Minnesota Law Magazine | Fall 2022

ALUMNI Q&A

Judge Elise Larson ’12, the newest member of the Minnesota Court of Appeals

LAW SCHOOL NEWS J.D. Class of 2025 sets records for diversity, academic strength

Leading a Law Firm in Changing Times

firm leaders say

FALL 2022

MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL

FACULTY PROFILE Professor Bob Stein ’61 marks 50 years teaching at Minnesota Law

PETER V. MICHAUD ’97, CHAIR-ELECT OF BALLARD SPAHR

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL MAGAZINE

DEAN Garry W. Jenkins

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Mark A. Cohen

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Monica Wittstock

DIGITAL MARKETING AND DESIGN SPECIALIST

Julie Longo

EVENTS AND EVENT MARKETING MANAGER

Olivia Kurtz

WEB CONTENT SPECIALIST

Riley Grittinger

CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

David L. Jensen

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS AND ANNUAL GIVING

Lizzy Beghelli

DONOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Anderson Lamp

COPY EDITOR

Kathy Graves

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kevin Coss

Suzy Frisch

Kathy Graves

Ryan Greenwood

Michael Hannon

Dan Heilman

Cathy Madison

Todd Nelson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jayme Halbritter

Jay Mallin

Tony Nelson

Cory Ryan

ILLUSTRATOR

Robert Ball

DESIGNER

Erin Gibbons, Launch Lab Creative

2022–23

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Barbara Jean D’Aquila ’80, Chair Joshua L. Colburn ’07, Chair-Elect Jeanette M. Bazis ’92, Immediate Past Chair

Joseph M. Barbeau ’81

B. Andrew Bednark ’02

Brandon L. Blakely ’18

The Honorable Nancy E. Brasel ’96 Rachel S. Brass ’01

Rjay J. Brunkow ’04

Laura G. Coates ’05

Coré S. Cotton ’89

Annamarie Daley ’84

Timothy E. Grimsrud ’04

The Honorable Natalie E. Hudson ’82 Ronald E. Hunter ’78

Nora L. Klaphake ’94

Christopher K. Larus ’91

Juanita (Nita) Bolland Luis ’77

Greg J. Marita ’91

Catlan M. McCurdy ’11

Pamela F. Olson ’80 James W. Poradek ’98 Jami Rahman ’03

Michael L. Skoglund ’01 James H. Snelson ’97

Hema L. Viswanathan ’05

Renae L. Welder ’96 Emily M. Wessels ’14 Wanda Young Wilson ’79 Bruce Wojack ’85

Minnesota Law is a general interest magazine published in the fall and spring of the academic year for the University of Minnesota Law School community of alumni, friends, and supporters. Letters to the editor or any other communication regarding content should be sent to Mark Cohen (mcohen@umn.edu), Director of Communications, University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Avenue South, 421 Mondale Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

© 2022 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Reflections on a Rapidly Changing World

THE RAPID-FIRE PACE OF CHANGE IN TODAY’S WORLD requires leaders who are flexible in their approach, with the ability to find new opportunities in the challenges that they face. Leaders must think creatively to develop out-of-the box solutions to overcome an ever-shifting field of potential obstacles. They must be willing to work collaboratively, reach across sectors and divisions, and recognize the strength that comes from advancing collective goals and actions.

One such lawyer-leader is Andrea Walsh ’88, president and CEO of HealthPartners and this year’s Matheson Lecturer in Corporate Governance. In her September lecture, entitled “Emerging Stronger: Lessons Learned Since 2020 and Implications for Leadership and Governance,” Andrea spoke passionately about the forward-thinking leadership that is critical in these fast-paced times.

As this magazine’s cover story, “Leading a Law Firm in Changing Times,” makes clear, our alumni are thinking creatively about how to evolve the work of their firms and position their organizations for long-term sustainability and success. As law firm leaders, they are responsible for both big-picture and day-to-day business affairs, a dizzying array of institutional relationships, and shepherding their firms through change and innovation.

Minnesota Law graduates today enter a vastly different world from the one our first graduates experienced nearly 135 years ago. And, no doubt, future generations of Minnesota Law alumni will enter their own rapidly changing world. To prepare future leaders and members of the legal profession, Minnesota Law continues to adapt and evolve while providing the world-class legal education that is the hallmark of our global reputation.

Clinics and other experiential learning opportunities now are key components in our mission to produce students who are ready to thrive in the world of practice. This fall, the Law School launched two new clinics — the Racial Justice Law Clinic and the Sports and Name, Image, and Likeness Clinic. Each of these clinics offers new ways for students to engage with the law, connect with clients and communities, and build practical lawyering skills. We remain committed to expanding our already-robust experiential learning opportunities, including our 25+ clinics, moot courts, and externship and field placement programs, among others. This summer, we named Professor Mitch Zamoff the Law School’s inaugural assistant dean of experiential education, overseeing our broad array of non-clinic experiential learning opportunities. We are grateful for Dean Zamoff’s leadership in identifying ways to deepen commitment and influence in this area.

We also continue to expand our commitment to increasing diversity in the profession and preparing our students to lead in increasingly diverse environments.

As you will read in this magazine, the incoming first-year class has the highest academic credentials in the Law School’s history, while also setting records for diversity. Our student body as a whole is now the most diverse it has ever been. This fall, Ra’Shya Ghee ’13 joined the Law School as our inaugural assistant dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion, leading support for our student community, overseeing a new optional Race Equity Milestone (students receive a transcript notation after successfully completing a series of workshops), and providing strategic leadership for our array of DEI initiatives.

After the many pivots of the pandemic, I cannot tell you how terrific it felt to return to the beautiful Northrop Auditorium for our in-person Commencement, or how much I appreciate seeing the smiling faces of students in the halls of Mondale Hall this academic year. Even as we adapt and evolve, we also continue to value the warm and welcoming community at Minnesota Law that makes our law school so special. Onward and upward!

Garry W. Jenkins Dean and William S. Pattee Professsor of Law

30

FACULTY FOCUS

30 Faculty News, Awards & Grants 32 Celebrating Robert Stein ’61 and His 50 Year Teaching Legacy 34 Faculty Spotlight

David R. Cleveland, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Legal Research and Writing 36 Putting Her Passion into Practice In law and beyond, Associate Clinical Professor Liliana Zaragoza’s focus is on racial justice

38 Leaders in Labor & Employment Law Two new scholars reaffirm law school’s reputation as a powerhouse in a key legal area

40 ALL RISE

40 Leading Questions

Lucy Chin, 2L, former social worker and student attorney in the Racial Justice Law Clinic

42 What I Did Last Summer Minnesot a Law students discuss their summer positions 44 Meet the Class of 2025 A sampling of students from the 1L class discuss their backgrounds, ambitions, and what brought them to Minnesota Law

46 The Big Picture Students express their gopher gratitude to alumni and other supporters of Minnesota Law

50 RAISING THE BAR

48 Alumni Interrogatory Judge Elise Lar son ’12, Minnesota Court of Appeals 50 Lockhart Club Annual Dinner 52 Profiles in Practice Alums in Chicago are highlighted 54 Alumni news 56 Class Notes 62 Recent Gifts 63 Tributes 65 In Memoriam 66 Class Giving 68 Why I Give Kim Ander son ’83

HealthPartners

CEO Andrea Walsh ’88 Delivers Matheson Lecture

Minnesota Law Ranked #18 in the Nation for Moot Court Success

More than 100 people were on hand September 19 for a conversation with HealthPartners President and CEO Andrea Walsh ’88 at the 2nd annual Matheson Lecture in Corporate Governance.

The topic of Walsh’s lecture was “Emerging Stronger: Lessons Learned Since 2020 and Implications for Leadership and Governance.”

The Matheson lecture series was created with a gift from Dean Matheson ’08 and his spouse Diana to honor Dean’s father, Minnesota Law professor John Matheson, and to highlight the valuable work being done within the Corporate Institute.

Minnesota Law Again #1 in State for Bar Passage

On the July 2022 Minnesota bar exam, first-time takers from Minnesota Law achieved a 97% passage rate, the highest of any law school in the state and well above the 88% statewide passage rate on the exam.

At the conclusion of this auspicious moot court competition year—which included winning for the first time the Thurgood Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition—the Law School was ranked 18th overall in a collective ranking system that measures the school’s overall performance at competitions. This is the first time the Law School has cracked the top 20.

“The Law School’s strategic investment in moot courts, combined with the hard work and dedication

of students and their coaches, paid off in so many ways,” says Randall Ryder ’09, assistant professor of appellate advocacy and director of Law in Practice. “Our moot court students develop advanced advocacy skills that allow them to excel as new lawyers and throughout their legal careers.”

Professor Mitch Zamoff, assistant dean of experiential education, says These accomplishments exemplify our emphasis on students’ develop ing practical legal skills that will serve them well in practice.”

Minnesota Law Faculty Preview 2022-23 SCOTUS Term

To coincide with the first day of the U.S. Supreme Court term, Minnesota Law faculty held a program preview ing the Court’s docket on Monday, October 3. The expert faculty panelists were Visiting Assistant Professor Elizabeth Bentley (who doubled as moderator), Associate Professor Alan Rozenshtein, Visiting Professor David Schultz ’98, and Associate Clinical Professor Liliana Zaragoza

The closely watched cases discussed included potential gamechangers in

the areas of affirmative action, election law, federal criminal law, Indian Child Welfare Law, and LGBTQ+ rights. The discussion also included a reflection on the changing make-up of the court with the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer and the addition of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

For the podcast of this program, use this QR code or go to z.umn.edu/84nz

Diana Matheson, Dean Matheson ’08, Andrea Walsh ’88, and Prof. John Matheson

Randall Ryder ’09

Mitch Zamoff

Panelists Visiting Prof. David Schultz ’98, Visiting Assistant Prof. Elizabeth Bentley, Associate Prof. Alan Rozenshtein, and Associate Clinical Prof. Liliana Zaragoza.

MondaleMoments

1 3 4

1 Incoming 1Ls take an oath to abide by the Law School’s code of conduct. The oath was administered by Minnesota's 4th Judicial District Court Judge Luis A. Bartolomei ’94.

2 Layni Sprouse and Hanna Stenersen successfully represented a woman in a two-day-long divorce trial in Minnesota’s 4th Judicial District through the Law School’s Family Law Clinic. Visiting Clinical Professor Meghan Walsh and Clinical Professor Jean Sanderson served as a supervising attorneys.

3 Annie Brooking, 2L, this fall met up in Norway with two friends participating in Minnesota Law’s international study programs—Shelby Lauzon, 3L, and Liz Bovell, 3L. Lauzon is enrolled at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, and Bovell is enrolled at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.

4 In what has become an annual rite of passage at Minnesota Law, international J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. students took a bus trip to the Mall of America to purchase warm clothing appropriate to withstand the Minnesota winter.

5 Professor Christopher Roberts enjoying a lunch with the 1Ls whom he advises. Every 1L at the Law School is assigned a faculty advisor.

2 5 6 5 FALL 2022 MINNESOTA LAW

COMMENCEMENT

Kübra Bulut-Demirel, LLM ’22 of Turkey and Panda Visasnakorn, LL.M. ’22 of Thailand

(Back row) J.D. class speaker Schuyler Troy ’22, presenter Tarun Sharma ’22, LL.M. class speaker Morgane G.C. O’Connor ’22; (Front row) M.S. in Patent Law class speaker Elizabeth Sullivan ’22, Dean Garry W. Jenkins, presenter Haille Laws ’22

Photos: Jayme Halbritter

Law School Holds First In-Person Commencement in Three Years

The Law School held its 134th commencement on Saturday, May 14, at Northrop auditorium, the first time the ceremony has returned to its traditional venue as an in-person event since the onset of the COVID19 pandemic.

More than 1,700 people were on hand on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning as 235 J.D. candidates, 38 LL.M. candidates, seven Masters of Patent Law candidates, and one S.J.D. candidate were awarded their degrees.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge John R. Tunheim ’80 delivered the keynote address.

“My message to you today is that you must take this time of your life, you must take this great gift of education, and you must take this

spirit of this great University and give it back to your community and to your world,” the chief judge told the students. “Let your diploma remind you not only of a special place, but of a special obligation, for it truly is, as Churchill once said, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make our life by what we give.’”

Three faculty members were named as the 2022 recipients of the prestigious Stanley V. Kinyon Teacher of the Year Awards: Amy B. Monahan (tenured faculty); Linus Chan (clinical faculty); and Jon J. Lee (other professional faculty).

The student addresses were delivered by Schuyler Troy ’22, Morgane G.C. O’Connor, LL.M. ’22, and Elizabeth Sullivan, M.S. in Patent Law ’22

University of Minnesota EVP and Provost Rachel Croson, Ph.D., Dean Garry W. Jenkins, Chief U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim ’80, and University of Minnesota Regent David McMillan ’87

Carlton Hemphill ’22, Amanda Erickson ’22, Hannah Kalka ’22, and Ellie Soskin ’22

Minnesota Law Class of 2025 Sets Records in Academic Strength and Diversity

THE LAW SCHOOL’S NEW 1L CLASS has the strongest academic credentials and most diversity of any class in the Law School’s history.

The Class of 2025 has a median 3.83 undergraduate GPA and a median LSAT score of 168, both of which set new records. Six percent of incoming 1Ls have already earned a graduate degree in another field.

The 220+ members of the class of 2025 hail from 124 undergraduate institutions in 34 states, the District of Columbia, and four different countries. A quarter of the class are domestic students of color, matching last year’s record high. A record 28% self-identify as LGBTQ+, and 14% identify as first-generation college graduates. Combined, 50% of the class of 2025 identify as students of color, LGBTQ+, and/or firstgeneration college graduates, making the class the most diverse in Law School history.

The new 1Ls bring a wide array of life experiences, skills, and perspec tives. The class includes students who have won Fulbright scholarships, founded startups, reported for a small-town newspaper, invented an

eco-friendly cook stove, supported communities as AmeriCorps volun teers and organizers, applied for patents, and sung in the opera professionally. Several are parents and veterans.

“We are so proud to welcome such a talented and diverse class of future lawyer-leaders to the Minnesota Law community,” said Garry W. Jenkins, dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law. “This impressive and inspir ing cohort of students has much to contribute to Minnesota Law and the profession. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish at the Law School and beyond.”

The new class helped Minnesota Law set another record: With the class of 2025 combined with the two prior classes, the overall J.D. student body is now the most diverse it has ever been in the Law School’s nearly 135-year history.

In addition to the J.D. degree-seek ing students, Minnesota Law also welcomed nearly 50 lawyers in the one-year LL.M. program and as international exchange students from several countries, including Armenia, China, Eswatini, France, The Gambia,

This impressive and inspiring cohort of students has much to contribute to Minnesota Law and the profession. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish at the Law School and beyond.”

—Dean Garry W. Jenkins, William S. Pattee Professor of Law

Germany, Ghana, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, St. Martin, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, among others.

Faculty & Staff Notes

Faculty Arrivals

News about Law School Hires and Moves

she was a professor at Seattle University School of Law where she served as co-associate dean for research and faculty development.

Nadia Anguiano-Wehde ’17 was named a visiting assistant clinical professor to lead the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic for the 2022-23 academic year. She and her clinic students represent noncitizens in complex immigration cases before U.S. District Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

teaches and writes on labor and employment law, corporate law, data privacy, and algorithmic management. He was formerly the Callis Family Professor at Saint Louis University School of Law.

Elizabeth (“Betz”) Bentley joined the Law School in May as a visiting assistant professor and director of the Civil Rights Appellate Clinic. Bentley previously worked at the law firm of Jones Day. She also served as a clerk for Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the U.S. Supreme Court, Chief Judge Robert Katzmann of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and Judge Jed Rako of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York.

Matthew T. Bodie joined the Law School in August as the Robins Kaplan Professor of Law. Bodie

David R. Cleveland joined the Law School as a clinical professor of law and director of legal research and writing. Cleveland has been teaching legal research, writing, and analysis in law schools since 2005. His history of service and leadership in the law school setting include roles as a dean, associate dean, and legal writing director.

JaneAnne Murray was appointed as a clinical professor of law. Murray has been teaching at the Law School since 2011. She specializes in criminal law and government investigations and teaches criminal procedure and sentencing advocacy. Her research interests include plea bargaining, prosecutorial discretion, and sentencing. She is faculty director of the Clemency Clinic.

Charlotte Garden joined the Law School in August as the Julius E. Davis Professor of Law. Garden specializes in labor law, employ ment law, and constitutional law. Prior to joining the Law School,

Liliana Zaragoza joined the Law School in May as an associate professor of clinical law and director of the Law School’s newly launched Racial Justice Law Clinic. Prior to joining the faculty, Zaragoza was an assistant counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., where she worked on federal civil rights litigation and appeals to advance equity for Black people in the areas of voting, policing and the criminal legal system, and school desegregation.

