Fredrikson's 2023 Pro Bono Stories

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A COLLECTION OF

PRO BONO STORIES



2023 Pro Bono Annual Report

Produced by Fredrikson fredlaw.com Copyright © 2023 by Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. All rights reserved.


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ew will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Robert F. Kennedy, June 6, 1966 History has taught us that these words, spoken by Robert Kennedy more than 50 years ago, remain true to each generation. We used a portion of this quote in our 2008 report, understanding that small, numberless diverse acts of courage can improve lives and communities. These words, this ideal, remains true today. It is an ideal that we, as a firm, strive to adhere to through our work on behalf of others. Each of us can make a difference in the life of another and in our own communities. We are proud that Fredrikson lawyers and staff have been doing so for nearly 75 years. As we look back at the history of our firm and the contributions made by our lawyers and staff, we understand how important seemingly small contributions – those ripples of hope – really are. We see how much our work with community economic development organizations and their clients has helped to build more beautiful, diverse and safe neighborhoods. We see how assisting a young mother with a custody dispute decades ago allowed that child to grow up into a confident and successful woman. We see how incorporating new nonprofits has strengthened our communities by permitting them to provide services to those most vulnerable. Whether it is through the provision of legal services to those in need, or by planting trees in a park, or by supporting food shelves, our lawyers and staff have set forth ripples and built currents that, bit-by-bit, bring hope to many. We hope you enjoy our stories. iii


Table of Contents

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01

C HAPTER 1 P E R S O N A L R E P R E S E N TAT I O N TO ENSURE JUSTICE

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C HAPTER 2 S U PPORTIN G AN D GROWING COMMU N ITIE S

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C HAPTER 3 R E C OGN ITION S

C HAPTER 4 VOL U N TE E RS W H O ENR ICH O U R C OMMU N ITIE S C HAPTER 5 EPIL OGU E

All names and stories in this report are shared with permission. Some names are changed or abbreviated to protect the privacy of clients.

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Personal Representation to Ensure Justice

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INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION BRINGS NEW BEGINNINGS

CARA DONELS

SCHUYLER TROY

THOMAS PATTON

VICKI HANDLER

SARAH AUSTIN

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is a multilateral treaty that provides an expeditious method to return a child internationally abducted by a parent from one member country to another. The convention was drafted to ensure the prompt return of children who have been wrongfully abducted from their country of habitual residence or wrongfully retained in a state not their country of habitual residence. Fredrikson lawyers took the first international kidnapping case in 2002, and they have received referrals for additional cases since then, including the one here: In January 2022, Fredrikson was contacted by the Department of State regarding an abduction case of a five-year-old child from Honduras. The child was abducted by her biological father and was living in Des Moines, Iowa. The mother was not allowed much contact by phone or on WhatsApp, and when she was able to have a chat, she worried that her child was visibly distressed. Cara Donels and Thomas Patton volunteered to take the case and began working with assistance from Schuyler Troy, paralegals Vicki Handler and Sarah Austin, and legal administrative 2


assistant Erica Palmer. After researching the law and receiving guidance from the Department of State, Cara and the team filed the Complaint with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa on June 2, 2022. A preliminary hearing was held shortly thereafter, enjoining the father from leaving Des Moines with the child. A full evidentiary hearing was held on August 4, 2022, where the team presented evidence that the father had not previously lived with the child and had abducted her from her home illegally, with no applicable affirmative defense. The outcome? A happy family reunion with the mother and the rest of the family. Cara and the team were assisted by R. Scott Johnson, research librarians Jean Boos and Susan Trombley, and paralegal Marvic Salminen-Morillo. “Thomas and I initially got the request for pro bono volunteers and obviously thought ‘kidnapping is bad, we should look into this,’ as we both were looking to pick up a new pro bono case. But it wasn’t until we met with the family (virtually, as they were in Honduras) that we knew that we had a chance to do some real good here. The mother put so much of her life into caring for her children, and the father abducted his daughter into a really scary situation. We could not imagine the mother attempting to navigate this complicated Hague Convention issue on her own, let alone from another country. I don’t know that I’ve ever celebrated an order more than the one that said we could send the little girl back to her mother, brother and grandma in Honduras.” Cara Donels

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Matthew Webster is committed to volunteering his time and talent to help those in need and helps mentor lawyers in departments outside of his area of law. A few of these success stories are here:

MATTHEW WEBSTER

KIERSTEN MCMAHON

Matthew and paralegal Kiersten McMahon had the chance to shake the hand of one of Minnesota’s newest asylees this past year after Matthew took a case from The Advocates for Human Rights in 2014. The client and her family had experienced severe past persecution in her home country due to their political opposition to the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), and Zimbabwe’s President for 40 years, Robert Mugabe. Her case became unexpectedly complicated, however, when it was discovered, at her asylum interview in 2017, that a friend had inadvertently used the client’s passport while she was hospitalized following a government attack in 2013. The case was then transferred to the Fort Snelling Immigration Court for a full individual merits hearing. After years of master calendar hearings and interminable delays, the client finally had three individual merits hearings at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court. The testimony included that of her daughter, who had just graduated with honors from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, and the friend who had used the client’s passport and now wanted to right this wrong. The friend appeared telephonically from Zimbabwe when it was very late at night due to time zone differences, sleeping in her office in order testify for her friend. At the end of the hearing, the judge granted asylum from the bench, bringing years of uncertainty and fear to an end, and marking this grateful client’s first day of asylum in the United States.

