Class Notes

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.

72 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.

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 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.

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.

81Jon 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.

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.

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.

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. 85 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

90 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. 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 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.

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. 95 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.

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

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. 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.

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employment law individuals 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.

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.

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

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.

00 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.

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.

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.

01 Jessica 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.

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.

02 Teresa 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. 03 Court 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.

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.

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.

06 Gus 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.

07 Gabriel 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.

08 Jeffrey 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.

09 Lauren 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.

10 Joshua Taggatz was named a 2023 Best

Lawyer in America. At

Reinhart Boerner Van

Deuren, Taggatz focuses his practice on commercial litigations and construction litigation.

THANK YOU, PARTNERS AT WORK

Thank you to all participating firms, firm agents, and all alumni who supported Minnesota Law through the Partners At Work program. Your generosity, advocacy, and time is deeply appreciated.

PAW campaign raised: $252,190

Overall participation from alumni at PAW firms: 33%. 260 alumni made a gift from 33 firms

7 firms reached 100% alumni participation. Congratulations to these firms and their agents:

Please visit z.umn.edu/law-paw for the full list of participating firms and agents. Anthony Ostlund Louwagie Dressen & Boylan Peter McElligott ’15 Greene Espel Jenny Gassman-Pines ’06 Kaplan Strangis and Kaplan Harvey Kaplan ’64 Lind Jensen Sullivan & Peterson Bill Davidson ’89 O'Melveny & Myers LLP Carl Erik Heiberg ’06 Vantage Law Group Joseph Nuñez ’84 Zimmerman Reed Brian Gudmundson ’04

To learn more about Partners at Work, contact Terese Lynch, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving O cer, at tclynch@umn.edu or 612-626-8670.

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11 Ryan 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.

19 David 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.

20 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 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.

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

22 Yemaya 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.

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