Other Arrivals

Sarah Brenes joined the Law School in August as the new executive director of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans. Benes has been a strong advocate for the rights of non-citizens, including refugees and asylum seekers, for many years, most recently as director of the Refugee and Immigrant Program at the Advocates for Human Rights.

Mackenzie Heinrichs ’18 joined the Law School in June as immigration & human rights clinical fellow. Heinrichs previously served an Equal Justice Works fellow with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

Promotions

Ra'Shya Ghee ’13 joined the Law School in August as its inaugural assistant dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ghee practiced criminal defense and family law in Ohio at the municipal, state, and appellate levels for several years before moving into DEI consulting work. Her consulting work focused on cross-racial coaching, providing commentary on racial tensions to news and journalism outlets, and helping organizations center racial equity and operationalize anti-racist frameworks.

Seiko Shastri ’21 joined the Law School in June as an immigration litigation fellow. Shastri served as an immigration fellow for the Immigrant Defense Project from 2021-22.

Jay Wong, formerly director of student a airs, was promoted to assistant dean of students.

Departures

Kiri Somermeyer joined the Law School in June as executive director of the Corporate Institute. Somermeyer previously served as associate general counsel at Post Consumer Brands for six years. She served on the board of directors for Volunteer Lawyers Network and is on the Minnesota State Bar Association Access to Justice Committee. She also engages in a wide variety of pro bono work.

Erin Keyes ’00, assistant dean of students for 17 years, departed from the Law School in September to take on new challenges. "Decades of Minnesota Law lawyers, many of whom are now leaders of the legal profession and beyond, have been a ected by Erin, her support, and her outstanding leadership,” observed Dean Garry W. Jenkins

Abby Loyd, major gift o cer since 2019, left the Law School in August to become director of development at the University of St. Thomas Law School. Loyd was with the University since 2013 and with the Law School since 2015.

On September 1, Minnesota Law’s Alumni and Student Engagement Commi ee hosted its annual Student & Alumni Tailgate Event. Students and alumni kicked o the start of the Golden Gophers season with food, drinks, and plenty of fun.

Photos: Jayme Halbritter

Clinic Scores an Impactful Win Before Minnesota Supreme Court

MINNESOTA LAW’S CONSUMER

PROTECTION CLINIC scored a significant victory at the Minnesota Supreme Court last August in a ruling with statewide implications for low-income renters.

Professor Prentiss Cox ’90, who serves as the clinic’s supervising attorney, says the state high court decision in the clinic’s putative class action could lead to refunds of thousands of dollars in overcharges for many low-income tenants living in rent-controlled apartments in Minnesota.

The case exemplifies the kind of policy-changing litigation that student groups work on in the clinic, which Cox has helped lead since its inception 17 years ago.

“The student attorneys represent individuals dealing with things like consumer fraud and payment disputes with banks,” Cox says. “They also get experience working on bigger policy questions and impact litigation.”

The case—Linda Cobb Thompson v. St. Anthony Leased Housing Associates II, LP, et al., collectively referred to as Dominium—involves a dispute between residents of a rent-restricted housing unit and the project’s owner and manager. The clinic serves as co-counsel in the case along with the Housing Justice Center (HJC), a St. Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit public interest law firm.

Clinic students have worked on the

case for two years, gaining real-world legal experience through client meetings, researching legal issues, helping with briefing and, for one student, arguing the case before the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

A Matter of Limits

The dispute stems from a Minnesota program that issues state bonds to finance multi-family housing projects. In return for lower financing costs on the state-issued bonds, the developer must set aside 20% of the units for low-income tenants, with a rent limit on those units.

The question, according to Cox, was what rent limit should apply. The clinic contended that the “area fair market rent” limit in Minnesota, under state law, is based on a federal fair market rent figure published annually for each area—and that Dominium’s rent exceeded that limit. Dominium maintained that its rent did not exceed the limit set under a different standard by a local public housing authority.

The Supreme Court agreed with the clinic, finding that the federal fair market rent limit is the applicable standard.

Cox says the Clinic and HJC petitioned for Minnesota Supreme Court review on behalf of the putative class because they believed that the Court of Appeals had erred last year in affirming a district court

judge’s dismissal of the case. The appellate court panel, ruling against the clinic, had concluded that the phrase “area fair market rent” was ambiguous because it was a technical term.

The clinic argued that the law of statutory interpretation has long been that technical terms are to be interpreted according to their acquired meaning.

“This was a technical term that had a very clear acquired meaning and is pervasively used in housing law,” Cox says. “The Supreme Court agreed with us that the term was not ambiguous, and we prevailed.”

Reversing the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court sent the case back to district court. Cox argued for the clinic at the Supreme Court, which does not allow arguments from student attorneys.

Jordan Hughes ’22 had the opportunity to argue the case when it went before the Minnesota Court of Appeals

Photo: Tony Nelson

“ The experiential learning piece was above and beyond my favorite part of law school. That was hands down the best experience I could have gotten as a student.”

—John Goeppinger ’21

Student Experience

Clinic student Jordan Hughes ’22 had the opportunity to argue the case when it went before the Minnesota Court of Appeals two years ago.

Hughes credits experiential learning opportunities in the clinic with helping him prepare to appear before the state’s second-highest court.

“It put everything that I learned into practice in a really meaningful way,” Hughes says. “It made me feel like I was starting to become a lawyer.”

Cox says Hughes “did a great job at the court of appeals argument, and our co-counsel was very compli mentary,” referring to attorneys from the HJC.

“I started law school with an intention to use my law degree to help people, to make lives easier, and to help make the law a little more understandable for folks,” Hughes

says. “It was incredible to start doing that when I was still in law school and to get a result that I think will really help people.”

The ruling protects access to the courts for people who, like clinic client Linda Thompson, seek to enforce laws that are binding on a party with whom they have a contract but for which there is no express private right of action, Hughes says.

“Having that case law that says someone like Ms. Thompson can sue and protect says interests and ensure that they’re being treated fairly and legally is important,” says Hughes, now clerking for Judge Keala Ead in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District. He hopes to litigate impact cases involving environmental and energy matters.

Former clinic student attorney John Goeppinger ’21 says he never

dreamed he would help handle a class action as a second-year law student. Goeppinger is co-founder and director of the Legal Revolution, which helps incarcerated people pursue paralegal and law degrees.

“This was experience I wouldn’t have gotten if it weren’t for the clinic,” Goeppinger says. “The experiential learning piece was above and beyond my favorite part of law school. That was hands down the best experience I could have gotten as a student.”

Charlie O’Meara ’21, an associate at Nichols Kaster in Minneapolis, says his clinic experience on Thompson’s case built his confidence for private practice.

“I had my first client contact in the clinic,” O’Meara says. “Once I got to the cases I’m working on now, knowing a little bit of how that’s supposed to go made it a lot easier.”

Todd Nelson is a freelance writer in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Course Puts Modern Movements to Defund Police, Abolish Prisons into Historical Context

Through a humanities-based initiative, law students and grad students collaborate and learn together

IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE

FLOYD’S 2020 MURDER at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, talk of defunding or even abolishing police departments went mainstream.

But it was by no means a new topic, and a course at Minnesota Law entering its second year contextualizes the current debate through a historical exploration.

“Abolition and the Carceral State” is taught by Professor Susanna Blumenthal. The course examines the past, present, and possible future of the carceral state—not just the formal institutions of policing and punishment, but also policies, practices, and structures that criminal

ize and control populations within and beyond the physical space of jails, prisons, and detention centers.

“In a time when many are looking for alternatives to the criminal justice system, this course is intended to explore the uses of history in the pursuit of social transformation,” says Blumenthal, the William L. Prosser professor of law and professor of history.

Blumenthal’s aim is to start from the present and encourage students to “think about these latest calls for abolition in a broader historical context,” she says. “Those movements can be traced back to the 19th century and earlier.”

For purposes of the course, thinking historically about abolition means critically examining the parallels drawn between historical struggles to abolish slavery, Jim Crow, and other systems of oppression and those in our own times.

“The aim is to engage with history to make sense of our own times,” says Blumenthal. “It is for us a means of taking apart what’s taken for granted and identifying proverbial paths not taken that might yet be pursued to reduce harm and promote justice.”

Delving into the Archives

The work of the course includes archival research, and students have the opportunity to engage with scholars, advocates, and community organizations as they formulate and carry out their projects.

Once exposed to strands of abolitionist thought and its relevance to the history of criminal justice in the United States, students are trained to think critically about history—including about how it operates as a source of knowledge, frame of reference, and form of authority in legal argument, legisla tive debate, and public discourse.

Students not only read about advocates past and present, but also participate in the making of history as they undertake archival projects of their own—finding out what is in the archives, as well as what isn’t and why.

“We encourage them to read along and against the grain,” says Blumenthal. “Most of the research will be conducted in University archives and at the Minnesota Historical Society, where they will have the opportunity to interrogate

3L Akeeem Anderson

Treasure Tinsley

the historical record, attending to the silences and gaps which limit what we can know about the lived experiences of those most deeply impacted by the carceral state.”

Minnesota Transform Connection

“Abolition and the Carceral State” is partly an effort of Minnesota Transform, a racial justice and humanities-focused higher-education initiative funded via a $5 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Minnesota Transform works with partners on and off campus to create new knowledge about people and events that have historically been marginalized at the university.

Associate professor of history Tracey Deutsch, a faculty coordinator for Minnesota Transform, explains that the initiative puts humanities on the front lines of struggles for justice. “We were thrilled to support this class,” she says. “It exemplifies the relevance of archival and human ities work to solving urgent problems of racial justice.”

Planned outcomes for students taking the course include developing a strategy for approaching a complex socio-legal problem; explaining the relevance of historical knowledge and methods in legal argument and policymaking; and engaging in critical analyses of competing arguments and policy prescriptions.

The seminar-style course is designed to put law students in dialogue with graduate students in other departments, including sociology, American Studies, English literature, geography, and anthropology as well as history.

History Ph.D. candidate Treasure Tinsley serves as teaching assistant (TA) during the course’s first year last fall. She was a research assistant this summer, and is back serving as a TA this fall.

“My research examines urban renewal in Minneapolis in the 20th century, with a focus on the ways that these dramatic geographic changes worked to reinforce the socio-legal

structures of the carceral state,” says Tinsley. “Taking the course last year sparked an interest in legal history for me, as well as a deeper under standing of the connection of law to my work.”

For Tinsley, sharing the learning experience with law students has been a valuable component of her participation in the course. “As a historian, legalese often feels like a foreign language.” she says. “Working closely with law students allowed me to see my work and the texts of the class from an entirely different perspective. My peers often picked up on nuances and implications that would never have occurred to me. In return, I feel like the graduate students in the class were all able to bring the organizing frameworks of their fields into the class discussion, providing background and context to things like social movements, the

history of slavery, or abolitionist methodologies.”

Akeeem Anderson, a dual degree student in the J.D./Ph.D. program who took the course last year, agrees that the course’s interdisciplinary approach is one of greatest strengths.

The course offered an illuminating mix of the historical and the contem porary through unique readings and interesting guest speakers, Anderson says. He also valued the space the course provided for thinking about community building to advance racial justice.

“This class was particularly interesting as we live in the aftermath of various killings of black bodies and had to find ways to intellectually and physically grapple with living in a state heavily focused on policing and carceral logics,” he says.

By Dan Heilman, a Twin Cities-based freelance writer.

Professor Susanna Blumenthal

Law Library: Examining the Past, Enhancing the Present, Envisioning the Future

THE LAW LIBRARY’S CRITICAL

AND DIVERSE responsibilities range from preserving and expanding one of the nation’s finest legal rare book collections to integrating emerging technologies into every aspect of its services for faculty and students. With a laser focus on responding to the current and evolving curricular, research, and scholarly needs of current and future generations of law students and faculty, the Law Library is constantly assessing its priorities and strategically planning for the future. The following are a few important initiatives the Law Library has undertaken to fulfill its mission.

New Law Library Exhibit: “Tools of the Profession: Law Books and the History of Legal Education”

The Law Library’s Riesenfeld Rare Books Research Center recently opened a new exhibit, “Tools of the Profession: Law Books and the History of Legal Education,” curated by curator of rare books and special collections Ryan Greenwood and digital technology specialist Patrick Graybill. The exhibit offers an overview of the history of legal education through the literature that has profoundly shaped that history. From statute books to casebooks, and from treatises to dictionaries, legal literature was developed not only to

explain the law and aid professionals in practice, but also to guide students from the earliest stages of study.

The exhibit highlights the reciprocal nature of early legal literature and legal education. Early English legal treatises were based in part on classroom lectures, and collections of writs and pleadings were organized for students in London’s Inns of Court. In the United States, law books published for law students show the growth of American legal doctrines from their English common law roots.

Christopher Columbus Langdell’s 1871 casebook on contracts exempli fies the case method of teaching that revolutionized American legal instruction. The trove of legal literature in the Riesenfeld Center illustrates transformative develop ments in legal education over many centuries.

An accompanying exhibit, “Law Books in Legal Education at Minnesota,” curated by special collections assistant Lily Eisenthal, showcases literature drawn from the

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Law Library’s rich archives. The exhibit centers around historical coursebooks, lectures, exam prep material, student notebooks, and early exams that shed light on the history of legal education at the University of Minnesota Law School. Selections from the growing student notebook collection reveal how students engaged with the law through a rigorous and dynamic education.

University of Minnesota Law School Scholarship Repository

The Library’s Law School Scholarship Repository provides open access to published articles written by faculty during their time at the Law School, broadening the scholarly impact of our exceptionally prolific faculty. The Repository also serves as an archive for the Law School’s four student-ed ited journals and the faculty-edited Constitutional Commentary. Future content in the Repository will include selected content from Law Schoolsponsored lectures, conferences, and other scholarly events.

Journal Note Research Consultations

To optimally support the Law School’s journals, Law Library faculty members are assigned as personal research advisors to each student editor and staff member. The Library faculty conduct extensive research about each note topic in preparation for individual meetings with students. Throughout the academic year Library faculty provide support to students, as needed, to assist them in the development and drafting of their articles.

Experiential Learning: Legal Research Simulations

A Law School priority is to ensure that each student has ample opportu nities to complete the required six credits of “experiential coursework.”

The experiential educational requirement is designed to provide students with exposure to the actual practice of law through law clinics, externships or field placements, and simulation courses. Two Law Library faculty join the many other law

1 Engraving of Gray's Inn (1800) by Samuel Ireland.

2 Notes on pleading by Law School student Helen Spink ’25.

3 William Blackstone, A Discourse on the Study of the Law (1758).

4 Prof. Andrew Martineau

5 Prof. Loren Turner

faculty teaching the Law School’s broad array of experiential learning courses.

Professor Andrew Martineau teaches Practice-Ready Legal Research each semester. In addition to covering traditional types of legal research, this course incorporates advanced concepts and tools includ ing litigation analytics and legal research platforms that utilize artificial intelligence. Professor Loren Turner teaches PracticeReady International Legal Research. This course prepares students to research and analyze legal issues that involve international law and foreign law. Students gain knowledge that will assist them in policy and advocacy work, arbitration practice, and litigation in international tribunals and U.S. federal courts.

By Michael Hannon, associate director for access services & digital initiatives, and Ryan Greenwood, curator of rare books and special collections

IMPACT of GIVING

Decades Later, Class of ’76 Honors its Commencement

Speaker: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

IN JUNE 1976, a law professor from Columbia University took the stage at Northrop Auditorium to deliver a commencement address that would stick in the minds of that year’s Minnesota Law graduates. The speaker was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who would go on to champion litigation on behalf of women’s rights and serve for nearly three decades as a justice on the US Supreme Court.

“It was remarkable that we had this incredibly accomplished woman speaking at our graduation and none of us knew at the time what

she would become,” says Cynthia Rosenblatt ’76, founder of the law firm Ross Rosenblatt.

Fast forward to last year, and that same graduating class was planning their 45th reunion. A committee of alumni rallied around the idea of launching a scholarship. Norm Bjornnes ’76, who served as part of the reunion committee, says they thought back to that commencement address and decided to name the scholarship after the late Justice Ginsburg to acknowledge her many accomplishments. There was another

reason that it was such a good fit, too: the Class of 1976 had been at the vanguard of a sea change in women’s attendance in law schools.