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MATTHEW WEBSTER

CLAIRE ZILLER

Matthew Webster and paralegal Claire Ziller successfully represented a man from Burundi who was a student at St. Cloud State University in 2015 when he participated in a public protest in the United States against the Burundian President’s unconstitutional campaign for a third term. Within a week, the client was charged in Burundi with the crime of participation in an insurrectionary movement, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. His two brothers also participated in protests and similarly received arrest warrants for their political opposition. His family warned him that he would be tortured or killed if he returned to Burundi. The client’s parents were also arrested and detained on politically motivated charges and questioned as to the client’s whereabouts. An additional family member was assassinated for what was believed to be political purposes. The client feared persecution by the Burundian government based upon his political opinion and Tutsi ethnicity, a targeted minority within the country. The client initially filed an affirmative asylum application in 2016, and the case was then referred from the Asylum Office to Immigration Court. Matthew and Claire received the case in 2020 and worked to request an expedited hearing (since the case had been languishing since 2016) and to prepare pre-hearing briefs and testimony. After testimony at two individual merits hearings, the Immigration Judge granted the client asylum, and the government waived appeal. The client’s eight years of limbo are finally over. Upon receiving asylum, the client said, “I want to start by thanking you again and show my appreciation for all your help provided on my asylum case. [I]t has been truly a journey, and you continued to work with me in wonderful professionalism.” 5


MARVIC LAUREN SANDY MATTHEW SMALLEY-FLEMING WEBSTER SALMINEN-MORILLO BRECKENRIDGE

Sandy Smalley-Fleming led a team including Matthew Webster, summer associate Margaret Severson, paralegals Marvic SalminenMorillo and Lauren Breckenridge, and legal administrative assistant Beth Prisby to assist a young person (CP) from Guatemala who was forced to flee her country when she was only 16 years old. Her father was murdered when she was a young child, and her family continued to be threatened by local smugglers. CP entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor to live with her brother. After her arrival in Minnesota, Sandy represented CP and her brother in Family Court so he could be granted custody of CP. Sandy then represented CP in immigration court and filed a petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and an application for asylum as an unaccompanied minor with U.S. Custom and Immigration Service (USCIS). Sandy overcame a challenge to the SIJS petition when USCIS issued a Notice of Intent to Deny because the custody order was issued after CP’s 18th birthday. Sandy successfully outlined the court’s jurisdiction to have entered a third-party custody order based on existing Minnesota law. Margaret assisted Sandy with the response to the Notice of Intent to Deny. CP’s SIJS petition was approved, and she was granted deferred action until she becomes eligible to apply for permanent residence. Matthew and Lauren then assisted CP in filing for lawful employment authorization, which was approved. Because of this team’s advocacy, CP can remain safe in the United States, has a path to permanent residency and has lawful permission to work in the United States, which will allow her to support herself and her United States citizen toddler. Marvic, Beth, and former legal administrative assistant Brenda Haberman provided critical support in earning CP’s trust, maintaining ongoing communication with her and in preparing the family court motion papers and immigration documents. 6


Sandy shared, “CP is one of the most courageous people I have ever met. Our Fredrikson team has been honored to assist in her brave journey to change the course of her life.”

PAM ABBATE-DATTILO

ANDREW NICK

ERIC SCHILLING

Pam Abbate-Dattilo, Andrew Nick and Eric Schilling successfully represented a woman from Republic of Congo who was kidnapped, tortured, drugged and threatened with forced prostitution by Bebes Noirs, a loosely organized, ruthless gang supporting President Sassou Nguesso. The client was persecuted on account of her political opinion against the government. Pam and Andrew had represented the client for nearly six years in a case that was a roller coaster of procedural challenges, including an unreadable interview notice, a referral of the case from the USCIS to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, an interlocutory appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals and a contentious hearing in immigration court. Eric provided valuable support in getting last minute filings drafted, while legal administrative assistants Lindsey Underberg and e-filing specialist Michelle Rockhill spent long days preparing submissions and navigating the quirks of the online immigration court filing system. Because of the work of this team, the client can now live and work safely in the United States. She will be eligible for permanent residency, and she can apply for travel permission to go to France to see the family she was forced to leave behind in 2017. The team also received invaluable support from Ashley Roth, Fredrikson’s Pro Bono Immigration Counsel.

