BUSINESS + LITIGATION ATTORNEYS

About

Alaskan Solutions for Alaskan Needs

Who We Are

North Star Law Group was created with the single overarching goal of providing tailored legal services to our clients. The individual needs of each client is to be respected above all else.  There will be no round peg into a square hole.  Our service is unique to each client and to each client's changing circumstance.  In effect, we provide valuable and tailored services in an ever-changing world. 

 

Get in touch

North Star Law Group knows that finding the right attorney to represent you is a choice not to be taken lightly. We offer consultations to walk you through your needs, the scope of your goals, and your budget.

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Attorneys

 
 

Partner

Michael Rose

Michael is lifelong resident of Anchorage, receiving his undergraduate at UAA, where he led its accomplished Speech and Debate Team to victories across the U.S., including a national championship, and internationally. From the early years of his practice, Michael has litigated cases throughout Alaska, most notably as part of a trial team that won a $51.3 million verdict in a business litigation case. Michael maintains a varied civil litigation and trial practice, and has litigated cases in both federal and state court in Alaska, including arguing in front of the Alaska Supreme Court. In 2016, Michael was awarded UAA's prestigious "Emerging Leader" Alumni of Distinction Award.

 

Education

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

  • Juris Doctor, 2012, cum laude

  • CALI Award for Excellence: Advanced Evidence; Conflicts of Laws

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

  • B.A., Political Science, 2009

Activities & Affiliations & Distinctions

• UAA Alumni of Distinction Emerging Leader Award
• Sand Lake Community Council Executive Board, Treasurer, 2017-2018
• Friends of Seawolf Debate, President, 2016-present

Bar Admissions

• Alaska, Federal District Court of Alaska

 
 

 
 
 

Partner

Brian Riekkola

Brian focuses on the various facets of law that revolve around business litigation, landlord representation, probate litigation, non-judicial foreclosures, contract drafting, intellectual property and municipal disputes. Prior to co-founding North Star Law Group, Brian worked at a gold mine and in the oil fields. Brian was later part of an arbitration team that achieved a $9.6 million award in a construction dispute. Brian has represented Alaskan companies and individuals at all levels of the state courts, including arguing in front of the Alaska Supreme Court. Brian has represented clients around Alaska, including foreclosures in Kodiak, evictions in Fairbanks, drafting contracts in Homer, and litigating business disputes in Anchorage. 

 

Education

OREGON SCHOOL OF LAW

  • Juris Doctor, 2013

DEVRY UNIVERSITY

  • B.S., Electronic Engineering Tech., 2009

Affiliations & Notable Experience

  • Law Clerk for Hon. Patrick McKay

  • Judicial Clerk for Hon. Nancy Porter

  • Field Specialist for Schlumberger, Ltd.

  • Board Member of the Alaska SeaLife Center 2023 - Current

Bar Admissions

  • Alaska, Federal District Court of Alaska, USPTO

 
 

 
 
 

Partner

Adam Gulkis

Adam first came to Alaska on a long weekend in 2009 for the World Beard and Moustache contest. Although disappointed that he was only awarded the 4th best Salvador Dali moustache in the world, Adam knew that he had to figure out a way to get back to Alaska. In 2013, Adam packed up all his belongings and headed north to the last frontier to open a solo practice focusing on divorce, child custody, and assisting survivors of domestic violence. In 2022, Adam joined North Star Law Group, LLC to serve more members of the Alaskan community.

Adam has a wide range of experience. Adam was born on Tyndall Air Force base and grew up in Panama City, Florida. Adam moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University. Adam studied bronze casting at Nagoya Zokei Geijitsu Daigaku in Komaki-shi, Japan. After completing his foundry apprenticeship in Florida, Adam moved to California where he spent nearly a decade at Apple, Inc. working on everything from the original iMac to the touch sensor of the iPhone. Some say that every iPhone is calibrated to his finger! Adam went to law school at Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco where he competed in three national mock trial competitions. Adam studied code law at Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense in France and in New Orleans.