“The proportion of women in our class was a much higher percentage than previous classes,” says Bjornnes, noting that the committee resolved to make the scholarship open to all applicants but to give precedent to women students. “Between Justice Ginsberg being a pioneer, a thought leader, and a beacon for women, and our class having a spike in women,

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1976

Photos: Public domain and courtesy of University of Minnesota Law School

it seemed fitting that the scholarship should favor women applicants.”

Bjornnes, whose career has focused on real estate law, tax law, and estate planning, is currently of counsel at Mulligan Bjornnes, a firm he founded with a fellow classmate. He recalls his own time in law school fondly.

“My legal education probably made my life as fulfilling as any choice I could have made,” he says. “I made lifelong friends, and it provided an opportunity for me to achieve pretty much of all the dreams I had for myself.”

Hoping to open up this same experience for today’s law students, he and Rosenblatt were among those who made early gifts to the new Class of 1976 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship in Law Their initiative soon inspired others to band together and contribute their own support. The effort was a success.

This summer, the first recipient of the scholarship was named: Meghan Zula, 1L. Since high school, Zula had known she wanted to study law. The constitutional law classes she took as an undergraduate at Michigan State University only reinforced her interest. Now, she is deciding between a concentration in either business law or intellectual property and technology law.

Considering the cost of pursuing a degree in law—and the debt that would come with it—Zula says the scholarship will make a huge impact in her life.

“It is an incredible honor to have been considered for, and then granted, this scholarship by the Class of 1976, especially with such a large, impactful name attached,” she says. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a lot of people’s role model. She’s someone to aspire to be like and to have as much of an impact as for the better of this country.”

Jean Hanson ’76, who also helped launch the new scholarship,

knows what a difference financial support can make. The recipient of another scholarship to which Hanson contributes recently shared that the assistance was the only way she was able to attend law school and pursue her dreams.

“I give from a grateful heart, thankful for what I have received, and I want to make the opportunity that was afforded to me available to others,” says Hanson, a retired partner with Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in New York City and a former general counsel at the US Department of the Treasury. “I asked only that she pay it forward and, if she is able, give a gift to a future student who will follow in her footsteps and, one day, be able to write her a heartfelt letter like the one she had written to me.”

The idea of paying generosity forward resonates with Rosenblatt. It’s one reason she sees the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship as such an important opportunity for her graduating class.

“The Class of ’76 is at a point in their lives when they can afford to be generous; we should all be giving back by now,” she says. “To know that there’s somebody out there who’s benefiting from this scholarship is just terrific.”

By Kevin Coss, a Twin Cities-based freelance writer.

Cynthia Rosenblatt ’76

Norm Bjornnes ’76

Meghan Zula, 1L

Photos: Tony Nelson

LEADING A LAW FIRM IN CHANGING TIMES

BY TODD NELSON

It is challenging but I think also an exciting time. We have come to realize that the path is not always the same for every person.”

PETER MICHAUD ’97 Chair-Elect, Ballard Spahr Philadelphia/Minneapolis

Minnesota Law alumni leading law firms and offices are navigating a rapidly changing world and profession. They’re contending with rising salaries, a press for work-life balance and greater diversity, and even existential ques tions about how or whether to return to the office.

Much of the change comes in the wake of a global pandemic that forced law firms to work remotely. The police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked racial and social justice movements across the country and around the world, is also driving change.

Recognizing the transformative impact of the past few years on the traditional way many firms worked, alumni leaders say flexibility, compassion, and empathy are key to adapting to this fluid new environment.

The need to change inevitably collides with a profession that often, by training, resists or is suspicious of change, says Peter Michaud ’97, chair-elect at Ballard Spahr LLP.

“It is challenging but I think also an exciting time,” Michaud says. “We have come to realize that the path is not always the same for every person.”

What worked for firms and clients in the past is not the only way to get things done, says Eva Weiler ’04, manag ing partner of the Orange County, Calif., office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

“For me, it’s trying to recognize that maybe the old school pattern of working in the office for X number of hours, Y days per week is perhaps antiquated, and we need to rethink how the actual attorney population that’s working for us now wants to live,” Weiler said.

Roshan Rajkumar ‘00, managing partner of Bowman and Brooke’s Minneapolis office and chair of the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee, said the office now includes 11 attorneys and staff members working remotely. In 2018, that number was zero.

“This is us being flexible,” Rajkumar says. “It's keeping me up at night just trying to figure out, how do we keep everyone together? When change happens, you have to be willing to meet it.”

Several alumni leaders of large and mid-sized law firms and offices shared their perspectives on the issues they are addressing to better position their firms in this new world.

Innovation, flexibility, and empathy are essential in addressing rapidly evolving workplace and client expectations, firm leaders say

Photo: Cory Ryan

Starting pay

All of the alumni leaders interviewed said their firms raised associate starting salaries in the last two years.

Kristin Zinsmaster ’10, hiring partner in the Minneapolis office of Jones Day, said that, like other global and national law firms in the Twin Cities, Jones Day has made a “dramatic” adjustment to starting associate salaries over the last several years.

“We are trying to recruit the best talent and we recog nize that most people coming out of law school have student loans and other bills to pay,” Zinsmaster says.

At Maslon LLP, the Minneapolis firm made two significant upward salary adjustments last year, says Keiko Sugisaka ’96, chair of the firm’s governance committee. The highest starting salary for law firms in the Twin Cities now is $220,000, compared to approxi mately $170,000 at the beginning of 2021.

Higher pay, however, can increase billing pressure on associates when firms also raise their billable hour goals, as Maslon did, Sugisaka says. Maslon, though, credits up to 100 hours of pro bono work as billable and is adding diversity, equity, and inclusion work to count toward billable hour goals.

Barbara Duffy ’89, president of Lane Powell PC in Seattle, says the firm took a unique approach to associate compensation changes, increasing salaries and bonuses while also lowering required billable hours from 1,850 to 1,750. Associates can receive credit for 100 hours of pro bono, diversity, equity and inclusion and wellbeing efforts. They also get bonuses for working more hours, but the firm caps the number of hours for which bonuses are available.

“We don’t think our associates do their best work in their 2,450th hour,” Duffy says. “We’re just trying to create the right incentives while not creating an environ ment where all incentives are to just bill, bill, bill.”

Many people are saying, ‘If I don’t want to be on the partnership track, is that okay? For me, it is. I’ve had to teach my partners within the firm that it’s okay. There are a lot of people who want the work-life balance or they just want the flexibility and they don’t want the responsibility of business development or leadership.”

RAJKUMAR ’00

In Minneapolis, Bowman and Brooke raised its starting salary to $130,000, up from $115,000, Rajkumar says. But even with the increase, the national litigation boutique firm finds it difficult to compete with the $200,000 starting pay at higher grossing national firms. To boost recruiting, Rajkumar counts on the firm’s ability to offer work-life balance and immediate opportunities for litigation and client connections.

“The top-of-their-class first-, second-, and third-year associates will have a variety of options and highly competitive compensation,” Rajkumar says. “This means we’ve been focusing on talent from firms smaller than us or the same size, so it’s changed how we’re going after people.”

ROSHAN

Managing P artner, Bowman and Brooke Minneapolis

Back to the office?

Only one of the firms interviewed—Jones Day’s Minneapolis location—is back in the office five days a week, albeit with significant flexibility afforded to both lawyers and staff. The firm, with 40 lawyers in Minneapolis and more than 2,500 around the world, is not recruiting based on a promise of hybrid work.

“We believe that law is best practiced—the craft of practicing law, if you will, is best developed—and our clients are best served when lawyers are in connection with each other,” Zinsmaster says. “We think that is most easily and authentically achieved when we're in the office, collaborating.”

Working remotely offers some benefits, and the Jones Day office largely operated efficiently and cost-effectively during pandemic-related shutdowns, says Zinsmaster. “But we're balancing those against what we really feel is a need to work together in person to build the lasting friendships and the long-term commitment to our team and the institution, and we think this is the way to do it,” she says.

Zinsmaster says this approach has worked for the law students she has interviewed.

“People who experienced online school seem hungry for an opportunity to be in person,” Zinsmaster says. “They tell us and we see it because they’re here, they’re ready to be in person, which we welcome.”

Bowman and Brooke’s office, with 25 attorneys, is fully remote, but hybrid in practice, Rajkumar said. He and his partners and non-attorney directors discussed a possible return to the office two days a week beginning in September. However, after much discussion at all levels, the Minneapolis office will be a place where team members will put time in the office as needed, whether that is zero or five days a week.

“

We don’t think our associates do their best work in their 2,450th hour. We’re just trying to create the right incentives while not creating an environment where all incentives are to just bill, bill, bill.”

BARBARA DUFFY ’89 President, Lane Powell PC Seattle

“We know there’s going to be some backlash,” Rajkumar said. “Everyone’s asking why do this when everyone’s being productive and the numbers are showing 2022 is going to be a great year for the firm as a whole. But at the same time, there’s something lost when we’re not seeing each other, when associates don’t come up to my door to ask a question or I can’t grab them to go have a coffee or a lunch.”

Those taking care of vulnerable adults or sick children, for example, will get some consideration. “We’re going to have compassion in that regard,” Rajkumar says.

Some recent hires are accepting less money to work remotely, Rajkumar says, coming in only as needed for meetings or social events. On a given day, approximately 30 to 40 people are in the office.

“For me, it’s trying to recognize that maybe the old school pattern of working in the office for X number of hours, Y days per week is perhaps antiquated, and we need to rethink how the actual attorney population that’s working for us now wants to live.”

EVA WEILER ’04

Managing P artner, Orange County, California office, Shook Hardy & Bacon

Maslon would like people to be in the office three days a week, but Sugisaka says there is flexibility with that standard. “We understand lots of things happen in people’s lives where that may not work in a given week.”

The firm continues to see the value in bringing people together in person. Practice leaders are having in-office meetings with their groups, and Maslon offers on-site training programs and is intentional about establishing mentoring relationships for associates if those are not developing naturally, Sugisaka says. The firm also offers opportunities on pro bono cases or affinity bar work to help develop networks and professional skills.

Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Orange County office is encouraging attorneys to work on site three days a week, Weiler says.

“There’s a fundamental attitude change that’s occurred,” Weiler says. “People have gotten accustomed to working at home and are quite productive and efficient, depending on the person. We’re still figuring out what makes the most sense for our teams, whether it’s litiga tion-specific, case-specific or team-specific. There’s much more flexibility to what we’re doing now.”

Lane Powell has embraced a flexible, hybrid work environment, Duffy says, with workforce survey data supporting that choice. The firm has reduced its office space in both Seattle and Portland.

“It’s our way of putting our money where our mouth is,” Duffy says of the smaller office footprint. “We just cannot lose our connection to each other because it’s vital to high-functioning teams and great client service.”

Practice teams are scheduling events and workplace meetings one day per week, Duffy says, as well as bringing people into the office for a purpose, such as on-site trainings, to keep teams bonded. The firm encourages associates to attend in-office events and to work in the office most days for their first eight weeks to get to know their teams.

Ballard Spahr also has adopted a hybrid model of three days per week in the office.

“I think the days of attorneys being expected to be in the office five days a week is a thing of the past,” Michaud says. “I don’t see that ever coming back, because we’ve seen now that we can work from home and be productive and still do what our clients need us to do.”

Culture is an important part of a firm, too, and nothing builds culture and collaboration like working in person, Michaud says. Ballard Spahr takes steps to make sure that attorneys interact when they are in the office, having lunches brought in or setting up happy hours in the common areas of the office.

“People work hard, and they really are trying their best,” says Michaud, who will succeed Ballard Spahr chair Mark Stewart in January 2024. “There are so many things going on in the world that can get in the way of doing your job and we want to help people through that. The one word that I think has made a difference in Mark’s leadership and, honestly the one thing that I will focus on when I become chair, that will be important to me, is empathy.”

“

We believe that law is best practiced— the craft of practicing law, if you will, is best developed—and our clients are best served when lawyers are in connection with each other. We think that is most easily and authentically achieved when we're in the office, collaborating.”

KRISTIN ZINSMASTER ’10

Hiring P artner, Jones Day Minneapolis

Next-generation expectations

Newer attorneys are more vocal about their desire for work-life balance. They want to see and take part in diversity initiatives and work with diverse colleagues. Some associates and even senior attorneys are ambivalent about working toward partnership.

“Many law students and associates who might be transferring in are looking for greater autonomy in their ability to kind of dictate what they’re doing and not doing,” Weiler, of Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Orange County office says. “There seems to be a greater desire to shape the way their work-life balance exists.”

At Maslon, where partner Steve Schleicher served pro bono as a special prosecutor in the Floyd murder trial, Sugisaka says younger attorneys want to do “meaningful work.”

“They want to have the opportunity to work where they can make a broader impact on social issues,” Sugisaka says. “The murder of George Floyd really heightened the awareness of racial equity issues in a way that probably hasn’t been matched since the ’60s.”

Diversity among the firm’s ranks is of great interest to summer associates at Ballard Spahr, where Michaud will be first openly gay person to serve as the firm’s chair.

“Law schools in general are more diverse and because law students are interacting with a more diverse group of people, they’re seeing the value in that, and that matters to them,” Michaud says. “I’m a diverse person, so it’s top of mind to me. We are very focused on diversity and making sure that we do not just hire diverse attorneys but that we create an atmosphere where they are valued and want to stay.”

The market for diverse attorneys is highly competitive, Rajkumar says, adding that recruits to Bowman and Brooke in Minneapolis often get hired away for substantially more money. He and partners in other offices have found some success in reaching out to diverse counterparts at other firms or in the public sector.

The traditional model of working late nights and weekends for a shot at a partnership is not what many students and some experienced attorneys want now, Michaud says.

“In the last few years, students are more likely to tell us what they want and tell us what they’re looking for, and that’s a good thing,” Michaud says. “They want work-life

balance and some associates want to know if there’s flexibility in how much that they have to work, flexibility in terms of even maybe they don’t want to be partner.”

Weiler also senses that changing attitude toward partnership.

“I think that quite possibility is a reality but I’ve had no one with the chutzpah to actually say it,” Weiler says.

Rajkumar has heard that, from newer attorneys and from partners who left other firms to join Bowman and Brooke as senior counsel. In 68 attorney interviews from February through July, only three candidates asked about partnership track.

“Many people are saying, ‘If I don’t want to be on the partnership track, is that okay?’” Rajkumar says. “For me, it is. I’ve had to teach my partners within the firm that it’s okay. There are a lot of people who want the work-life balance or they just want the flexibility and they don’t want the responsibility of business development or leadership.”

Todd Nelson is a freelance writer in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

[Younger attorneys] want to have the opportunity to work where they can make a broader impact on social issues. The murder of George Floyd really heightened the awareness of racial equity issues in a way that probably hasn’t been matched since the ’60s.”

KEIKO SUGISAKA ’96 Governance Committee Chair, Maslon LLP Minneapolis

From ADVOCATE to JUDGE

Photo: Jay Mallin

Ajmel Quereshi ’07 is taking his commitment to public service law to a new level with his appointment as a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

Quereshi took his oath of office last April after the judges of the district announced his selection from a slate of candidates.

“I have had the opportunity to engage in public service in a variety of different ways — as a law school professor, a civil rights litigator, a federal law clerk — all while working on civil rights issues at the national and local levels,” Quereshi says. “I am excited to continue working in the interests of the public but to do it in a different sphere with new challenges, new responsibilities and new expectations.”

It’s humbling to know that anything that I’ve done so far, and anything that I will do, is a product of other people supporting me. I hope to pay that forward to other people who are looking for similar advice, guidance and support in following a career in public service.”

U .S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE AJMEL QUERESHI ’0 7

One exciting aspect of the new job, Quereshi says, is the variety of issues he deals with daily. Magistrate judges have the authority to issue warrants, conduct preliminary proceedings such as initial appearances and arraignments, and hear cases involving petty offenses committed on federal lands. They also handle pretrial motions and hearings in civil and criminal cases. Magistrate judges also make bail determinations under the Bail Reform Act of 1984.

“Even for someone who pictured himself as a generalist, it is very rare as far as I know for anyone working in the legal field to one day be working on an issue under the Bail Reform Act, the next day be helping to settle an employment discrimination case and the next day be writing regarding a class-action issue,” Quereshi says.

Devotion to Public Service

Quereshi attributes his devotion to public service to experiences attending inner-city, predominantly minority public schools in Milwaukee, where he observed that “not all structures and systems in society provide equal opportunity to all individuals.” Also influential for Quereshi, as the son of Pakistani-American immigrants, was seeing the challenges that immigrants face.

While he’s no longer an advocate, he remains committed to inclusivity. “I still have a responsibility as a judge, as I did when I was an attorney, to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to be equally heard, and that the doors to the courthouse, metaphorically speaking, are open to all,” Quereshi observes.