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HOUSING JUSTICE

TODD WIND

SEAN KEARNEY

MITCH STAUCH

DEVIN DRISCOLL

A cross-department team of Todd Wind, Sean Kearney, Mitch Stauch and Devin Driscoll represented a woman and her family who had been living in a property in extreme need of repair. The home had mold in several rooms, missing walls and flooring that was due to the landlord’s previous attempts to treat the mold, and a toilet that ran constantly causing the client to have enormously high water bills. Even after the client paid for independent mold testing, the landlord continued to ignore the situation. Through all of this, the client continued to pay her rent into an escrow account, knowing if she did not, the landlord could bring an eviction against her, and it would then be difficult to find another place to live. The client reached out to Volunteer Lawyers Network for assistance and was connected to Todd, who quickly recruited other lawyers to assist. Todd and the team began by attending multiple hearings and, although the landlord finally began making repairs, prepared to go to trial. At issue was how much of the escrowed rent should be released to the tenants for rent abatement. With a total of five months of rent in escrow, there was a lot on the line. Several days before trial the landlord settled, agreeing to release the entire escrow to the tenant and to give the client free rent for November and half of December, which allowed the family time to find another place to live. What a wonderful holiday gift to this family!

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PRO BONO SERVICES LEAD TO A SECOND CHANCE

ED CASSIDY

CARI MARTELL

LESLIE ANDERSON

Ed Cassidy, Cari Martell and paralegal Leslie Anderson began representing Michael Wearry, a young African American man on death row in Louisiana in 2009. It was a tough case. In 1998, Mr. Wearry and four others were charged and convicted of murdering a teenage pizza delivery driver. The arrest came two years after the crime and was based on the statements of one man – a jailhouse informant – who presented numerous and inconsistent statements to the police. Mr. Wearry was sentenced to death in 2002. Partnering with the Capital Post-Conviction Center of Louisiana (now known as the Mwalimu Center for Justice), and through an extensive post-conviction investigation, the team came to strongly believe that Mr. Wearry did not receive a fair trial and that a significant amount of evidence was not presented. The team presented their new evidence and called 36 witnesses at a hearing in front of a trial judge. After the trial court denied a new trial, the team then submitted the record to the Louisiana Supreme Court. Unlike the original trial lawyer’s file, which was bare bones considering this was a capital case, the new record submitted to the Louisiana Supreme Court now filled over nine banker’s boxes. Unfortunately, the Court denied the request for a new trial. However, in a dissent, the chief justice said he would have reversed based on the quality of Mr. Wearry’s representation at trial. Normally, the next step in a post-conviction proceeding would be to petition the federal courts, and then the U.S. Supreme Court. The Wearry team made the decision to directly petition the U.S. Supreme Court for certiorari review, while also preparing to file briefs at the federal court level. In the petition, Wearry’s team 9


wrote that Wearry’s public defender admitted that he “conducted essentially no investigation, had no strategic reasons for not preparing a defense and met with the petitioner (Wearry) perhaps once before trial.” Because only a very small percentage of cases submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court for review are granted, the team was encouraged after the Court requested the entire trial record be submitted. The Supreme Court set the case for conference seven times before ultimately (and without requiring any oral arguments, as is customary), issuing a “per curiam” opinion summarily reversing the first-degree murder conviction on the grounds the prosecution failed to disclose key evidence that cast doubt on Wearry’s involvement as described by the state’s star witness, the jailhouse informant. The Court wrote, “Beyond a doubt, the newly revealed evidence suffices to undermine confidence in Wearry’s conviction. The State’s trial evidence resembles a house of cards, built on a jury crediting [the informant’s] account rather than crediting Wearry’s alibi.” Update After the SCOTUS ruling, the District Attorney sought to retry Mr. Wearry and again seek the death penalty. On the eve of a second trial, the prosecution offered Mr. Wearry a plea. In February 2023, Mr. Wearry was released and is now enjoying time with his family and loved ones.

Michael Wearry and Ed Cassidy

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Cari Martell, Leslie Anderson, Michael Wearry and family, former Fredrikson lawyer Jim Mayer, Ed Cassidy

GAURI SAMANT

Fredrikson deeply values partnerships and collaborations. Gauri Samant partnered with her husband and lawyer, Mitch Williams, to represent a single mom of four children in a criminal expungement matter. The client made some mistakes years ago that she deeply regretted. Unfortunately, her criminal history prevented her from gaining meaningful employment to best provide for her family. To help her move forward and get a second chance, the client had taken several steps towards rehabilitation including becoming more involved with her church and family and changing her friendship circle and social habits. However, because of her criminal 11


record, she was being turned down from numerous employment applications. After a few meetings and multiple correspondences with their client, Gauri and Mitch prepared and filed a criminal expungement petition on the client’s behalf in Morrison County, Minnesota. Mitch argued the motion before the Morrison County Judge while both the client and Gauri attended. The Court granted the expungement from the bench and followed with a written order. Gauri and Mitch will continue to assist their client with three other expungements in other counties. Needless to say, the client is very grateful for this assistance that will allow her and her family to move forward to a better, safer and more productive life. Gauri shared, “As a lawyer in Fredrikson’s Property Tax Group, this presented a steep, but enjoyable, learning curve for both of us to learn the substantive law in order to file and to expunge a criminal record – as well as navigating the filing and service requirements in state court (a jurisdiction where neither of us have substantial experience) – both of us were happy to help this deserving client. Luckily, our friends at Volunteer Lawyers Network were extremely helpful in providing us with the resources and answering our questions to move this process along.”