 
 

Education

GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

  • Juris Doctor, 2013

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

  • B.F.A., Site Installation and Electronic Media, 1998

Affiliations & Notable Experience

Bar Admissions

  • Alaska, Tlingit & Haida Tribal Court

 
 

 
 
 

Associate

Harrison Kerth

Harrison moved to Anchorage, AK in 2021. Prior to joining North Star Law Group, Harrison earned a Real Estate and Construction Management degree from the University of Denver and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana. During law school summers, Harrison was a summer law clerk for the City of Chicago and an intern for Clayco. During his third year of law school, Harrison worked with the Blackstone Launchpad at the University of Montana helping small businesses and entrepreneurs with their business needs and issues. Outside the office, Harrison pursues skiing hunting, and aviation. He is excited to join the legal profession in this great state as part of North Star Law Group.

 
 

Education

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA SCHOOL OF LAW

  • Juris Doctor, 2021

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

  • B.S., Real Estate and Construction Management, 2017

Notable Experience

  • Summer Law Clerk for the City of Chicago

  • Legal Intern for Clayco

  • Legal Intern for the University of Montana

  • Legal Intern for the Blackstone Launchpad at the University of Montana

Bar Admissions

  • Alaska, Montana, Federal District Court of Alaska

 
 

 
 
 

Associate

Kevin F. Sullivan Jr.

Kevin moved to Anchorage, AK in the summer of 2022. Prior to joining North Star Law Group, Kevin received a Criminology and Criminal Justice degree from the University of Massachusetts: Boston and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University. During his time as an undergraduate, Kevin worked for the Boston Red Sox. While in law school, Kevin worked as a clerk for Rudolph Friedman LLP in their civil litigation group. As a third-year law student, Kevin worked as a student attorney in the juvenile defender’s clinic representing juveniles in criminal cases. Outside of the office, Kevin takes time at any lake to read, kayak and enjoy the great outdoors. Kevin is excited to join the Alaskan community and explore the land of the midnight sun.

 
 

Education

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

  • Juris Doctor, 2022

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS: BOSTON

  • B.A., Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2019

Notable Experience & Affiliations

  • Law Clerk at Rudolph Friedman LLP

  • Rule 3.03 Student Attorney at the Suffolk Juvenile Defender’s Clinic

Bar Admissions

  • Alaska, Massachusetts, Federal District Court of Alaska

 
 

 
 
 

Associate

Mario Bird

Mario was born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula.  After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, he worked in Alaska as a teacher, coach, filmmaker, and video editor before attending law school at Ave Maria School of Law.  Mario clerked and lawyered with longtime Anchorage attorneys Wayne Ross and Ed Miner before opening a solo practice.  In 2022, he joined the Anchorage Municipal Attorney's office under Mayor Dave Bronson, and later served as the Mayor's Chief of Staff.  He is married with children and is grateful to God to be in the great state of Alaska.

 
 

Education

AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW

  • Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

  • B.A., Film, Magna Cum Laude

Notable Experience & Affiliations

  • Municipality of Anchorage - 2022-24

  • Select reported Alaska Supreme Court cases: Bohn v. Providence Health Svcs. - Washington, 484 P.3d 584 (Alaska 2021); Jones v. State, Dep’t of Revenue, 441 P.3d 966 (Alaska 2021); Fletcher v. Fletcher, 433 P.3d 1148 (Alaska 2018)

Bar Admissions

  • Alaska, Federal District Court of Alaska, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Supreme Court of the United States

 
 

 
 
 

associate

John Ayling

John moved to Anchorage after graduating from Wisconsin Law School. During law school, he gained litigation experience at Meyer Njus Tanick and transactional law experience at the UW Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic. Originally from Minnesota, he also has a BA in History, with Honors, from Grinnell College, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Before law school, he worked in equity research for several years and has also worked in investment banking. He has held positions at Morningstar, Inc. and Piper Jaffray (now Piper Sandler) among other companies in the financial industry. In his spare time, John enjoys running, traveling to new places, going to the orchestra, and reading. 

 
 

Education

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL

  • Juris Doctor, 2024

COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL

  •  Master of Business Administration, 2013

GRINNELL COLLEGE

  •  B.A., History 2008

Notable Experience & Affiliations

  • Summer Clerk - Meyer Njus Tanick

Bar Admissions

  • Alaska - Supervised Practitioner