Miva VanEngen, Esq.
Attorney, President
Miva VanEngen fights vigorously for her clients who have been criminally charged with a DUI, misdemeanor or a felony. She also advocates for her clients' Estate Planning, including wills, trusts and guardianships. She works diligently in her representation of clients who have been injured by others: whether by car crash, negligent acts of others, or at work (personal injury and workers' compensation claims).
Although she is based in Missoula, her clients can be found all over Montana and in other states. Technological advances make it possible to represent clients without the need for travel, depending on the reason for representation.
Bar Admissions
- State Bar of Montana
- U.S. District Court, District of Montana
- Chippewa Cree Tribal Court
- Salish Kootenai Tribal Court
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Montana Trial Lawyers Association
- Western Montana Bar Association
- Montana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Personal
Miva is a mother and grandmother. She loves the outdoors and spends her free time in her garden and running, hiking, or biking numerous trails and mountains.
Mikayla A. Schneider, Esq.
Attorney
Mikayla grew up in Missoula, Montana active in a variety of sports and community service endeavors. After earning her Bachelor of Business Administration from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, she headed East to attend Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although she loved supporting the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montana has always been her home and she returned and visited the University of Montana School of Law for her final year of law school. While attending, she participated on the school’s Negotiation’s team and won the ABA Regional Negotiations Tournament.
She focuses her practice on family law (dissolutions and parenting plans), contract drafting and review, and business formation, real estate and property issues, and civil litigation. With experience creating LLCs and other entities, merging and acquiring businesses, she prides herself on her ability navigate the complexities of business law.
Education
- Whitworth University, B.B.A., with Accounting concentration
- Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.
Licensures, Associations and Memberships
- Licensed to practice in both Montana and Arizona state and federal courts
- Western Montana Bar Association
- Montana Defense Trial Lawyers
Personal
When not found in the office, Mikayla enjoys staying active and spending time with her family, including her two puppies.
Jon Christiana
Attorney
Jon was born in Hunt Valley, Maryland and moved to Missoula in 2014 where he attended the University of Montana, graduating with a Bachelor of History and Native American Studies degree. He traveled to Virginia to attend William and Mary Law School.
Jon has worked both as a deputy county attorney handling Justice Court cases and felonies and as a criminal defense attorney. Through this he has gained extensive courtroom experience.
Jon returned to Missoula in 2025 where he joined VanEngen Law Office, PC. Jon's practice focuses on family law and criminal defense matters.
Jon has recently been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
Jon is a huge fan of the Ravens, Orioles, and the Griz. His past times include hiking, fishing, cooking, and travelling the Mountain West.
Debra VanEngen
Legal Assistant/Office Manager
Debra serves as a Legal Assistant/Office Manager at VanEngen Law Office, P.C., where she ensures the smooth operation of daily legal office functions. Her role focuses on managing office processes, coordinating documentation, and assisting with client and case-related tasks.
She brings a diverse professional background in administrative support, retail management, and nonprofit operations. She previously spent 19 years with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as a Field Services Senior Coordinator, where she provided operational and administrative support to regional directors and helped ensure the smooth coordination of field programs across the organization, contributing to the organization’s mission of wildlife conservation and habitat stewardship.
She studied creative writing at the University of Montana, which helped develop her strong communication and organizational skills.
Outside of her professional life, she enjoys fishing, gardening, crafting, and spending time outdoors. She is also a proud mother and grandmother who values family and community.
Courteney Smith
Legal Secretary/Legal Assistant
Courteney