FINANCIAL RELIEF

RYAN MURPHY

Ryan Murphy was retained to represent a woman whose husband was an attorney who had been disbarred for SEC violations. Before she retired, the client supported her husband financially, including making payments on the mortgage and the tax liens that had been placed on the home due to the husband’s actions. The home was sold, and the limited equity was then used by the client to buy a new home in her name only, as the husband’s financial 12


issues prevented his ability to contribute. The husband then filed a bankruptcy case, but the Bankruptcy Trustee asserted that the wife should have to repay half the amount used to buy the new home because that was the husband’s portion, which his creditors had an interest in. The husband negotiated a settlement whereby the wife would essentially pay the entire claimed amount back. The wife contacted us to advise on the settlement agreement. Despite the fact an agreement had already been reached in principle, Ryan negotiated a new settlement whereby the wife had to pay a very modest amount back and had many months to do so.

SAM ANDRE

MELISSA HODGE

Sam Andre and Melissa Hodge assisted a client who originally came to Fredrikson seeking help in obtaining payment of a dividend from his prior firm, which he alleged had been unlawfully withheld from him. Not only did the firm refuse to pay the dividend, but it thereafter claimed that the client was in violation of an alleged non-compete agreement. They tried to reduce the repurchase price of his shares in the firm by half. After unsuccessful out-of-court negotiations, Sam and Melissa helped the client prepare and file a lawsuit against the firm and its officers, asserting claims for breach of contract and illegal distribution, among others, and that he was owed the full repurchase price of his shares plus the unpaid dividend. The defendants, the firm and its officers, asserted a counterclaim seeking enforcement of the alleged non-compete agreement, asserting damages totaling $1,200,000. The defendants’ claim quickly unraveled, however, when they could not find and produce a copy of any such agreement. After a day of mediation, defendants agreed to pay our client $145,000 in exchange for dismissal of all parties’ claims. This amount represented a large percentage of the amount demanded by the client and came 13


with the additional benefit of bringing a swift end to what would otherwise have been a seven-year relationship between the parties due to the share repurchase. Patrick Mahlberg, Ryan Murphy, summer associate Carter Allen also assisted. Update

MAKING AN IMPACT IN FOSTER CARE

CHRIS PHAM

Last year we reported a story on Jeffrey, who was 12 years old when Chris Pham began working with him through Children’s Law Center of Minnesota. Chris had maintained the relationship with this young man, including when Jeffrey was moved to Washington to live with his older sister, only to be told that her family decided to no longer adopt him. Chris stayed in contact with Jeffrey when he was placed in outstate Minnesota, Iowa and many other places over the past nine years. But due, in part, to Chris’s consistency in his life, Jeffrey has become a successful young man. He is currently in the military and stationed in Texas, where he is learning to be a helicopter mechanic and pilot.

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Chris recently received an unsolicited email from Jeffrey’s sister, which once again shows the power of giving back. We just never know how our work touches and changes lives: “This is completely random, but I came across your page on a story of someone I know. You probably won’t remember me, but we met in either 2010 or 2011 when I was 10 years old. My memory of that time has since been pushed back into the depths of my mind, but you were one of the attorneys I met while my younger brother was in the process of being removed from the home. I just wanted to say that I’ve always remembered your name and who you are because of how you treated me. I had never met an attorney or anything like that before meeting you and I just need to thank you for treating me like a human and not just a name in the case. It was a horribly traumatic time in my life, but I will never forget your patience and kindness.”

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Supporting and Growing Communities

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onprofits support the quality of life in many neighborhoods. The diversity and breath of the work they do is wide-ranging and remarkable. Fredrikson lawyers and staff help support this work by providing pro bono legal services to new and established organizations.