The Law School’s renowned human rights program and the opportunity to work with Professor David Weissbrodt, the distinguished human rights law scholar who passed away late last year, drew Quereshi to Minnesota from Wisconsin. He also appreciated support and guidance from Professors Kristin Hickman, Michael Tonry and Brad Karkkainen. Quereshi returned to the Law School in 2017 to speak to those interested about following a public-service career path similar to his.

Civil Rights Advocate

Before his appointment as magistrate judge, Quereshi worked for more than seven years as senior counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He also has served as staff counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, a visiting assistant professor at Howard University Law School and a federal law clerk.

He was a Skadden Fellow at the ACLU of Maryland and received a Wasserstein Fellowship from Harvard Law School, a recognition for lawyers committed to mentoring junior lawyers committed to public service. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, English and History from Marquette University.

“I had really wonderful parents who were tremendously supportive,” Quereshi says. “In law school, the places I worked at, where I interned, and after I became a lawyer, senior lawyers were always incredibly generous with their time, support and advice. It’s humbling to know that anything that I’ve done so far, and anything that I will do, is a product of other people supporting me. I hope to pay that forward to other people who are looking for similar advice, guidance and support in following a career in public service.”

After a career as a civil rights lawyer, Ajmel Quereshi ’07 last spring became a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Maryland.

THEORY at WORK

Professor Amy Monahan’s nationally recognized acumen and insights straddle multiple fields

BY CATHY MADISON

Illustration: Robert Ball

Tax class may evoke fear in the minds of many lawyers, but Professor Amy Monahan is not one of those. As a law student, she mastered math and is now admired by colleagues for her rare ability to not only navigate intricate financial detail but also predict its ramifications in the real world. She is widely recognized across the country for her painstaking and influential work in public pensions and health care reform.

“A great big nerd who gets curious about intractable problems that other people find overwhelming” is how Professor William McGeveran describes Monahan, who was awarded the American Law Institute's prestigious Young Scholars Medal in 2013. Few others embrace what he calls the “rococo logic puzzle of federal law,” where each piece affects every other piece in ways unforeseen by many. Whether she is tackling an unfunded pension crisis or how to provide health care to uninsured Americans, “Every time she writes an article, it’s because she has perceived some kind of problem those compli cated laws will cause ordinary people,” McGeveran says.

A native Californian educated at Johns Hopkins University and Duke University School of Law, Monahan first considered international law, signing up for a tax law class only because “they said everyone should take tax law,” she says. “I thought it would be awful, but I ended up enjoying it.” As a summer associate, she pursued various avenues but discovered a home in the employee benefits practice group. Like tax law, employee benefits law involved “that detailed sort of puzzle created by complex statutes and accompanying regulations, but it was also about people,” she says. “For me it was a great mix of highly technical legal reasoning and subject matter that was inherently interesting.”

Monahan practiced with Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago, before she began teaching at Notre Dame and the University of Missouri law schools. In 2009, shortly before she left Missouri to join the Minnesota Law faculty, her academic career took a significant detour. “An economist walked across the quad to ask if I knew anything about state and local pension plans,” she explains. “I said no. He was hoping to convince me to write a paper on a topic that no one seemed to know anything about.”

The paper he convinced her to write, for a conference on teacher pensions, propelled her into the public policy

arena. The California Supreme Court, for example, cited her work in a 2019 pension case. She speaks frequently about the legal issues surrounding public pension plans at national conferences attended by state legislators, state and city budget officers, and municipal lenders.

“In many states and cities, politicians want to do the right thing,” she says. “My role is helping them understand what the law allows or doesn’t allow them to do.” That law can apply to a pension plan’s front end as a tool to force contributions, in the middle to manage funds, or at the back end to address potential shortfalls. Apart from economists, Monahan says, few understand how distressed state and local pension plans can affect all of us.

In 2010-11, Monahan served on the Institute of Medicine's Committee on the Determination of Essential Health Benefits, where helping to define which medical treatments and services health insurance plans must cover as part of the Affordable Care Act was a career highlight. “I got to see policy-making up close,” she says, noting that even though the approach recommended in the consensus report she and her colleagues created was not implemented due to political considerations, she learned valuable lessons.

Named a Stanley V. Kinyon Teacher of the Year in 2022, Monahan shares such lessons with enthusiasm, standing in front of the classroom, touchscreen in hand, scratching notes, walking her students through a particular thought process. “For something as abstract as employee benefits tax code, it’s hands-on,” McGeveran says.

“It’s really fun for me to teach,” Monahan says. She is delighted when students pursue an employee benefits practice and equally happy to facilitate their understanding of the economic life skills they will need in the real world, as future employees and eventual retirees.

“One of her specialties is playing things out six steps ahead,” adds McGeveran, who also cites Monahan’s participation in daily Zoom meetings during the pandemic while she was serving as associate dean. Her careful, analytical, thoughtful approach to the contemporary puzzle of masks, testing, and science was vital in getting the Law School through that time, he says. “She sees untangling the knots as a means to an end. She thinks about what effect it’s going to have. That is why her work is actually influencing public policy.”

Cathy Madison is a Twin Cities-based freelance writer.

Faculty News, Awards & Grants

Prof.

Wolf Part of Two Grant-Winning Teams

Professor Susan M. Wolf is a member of two teams that were recently awarded major grants: The National Science Foundation awarded Wolf and her team a major new grant to fund ground breaking work on the ethics of large, multidisciplinary engineering research networks. Innovative research is now often conducted by multidisciplinary and often multiinstitutional research teams.

Wolf and her colleagues were awarded a five-year grant from The National Institutes of Health on “Minnesota Precision Medicine

CKD & Resilient Diabetes Recruiting Site: Engagement, Enrollment & Ethics.”

Wolf is a Regents Professor; McKnight Presidential Professor of Law, Medicine & Public Policy; Faegre Baker Daniels Professor of Law; and Professor of Medicine. She the chair of the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences.

Prof. JaneAnne

Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the association’s annual meeting.

Founded in 1958, NACDL is dedicated to advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing.

Prof. Matheson Recognized for LCL Service

Professor John Matheson, who served two terms on the Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Minnesota Board of Directors, received the 2022 Fred Allen Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his excep tional service to others and his dedication to strengthening the endurance and principles of LCL.

Murray

Elected to Board of NACDL

Associate Clinical Professor of Practice JaneAnne Murray was elected to serve on the board of directors of the National Association of Criminal

Dean Jenkins Joins the Board of the National Women’s Law Center

Garry W. Jenkins, dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law, has joined the board of directors of the National Women’s Law Center. The non-profit organization, based in Washington, DC, fights for gender justice—in the courts, public policy, and society— working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls.

NWLC uses the law to change culture, drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes society, and break down the barriers that harm all people, especially women of color, LGBTQ communities, and lowincome women and families.

Prof. Kritzer Receives Prize for Empirical Scholarship

Professor Emeritus Herbert M. Kritzer received the Law & Society Association's Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for empirical scholarship and the advancement of research in law.

Founded in 1964, the Law and Society Association (LSA) is a group of scholars from many fields and countries who share a common interest in the place of law in social, political, economic, and cultural life. It is one of the leading professional associations for those interested in the sociology of law.

Prof. Zamoff Named Assistant Dean of Experiential Education

Professor Mitchell E. Zamoff was appointed Minnesota Law’s inaugural assistant dean of experiential education.

In the newly created role, Zamoff brings leadership and coordination to the Law School’s curriculum and programs to enhance and enrich the experiential education program at the Law School (exclud ing law clinics). His area includes Law in Practice, legal writing, moot court, mock trial, litigation and transactional skills courses, and field placement programs.

Zamoff is the J. Stewart and Mario Thomas McClendon Professor in Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinical Professor of Law.

the Law School community. His research interests include environ mental law and policy, criminal law and procedure, juvenile dependency, legal history and the history of legal education, the evolution of legal precedent, citation analysis, and the politics and sociology of legal and scholarly reputation and authority.

Earlier this year, Dewey was the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Labor History Society where he spoke on the historical efforts that work ing-class people have made to organize and fight for a cleaner environment.

Prof. Dewey Appointed Associate Librarian

Professor Scott Dewey, faculty research librarian, received a promo tion and continuous appointment as associate librarian.

Dewey specializes in faculty research support, providing in-depth research assistance to the Law School faculty. He also works closely with the Minnesota Law Review and provides other reference services to

Prof. Meili Promoted to Full Professor, Named Director of Law Clinics Steve Meili has been elevated to rank of full professor and been appointed director of law clinics.

Meili, the James H. Michael Chair in International Human Rights Law, joined the Law School in 2008 and became a tenured associate professor in 2018. He previously held the James H. Binger Professorship in Clinical Law (awarded in 2019). He writes and teaches about the rights of nonciti zens, particularly those seeking asylum. He is also director of the Law School’s Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, where students represent asylum seekers and trafficking victims in various immigration and appellate court proceedings.

Meili’s role as director of Law Clinics began last summer. The Law School has more than 25 law clinics in a wide variety of legal areas.

Dean Jenkins Recognized with Diversity and Inclusion Award

Garry W. Jenkins, dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law, was honored by Minnesota Lawyer with a Diversity and Inclusion Award.

The award is for groups and individuals who have made a significant impact with respect to diversity and inclusion on the greater community or within their organizations. Recipients were honored at an awards celebration on October 5.

The Law School has made significant strides in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) during Jenkins’ six years as dean, including welcoming three consecutive classes with a record level of diversity, implementing a number of DEI initiatives, and expanding the Law School’s racial justice programing.

Dean Jenkins with his award

Celebrating AND HIS ROBERT STEIN ’61 –yearTEACHING

LEGACY

IN HIS 50 YEARS TEACHING at Minnesota Law, Robert Stein ’61 has served as a transformational leader and beloved professor who helped reshape the school from stalwart regional player to national and international powerhouse. The Everett Fraser Professor of Law, Stein has brought deep and wide acclaim to Minnesota Law as a leader, scholar, teacher, and champion.

Garry W. Jenkins, dean and William S. Pattee professor of law, calls Stein a visionary leader who is one of the most important and influential figures in Minnesota Law history. Alumni frequently mention Stein when asked to name someone who made a difference in their education and career. “He’s shaped what it means to be a Minnesota Law lawyer, what it means to hold a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law,” Jenkins says. “The degree we offer is more powerful, more mean ingful because of Bob Stein and his work on behalf of the institution.”

Minnesota Law leaders began recruiting Stein to join the faculty immediately after he graduated from the Law School, impressed by his

record-high cumulative GPA. He worked in private practice for a few years before becoming a professor in 1964, first teaching property law and real estate, later adding wills, trusts, and estate planning. The University tapped Stein to be vice president for administration and planning for two years before he was named dean of the Law School in 1979.

Stein served for 15 years, an incredibly long tenure for a dean, says former Minnesota Law Dean Thomas Sullivan, Stein’s successor. Sullivan highlights three key areas where Stein made his mark: recruit ing stellar faculty, helping build Minnesota Law’s Walter F. Mondale Hall, and cultivating strong relation ships with alumni.

“I know very well from personal and detailed information what a great dean Stein was,” says Sullivan, a professor emeritus at and former president of the University of Vermont. “The great, outstanding faculty he hired—that is really the hallmark of his deanship—people who remain at the school and who went on to other distinguished universities, to national acclaim.”

A Transformative Leader

Oren Gross, the Irving Younger Professor of Law and associate dean for academic affairs, says Stein is an entrepreneur with a clear vision for making Minnesota Law a top-tier school. “As a dean, he really trans formed the Law School, both from the perspective of the faculty and the students,” Gross says. “He set the tone at Minnesota that it’s the place you want to be.”

Legal stars listened to him. Stein reshaped the faculty during his tenure, Gross says. He built an endowment that grew the Law School’s endowed chairs from zero to 28 and the number of tenured women faculty from three to 11. He also helped increase students of color from 4 percent of the student body to 21.5 percent. In addition, Stein brought Minnesota Law onto the world stage by creating its first exchange program, with Uppsala University in Sweden in 1980. Later, he developed a similar program with Universite Jean Moulin in Lyon, France. On top of these accomplishments, Gross says Stein is a fantastic teacher.

Illustration: Robert Ball

1980 1974

‘I

For Stein, teaching has been a significant and beloved part of his career. He eagerly returned to Minnesota Law to teach after serving as executive director and chief operating officer of the American Bar Association for 12 years. Stein took on courses on the rule of law and the U.S. Supreme Court, covering the major cases that have shaped the nation.

He stays in contact with many former students and enjoys watching their careers unfold. “I love to engage in ideas with young people and learn from them as much as teach them,” Stein says. “As often as I teach a subject, it’s not uncommon for students to bring up a new insight. I enjoy the intellectual engagement that we have.”

One of Stein’s most significant contributions to the Law School was the Jurist in Resident program he founded to bring U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor, William Rehnquist, and Harry Blackmun to the Law School. Later, Stein and his wife, Sandy, endowed the Robert A. Stein Lecture Series

to host leaders from the bench and bar to speak at the University. Starting with former Vice President Walter F. Mondale ’56 in 2013, the series has welcomed Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, Sonia Sotomayor, John Roberts, and Elena Kagan for lectures and interaction with students, faculty, and the legal community.

Stein says he developed the series because it is invaluable for students and faculty to gain exposure to jurists as people and learn more about their case selections, decisions, and role on the court.

University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel points to the Stein Lecture as just one example of his impact on Minnesota Law and the University. “Bob is one of the foremost legal minds of our time, a leader, and trailblazer at the upper reaches of higher education, govern ment, and the law,” Gabel says. “He’s someone who demonstrates that a life of purpose, impact, and service to others not only makes our University better but makes us all better.”

For his many contributions to Minnesota Law, Stein received the

University’s Global Engagement Award in 2016 and the University President’s Award for Outstanding Service in 2017.

Leadership both within the University and in the wider profes sion also have been vital aspects of Stein’s work. Former Minnesota Law Dean David Wippman, who is currently the president of Hamilton College, says that Stein’s history of Minnesota Law, In Pursuit of Excellence, is an apt description of his career, too. “I think about his work on the Uniform Law Commission, his leadership of the ABA, and all of the public service he’s done. Really, we, the Law School, the University, the State of Minnesota, and the country owe Bob a profound debt of gratitude.”

To view a tribute video celebrating Professor Stein and his contributions, use this QR code or go to: z.umn.edu/84yx

Love to Engage in Ideas’

By Suzy Frisch, a Twin Cities-based freelance writer

1988 (Minnesota Law Centennial Celebration) with Vice President Walter F. Mondale ’56

FACULTY Spotlight

David R. Cleveland Clinical Professor of Law and Director of

Legal Research and Writing

David R. Cleveland joined the Minnesota Law faculty this fall as clinical professor of law and director of legal research and writing. He has taught legal research, writing, and analysis in law schools for 17 years, including at Nova Southeastern University, Valparaiso University, University of Denver, and Mitchell Hamline. He also has a strong background in law school leadership, having served as a dean, associate dean, and legal writing director at various points in his career.

Photo: Tony Nelson

What interests you so much about legal writing and what do you most enjoy about teaching it?

Legal writing, particularly 1L legal writing, teaches critical legal analysis and communication skills that are fundamental to any law career. How we think, how we communicate, and who we are as lawyers are all closely intertwined. I enjoy being part of the professional development of my students on these core issues.

What are some of the trends you are seeing in the legal research and writing field?

Scholarly works in the field are increasingly diverse and interdisci plinary, which helps improve pedagogy in the classroom. The legal profession’s growing demand for “practice-ready” and highly capable legal writers has brought a renewed emphasis on legal writing education.

Do you observe any misconceptions about legal research and writing?

Entering law students sometimes underestimate the extent to which legal practice of all kinds relies on quality legal writing. The popular image of a lawyer as oral advocate, negotiator, public speaker, or the like tends to omit the extensive legal writing those lawyers were required to do in preparation for those oral presentations. Similarly, many assume that prior success, or strug gle, as a writer is automatically transferable to legal writing. In reality, legal writing is a skill that can be learned and the best lawyers continue to improve throughout their years in practice.

What are the best legal research and writing tips you would offer today’s law students?

First, start early. Dashing off an essay at the last minute is a staple of the undergraduate experience, especially for bright students. That approach will not work for law

“ How we think, how we communicate, and who we are as lawyers are all closely intertwined. I enjoy being part of the professional development of my students on these core issues.”

