Minnesota Law Planned Giving Newsletter Feb 2023

PlannedGiving

for the Next Generation of Lawyer-Leaders

Supporting Future Lawyer-Leaders through Planned Giving

Bill Ecklund ’68 attended his first law school reunion when his class celebrated its 50th anniversary. Although he had been an annual donor since the 1970s, he had never spent much time with his classmates until his daughter, then a University of Minnesota Law School employee, urged him to attend At that fateful reunion, Bill says he learned a great deal about the impact of declining state support for the Law School. Clerks at his firm—Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt, P.A.— echoed what he had heard at the reunion. “One prospective clerk had been accepted at Minnesota but ended up going to Iowa because of cost,” he says. “I was told another young lawyer had graduated with $200,000 of debt. When I attended, the cost was $125 per quarter. I knew it was time to get serious about supporting the Law School.”

Bill’s wife, Kareen ’78, shared her husband’s concern. “Learning about the climbing student debt was horrifying,” she says. “We knew we wanted to help.”

Paying it forward

Bill set out with his classmates to raise $150,000 in honor of their anniversary; by the time the campaign ended, they had raised $260,000. “We all understood that we got a great education,” he says. “Mine set me up for a wonderful career. I want that opportunity to be available to all.”

To increase their personal giving, Bill and Kareen included the Law School in their estate plan. “We want to pay it forward,” Kareen says. “I know personally that many women would not have been able to attend law school without a scholarship.”

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For 135 years, the University of Minnesota Law School has provided an exceptional legal education to future generations of lawyer-leaders. Together, with alumni and donor support, we are proud to build on that legacy—continuing our long-standing tradition of excellence through Minnesota Law’s innovative programming, groundbreaking research and training, and transformative contributions to the legal community and the public. Your generous support helps to shape the future of Minnesota Law by reducing financial barriers and making a world-class legal education possible for students who are preparing to face the challenges of tomorrow. We are proud of all we have achieved together, and we hope that you will consider a planned gift for the Law School that reflects your own powerful legacy.

Sincerely,

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

A LEGACY AND PLANNED GIVING NEWSLETTER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL • FEBRUARY 2023

“This law school is a tremendous asset to the people of Minnesota.”

—Bill Ecklund ’68

Bill ’68 and Kareen ’78 Ecklund.

Continued from page 1

A Legacy of Philanthropic Possibility: Robert M. ’52

and

Lila M. Kommerstad

Businessman and philanthropist Robert M. Kommerstad ’52 (1927–2002) and his wife Lila M. Kommerstad (1925–2020) were long-time supporters of Minnesota Law, but it was their generous designation of the Law School as a beneficiary of their estate plan that will cement their legacy as one of the most transformative donors to the Law School.

Celebrating successful careers

Bill spent more than 50 years with the law firm of Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt, P.A. in St. Paul, building a thriving practice as an expert in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. He established the first collectively bargained workers compensation jointly trusteed fund in Minnesota, which has become one of the most successful programs in the country. Over the years, he also served as mayor and police commissioner for the city of North Oaks, Minnesota.

Kareen’s first career was in human resources with Prudential Insurance. While an undergrad, she had thought about law school but found little encouragement. “There were not very many women in law school then, and a college dean actually told me that women didn’t really go to law school,” she says.

“I’m glad I didn’t listen.” She started her studies when her daughter was just two years old. After graduating, she practiced at Fredrikson & Byron and then moved to Doherty, Rumble & Butler, where she became a partner. She ran her own firm for a few years before joining Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt, where she worked for more than 30 years, specializing in complex real estate development.

Both Bill and Kareen attribute their deeply satisfying careers to their legal education. “This law school is a tremendous asset to the people of Minnesota,” Bill says. “It was back when we attended and is still today, even more so. We continue to be impressed with the caliber of the people and the programs.”

The Kommerstads’ incredible generosity was without parameters. Through the bequest they have helped the Law School invest in areas that confront and overcome the educational and financial challenges of today. Their support has forged new pathways for the Law School, and position the Law School to grow and stay at the cutting edge of legal education.

Through their incredible gift, the Law School established and strengthened the following funds and initiatives.

The Kommerstad Faculty Imagination Fund supports faculty pursuing innovative research and scholarship, amplifying the impact of their work. This fund provides research support, funding for conferences and symposia, support to pursue grants and fellowships, and support for other initiatives that increase faculty impact as teachers, scholars, and thought-leaders.

The Kommerstad Public Interest Summer Fellowship provides a stipend to support high achieving, public interest-minded students participating in an unpaid summer internship with a nonprofit organization, government agency or other summer public interest position.

The Kommerstad Judicial Internship Fund supports Minnesota Law students who participate in an unpaid summer internship with a judge or other judicial court setting outside of Minnesota.

The Kommerstad LL.M. Scholarship Fund enables access to a top-notch American legal education for international students pursuing an LL.M. degree at Minnesota Law.

Originally established by Erin Keyes ’00 and the Class of 2000, the Diversity and Belonging Initiatives Fund was strengthened to enhance and support diversity at the Law School through recruitment efforts, education, outreach, engagement, community building events, and other programmatic needs.