AUSTIN GOODNIGHT

TRACY DEUTMEYER

BRIDGET PENICK

DAVID TIBBALS

CHRISTY CARRIER

Finding transportation to and from jobs can be a large problem in rural areas for those who want to work but are unable to find rides. One creative individual developed a transportation program, Job Rides, whose mission is to provide everyone with equal access to employment, including, for example, Afghani refugees, individuals recently released from incarceration, those who are allowed out on a work release program and the homeless. They do this by partnering with businesses, organizations and individuals to provide affordable, reliable transportation for those who need it most and with the belief that work is the key to a better life for all. They partner with employers in the Des Moines area, primarily in the manufacturing space, to shuttle no- or low-income individuals to jobs they otherwise could not access. The organization is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind because of lack of transportation. The project has become so successful, they are looking to expand beyond Des Moines across 18


the state of Iowa. This was a creative team effort that brought together lawyers and paralegals from multiple offices, including Austin Goodnight, Bridget Penick and Tracy Deutmeyer in Iowa who, with David Tibbals and paralegal Christy Carrier in Fargo, incorporated the organization as a nonprofit and provided intellectual property protections. The team continues to assist the organization with ongoing contract review work. The client is very appreciative of the work of the Fredrikson team.

TOM WILHELMY

LISA BOND

Tom Wilhelmy, along with paralegal Lisa Bond and the staff at the Basilica of Saint Mary, successfully secured a full refund of taxes paid in 2022 and a property tax exemption going forward in payable year 2023 for the Basilica’s childcare and preschool facility known as Child’s Garden. The Basilica property tax petition was filed as the Minnesota Supreme Court was considering oral arguments and then ultimately issued a ruling in a similar case. The Basilica has long served a public interest by supporting several community and public service initiatives that help those in need. Lawyer Kurt Glaser also provided assistance.

DAVID WEST

REBECCA GIN

The nonprofit Before Racism helps children ages one through five embrace differences and prevents the development of racial bias so 19


they can thrive in an increasingly diverse world. The organization does this by integrating early childhood education best practices and science to prevent the development of racial bias in children. David West, with assistance from paralegal Rebecca Gin, has worked with this important organization by providing advice and assistance on a number of trademark and copyright projects.

Fredrikson has a long history of assisting small, minorityowned businesses. These businesses have the ability to stabilize communities and to help build wealth for immigrants and other economically disadvantaged groups. Fredrikson’s history includes working with community leaders to help form and develop community economic development organizations, such as Meda in 1971 and the Northside Economic Opportunity Network in 2008. Fredrikson has also worked side-by-side with the Neighborhood Development Center since 1999. More recently, these partnerships include other organizations such as the Lake Street Council and the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition, all of which are in the Minneapolis/St. Paul areas of Minnesota. Fredrikson lawyers also work with the Collider Foundation in southeast Minnesota. Through these organizations, Fredrikson lawyers give legal presentations to individuals looking to start, or who have opened, small businesses. Volunteers also provide direct legal representation to businesses on issues of entity choice and formation, lease reviews and negotiations, contract reviews, employment and intellectual property assistance. These incredible businesses help build more diverse, safe and welcoming communities, and provide opportunities for everyone to experience different cultures through local restaurants and retail services. Fredrikson is proud to continue to support these brave entrepreneurs, including the following:

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KEVIN SPRENG

Intown Sushi began as a dream, but it has grown to having a physical location and product in more than 30 local stores. Kevin Spreng assisted the owners with a contract review with a global food company.

ANN LADD

JULIE ANN TAYLOR

Ann Ladd worked through Collider Foundation to assist a small restaurant with considerations regarding a lease renegotiation. Ann and paralegal Julie Ann Taylor also assisted a woman with an incorporation as she opened a new florist shop in the Rochester, Minnesota area.

MARY BETH PERANTEAU

Mary Beth Peranteau helped a local restaurant understand the terms and conditions of a new lease they were about to sign. 21


TASH BOTTUM

Tash Bottum and summer associate Anthony Rodriguez assisted The Human Color of Hair Care, a personal hair care company, that developed a plant-based haircare line that caters to the textured and curly haired community.

Advocating for funding on behalf of nonprofits that serve the disadvantaged in our communities has been a vital part of Fredrikson’s pro bono work by members of the Government Relations Group for several years.

CODY HOLLIDAY

ANDY POMROY

In collaboration with other key stakeholder groups, Government Relations Specialist Cody Holliday worked on behalf of REACH for Resources in securing a reimbursement rate increase for outpatient behavioral health services and ongoing annual increases tied to inflation. REACH for Resources believes it is important that the state continues to provide adequate funding for these services as they are community based and help meet people where they are at.

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The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is the single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans in the nation. Established by Congress in 1974, LSC promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. LSC distributes more than 90 percent of its total funding to 132 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 800 offices across the country, including those in Minnesota. The grants do not, however, provide enough funds to support the needs of the local offices. And the needs are great: it is estimated that legal aid can only assist 20 percent of individuals who qualify for help. Raising funds is vital to ensure justice for all. This past year, Senior Government Relations Specialist Andy Pomroy lobbied on behalf of the Minnesota Civil Legal Services Coalition to obtain an 84.4 percent increase in state funding. This is the largest increase in history and begins to change the landscape for Legal Aid in Minnesota to better recruit and retain attorneys. Starting salaries of Legal Aid attorneys will be increased to be better aligned with the market, which will allow legal aid offices across the state to hire more staff and attorneys and expand services for more eligible Minnesotans.