—Prof. David R. Cleveland

students or lawyers. Second, approach the task with project management in mind. Most legal research and writing tasks involve identifying the problem, researching the facts and law, planning the writing, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading. Students should set internal deadlines that make sense for the work required and time allotted. Third, structure is critically important to legal analysis and writing. Outlining your work is well worth the time it takes. Similarly, editing is well worth the time it takes as you near the end of your writing process.

On what topics do you most enjoy researching and writing?

I enjoy examining the policies and practices of the federal courts, especially around opinion publica tion, oral argument, and other aspects of communication to and from the courts. I also enjoy explor ing the history of legal writing instruction in the United States. Finally, legal ethics and gambling law have been areas of interest for me throughout my career.

What are examples of legal scholarship that you are particularly proud of having written?

My first article was a lengthy exploration of the history of court opinions from the birth of the common law to the modern debate over unpublished opinions. It has been widely cited in both academic and litigation sources. The series of articles that follow it continue to explore the federal appellate courts’ unpublished opinion practices in a thoughtful, revealing way of

which I am especially proud. Recently, I’ve been invited to co-author book chapters on legal writing as a discipline, and these projects were gratifying as well.

What are you most looking forward to about serving as director of legal research and writing at Minnesota Law?

I’m looking forward to working with the wonderful faculty, staff, and students here at the Law School. I join Minnesota Law with a unique set of experiences including an education degree; experience teaching at the high school, college, and law school levels; almost two decades of teaching legal research and writing; leadership in the national legal writing community; and service as a law school dean. Directing the program here will allow me to bring that wide range of experiences to serve this community.

What do you like to do with your free time?

I love to cook (and, to be honest, eat)! I enjoy everything about putting a meal together and serving others, and I’m always on the lookout for great restaurants, breweries, and food trucks around town. I also enjoy reading, writing, playing games, and walking my dogs.

Could you share a “fun fact” about yourself?

Many years ago, a group of students gave me the nickname “The Red Dragon.” If you drop by my office and see a fair amount of dragon imagery, it’s a result of this enduring moniker.

Putting Her Passion into Practice

In law and beyond, Associate Clinical Professor Liliana Zaragoza’s focus is on racial justice

AS THE ONLY CHILD OF A SINGLE MOTHER who immigrated from Mexico to Tucson, Arizona, Liliana Zaragoza understands the barriers people of color and low income can face in this country.

Zaragoza joined Minnesota Law this fall, bringing deep personal and professional experience to her new position as associate clinical profes sor and head of the new Racial Justice Law Clinic. She comes to the Law School most recently from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF).

“Racism and xenophobia have touched my life in many ways, starting when I was very young,” Zaragoza says. “I was inquisitive and talkative in elementary school, so teachers immediately wanted to place me in special education because that often happens with kids of color.”

Instead, her mother, a teacher herself, advocated for testing and Zaragoza was placed in a gifted and talented program.

The family moved often because they were poor and because her mother wanted Zaragoza to go to quality public schools. She tested into Tucson’s University High School, a school that was created out of a racial desegregation lawsuit and became a feeder for top colleges and universities around the country. She landed at the University of Chicago, earning a degree in international studies and human rights.

While in college, she worked at grassroots organizations focused on

mobilizing Latinx and immigrant populations. “At the time, organizing was really hard for me,” she says. “You almost never see the results of your work even though it’s essential work.”

Pursuing Her Passions in Law Zaragoza went to Columbia Law School convinced that she wanted to be an immigration lawyer and joined with others to advocate for an immigration clinic. But her 1L constitutional law course focused on the Fourteenth Amendment altered her career path. “The lens of the Fourteenth Amendment and the fact that our laws have long controlled entry and citizenship on the basis of race made me want to work on systemic issues instead of taking one immigration case at a time,” she says.

After serving as the first Latinx editor-in-chief of the Columbia Law Review and obtaining her J.D., Zaragoza received a Skadden Fellowship. She proposed a project to represent domestic workers in wage and hour claims in light of the recently enacted New York Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights. Because her mother’s first job in the U.S. was domestic work, she says it was a “full-circle moment” for her. She forged relationships with organiza tions across myriad communities to increase understanding of domestic worker rights and helped individuals determine their legal path.

“While I knew I wanted to pursue systemic work, impact litigation can be theoretical and sometimes

divorced from what actual clients need,” she says. “I wanted to make sure my work was grounded in direct work.”

Following her fellowship, she served as a John Payton Appellate and Supreme Court Advocacy Fellow at LDF. She then clerked for Judge L. Felipe Restrepo on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Judge Victor Marrero in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York before returning to LDF as assistant counsel.

Impactful

Teaching

Zaragoza will now have the opportu nity to teach the next generation of attorneys at Minnesota Law. She will marry her organizing and impact litigation experience as she develops the racial justice clinic she proposed when she applied for the clinical professor position.

“Combatting racism and settler colonialism has always been neces sary in the United States, but this work is especially urgent here in Minnesota, where George Floyd and numerous others have been mur dered by the State, Line 3 was allowed to continue against Indigenous resistance, and racial disparities remain some of the starkest in the country,” she says. “It is urgent at this moment in time, when legislatures across the country are working to ban the teaching of critical race theory, to lean into this work.”

By Kathy Graves, a Twin Cities-based freelance writer

“

While I knew I wanted to pursue systemic work, impact litigation can be theoretical and sometimes divorced from what actual clients need. I wanted to make sure my work was grounded in direct work.”

—Prof. Liliana Zaragoza

Photo: Tony Nelson

Leaders in Labor & Employment Law

PROFESSORS CHARLOTTE

GARDEN AND MATTHEW BODIE

joined the faculty this fall, bringing significant expertise in labor and employment law, an area in which Minnesota Law has long been recognized as a powerhouse.

“Minnesota Law hit a home run in hiring these two,” says Professor Stephen Befort ’74, who retired last spring after a nearly 40-year career at the University. “To hire two people the caliber of Charlotte and Matt speaks volumes about this school’s commitment to labor and employ ment law.”

Befort, along with Professor Emerita Laura Cooper, helped establish the Law School’s national reputation for excellence in labor and employment law, developing a concentration, producing incisive scholarship and legal writing, and bringing public-sector experience to the classroom.

“With both Laura and I stepping down, we needed to ensure professors who could teach both labor and employment to keep Minnesota Law at the forefront,” says Befort. “We got that in Charlotte and Matt. They have stellar credentials, excellent

Labor and the Constitution Garden, Julius E. Davis Professor of Law, comes to Minnesota Law from Seattle University School of Law, where she was a professor of law and co-associate dean for research. Her scholarship focuses on the intersec tion of work/labor/technology and the U.S. Constitution.

“I was drawn to Minnesota Law because both students and faculty saw the importance of having labor

reputations as classroom teachers, and connections across the country that will benefit our students.”

Two new scholars reaffirm Minnesota Law’s reputation as powerhouse in key legal area

Photo: Tony Nelson

and employment as a key part of the curriculum,” says Garden. “The school has an excellent reputation, one of the top bar passage rates in the country, and brilliant faculty, many of whom work in areas that are related to my field.” She was espe cially excited about teaching fall-se mester 1Ls for the first time. “My colleagues tell me that these first-year students are absolutely full of enthusiasm, and I’m excited to be one of the first faculty to welcome them to the profession.”

Garden is a co-author of two leading labor and employment law casebooks: Modern Labor Law in the Private and Public Sectors (Carolina Academic Press) and Employment Law Cases and Materials (Foundation Press). Her articles have appeared in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Emory Law Journal, Boston University Law Review, George Washington Law Review, Fordham Law Review, William & Mary Law Review, and the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, among others. She has shared legal analysis regularly with the New York Times, NPR, Bloomberg, the Washington Post, The Nation, and Politico. A graduate of NYU School of Law and McGill University, she has collaborated with Bodie on several amicus briefs and as co-editors of Jotwell, a labor and employment blog where legal academics can identify, celebrate, and discuss the best new scholarship relevant to the law.

Garden says Minnesota is a great place to do labor work because of the history of the labor movement in the state. “I am most interested in how law helps or stymies workers in exercising their power collectively,” she says. She notes that union density has been falling since the 1950s. “The fact that union density is under 10 percent should concern all of us. Unions are core to a strong democracy.” But, she says, with recent initiatives such as Red for Ed and unionizing efforts at companies such as Amazon and Starbucks, there are indications of a rebirth of unionization.

“Charlotte is a dynamo,” says Befort. “I’ve seen her work in a labor law academic group and on amicus briefs. She gets students involved. Women are underrepresented in labor law but people like Charlotte are changing that.”

Governance and the Role of Information

Bodie, Robins Kaplan Professor of Law, previously served as Callis Family Professor of Law and codirector of the William C. Wefel Center for Employment Law at Saint Louis University School of Law. His scholarship focuses on the role of information, control, and governance within the corporation and the workplace. He got his start in labor and employment law as a field attorney in the New York office of the National Labor Relations Board, investigating and litigating unfair labor practice charges, including a case involving the National Hockey League.

“There is a great tradition of labor and employment at Minnesota Law,” says Bodie. “I look forward to building upon the school’s national position as a leader in the field. It’s really exciting to work with Charlotte and with the terrific business law faculty I’ve gotten to know well over the course of my career.” He will serve as faculty chair of the Labor and Employment Law Concentration.

Bodie’s book, Reconstructing the Corporation: From Shareholder Primacy to Shared Governance, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2021 and argues for employ ees to be more involved in corporate governance. He also served as one of the reporters for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of Employment Law, acting as the primary reporter for the chapter on workplace privacy and autonomy.

His most recent article focused on the regulation of worker data through legal regimes relating to employment law, privacy law, and intellectual property law. “Employers are collecting more and more

“

With both Laura [Cooper] and I stepping down, we needed to ensure professors who could teach both labor and employment to keep Minnesota Law at the forefront. We got that in Charlotte and Matt. They have stellar credentials, excellent reputations as classroom teachers, and connections across the country that will benefit our students.”

—Prof. Stephen Befort ’74

information about their employees, over a wider spectrum of life activi ties,” he says. “We have to adapt the law to give workers more under standing and control when it comes to their own data.”

Bodie graduated from Princeton University and earned his J.D. at Harvard Law and LL.M. at New York University School of Law. His articles have appeared in the Boston University Law Review, Maryland Law Review, Washington University Law Review, Notre Dame Law Review, Georgetown Law Journal, and Virginia Law Review, among others. He is a frequent contributor to media on labor and employment issues and has been quoted numerous times recently in the New York Times regarding the Starbucks union organizing drive.

Ushering in a New Era

Befort says that stepping back from a lifetime of work is made easier with the hire of Garden and Bodie. “I’ve watched Charlotte and Matt become national leaders,” he says. “When I saw them present at conferences and share scholarship, I knew these two were really good. I’m proud to have them at Minnesota Law and look forward to where they will take us next.”

By Kathy Graves, a Twin Cities-based freelance writer

Lucy Chin, 2L

WHY DID YOU GO TO LAW SCHOOL?

Many of the people with whom I worked and looked up to through out college were lawyers. I was inspired by how their professional training uniquely positioned them to address systemic social chal lenges and the way they were able to support their clients in moments of extreme di culty. Toward the end of college, I realized that I was interested in doing that same sort of advocacy work and that a law degree would allow me to combine my interests in community organiz ing with direct representation. I am deeply interested in advocacy that centers those most impacted, but with the fewest resources, to make their voices heard. I believe that lawyers can be important partners in helping such clients access individual justice. Lawyers can also support movements to address structural challenges that exist in our political system.

WHY MINNESOTA LAW?

I was drawn to Minnesota Law because of its reputation as a community that values both intellectual rigor and camaraderie among students, sta , and faculty alike. I was also drawn to Minnesota Law because of its robust public interest o erings. I have found several professors who engage in incredible scholarship and have also made themselves available to serve as mentors. I have been able to expand my understanding of public interest law through so many

di erent channels, all of which have been amazing supplements to my formal classroom experiences.

WHAT TYPE OF LAW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRACTICE?

I hope to develop a career at the intersection of civil rights litigation, community organizing, and policy advocacy with a specific focus on reform and reimagination of our criminal legal system.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

The most memorable parts of my law school career to date have been working as a research assistant in the Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, serving as a student instructor in the 1L Legal Research and Writing Course, and being part of the Racial Justice Law Clinic.

WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN IN THE RACIAL JUSTICE LAW CLINIC?

In just the first few weeks, I have had the opportunity to expand my understanding of critical race theory and important contempo rary racial justice issues while also practicing the skills that comprise movement lawyering. I am lucky to be in community with three other students and Professor [Liliana] Zaragoza. We have been able to support one another and create a transformative classroom space in which I know I will continue to learn so much.

HOW DID YOU SPEND YOUR 1L SUMMER?

This past summer I worked with the Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) of the Federal Public Defender in the Western District of Missouri. The CHU represents individuals who are challenging state-based death sentences within the federal court system. The experience provided an opportunity to explore legal representation from a number of di erent vantage points, including procedural advocacy, appellate litigation, client interviewing, and legal research and writing.

WHAT DOES BEING A LAWYERLEADER MEAN TO YOU?

To me, being a lawyer-leader means embedding oneself in community and thoughtfully using one’s skills and platform to address structural disparity and advance social justice. It means evaluating current practices with a critical eye and being unafraid to challenge norms that perpetuate systemic inequities.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?

I was new to the Twin Cities when I started law school last year and I have absolutely loved getting to explore the place that I now call home. In my free time, I like to find fun walking paths for my puppy and me to explore. I also love cooking and baking and keeping my friends well-fed.

One of the first students to enroll in the Law School’s new Racial Justice Law Clinic, she is a former social worker with an interest in civil rights

Photo: Tony Nelson

WHAT I DID Last Summer

Anna Bachan, 3L Legal Intern

O ce of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Geneva, Switzerland

“I plan to pursue a career as an international human rights lawyer within the United Nations or the International Criminal Court. This experience was pivotal for my career path as it provided insight into the complexities and advantages of international law. It also cemented my dedication to defending the rights of victims of human rights atrocities and to holding perpetrators around the world accountable for violations of international law.”

Andrew Kim, 2L Legal Intern

Mathpresso (QANDA), edtech startup Seoul, South Korea

“I believe I now have a more realistic view of working as an attorney. I am interested in corporate law practice in a law firm, and my experience in Mathpresso (QANDA) provided me with a foundation as I now understand what types of legal advice corporations would seek from a law firm.”

Minnesota Law students found summer jobs in a wide variety of career settings across the country and globe. Here are a few of their stories.

Kim Ortleb, 3L Law Clerk

White House Council on Environmental Quality Washington, D.C.

“Every day at Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) was di erent, which made the job fun. One day I could be editing a report to Congress, another day I could be researching a legal issue related to the National Environmental Policy Act. I hope to one day work in government as an environmental lawyer, so working at CEQ, which coordinates national environmental policy, was an invaluable experience.”

Jesse Noltimier, 3L Summer Associate Cravath, Swaine & Moore New York City

“I want to be a litigator, so my experience in the litigation department was a great window into what that that work is actually like in practice. I helped prepare a brief, drafted part of a document request, and attended closing arguments in a trial.”

Chad Nowlan, 2L Legal Intern

U.S. Department of Education, O ce for Civil Rights Washington, D.C.

“I came to law school after working in higher education with the goal of reforming the policies that had the biggest impact on my students. Being a part of the policy creation and implementation process feels like a perfect way to bridge my experience with my future interests.”

Eric Quintana-Snyder, 2L Judicial Intern

Colorado Supreme Court Justice Monica M. Márquez Denver, Colorado

“Life at the court was hectic, and you never really knew what was going to come through the door on any given day. Sometimes I reviewed a petition for certiorari, other times I worked on a bench memo, and still other times I spent time in chambers talking through issues with the clerks and justice.”

2025 MEET THE CLASS OF

MIKAELA SMITH

A freshman from Duluth, Minnesota, who walked on to the George Washington University varsity sailing team, Mikaela Smith, 1L, helped saved the program when it was slated to be cut as a cost-saving measure. Working with the university adminis tration, she led fundraising efforts that sustained the program as a club team. She was unanimously elected president of the club’s executive board, and last spring the team was ranked #11 in the nation, including varsity programs.

LAUREN HAMILTON

After establishing a career in food and wine photography, Lauren Hamilton, 1L, made the decision to return to college. She earned a bachelor’s degree in French Studies, graduating cum laude from UCLA. She opted to continue her education at Minnesota Law to explore how to make an impact in the public and international sectors through human rights law.

CHAD PELTIER

After earning his Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Michigan State University, Chad Peltier, 1L, was recruited by the U.S. Navy to oversee the Submarine Force’s psychological screening program. Peltier, who also holds a master's degree in public administration, is enrolled in the joint J.D./MBA program at the University of Minnesota. He plans to use his combined skills to help create well-informed, evidence-based health care policy.

