The Anchorage law firm Brena, Bell & Clarkson recently announced the hiring of Kelly Helmbrecht and Matthew Clarkson as attorneys.

HelmbrechtHelmbrecht is a lifelong Alaskan.

She received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of San Diego and her Juris Doctor Cum Laude from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. She was on the distinguished honor roll and honor roll several times.

While in law school, she was awarded the Cali Award for outstanding legal research, Witkin Award for highest ranking student and Jefferson Medal for the highest grade in many classes.

She has also participated in many different groups in order to give back to her community including Young Republicans, the Disabled Veterans Clinic, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Boys and Girls Club of Alaska.

Brena_Clarkson Clarkson is a lifelong Alaskan. He received his BA in biological studies from the University of Alaska and his Juris Doctorate from Washington University's St. Louis School of Law.

During law school, Clarkson was named to Washington University’s Dean’s List on several occasions. He was also the co-chair of Washington University’s Environmental Moot Court Board for which he participated at the National Environmental Moot Court competition, advanced to the semi-finals, and placed among the top law school teams in the nation.

Clarkson received the Best Brief Award in the Environmental Moot Court Competition, the Cali Award for the top grade in Environmental Litigation, and Washington University’s Judge Amandus Brackman Moot Court Award for excellence in moot court competitions.