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Recognitions

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THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS LAW FIRM PRO BONO AWARD The Advocates for Human Rights was founded in Minneapolis 40 years ago by a group of dedicated lawyers, including those at Fredrikson. It has grown to be a global leader in human, women and gender rights. Fredrikson has a deep abiding relationship with this remarkable organization. Fredrikson was honored to receive a 2023 Law Firm Pro Bono Award for its long-term commitment to pro bono and for involving the entire firm in its pro bono efforts, including many paralegals. “We are honored to recognize Fredrikson & Byron as a Law Firm Pro Bono Award winner at the 2023 Human Rights Dinner. You have been a steadfast partner through the years and we are grateful for your leadership. We will highlight your commitment to involving your entire team in your pro bono efforts and your creative approach to expanding civil legal services to disadvantaged communities. We are specifically recognizing your paralegals who have worked on immigration matters. They have worked tirelessly to uphold the dignity, justice, and peace of individuals affected by labor trafficking and persecution in their home countries. We greatly appreciate your team’s commitment and ability to navigate complex legal cases and defend the rights of survivors of human rights violations. Thank you for your incredible contributions to the human rights movement.” Robin Phillips, The Advocates Executive Director

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Back Row: Kayla Hoel, Matthew Webster, Christiaan Tarbox, Kiersten McMahon, Laura Danielson, former paralegal Malinda Maier, Roselin Victor, Tessa Lynch, Marvic Salminen-Morillo Front Row: Sadie Buckel, Claudia Garcia, Pam Wandzel

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HENNEPIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR PRO BONO SERVICE Roxanne Thorelli, an associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group, was honored by the Hennepin County Bar Association with the Excellence Award for Pro Bono Service. Roxanne has been a pro bono champion in many ways. She has volunteered through Volunteer Lawyers Network by attending and providing employment advice at a virtual clinic and serves as the Mergers & Acquisition Department’s Pro Bono Champion, where she personally contacts lawyers in the group to encourage them to give back through pro bono.

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VOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

MARK VYVYAN

Mark Vyvyan, a shareholder in the Real Estate Group, was recognized this year as the Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) Volunteer of the Year. Mark was selected to receive this award by the VLN staff for his dedication and work at the VLN Housing Clinic. Mark was instrumental in establishing the clinic in 1999, run in partnership with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and has been a consistent volunteer since. Aside from attending clinic, Mark has taken many housing cases on a full-representation basis, often working with, and mentoring, younger associates and paralegals. Because of his steadfast commitment, VLN said, “[We] are pleased to honor you and your commitment to housing on multiple levels.” At the award ceremony, Mark, inspired by Spiderman, thanked VLN for the award and reminded others that: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

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ASSOCIATE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

MATTHEW WEBSTER

When Matthew Webster began in Fredrikson’s Immigration Group in 2018, it quickly became evident that providing pro bono legal services to those in need was more than a professional obligation, it was also personally important to him. Matthew has taken many asylum and immigration cases since he joined the firm. He also attends clinics and provides guidance to nonprofits. This past year alone, Matthew assisted on 14 separate matters. And for many lawyers outside of the Immigration Group who take pro bono immigration or asylum cases, Matthew has been an invaluable resource who is always available to answer questions or to assist as co-counsel on complex cases. Matthew works hard to bring others along, including many paralegals and those new to this practice area, to assist on cases. In addition to Matthew’s pro bono work, he and his family also sponsored a family from the Ukraine through Alight, a local refugee settlement agency. Fredrikson is proud to honor Matthew Webster for his deep commitment to share his talent and time with so many. “Our entire group is proud of Matthew Webster’s commitment and dedication to serving refugees and immigrants in our communities. He is an inspiration to many within the firm and throughout the immigration bar. We are proud to join the firm in recognizing Matthew.” Loan Huynh, Fredrikson’s Immigration Group Chair

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2023 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

EDWARD CASSIDY

Prior to joining Fredrikson in 2009, Edward “Ed” Cassidy was committed to pro bono service, including acting as Guardian ad litem for children in foster care. Upon joining Fredrikson, Ed soon learned about the firm’s work representing Damon Thibodeaux, an inmate on death row in Louisiana. Within a few months, Ed asked the firm to take a second case through Fredrikson’s longtime partner, the Capital Post-Conviction Project of Louisiana, now known as the Mwalimu Center for Justice, with Ed leading a team. The firm agreed, and Ed’s legacy as an advocate for individuals on death row began. Ed’s first case was that of Michael Wearry, a young man whose story is highlighted in the first chapter. As he built a team for the case, Ed also committed himself to learning this new-to-him area of law, attending training through the American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Project, working with experts in the field and building relationships with co-counsel and investigators in Louisiana. Ed’s work and dedication brought him back to Louisiana this past spring to see Michael Wearry walk out of prison after 25 years. In addition to his work on Michael’s case, Ed also agreed to participate in two other cases, one of which has been scheduled for oral argument before the Louisiana Supreme Court, something that has not been granted since the 1980s. Significantly, Ed’s passion and commitment to death penalty work inspired other lawyers at the firm to get involved under his leadership. The important work he has done to develop expertise, build teams and train other lawyers on representing individuals on death row will be a lasting contribution to Fredrikson. Ed’s legacy will live on through a new generation of lawyers. Fredrikson is honored to present the Distinguished Service Award to Ed Cassidy. 31