Incoming students at Minnesota Law are bringing a remarkable breadth of experience and interests. Here is a small sampling of the rich and varied background and stories represented in our newest class.

HANS HOLZNER

Hans Holzner, 1L, grew up in a multicultural and multilingual home with an American mother and a Mexican father whose parents were Italian immigrants from the Germanspeaking part of northern Italy. When he was two years old, his family moved to Chad, Africa, where they lived for ten years. He has also lived in France and Spain, and spent signifi cant time in Cameroon, Kenya, and Italy. As the child of an immigrant, and with significant experience living in places around the world, he says he is drawn to the field of immigration.

REAUNA STIFF

Reauna Stiff, 1L, served as student body president of Minnesota State University-Mankato, home to 14,000 students. During her term, she helped create a new position for a social worker who could guide homeless students toward housing resources. She also secured a contract for a new housing website that would increase transparency between landlords and student tenants.

MEET THE LL.M. CLASS OF 2023

SHAGHEK MANJIKIAN

Shaghek Manjikian came to Minnesota Law from Armenia as a Fulbright scholar to obtain her LL.M. with a Business Law Concentration. Originally from Syria, Manjikian lived through the civil war there and has published stories based on her experiences. She is hoping to use the knowledge and experience she gains in the LL.M. program to promote alternative dispute resolution in Armenia.

MADISON RUBIN

Madison Rubin, 1L, graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from Iowa State University. Her work explored areas such as specified drug delivery for cancer treatments and the utilization of biopesticides to address problems throughout agriculture. She experienced firsthand the challenges faced by women in STEM fields and plans to use her combined science and law expertise to assist women innovators.

DAVID & KELLI JOHNSON

David Johnson, 1L, and his spouse, Kelli Johnson, 1L, relocated from Seattle to their native Midwest to attend Minnesota Law. David, who most recently served in controller roles within the high-end millwork and lumber industry, is contemplating environmental law. Kelli, who was a senior financial partner at a large healthcare organization, is interested in specializing in health care law, with a focus in reproductive justice. “Minnesota Law has great programs that fit each of our potential areas of concentration,” David says.

SAMKELO DLAMINI

Samkelo Dlamini hails from Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland). A Fulbright scholar, he has served as a legal officer with his country's Financial Services Regulatory Authority and is interested in pursuing banking and finance law to help alleviate poverty in his native land.

Big Picture

GRATEFUL GOPHERS

Minnesota Law students stopped by Auerbach Commons on October 6 to say thank you to alumni and friends who support Minnesota Law. These lawyer-leaders are #UMNProud!

In the photo (from left to right): 1Ls Shannon Tierney, Harris Scharf, Sam Buisman, Wendy Erickson, and Cal Young

Photo: Cory Ryan

ALUMNI Interrogatory

Judge Elise Larson ’12 Minnesota Court of Appeals

Appellate court judges ensure our processes are fair, that parties feel heard, and that society has confidence in our democracy. To me, there is no higher professional calling.” —Judge Elise Larson ’12

Elise Larson ’12 became the newest judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals with her appointment this past summer. She previously served as the Water Program Director and senior attorney at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA). She served as an adjunct professor at Minnesota Law, where she taught environmental law and supervised the Environment and Energy Law Clinic. She was also a law clerk for Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea, U.S. District Chief Judge John Tunheim ’80, and Judge Myron Bright ’47 of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Is being an appellate judge a longheld or more recent ambition?

I had the privilege to clerk for three judges who instilled within me the desire to be a judge. A judge’s pursuit is to promote justice and the rule of law. Appellate court judges ensure our processes are fair, that parties feel heard, and that society has confidence in our democracy. To me, there is no higher professional calling, and I am so excited to serve Minnesota in this role.

How do you think that your time at MCEA helped prepare you for this new role?

MCEA trusts its lawyers and empow ers them to be leaders. Trusting me, investing in me, and believing in my success are tremendous gifts I received from MCEA. Further, at MCEA I practiced almost exclusively appellate law and administrative law and developed an expertise that will aid me on the court.

What was a favorite experience you had at Minnesota Law?

I’m going to acknowledge that TORT was my favorite activity. I enjoyed connecting with classmates who had similar interests in music and theater. I also appreciate the skills and friendships I developed serving on the Minnesota Law Review.

As a specialized practitioner in environmental law, how do you feel about moving to a court of general jurisdiction?

While I recently worked at MCEA, I have had a diverse practice. I clerked at three courts of general jurisdiction, and in private practice, I litigated shareholder disputes, tax appeals,

trademark infringement actions, insurance disputes, as well as prosecuted misdemeanor trials. I believe my experience has prepared me to serve on the bench.

You have been an adjunct professor at the Law School since 2019. What inspired you to teach, and will you continue in this role?

I love the work I have done with the Law School. I was blessed with amazing mentors from the Law School who have helped me to achieve my professional goals. Through my teaching experiences, I have been able to give back and mentor the next generation. While I am taking this year off, you will undoubtedly see me back in a classroom in the future.

What advice would you offer to a law student or young lawyer who one day hopes to be appointed to the bench?

Be a law clerk. There is no better way to see if you like the challenge and pace of the job. Clerking changed my life in fundamental ways, and I encourage all law students and young lawyers to consider serving as a law clerk.

How do you like to spend your free time?

You can usually find me outside with my husband hiking, cross-country skiing, or spending time at the lake.

What are a few interesting items one might see on your desk or hanging on your office wall?

My college beanie, a rubber duck, and a wall hanging that says “Even Mother Nature Loves Maroon and Gold.”

WILLIAM B. LOCKHART CLUB CELEBRATION

On the evening of Tuesday, October 11, friends, alumni, faculty, and sta gathered at the McNamara Alumni Center for the 2022 WILLIAM B. LOCKHART CLUB CELEBRATION. The event was livestreamed to audience members across the world. Co-chairs of the Student Philanthropy Board Louica Alexandre, 2L, and Henry Killen, 3L, welcomed attendees, who joined Dean Garry W. Jenkins, Associate Dean for Academic A airs Oren Gross, and 2022-23 Board of Advisors Chair Barbara D’Aquila ’80, for Minnesota Law’s annual celebration of the donors who support our mission of educating the next generation of lawyer-leaders.

Photos: Jayme Halbritter

1 Professor Emeritus Laura Cooper, Ben Cooper, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Oren Gross, Prof. John Matheson, Judy Matheson 2 Louica Alexandre 2L, Henry Killen 3L 3 Members of the Student Philanthropy Board: Melissa Watton 3L, Dominic Detwiler 2L, Louica Alexandre 2L, Dean Garry W. Jenkins, Donna Whipple 1L, Henry Killen 3L, Jacob Bourgault 1L, Steve Varghese 3L, Grant Newman 2L, Not pictured: Justina Zukauskaite 2L 4 Jeanette Bazis ’92, Josh Colburn ’07, Heidi Colburn, Gina Tonn ’20 5 Clara Ohr ’98, David Jensen, Joyce Gauck, Charles Gauck ’63 6 Wendy Killen, John Killen

JOIN THE CLUB

Or renew your membership today to make a di erence in the lives of tomorrow’s lawyer-leaders!

With five giving levels, the Lockhart Club brings together generations of alumni and friends who express their support of Minnesota Law with annual gifts of $2,000 or more, or as part of Lockhart GOLD for recent graduates.

We hope to celebrate you and your support of this great Law School at next year’s Lockhart Club Dinner.

Make your gift and join today at law.umn.edu/give/lockhart or by calling 612-626-8539

PROFILES IN PRACTICE

CHICAGO

JANELLE IBELING ’02 Partner, Investment Funds, Sidley Austin

HOW I GOT THE JOB:

I was a summer associate in the Chicago o ce of Sidley after my 2L year. I joined the firm after graduation and I just celebrated my 20th year at Sidley!

A TYPICAL WORKDAY:

I advise alternative asset managers with respect to the structure, formation, and operational aspects of hedge funds and private equity funds. I problem solve every day–whether I’m talking to clients, negotiating investment terms with my clients’ investors, or working with my team on securities-o ering documents and advisory contracts.

AN INTERESTING MATTER I WORKED ON:

I recently advised a fund manager on a minority sale of its business to a Brazilian bank, launched a hedge fund that focused on allocating assets to female portfolio managers, and advised an Italian asset manager on providing permanent capital to alternative asset managers.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT CHICAGO:

I love being part of a Midwestern community, working with incredibly smart people on sophisticated and complex matters.

ELIZABETH MAXEINER ’06 Antitrust Bureau Chief, O ce of the Illinois Attorney General

HOW I GOT THE JOB:

After spending seven years practicing antitrust and commercial litigation at Sidley Austin in Chicago, I moved to the Antitrust Bureau of the O ce of the Illinois Attorney General in 2015 to work in the public interest. I was promoted to bureau chief last year.

A TYPICAL WORKDAY:

I manage investigations and litigation, which includes multi-state matters with a national scope. I spend most of my time working with counterparts in other states and with federal agency partners, and on litigation challenges with my Illinois colleagues.

AN INTERESTING MATTER I’VE WORKED ON:

One of the first major cases I worked on when I joined the O ce of the Illinois Attorney General involved the global LCD price-fixing conspiracy. We secured $200 million in settlements for consumers and businesses. These funds were then distributed to consumers and businesses throughout the state.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT CHICAGO:

The city has it all, and we do not have to go far for a brief escape into nature.

ADAM RATCHENSKI ’19 Associate Attorney, Midwest Regional O ce, Earthjustice

HOW I GOT THE JOB:

I first came to Earthjustice on a one-year fellowship with our Clean Energy Program that was partially funded by the Robina Foundation’s Post-Graduate Fellowships program. As the fellowship was winding down, I was fortunate to land an associate attorney position with our Midwest Regional O ce.

A TYPICAL WORKDAY:

The variety in my day-to-day work is one of the things that I love most. We represent our clients free of charge in federal and state courts and in proceedings before federal and state administrative bodies. One day I might be working with a tribal nation to help preserve their treatyprotected resources, and the next I might be attending a hearing on behalf of a community group fighting against a facility that is polluting their air or water and putting their health at risk.

AN INTERESTING MATTER I’VE WORKED ON:

I represent Bay Mills Indian Community, a federally recognized tribal nation with its primary land base in Michigan’s upper peninsula, in its fight against an aging oil pipeline and a proposal to dig a massive, first-of-its-kind pipeline tunnel underneath the Straits of Mackinac—both of which threaten its treaty-protected fishing, hunting, and gathering rights.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT CHICAGO:

My favorite thing about Chicago is the city’s world-class food and drink scene. (Oh, and Lake Michigan is pretty cool too.)

BRUCE WOJACK ’85 Wealth Strategist, Northern Trust

HOW I GOT THE JOB:

A fellow Minnesota Law graduate, Hugh Magill ’85, reached out to me regarding my current position at Northern Trust. It’s great to stay con nected with other alums!

A TYPICAL WORKDAY:

My primary role at Northern is client development, so during a typical day I meet with prospective clients who want to learn about our holistic wealth management approach. I also meet with other professionals including estate planning attorneys, CPAs, and the partners of private equity firms.

AN INTERESTING MATTER I WORKED ON:

The founder of a successful family-owned company in Wisconsin sold the company without telling his son, who was the president of the company and the heir apparent. This very intense situation with high conflict was ultimately resolved amicably.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT CHICAGO:

Although you may not believe it based on media reports, Chicago still possesses its Midwestern sensibilities, great sport franchises, and great pizza!

Alumni News

President Biden Taps

Jessica Looman ’01

to Lead Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division

President Biden nominated Jessica Looman ’01 to serve as administra tor of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Looman has served as the principal deputy administrator of the Division since January 2021. She previously served as the executive director of the

Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council, representing 70,000 union construc tion professionals working in 15 construction trades.

Prior to joining the Council, Looman served as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Her work in state government in Minnesota also included seven years with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, first as assistant commis sioner and later as deputy commis sioner.

Before her service in Minnesota state government, Looman spent nearly a decade as general counsel for the Laborers District Council of Minnesota and North Dakota.

Dulce Foster ’98 Sworn in as U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster ’98 was sworn in as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota in August. Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz administered the oath of office at the Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse in Minneapolis.

Before becoming a U.S. magistrate judge, Foster was a shareholder and former chair of the White Collar and Regulatory Defense Group at Fredrikson & Byron. During her tenure at Fredrikson, she litigated complex False Claims Act and civil business disputes, defended white collar criminal cases, and served as a Criminal Justice Act panel attorney. Foster’s practice also included managing internal and government investigations, developing compli ance programs, and conducting anti-corruption due diligence for multi-national corporations.

Foster was president of the Fredrikson & Byron charitable Foundation, an advisory board member of Children of Incarcerated Caregivers, treasurer of the U.S. District Court’s History Committee, and a member of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. She is a former executive board member of the Federal Bar Association’s Minnesota Chapter and former co-chair of its Diversity, Education, and Prisoner Transportation Project Committees. Foster previously served on the Minnesota Law Review Alumni Board, Loan Repayment Assistance Program Board, U.S. District Court–District of Minnesota, Federal Practice Committee of the U.S. District Court, and MSBA Criminal Law Accreditation Committee.

Foster has devoted significant time doing pro bono work, representing plaintiffs in civil rights and domestic abuse cases, defending indigent clients in criminal cases and helping victims oftorture obtain political asylum in the United States. She has volunteered with the Advocates for Human Rights for many years, including work in Nepal to support a school for low-income children

Dulce Foster ’98

Jessica Looman ’01

Yemaya Hanna ’22

and work in Liberia with the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Before joining Fredrikson & Byron in 2000, Foster served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim ’80.

Yemaya Hanna ’22 Honored for Minnesota Justice Foundation Work Yemaya Hanna ’22, an estate planning attorney with the Maslon firm in Minneapolis, was honored at the Minnesota Justice Foundation’s 2022 Annual Awards Celebration for the impact of her volunteer and pro bono work as a University of Minnesota Law School student.

Before graduating in May 2022, Hanna served as student director of the Law School’s Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, working with a small team that successfully secured asylum for a Guinean woman who fled persecution in her home country. Hanna also represented immigrants at the Texas-Mexican border as part of the school’s Asylum Law Project for 1L students, and she worked on behalf of an asylum client referred by the Advocates for Human Rights during her term as a summer associate at Maslon.

Behind every lawyer-leader is a donor like you.

Minnesota Law, for me, is not an ‘institution.’ It isn’t a building or a set of classrooms or even a particular curriculum. Minnesota Law is its people—those from whom I learned the importance of diligent study, dedication to the profession, commitment to justice, passionate client service, and a strong sense of responsibility to my fellow attorneys and the communities that we collectively serve.

I know you have your own stories, your own unique memories. Your own Minnesota Law. In honor of everything that Minnesota Law means to you, I invite you to join me in making a gift to the University of Minnesota Law School today. Help ensure that our future lawyer-leaders continue to receive the exceptional foundation that Minnesota Law provided for me and my fellow alumni.”

—Julian

Zebot, ’03 2022-23 University of Minnesota Law School Annual Fund Chair

Your support of the Annual Fund today ensures Minnesota Law can o er a transformative and innovative legal education to the lawyer-leaders of tomorrow.

To make a gift, visit give.umn.edu/law or contact Jackie Hasselquist, annual giving o cer, at 612-625-8435 or oreil061@umn.edu.

Class Notes

NEWS ABOUT YOUR CLASSMATES AND COLLEAGUES

69

Joseph Dixon, Jr. was named a 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyer and a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. Dixon is a partner at Henson Efron and focuses his practice on bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, and mediation.

bench, he was assigned to civil and criminal court, family court, and person felonies, eventually finishing his judgeship as the Presiding Judge of Probate and Mental Health Court.

Todd Urness was named a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Urness focuses his practice on real estate law and tax law.

85

Thomas J. Foley was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Foley & Quigley Law, his practice focuses on gaming law and Native American law.

72

Jennifer Wellner retired from her practice in Circle Pines, Minnesota, where she had been in partnership with Jo Lynn Isaacson ’87 since 1996. Isaacson also retired from practice at the same time as her law partner. In retirement, Wellner creates colorful paintings that can be viewed on her website.

73

Alan Eidsness was named a 2022 Top 10 Minnesota Super Lawyer and a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. Eidsness is a partner at Henson Efron and focuses his practice on family law and family law mediation.

77

Carolyn Chalmers published a new book, They Don’t Want Her There: Fighting Sexual and Racial Harassment in the American University It tells the inside story of harassment litigation at the University of Iowa for which Chalmers was the plaintiff’s attorney. 79

Philip Carruthers retired from the bench of the Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota, having been appointed by Governor Mark Dayton in 2011. During his time on the

81

Jon Hoganson was named a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. A partner at Winthrop & Weinstine, Hoganson focuses his practice on banking, finance, and real estate law.