Finally, the Kommerstad J.D. Scholarship Fund was established to increase access to an outstanding legal education, enabling Minnesota Law to attract and retain even more high-achieving and diverse students.

While designating an unrestricted gift may not align with the philanthropic goals of every donor, we recognize with gratitude the incredible generosity and trust that Robert and Lila Kommerstad placed in our school and in our future. We thank them for this legacy gift and the outstanding vote of confidence it represents.

To learn more about planned giving to the University of Minnesota Law School, email David Jensen at dljensen@umn.edu

“I know personally that many women would not have been able to attend law school without a scholarship.”

— Kareen Ecklund ’78

Transcending Generations in Support of Minnesota Law

When Jim Lockhart ’86 was 12 years old, his family’s spring break trip was canceled because his father, the late Greer Lockhart ’53, had to try a product liability case in federal court and could not get the trial date continued.

“If this tells you anything about my father, he said, ‘Why don’t you spend the week with me in federal court?’” Jim recalls. “I may not have been that thrilled to sit in the back of that courtroom, but it was pretty interesting. And when it went to appeal, I got out of school so I could accompany my dad to the Eighth Circuit!”

When Greer passed away in 2021 just shy of his 92nd birthday, Jim and his sister, Ann Lockhart Watson ’82, decided to make a gift to the Law School’s trial practice program to honor their father. Greer had been a well-known trial lawyer and an adjunct professor of trial practice at Minnesota Law, so Jim says the gift made perfect sense.

“My dad tried hundreds of cases over the course of his career,” he says. “But today there are so few trials and therefore fewer opportunities for lawyers to get that experience in a law firm. Minnesota Law has really stepped up to take a more hands-on, experiential approach, to provide that training people used to get in practice. It’s so much more important today to have a trial advocacy program in law school.”

Greer was the first in his family to obtain a college degree and a law degree. He spent many years as president of the firm now known as Bassford Remele, trying hundreds of cases in state and federal courts, primarily defending claims of medical malpractice and products liability. In 2007, Minnesota Law & Politics named him one of Minnesota’s 100 most influential lawyers of all time. He also was deeply involved with and gave generously to the Law School over the years.

“My mom and dad’s two primary interests to support were the Law School and the Episcopal Church,” Jim says. “My father recognized the value that the Law School provided not just to him individually but also what it does in terms of educating a substantial percentage of the civic leaders in Minnesota. We couldn’t think of any other way to better honor him and his career.”

Greer’s commitment to the Law School transcended generations. In 2019, Jim, who spent many years at Lindquist and Vennum and now is in-house counsel at RJM Construction, agreed to co-chair the annual giving campaign at the Law

School with his father and his sister Ann. “I guess I have the same feelings as my father had. For me, it’s important to carry on the tradition that my father started. I, too, recognize that my career would not have been possible without the stellar education I got at the University of Minnesota Law School. Because the Law School is largely on its own in terms of funding, giving is essential.”

Charitable Gift Annuity Gift Tips:

Many donors have found a charitable gift annuity to be a great way to support the Law School. With this type of gift, you can receive fixed annual payments for life and an immediate income tax deduction. When you make a gift of cash or publicly traded securities to the Law School by way of the University of Minnesota Foundation, the foundation then pays you (or up to two people you designate) a fixed amount annually for life. The remaining assets are then used to support the Law School.

Greer Lockhart ’53 with Dean Carl Auerbach (in an undated photo from the 1970s).

“...it’s important to carry on the tradition that my father started. I, too, recognize that my career would not have been possible without the stellar education I got at the University of Minnesota Law School.” Jim Lockhart ’86

University of Minnesota Law School

229 19th Ave. South

Minneapolis, MN 55455

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Save the Date! Minnesota Law Heritage Society

Dinner

June 12, 2023

LAW.UMN.EDU

Join the 1888 Society with a Legacy Gift

The 1888 Society celebrates the founding of the University of Minnesota Law School and the generous individuals who have chosen to secure its future by including Minnesota Law in their estate or financial plans. By documenting a planned gift, you create a lasting legacy in support of our mission of training the next generation of world-class lawyer-leaders. With your permission, we will recognize your planned gift through enrollment in the 1888 Society, the University of Minnesota’s Heritage Society, and recognition at the Law School and in various published materials. While we would never publish the estimated value of your planned gift, we do want to show you the appreciation you deserve.

For further information on planned giving, contact:

David L. Jensen Chief Advancement Officer

University of Minnesota Law School

dljensen@umn.edu or (612) 625-2060

This publication is prepared exclusively for the information of the University of Minnesota Law School’s alumni, parents, and friends. Its purpose is to highlight current developments that may be helpful in your financial and philanthropic planning. With wise planning, you may be in a better position to support the Law School’s mission of training the next generation of lawyer-leaders. The information herein is based on current federal tax laws and regulations. You should always consult your own attorney or tax adviser as to the applicability of your own situation.

© 2023 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

I made a gift to the University of Minnesota Law School through my estate plan because I am grateful for my legal education and career, and I would like to help ensure that others have the same opportunity in the future.”

JANELL GABOR ’92

Attorney at Felhaber Larson