Volunteers Who Enrich our Communities

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MARK S. CADY DAY OF PUBLIC SERVICE The annual Cady Day of Service is dedicated to late Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark S. Cady. The event brings the community together to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Justice Cady and his commitment to public service, access to justice and civil rights. Paralegal Sarah McCray and legal administrative assistant Susan Ramfjord helped coordinate the Iowa offices’ day of volunteering at the Food Bank of Iowa.

Katie Owens, Logan Murray, Natalie Williams, Scott Johnson, Sarah Eichhorn, Liz Thomson

Alex Kron, Susan Ramfjord, Sarah Golwitzer, Erica Palmer, Shelby Kosiek, Bridget Penick, Sarah McCray, Tom Slaughter

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EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY The Fargo office, led by office manager Kelly Barr-Muscha, volunteered for the week of November 7 at the Fargo Emergency Food Pantry. For more than 45 years, the Emergency Food Pantry has helped feed people in Cass and Clay counties in times of crisis, unemployment, fire, family violence, medical problems and other difficult situations. The pantry provides hungry families and individuals with wholesome food to tide them over during times of emergency. Fredrikson employees purchased, sorted and packed bags of food for more than 1,000 items for the Emergency Food Pantry and spent the week sorting, stocking and packing bags of food, hygiene and cleaning products. This was Fargo’s third year purchasing products for, and volunteering at, the Emergency Food Pantry for an entire week.

LENDING A HELPING HAND The Fargo office also assisted a homeowner by bringing a crew over to paint her home, something she had not been able to afford for more than 20 years. The homeowner was so appreciative, she provided home-baked cookies for the group.

Back Row: Kathy Sandford, Jacob Strinden, David Tibbals, Trace Hayes, Lacey Lesmeister Front Row: Danielle Crothers, Melissa Peterson, Alisha Carpenter, Andrea Jenson-Packer, Haley Otto, Maureen Bogdan 35


PLANTING TREES IN THE COMMUNITY For the second year in a row, a group from the Bismarck office braved rainstorms and worked with a local park to plant trees that Fredrikson purchased for the event. This work will help enhance the community and provide a fun, green-shaded space for many families and visitors. Thanks to office administrator Lyn Entzi‑Odden for coordinating this important work.

ENHANCING A COMMUNITY TREASURE The Minneapolis office continued its longstanding partnership with The Bakken Museum, a firm client and Foundation grant recipient, to host a community service project. The Bakken features a worldrenowned collection of books and artifacts, multiple galleries focusing on the wonders of invention, plant medicine and science, and The Florence Bakken Medicinal Garden.

Back Row: Rose Greven and husband John Greven, Curt Okerson, Julie Witt, Bruce Rehberg, Linda Steinger, Jodi Gustafson Front Row: Kiersten McMahon, former employees Katie Kubat and Roxanne Gangl, Lisa Bond

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FRIENDS OF FREDRIKSON Friends of Fredrikson is a unique program – a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization run by Fredrikson employees with support of the firm and the Foundation. Since 1994, the program has provided support for the homeless and school children and annually provides a bit of holiday cheer to families in need in our community.

HOLIDAY GIFTING PROGRAMS

KRISTEN HANSEN

This past year, the Bismarck office adopted a military family to help make the holidays a bit more special for a family in need. The office pulled together and provided gifts for a young family that was facing a tragic loss when the young husband passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. The mother, who serves in the North Dakota National Guard, was left with their four-year-old son and newborn daughter. Kristen Hansen and legal administrative assistant Lyn Entzi-Odden worked with the organization to receive the family’s wish list and went to work to fulfill their requests that help ensure the holidays were a bit more merry.

37


PHIL BUBB

Once again, the Iowa offices worked with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to adopt deserving families. This past year, they supported five families with a total of nineteen individual family members. The offices chipped in and purchased gifts to make this season a very happy one for the families. Phil Bubb coordinated the project.

JUSTIN CHASCO

The Madison office partnered with the Goodman Community Center. Rallying together, they purchased a number of special wish list items and grocery store gift cards for families who usually depend on the school and community center for meals and who would have otherwise struggled during the holiday break. Justin Chasco and legal administrative assistant Sydney Prall coordinated the project.