David Moran was named a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Moran focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions law.

Neal Scharmer retired from United Fire & Casualty Company after more than 40 years of practicing law. Scharmer was most recently the vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary at United Fire Group.

82

Brooks Poley was named a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Poley focuses his practice on commercial litigation.

83

Martha Dragich retired from University of Missouri School of Law. Dragich taught conflict of laws, federal courts, law and literature, and food law and policy.

Timothy Marx received an Award of Distinction from Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Marx is a partner at Winthrop & Weinstine and currently focuses his practice on real estate development and transactions.

Jeffrey Ansel was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America and was recognized as Lawyer of the Year in his practice. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Ansel focuses his practice on arbitration; mediation; and commercial, finance, and real estate litigation.

Tadd Johnson was appointed to University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents by Governor Tim Walz. Johnson is the first American Indian member on the University’s Board of Regents. He also is the senior advisor on government affairs for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

84

Timothy Barnett was named a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Barnett focuses his practice on franchise law.

Philip Colton was named a Best Lawyer in America for 2023. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Colton focuses his practice on securities/ capital markets law.

Kathryn (Katy) Graves was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America, a 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyer, and a North Star Lawyer for her pro bono work. At Henson Efron, Graves focuses on family law and family law mediation.

David M. Gottlieb launched GottsLaw, a Chicago-based firm that focuses on commercial and residential real estate, trusts, and estate matters.

Daniel W. McDonald published a new book, From Savvy Saver to Smart Spender: How to Pick a Tax-Wise Retirement Withdrawal Strategy. The book and accompanying website focus on saving taxes in retirement.

86

Jean Fitterer Lance was named executive vice president, chief legal officer, and general counsel for Banner Health. Fitterer Lance was previously the vice president of legal services and deputy general counsel and has been at Banner Health since 2019.

Jo Lynn Isaacson retired from Wellner & Isaacson in Circle Pines, Minnesota, where she had been in partnership with Jennifer Wellner ’77 since 1996.

87

Wellner also retired from practice at the same time as her law partner.

William T. Shroyer was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, he focuses his practice on corporate law and real estate law.

Jordan Lewis joined Willig, Williams & Davidson as Of Counsel to focus on class action suits involving the misclas sification of workers as independent contractors.

88

Dan W. Goldfine joined Dickinson Wright in Phoenix. Goldfine focuses on class action defense, insurance, antitrust, organized crime, consumer fraud and protection, government investigations and white collar defense.

Thomas Walker was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Walker focuses on employee benefits law.

90

91

Chad Baruch was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America as well as to D Magazine’s 2022 Best Lawyers in Dallas list. Baruch is the managing partner at Johnson Tobey Baruch.

93

95

Scott Neilson was named a 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyer, a 2023 Best Lawyer in America, and a North Star Lawyer for donating more than 50 hours of pro bono legal service. At Henson Efron, Neilson focuses on insurance and product liability litigation.

89

Marc Johannsen was announced as president of Lommen Abdo for a third term. Johannsen leads the firm’s family group practice.

Kenneth Alwin was named 2022 Volunteer of the Year by the Minnesota State Bar Association Mock Trial Advisory Committee for his work as a member of the statewide advisory committee, coach of the Eastview High School Mock Trial team, and high school competition judge. Alwin is vice president, senior attorney at Bremer Bank.

JOAN BIBELHAUSEN ’83 RECEIVES ABA AWARD

Joan Bibelhausen ’83, executive director of Minnesota’s Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL), received the ABA Commission on Lawyers Assistance Program’s Meritorious Service Award in recognition of her extraordinary service to lawyer assistance programs. LCL provides free and confidential assistance to Minnesota legal professionals.

Julie Jonas accepted a position at University of St. Thomas Law School, where she will teach criminal law, criminal procedure, and wrongful convictions. Jonas previously served as the legal director for the Great North Innocence Project and as an adjunct professor at Minnesota Law.

Joseph Kim is leading a team based in Tokyo that will work with clients to address new energy solutions and technologies to work towards the decarbonization of economies.

94

Jeffer Ali was named a principal at Patterson Thuente IP’s Minneapolis office. Ali is chair of the firm’s IP litigation team where he focuses on intellectual property enforcement and defense.

Matthew McBride was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Winthrop & Weinstine, McBride focuses on real estate law.

Laura Pfeiffer was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Pfeiffer focuses on

BERNADETTE FOH ’18 JOINS NONPROFIT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bernadette Foh ’18 was named executive director of Mediation and Restorative Services (MARS). MARS aids families, neighborhoods, schools, landlords, tenants, businesses and consumers manage and resolve conflict through education and conflict resolution service

Born in Sierra Leone, Foh first received an LL.M. at Minnesota Law before obtaining her J.D.

employment law individu als and management.

96

Norman Jones III was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Jones focuses his practice on real estate law.

Daniel Matheson was promoted to professor of instruction in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa, where he is director of the sport and recreation management program.

Matheson teaches sports law and coaches competition teams as an adjunct faculty member in Iowa’s College of Law.

Liam Shay joined Alliant National Title Insurance Co. as an underwriting counsel.

named group chair of the banking and finance and labor and employment practices at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren where he is a shareholder in the Milwaukee office.

99

Kevin Magnuson was appointed to Washington County Attorney and took his oath of office in June 2022. Magnuson focuses his practice on civil divisions and providing legal counsel to the Washington County Board.

Maria Mitchell was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to the bench of the Second Judicial District of Minnesota.

Mitchell was formerly an assistant Ramsey County attorney.

James Park joined Faegre Drinker as a partner in its Minneapolis office. Park is a member of the firm’s finance and restructuring practice and focuses on structured finance transactions and corporate trust issues.

03Court J. Anderson was named a 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyer and a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Henson Efron, Anderson focuses his practice on litigation and intellectual property.

Cherée Johnson was named to Savoy magazine’s list of Influential Black Executives. At Dentsply Sirona, Johnson is the senior vice president, chief legal officer, general counsel, and secretary.

Johnathan Maddox was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Henson Efron, Maddox focuses his practice on litigation and intellectual property.

97

Peter V. Michaud was elected the next chair of Ballard Spahr. He will oversee firm strategy and operations, practice performance, and client relations. Michaud will begin his term in 2024.

Joseph A. Wilson was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Barclay Damon in Rochester, MN, he focuses his practice on insurance law.

Nabil Sabki joined Kirkland & Ellis’s Chicago office as a partner in its investment funds regulatory practice. Sabki focuses on financial services regulatory and compliance.

01Jessica Looman was nominated by President Joe Biden for wage and hour administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor. Looman has served as the principal deputy administrator of the wage and hour division of the U.S. Department of Labor since January 2021. She previously served as the executive director of the Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Todd Werner joined Avantech Law as an intellectual property partner. Werner’s practice focuses on helping clients navigate patent disputes, intellectual property license negotiation, and joint development agreements.

00

Dulce Foster was appointed a U.S. magistrate judge for District of Minnesota.

98

Amanda Cefalu joined Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren as a shareholder in its Minneapolis office. Cefalu assists clients with ERISA litigation and counseling, Taft-Hartley issues, employment law, and commercial litigation.

Michael Rosow was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Rosow focuses his practice on bankruptcy and debtor rights, insolvency and reorganization law, and real estate law.

Foster was formerly a shareholder, foundation president, and chair of the white collar and regulatory defense group at Fredrikson & Byron.

Robert Heinrich was recognized as a 2023 Best Lawyer in America and

Holly Geerdes was honored with the distinction of Top Rated by the Super Lawyers Blue Ribbon Panel. Geerdes is the founder of the firm Estate Law Center USA.

John Nolde was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. A partner at Winthrop & Weinstine, Nolde focuses his practice on estate law.

02Teresa Lavoie was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society for liberal arts and sciences in the United States. Lavoie is the senior vice president of IP and exclusivity strategy at Treeline Biosciences.

Mary Young joined Norton Rose Fulbright as a litigation partner in the firm’s Minneapolis office. Young serves as national counsel and national coordinating counsel for Fortune 500 companies.

04

Jaime Driggs was named a 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyer and a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Henson Efron, Driggs focuses his practice on family law.

Heather Pieper-Olson was promoted to College of Saint Benedict’s vice president of institutional advancement. Pieper-Olsen previously served as associate vice president of institutional advancement.

05

Nicholas Wallace joined the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management as assistant dean of the undergraduate program. Wallace is responsible for

the strategy and operations of the program, including student enrollment; diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; career services; academic advising; and marketing, communications, and fiscal oversight.

06Gus Chung was promoted to vice president of Cordoba Corporation’s transportation infrastructure sector. Before his promotion, Chung was Cordoba Corporation’s Northern California regional manager.

Kelsey Lawson was named senior vice president and chief safety and risk officer for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. Lawson will lead client safety and risk management operations to ensure accountability across the organization.

Jessica L. Hutson Polakowski was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren in Madison, she focuses her practice on litigation and real estate law.

07Gabriel Willhite was promoted to chief operating officer for American Healthcare REIT in Irvine. Prior to this position, Willhite was general counsel at American Healthcare REIT.

08Jeffrey R. Mulder was elected to chief financial officer at Bassford Remele. Mulder serves as a shareholder and as co-chair of the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee.

Sarah G. Odegaard was named a 2022 Southern California Super Lawyer.

At Quarles & Brady, Odegaard focuses her practice on product liability.

Daniel J. Schwartz was named partner at Gislason & Hunter. He will continue his career as a business attorney, advising clients in both transactional matters and litigation.

09Lauren Barta, partner in Faegre Drinker’s Minneapolis office, was appointed co-leader of Women Forward, a firm committee that supports the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women professionals.

Amba Datta joined Steptoe & Johnson’s Washington office as a partner in its government contracts group. Datta will expand her government contracts practice, counseling contractors

through government criminal, civil, and administrative actions.

Joshua Feneis was made a shareholder at Lommen Abdo. Feneis focuses his practice on family law and business litigation.

Tipanan Sirichana was appointed to deputy government spokesman for Thailand’s General Prayuth for his last term.

Douglas Wolgamot was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Wolgamot focuses his practice on trusts and estates.

10Joshua Taggatz was named a 2023 Best Lawyer in America. At Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, Taggatz focuses his practice on commercial litigations and construction litigation.

11Ryan P. Kelley was named a partner at Greenberg Traurig, a global law firm, where he focuses on corporate law in venture capital transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

Maya S. Zahn Rhine was named a Best Lawyer: One to Watch. At Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, Zahn Rhine focuses her practice on real estate law.

12

Reece Almond was awarded the South Dakota Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award for completing more than 300 hours of pro bono legal service. Almond is a partner and litigation attorney at Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith in Sioux Falls.

Jacob Bean was named a Best Lawyer: One to Watch. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Bean focuses his practice on real estate & tax law.

Philip Brodeen serves as president of the National Native American Bar Association. Brodeen is a partner at Brodeen & Paulson, where he provides legal representation to Indian tribes.

Robert J. Davis accepted a federal executive commission to manage the Chaparral, New Mexico, field office of the office of the principal legal adviser for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

13

Jay Creagh was named a Rising Star in Law by Biztimes. At Godfrey & Kahn, Creagh’s practice focuses on corporate and startups, and on venture capital practice groups.

Eric Friske was named a 2022 Minnesota Rising

Star and a 2023 Best Lawyer: One to Watch. At Henson Efron, Friske focuses his practice on commercial litigation and litigation for trust and estates.

Benjamin J. Hamborg was named a 2022 Minnesota Rising Star, a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer, and a 2023 Best Lawyer: One to Watch. At Henson Efron, Hamborg focuses on business torts, breaches of contracts, intellectual property, real estate issue, and employment disputes.

Jaclyn T. Kramer was made partner at Futterman, Lanza & Pasculli, a Long Island firm focusing on elder law and estate planning.

Aalok Sharma was named a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. At Stinson in Minneapolis, Sharma practices sports, business, construction, and entertainment law.

14

Heather R. Bredeson joined Winthrop & Weinstine’s employment counseling practice. Bredeson represents and advises clients on policies regarding hiring, leave and accommodation requests, discipline, termination, and government compliance.

Sarvesh Desai was named a 2022 Minnesota Rising Star and a Best Lawyers: One to Watch. At Henson Efron, Desai focuses her practice on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions law, and business organizations.

Caroline Marsili was named a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by

Minnesota Lawyer. Marsili practices law at Carlson Caspers Vandenburgh & Lindquist.

Kaitlin Paxton was named partner at Kamer Zucker Abbott in Las Vegas where she represents employers in labor and employment law.

Anju Suresh was named a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. As an associate at Hinshaw & Culbertson, Suresh focuses her practice on business transactions and disputes and employment law.

16

Olivia Cooper was named a Best Lawyers: One to Watch. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Cooper focuses her practice on commercial litigation.

Catherine Cumming was named a Best Lawyers: One to Watch. At Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, Cumming focuses her practice on real estate law and tax law.

Amarachi Ihejirika joined Norton Rose Fulbright as an associate in the firm’s Minneapolis office. Ihejirika focuses on commercial litigation, class action litigation, and product liability matters.

Amber Kraemer was named a Best Lawyers: One to Watch and a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Kraemer focuses her practice on banking and finance law.

Kyle Kroll was named a Best Lawyers: One to Watch and a North Star Lawyer for his pro bono legal service. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Kroll focuses his practice on banking and finance law.

Mickey Stevens was named as a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. At Dykema, he focuses his practice on a broad range of companies including defending automotive manufacturers in complex product liability ligation to financial institutions.

17

Amy Erickson was named a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer and was awarded the Hennepin County Bar Association’s 2022 HCBA Excellence Award for providing Pro Bono Service. At Lathrop GPM in Minneapolis, Erickson focuses her practice on family business and election law.

Emily Hendricks was named a Notable Emerging Star in Law by Twin Cities Business. At Fox Rothschild, Hendricks focuses her practice on banks and investments funds and commercial real estate.

Roxanne Thorelli was awarded the Hennepin County Bar Association’s 2022 HCBA Excellence Award for providing Pro Bono Service. At Fredrikson & Byron, Thorelli focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, corporate restricting, and general corporate matters.

18

Anna Koch was named 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. Koch is an associate at Trepanier MacGillis Battina in Minneapolis and focuses on employment law, business law, commercial litigation, and appeals.

19David LaBerge joined Maslon’s Minneapolis office. LaBerge serves clients in real estate acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, title and survey review, and real estate financing.

Georgette Marling joined Fredrikson & Byron as an attorney in the immigration group. Marling provides legal advice and strategy to clients on immigration matters.

Jordan Mogensen was named a North Star Lawyer for her pro bono legal services. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Morgensen focuses on tax credit financing and syndication and campaign finance and election law.

Jon Schoenwetter was named a 2022 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. At Cozen O’Connor, Schoenwetter focuses his practice on acquisition, disposition, development, and operation of commercial real estate.

executive director of the Purple Campaign, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit whose mission is to address workplace harassment by implementing corporate policies, establishing laws, and empowering people to create change within their workplaces and communities.

Khuram Siddiqui was recognized with the Hennepin County Bar Association’s 2022 HCBA Excellence Award for Advancing Diversity & Inclusion and for Mentoring in the Profession. Siddiqui is a data privacy compliance consultant at Securian Financial in St. Paul.

corporate practice. Walls represents and advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, contract law, corporate governance, entity formation, commercial transactions, and general business practice.

22Yemaya Hanna was recognized by the Minnesota Justice Foundation for her work on increasing access to justice while in law school. Hanna joined Maslon after earning her J.D. in May 2022.

KEEP YOUR CLASSMATES POSTED!

To be included in class notes, send us your news at lawalum@umn.edu or Office of Advancement, Suite 321, University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455.

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Samantha Carmickle was named a North Star Lawyer for her pro bono legal services in 2021. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Carmickle focuses on business and commercial litigation and construction and real estate litigation.

Alexa Gamble joined Fox Rothschild in Minneapolis as an associate in the corporate department. Gamble advises clients on a range of corporate matters, transactions, and business agreements.

Shea Holman Kilian was selected to serve as the

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Sydney Corrier-Oaster was named a North Star Lawyer for her pro bono legal services in 2021. At Winthrop & Weinstine, Corrier-Oaster focuses her practice on general corporate and mergers and acquisitions.

Leah DeGrazia joined Moss & Barnett as a member of the real estate team, which represents and advises clients on a range of real estate issues from general real estate to commercial real estate financial transactions.

