good and published in the Wyoming Lawyer)
- Re-writing Wyoming’s Co-employee Liability Statute, 9 Wyo. L. Rev. 645 (2009)
ACTIVITIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- 2019 to present: Chairperson Wyoming State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee
- 2017 to present: Secretary for the Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming
- 2015 to August 2017: Vice President of Programs for the Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming
- 2014 to 2018: Vice President of Kid Prints, Inc.
- 2010 to 2013: Central High School Mock Trial Coach
- 2010: Excellence in Advocacy Award, University of Wyoming College of Law
- 2009 to 2010: Rothgerber Mock Trial Competition Championship Team
- 2009 to 2010: Wyoming Law Review, Comment Editor
- 2008 to 2009: Wyoming Law Review, Staff
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Wyoming Bar Association
- Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming, DLAW
PERSONAL
Ms. Ellsbury is married to Levi C. Ellsbury; they have two children.
Contact Kara L. Ellsbury