1969

Gerald Seck was recognized as a Minnesota Icon by Finance and Commerce and Minnesota Lawyer. He is a shareholder at Larkin Hoffman in Minneapolis.

1972

Jean Heilman Grier is the author of a new book, The International Procurement System: Liberalization & Protectionism (Dalston Press, 2022), on the topic of international trade law. She is the trade principal at Djaghe, LLC.

1974

Ann Montgomery was recognized as a Minnesota Icon by Finance and Commerce and Minnesota Lawyer. Since 1996, she has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

1979

Tom McDonald was a featured speaker at George Washington LawSchool Advisory Board Meeting. He is a trial lawyer and litigator at Taft.

1981

Craig Carlson retired as a technical advisor with the Taxpayer Advocate Service with the Internal Revenue Service after 38 years.

1982

Todd Urness was re-elected to the Board of Directors at Winthrop & Weinstine. He specializes in business and real estate law.

1983

Joan Bibelhausen received the 2022 Meritorious Service Award from the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyers for her work as executive director of Minnesota’s Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.

1985

Daniel McDonald won a 2022 Readers’ Favorite Book Award for his book, From Savvy Saver to Smart Spender: How to Pick a Tax-Wise Retirement Withdrawal Strategy. He is a semi-retired intellectual property lawyer and the creator of the website retirementtaxsaver.com.

1986

Brad D. Pedersen joined Barnes & Thornburg as an IP partner. He primarily focuses on post-grant and inter partes review proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, licensing and litigation related to high-technology, and in computer, software, and medical device areas.

1989

Jim L. Chosy was awarded the 2023 Scales of Justice Award by Equal Justice Works. Chosy leads development of U.S. Bank’s in-house pro bono program and promotes a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

1990

Nicole Engisch joined Dorsey & Whitney LLP as a partner in the Government Enforcement and Corporate Investigations practice group.

1991

Chad E. Baruch was recognized as a Top 100 Attorney in Dallas-Fort Worth. He is a managing shareholder at Johnston Tobey Baruch. 

Tim Beastrom was appointed chief legal counsel at James Hardie Industries. His background includes corporate governance, securities law, and commercial law.

1993

Tony Fernandes was appointed as the deputy assistant secretary for trade policy and negotiations in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, overseeing offices covering agricultural trade policy, intellectual property, bilateral and multilateral trade affairs.

1994

Shawn McIntee joined Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder. He is a member of the Corporate Practice group.

1995

Julie Jonas is the recipient of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys 2022 Ronald I. Meshbesher Distinguished Service Award for her work on wrongful convictions and legislative policy issues. 

Matthew McBride was elected to the Board of Winthrop & Weinstine. He focuses on business and commercial litigation and financial services litigation. McBride was also recognized as a 2023 Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation.

1996

Johanna Bond has been appointed dean of Rutgers Law School beginning July 3. Bond is currently the Sydney and Frances Lewis Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law. 

Keiko Sugisaka was named a 2022 Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer. She is a partner and board chair at Maslon.

1997

Matt Rowe joined the board of directors at the Badger Institute, Wisconsin’s oldest free-market policy and journalism think tank.

1999

Meghan Riley was honored by the International Municipal Lawyers Association with the Burk Leventhal Legal Advocacy Award. She serves as division chief for litigation for the city of Austin, Texas. 

Omar Syed was appointed vice president, general counsel, and secretary for Rice University and serves on the board of directors for the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

2000

Christopher Stall was elected to Moss & Barnett board of directors. He serves as a director and as chair of the firm’s Commercial Department and Business Law practice group.

2001

Ben Butler was appointed as chair of the Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Butler is the managing attorney with the Office of the Minnesota Appellate Public Defender. 

Bradley Hintze was promoted to partner at Lathrop GPM. He works with local and regional developers, lenders, and landlords, as well as businesses of all sizes in a variety of real estate transactions. 

Michael Rosow joined Maslon as a partner. He represents clients in loan workouts, creditor remedies, and bankruptcy; financial services litigation; and real estate litigation. He was recognized as a 2023 Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation.

2002

Jessica N. Servais was named a partner at Lockridge Grindal Nauen. She primarily focuses on antitrust cases and class actions.

2004

Andrew Pratt joined Hinshaw & Culbertson as a partner. He focuses on commercial transactions and real estate financing and development. 

Anthony B. Sanders authored a book titled Baby Ninth Amendments: How Americans Embraced Individual Rights and Why it Matters, which examines how state constitutions protect enumerated rights through versions of the Ninth Amendment. 

Evan Wilson was promoted to deputy general counsel of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, focusing on a range of areas including governance, regulatory compliance, operational and policy issues, and emergency management.

2005

Helen Yanhang transitioned from a leadership role with Volvo Cars in Shanghai to serving as managing director of Volvo Car Switzerland in Zurich.

2006

Nicole Blissenbach was appointed as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry by Governor Walz and confirmed by the Minnesota Senate. 

Jessica Hutson Polakowski was recognized as a 2023 Future Star by Benchmark Litigation. At Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, she is a shareholder focusing on litigation, intellectual property, and cannabis law.

Patrick Kimmel joined Koley Jessen litigation team, where he will counsel on a broad spectrum of legal and business issues, including complex contract disputes, insurance coverage, and mass tort litigation.

2007

Ashley Bennet-Ewald was recognized as a Global Leader in Private Practice 2022 by the World Trademark Review (WTR). She was also recognized as a WTR 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals for 2023. At Lathrop GPM, she focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation. 

Joseph Windler was recognized as a 2023 Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation. At Winthrop & Weinstine, he focuses on business, commercial, and energy legislation and regulation.