Kip Krehbiel joined Winthrop & Weinstine’s real estate and corporate teams. Krehbiel advises clients on tax advantages available to them.

Peggah Navab joined Bassford Remele and focuses her practice on employment law, consumer law defense, and commercial litigation.

Jeremy M. Walls joined Winthrop & Weinstine as an associate in the general

Eight Alumni Recognized for Diversity & Inclusion

Eight Minnesota Law alumni were among Minnesota Lawyer’s 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Award Nominees. The award is for groups and individuals who have made a significant impact with respect to diversity and inclusion on the greater community or within their organizations.

The eight alumni award recipients are:

• Amy B. Conway ’10, Stinson

• Cresston Gackle ’16, Cresston Law

• Jenny Gassman-Pines ’06, Greene Espel

• Rachel A. Kitze Collins ’14, Lockridge Grindal Nauen

• Jacquelyn S. Lutz ’13, Messick Law, PLLC

• Michelle Miller ’86, Medtronic

• Dana Mitchell ’97, Ramsey County Attorney’s O ce; Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers

• Ann Motl ’15, Greenberg Traurig

Recent Gifts

GIFTS OF $100,000+

Dr. Phyllis L. Kahn made a pledge to establish the Phyllis Kahn Public Service Fellowship in Law & Science Fund. This fund will allow Minnesota Law students the opportunity to gain experience working at a nonprofit organization or government agency at the intersection of law and sciences.

Vance Opperman ’69 made a generous contribution to the Class of 1969 Scholarship Fund as well as the Law School’s Annual Fund. These funds help to increase access and benefit students as they work to achieve their dreams of becoming a world-class lawyer-leader.

GIFTS OF $25,000–$99,999

Best & Flanagan LLP established the Best & Flanagan Diversity Scholarship in Law, a demand fund that supports high achieving, Minnesota Law students who enhance the diversity of the student body and the legal field at-large.

James ’89 and Julie Chosy ’90 made a gift in continued support of the James and Julianne Chosy Scholarship Fund. This scholarship benefits Minnesota Law students by making a world-class legal education more financially accessible.

Gary ’74 and Barbara Haugen made a gift in support of the Law School Class of 1974 Scholarship Fund, established by the class to honor their 35th reunion and to help students with academic promise gain access to a top-notch legal education.

Ronald ’54 and Joy Mankoff made a pledge to support the Ronald M. Mankoff Tax Clinic and a program within the Tax Clinic that allows affiliated law students the opportunity to attend the ABA Tax Section Conferences.

Thomas ’83 and Victoria Mielke made a gift to the SMS Diversity Scholarship Fund. Tom and Victoria established this fund to honor Justice Sonia Sotomayor by supporting students who enhance the diversity of the Law School’s student body.

The John W. Mooty Foundation made another generous contribution to the John W. Mooty Public Service Summer Fellowship Program at Minnesota Law. This fellowship supports students gaining summer experience in the nonprofit, public service sector in the Twin Cities.

The Next Edison made a gift to The Next Edison Public Interest Scholarship in Law Fund. This demand scholarship supports students who have demonstrated a strong interest in and commitment to a career in public service.

Robert J. Owens ’69 made another generous gift to the Law School Scholarship Matching Incentive Program. This program has influenced other Minnesota Law supporters to make generous gifts in support of the Law School scholarships that are important to them.

Wanda Young Wilson ’79 made a pledge to the Wanda Young Wilson Scholarship Fund, a scholarship she established to support students who took time off between their undergraduate studies and law school and who also enhance the diversity of the student body.

PLANNED GIFTS

J. Charles ’71 and Candace Bruse

Carrie Gustafson ’92 Janell Pepper ’92 Benson ’87 K. and Mary Whitney

Tributes

JOAQUIN ARRIOLA ’53, GUAM POLITICAL LEADER AND SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

Joaquin C. Arriola ’53 passed away May 4 at the age of 96. His storied public service career in Guam included serving as the speaker of its legislature and as an associate justice on its supreme court.

Arriola served as a senator in the Guam Legislature from 1955 to 1959 and as speaker from 1967 to 1971. In 1974, he ran for governor of Guam. Arriola’s many leadership roles over the years included serving as presi dent of the Guam Bar Association, chairman of the Territorial Planning Commission, chairman of the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority, and chairman of the Board of Regents of the College of Guam. From 1996-2006, Arriola served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Guam.

BRUCE BURTON ’68, LAW SCHOOL DEAN AND PROFESSOR

Bruce Burton ’68, a lawyer, law professor, and former Dean of William Mitchell College of Law, passed away June 11 at the age of 83. After earning his J.D. in 1968, Burton joined Dorsey & Whitney. He also taught as an adjunct at both the

University of Minnesota and William Mitchell before joining Mitchell’s faculty full time in 1973. He served as dean of William Mitchell from 1975-80.

Burton also taught real estate law for 17 years. He later became a partner at Dorsey & Whitney in Minneapolis before returning to teaching, serving as professor of law at South Texas College of Law in Houston for 12 years.

MARY DAVIDSON ’75, 4TH DISTRICT JUDGE

of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and an alum of Stanford University, Davidson served as a referee in Hennepin County Family Court and was appointed to the bench of the 4th Judicial Circuit in 1987. Two years later, she became chief judge of the Family Court. Davidson later founded Divorce with Dignity, a pioneering program that encouraged divorcing couples to mediate their disputes.

BRUCE DOUGLAS ’70, 10TH DISTRICT JUDGE

Mary Davidson ’75, a former a former judge in Minnesota’s 4th Judicial District who once served as chief judge of Family Court, passed away June 21 at the age of 82.

The granddaughter of a founder

Bruce Douglas ’70, a former judge in Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District, passed away August 13 at the age of 76.

A 1967 graduate of Carleton College, Douglas served as in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps after obtaining his law degree from Minnesota Law. He practiced law in Buffalo, Minnesota, before being appointed a judge.

DALE I. LARSON ’65, A FOUNDING PARTNER OF LARSON • KING

Dale I. Larson ’65, a founding partner of the Twin Cities law firm of Larson • King, died May 10 at the age of 84.

After graduating from Moorhead High School in 1955, Larson served

three years as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. He served as a broadcast reporter for KXJB-TV in Fargo and WCCO-TV in Minneapolis before enrolling in Minnesota Law.

After graduating from the Law School in 1965, Larson started his legal career at the law firm of Robins, Davis & Lyons. The law firm was renamed Robins, Zelle, Larson & Kaplan in 1980 after Larson was invited to join the firm’s executive committee. Larson left Robins in 1988 to form the Zelle & Larson law firm, where he continued to represent clients involved in large and complex bodily injury, property damage, and business injury matters. In 1999, Larson • King law firm was formed. Larson stayed with the firm until his retirement.

ROBERTA LEVY ’64, 4TH DISTRICT JUDGE AND LAW PROFESSOR

Roberta K. Levy ’64, a former judge in Minnesota’s 4th Judicial District who served as a law professor at Minnesota Law from 1975-77, died August 30 at the age of 85.

At Minnesota Law, Levy taught trial practice, evidence, and Minnesota court procedure. She served on the faculty alongside her husband, Professor Emeritus Robert Levy. In

1978, Roberta Levy was appointed to the District Court bench, where she served with distinction for the next quarter of a century

BROWNE LEWIS ’88, LAW SCHOOL DEAN AND LEGAL EDUCATION LEADER

of Law. "As dean of North Carolina Central University School of Law, an HBCU law school, she was an enormously influential lawyer-leader; a prolific scholar in the areas of artificial intelligence, reproductive technology, environmental racism; and an innovator in expanding opportunities for underrepresented law students."

Jenkins also said that Browne was a widely respected leader in legal education and a treasured board colleague with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). “Her insights, perspective, and voice helped strengthen so many institutions and advanced the cause of justice."

DAVID SULLIVAN ’66, 6TH DISTRICT JUDGE

North Carolina Central University Law School Dean Browne Lewis ’88 died suddenly on June 2 while attending a professional conference in Colorado with colleagues.

"The University of Minnesota Law School community and I are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of this highly accomplished alumna," said Garry W. Jenkins, Dean & William S. Pattee Professor

David P. Sullivan ’66, a former judge in Minnesota 6th Judicial District, passed away September 6 at age 80.

Raised in Cloquet, Minnesota, Sullivan earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Minnesota. He was a civil litigator for more than 30 years. Sullivan was appointed to Minnesota’s 6th Judicial District Court bench in 1996, where he served until his retirement in 2006. He then spent 14 years as a mediator/ arbitrator.

In Memoriam

CLASS OF 1953

Joaquin C. Arriola May 4, 2022 Hagatna, Guam

William A. Whitlock, Jr. March 30, 2022 Hayward, Wisconsin

CLASS OF 1954

Norman E. Evidon July 21, 2022 Minnetonka, Minnesota

Robert Latz April 19, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1956

Donald E. Wiese August 16, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1957 A. Patrick Leighton August 2, 2022 Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1958 Guenter S. Cohn June 16, 2022 San Diego, California

CLASS OF 1960

Edward J. Bohrer March 12, 2022 Saint Paul, Minnesota

James E. Kerr August 4, 2022 Rosemount, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1962

Norman K. Gurstel May 25, 2022 Minnetonka, Minnesota

Grant J. Merritt May 18, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1964

Roberta K. Levy August 30, 2022 Aventura, Florida

CLASS OF 1965

William M. Beadie, Jr. August 21, 2022 Saint Paul, Minnesota

Roger H. Frommelt April 16, 2022 Roseville, Minnesota

Dale I. Larson May 10, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

David E. Zins July 23, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1966

David P. Sullivan September 6, 2022 Drummond, Wisconsin

CLASS OF 1967

Richard J. Ahles April 23, 2022 Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Craig H. Anderson May 29, 2022 Burlingame, California

Paul A. Finseth July 29, 2022 Rochester, Minnesota

Julian J. Hook April 4, 2022 Wayzata, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1968

William S. Brandt January 28, 2022 Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bruce W. Burton June 11, 2022 Scottsdale, Arizona

CLASS OF 1970

Bruce R. Douglas August 13, 2022 Bu alo, Minnesota

Jeffrey G. Lalla July 1, 2022 Saint Paul, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1971 William R. Sweeney July 24, 2022 Duluth, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1973 Harry E. Eliason February 4, 2022 Papaikou, Hawaii

Leon A. Trawick May 6, 2022 New York, New York

Evelyn M. Underwood July 16, 2022 Del Norte, Colorado

CLASS OF 1975 Mary L. Davidson June 21, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Gary I. Syverson May 12, 2022 Alexandria, Minnesota

James G. Vander Linden May 9, 2022 Danbury, Wisconsin

Steven F. Wolgamot August 18, 2022 Saint Paul, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1976 Martha A. Beneke May 12, 2022 Saint Paul, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1978

Denise M. Wiley March 25, 2022 Saint Paul, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1982

Priscilla J. Herbison January 28, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jeff I. Ross March 23, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1986

Mark A. Rurik February 23, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota

CLASS OF 1988 Browne C. Lewis June 2, 2022 Durham, North Carolina

CLASS OF 1991 Carol Baker May 16, 2022 Willernie, Minnesota

CLASS OF 2008 Samuel J. Miller July 17, 2022 Seattle, Washington

Erin Abramovitz+ Othman N Alfarhan* Henrique Azem Jake Baloun

Sarah Bauer*

Leslie Bellwood* Anne Bolgert* Julia Brady

Alena Carl Bridget Carmichael Sharie Cassioppi* Christopher Cerny* Katherine Chen Yifan Cheng Marra Clay Ian Colby Benjamin Cooper*+ Emily Curran

Yuanyuan Dai Kaitlin Dippolito

Alexandria Dolezal Ruimiao Du Hannah Ebersole+

Elliot Ergeson Eden Faure Cizhu Feng Isaac Foote Jordan Francis Shelby Gagnon* Kerry Gibbons Yichen Gu Paige Haller Seong Ree Hong Jordan Hughes Kyle Ignatius Riley Ji+ Michael Keller Lu Li* Zhuohaodi Li Shuang Liang Gabrielle Maginn Ashley Meeder Colton Messer Matthew Messerli Carly Michaud Develyn Mistriotti

Elena Modl* Emily Moss Rachel Mower Lauren O’Donnell Hannah Oliason*+ Taylor Otterstatter Sunhong Park Edmund Pine Auraprang Pornpermpoon Jinke Pu Sarani Millican

Ellie Soskin Tanner Sparrow Hannah Stephan* Samuel Sylvan Schuyler Troy* Ben Truax Brandon Vaca Linnea VanPilsumBloom Panda Visasnakorn+ Shaohao Xie Hong Yao

Planned Giving for future generations of lawyer-leaders

Planned gifts are as varied as the lawyer-leaders who make them. By partnering with Minnesota Law, along with your family and trusted advisors, you can create a plan that reflects your charitable goals, maximizes potential tax benefits, provides financial security for you and your loved ones, and creates a lasting legacy for you that will help the Law School remain a leader worldwide.

Examples of just some of the purpose-driven legacies created by those who have documented planned gifts with the Law School:

· Endowment of a new student scholarship

“My experience at Minnesota Law was a wonderful foundation for my careers in the law, venture capital, and government. I am grateful for all the school has given my and want to support promising students to go out and engage in the world.”

—Benson K. Whitney ’87 Dean, School of Business, St. Catherine University

· A bequest to strengthen a pre-existing scholarship created by a beloved classmate

· Beneficiary designation of retirement assets to create a new faculty chair

· Direction of proceeds from a charitable gift annuity to support law school clinics

· A charitable remainder trust beneficiary designation to create a public service fellowship

· A bequest to provide unrestricted Law School support

To learn more about planned giving and ways you can achieve your philanthropic goals, contact David L. Jensen, Chief Advancement Officer at dljensen@umn.edu or 612-625-2060.

WHY I GIVE Kim Anderson ’83

After graduating from Minnesota Law, Kim Anderson ’83 had a successful career at Dorsey & Whitney, dividing her time between its Minneapolis and Seattle o ces. After 20 years, she left the firm to spend more time with her spouse, who has operated a business in Thailand for more than 32 years. Maintaining a home base on the West Coast, she has remained active on the boards of several national and local nonprofits, academic institutions, civic, arts, and cultural organizations.

For many years, she was motivated to give to Minnesota Law because she was and still is grateful for what a University of Minnesota Law degree meant to her and her career. However, her global experiences combined with reflection on the events of the last several years has changed her thinking signifi cantly. “I am particularly struck by issues respecting the inter section of the rule of law with social and economic justice,” Says Anderson. “Without the fair and equal application of the rule of law, democracy becomes illusory for many, confidence in democracy erodes, and the underpinnings of democracy fail. I am impressed by the Law School’s recognition of the real-world challenges we face in this country, what those chal lenges mean to the teaching, application, and practice of law, and how issues of diversity, social and economic justice, and human rights are addressed in the Law School’s clinics and academic programs and through its scholarship outreach and opportunities.”

Anderson thinks that while recent graduates or young lawyers have historically constituted the “rear guard,” of the legal profession, it may now be that with “their savvy with how the real world operates, and their understanding of our global interconnectedness, they are indeed in the vanguard.” To Anderson, being a lawyer-leader means participating in one’s local community in a way that is both personally meaningful and that strengthens the fabric of that community.

HOMETOWN: Minneapolis, Minnesota

GIVING LEVEL: William B. Lockhart Club, Dean’s Circle

WHAT WON’T WE FIND ON YOUR RESUME? I have lived part-time in Asia for the past 31 years, traveling extensively throughout Southeast Asia. I love exercise and am currently practicing both Aerial Flow Yoga and taking Muay Thai boxing lessons!

WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO FIRST-YEAR LAW STUDENTS?

Be curious. Stay curious. Think expansively and think critically. You are only going to get to the ground level of what you need to know from law books and classes.

WAYS TO GIVE

There are many ways to give back to the University of Minnesota Law School. For more information, visit www.law.umn.edu/giving.

Or send your gift directly to the University of Minnesota Foundation, P.O. Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266, noting “Law School” in the memo line.

ANNUAL FUND

Student scholarships, clinics, and faculty support are just a few areas that benefit from annual gifts made to the Law School.

Please contact Lizzy Beghelli, director of alumni relations and annual giving, at beghelli@ umn.edu or call 612-626-8671 to learn more about how you can support the Annual Fund.

To make a gift, visit give.umn.edu/law

Minnesota Law students gathered to thank alumni, donors, and friends of the University of Minnesota Law School during GOPHER GRATITUDE DAY on October 6. Students wrote hundreds of thank you notes in gratitude for alumni and donor support. THANK

Photos: Cory Ryan