2008

Kara Castell was named by the American Bankruptcy Institute to its Top 40 Under 40. She is the managing partner of their Bankruptcy Litigation practice at ASK LLP.

Jenni Ives has joined Ann Viitala ‘84 and Mary Pat Byrn ’03 at Viitala Byrn & Ives Law Office in Minneapolis.

2009

Patrick Barrett was electedpartner at Morrison Foerster, where he is a member of the Transactions Department and Mergers & Acquisitions Group. 

Andrea Keller was elected partner at Latham & Watkins, where she is a member of the banking practice and finance department in the Chicago office. 

Naomi M. Michel joined Moss & Barnett. In this position, she advises on areas of mergers and acquisitions, entity formation, buy-sell agreements, and general business.

2010

Brianna Mooty joined Faegre Drinker, focusing on trust estate planning and charitable planning.

2012

Robert Davis was awarded the Principal Legal Advisor Award for Excellence for his work on Operation Allies Welcome, the effort to relocate Afghan refugees to the United States. 

Jenna Nand was appointed to Position 7 Edmonds (WA) City Council Seat. Her top three priorities are maintaining affordability for residents, environmental preservation, and inclusion. 

Julia Norsetter joined Reed Smith LLP as its transportation policy lead. She will provide policy analysis on a range of related aviation issues and legislation.

Shardé T. Skahan was promoted to partner at Seyfarth Shaw. She focuses on labor and employment law including disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.

2013

Jay Creagh was promoted to shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn, where he is the co-chair of the firm’s Startup and Venture Capital practice group and a member of the Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Private Equity practice groups.

Leah Kippola-Friske was promoted to shareholder at Nilan Johnson Lewis. Her practice areas include commercial litigation, complex torts, employee benefits, insurance claims, and intellectual property disputes.

R. Lynn Parins was elected partner at Foley & Lardner LLP where he focuses on the intersection of finance, renewable energy, and other clean infrastructure.

2014

Michelle Barnes joined the Anoka County Attorney’s Office as an assistant county attorney in the Juvenile Division. 

Melinda Dugas was promoted to partner at Stinson. She counsels individuals and businesses regarding real estate transactions. 

Rachel Kitze Collins was named partner at Lockridge Grindal Nauen. She practices in the firm’s Environmental, Business, Political Law, and Employment groups. 

Joseph Cruz was made partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. He focuses on intellectual property litigation, prosecution, and counseling. 

Caroline Marsili was promoted to partner at Carlson Caspers. She primarily focuses on patent litigation and trademark law, including trademark prosecution, litigation, T.T.A.B. proceedings, and ex parte petitions. 

2015

Neil Mahoney was promoted to shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine. She represents nonprofit and for-profit developers in highly structured commercial real estate transactions.

Nick Lyden was promoted to partner at Stinson. He focuses on real estate and corporate law.

2016

Catherine Cumming was promoted to shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine. Her practice involves the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, refinancing, and disposition of market rate and affordable multifamily developments.

Amber Kraemer was promoted to shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine. She represents community banks on a wide range of corporate and banking matters. 

Kyle Kroll was promoted to shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine. He represents clients in business matters, especially in banking, food and beverage, manufactur- ing, insurance, technology, and energy sectors.

2017

Chelsea Ahmann was selected asmanaging associate at Winthrop & Weinstine. She focuses on employment, breach of contract, shareholder disputes, intellectual property, and defamation claims. 

Samuel Thompson was selected as managing associate at Winthrop & Weinstine. He represents clients in the development of real estate projects.

2018

Eric Ryu joined Nilan Johnson Lewis as an associate and will focus his practice on corporate immigration and employment law.

2020

Michael Gale-Butto joined Winthrop & Weinstine as an associate in the Litigation Practice. Hewill focus on employment practices, municipal regulations, constitutional law, and law enforcement matters. 

Gina Tonn joined Greene Espel where she will provide business clients with advice and counsel in a variety of litigation matters.

2021

Carmen Carballo joined Maslon where she will focus her practice on a wide range of general commercial litigation matters. 

Lucy Holland joined Lockridge Grindal Nauen as an associate. She is a member of the firm’s antitrust group.

John E. Otruba joined Boylan Code where he specializes in corporate law.

2022

Eura Chang joined Lockridge Grindal Nauen as an associate where she will practice primarily in the firm’s antitrust and data breach practice groups. 

Emilie Keuntjes Erickson joined Faegre Drinker’s Minneapolis office where she will focus on product liability and mass torts.

Kerry Gibbons joined Faegre Drinker’s Chicago office. She will focus on business litigation. 

Yemaya Hanna joined Maslon where she will assist clients with a broad spectrum of general commercial litigation matters and business disputes.

Abigail Maier joined Maslon, where she will focus her practice on assisting clients to reach their wealth management and legacy goals. 

Develyn Mistriotti joined Lockridge Grindal Nauen as an associate. He will focus on variety of areas including antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and business law. 

Tarun Sharma ’22, who joined Fredrikson & Byron’s mergers & acquisitions and sports & entertainment law groups, is one
of the instructors of the Law School’s new Sports & Name, Image, & Likeness Clinic. Sharma helped found the clinic during his last semester at the Law School. Together with Fredrikson shareholder Christopher Pham, Sharma works with students to help collegiate athlete clients take advantage of their name, image, and likeness rights through endorsement and branding contracts. 

Jesse Smith joined Hanft Fride. Within business law, he will focus on business formation and operation, contracts, commercial litigation, and estate planning. 

Sam Sylvan joined Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren as a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice in the Milwaukee office.