38


JESSICA BUCHERT

The Mankato office worked with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) and assisted two families with a Veteran who willingly served our country to protect our freedoms and rights. The W. family came to MACV after the female head of household had her ATM card stolen and her accounts emptied. This female Veteran found herself and her three-year-old child at risk of homelessness because she didn’t have money to pay for rent, food, utilities or childcare. MACV was able to cover the cost of two months’ rent while the bank completed a fraud investigation. This support allowed the Veteran the opportunity to catch up on her other expenses while no longer worrying about the possibility of losing the family’s housing. The Veteran and her child are now stable in their permanent housing and the added Christmas assistance cinched the good tidings. The J. family includes Mr. W., a proud Veteran, and his partner and their five children. In the last year, Mr. W. and his family moved into a home with a HUD/VASH voucher, which is the first home he has ever lived in with his name on the lease. Mr. W’s children are incredibly special to him, and financial difficulties would prevent Mr. W. and his partner from buying their children Christmas gifts. They were overjoyed to have help this holiday season. Jessica Buchert and executive legal assistant Ginger Leiferman coordinated the project.

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The Minneapolis office continued its tradition of working with MACV to help three deserving families. The B. family came to MACV when they lost their housing and were forced to live in a U-Haul. MACV was able to get them into a hotel and move the family of four into transitional housing. Transitional housing has allowed them to have the Veteran’s three children from his previous marriage visit on the weekends and has given the family stabilization to work on getting their lives back on track. The family needed assistance with Christmas presents as the Veteran’s health issues flared up and he was unable to work regularly, so they were on a very tight budget. The family is currently in a housing search with a HUD/VASH Voucher. Mr. G. is a Veteran and member of his tribe, and he and his partner’s children are their priority. They have a son on the Autism spectrum but who Mr. G. says brightens their world. The obstacles they have overcome together have made them grateful parents, but they have many obstacles ahead as they work to secure stable housing. They love taking walks with their children and watching movies together, and the Christmas assistance brought happiness to the entire family. After losing her housing when a job transfer fell through, Ms. H. and her three children found themselves homeless. Without a place to stay, or family in the area, this Veteran had to send two of her children to stay with their father temporarily until she could get back on her feet. Turning to MACV, she was provided with transitional housing that allowed Ms. H. time to find a job, catch up on her bills and take care of her children. With this support, Ms. H. and her kids were then able to move into their permanent housing where the Christmas gifts provided by Friends of Fredrikson brought much cheer. Laura Jensen from MACV helps to coordinate the program and delivers the gifts to the families. She sent these notes, with names removed for privacy:

40


“The family was so happy! This really made an impact for them and their kiddos.” “The family was so grateful and surprised at the generosity of the donors. V., who hates physical contact, hugged me twice! The family was surprised because he only hugs family. His day was made so special.” “She (mom) is hiding presents in the car until kids go to sleep. (She brought the gifts home and left them in the car until the kids went to sleep, then she brought them in and put them under the tree to surprise them the next morning.) She said everyone was happy with their gifts!” “Thank you to Friends of Fredrikson and your continued support with this project every year! You all are truly making a difference in the lives of these Veterans and their families!”

41


Epilogue

42


05 43


N

o report can adequately name all lawyers, paralegals, librarians, summer associates, interns, secretaries and administrative staff who have helped provide free legal and other volunteer services to economically disadvantaged people, nonprofits and to our community. The management of the firm and the Pro Bono Committee thank everyone who has contributed their time and talents to our programs. We will continue our commitment to increase these services in the years to come. The Pro Bono Committee welcomes questions or comments about this report, the firm’s pro bono policy, the Pro Bono Law Firm Challenge or opportunities to get involved with pro bono work. Please direct your calls or comments to our Pro Bono Director, Pam Wandzel, or to any member of the Pro Bono Committee: Rick Snyder (Chair), Tyler Gludt, Cari Martell, Bryan Morben, Katie Perleberg, Steve Quam, Ann Rainhart, Roxanne Thorelli, Brandon Underwood or Ryan Young. The following lawyers, paralegals, summer associates and law clerks devoted 50 or more hours to pro bono this past fiscal year. We thank them for giving their time to help others. Leslie Anderson Eric Schilling Jim Dorsey Clint Cutler Ben Tozer John Stout Jordan Vassel Zach McFarland Ashley Roth Pari McGarraugh Matthew Webster Cari Martell Sarah Theisen Cara Donels Andrew Nick Schuyler Troy Rick Snyder Thomas Wheeler Natasha Townes Robinson Jennifer Wichelman

44

370.4 364.7 351.1 350.8 342.4 307.4 223.0 206.8 204.5 202.8 183.9 183.2 148.9 142.7 138.7 129.3 124.5 121.7 115.2 113.7

Sandy Smalley-Fleming Ed Cassidy John Koneck Ken Levinson Benjamin Sharp Janet Olawsky Angela Caulk Ted Peilen Thomas Patton Leah Huyser Lora Mitchell Friedemann Steve Quam Marielos Cabrera Georgette Marling Karen Schanfield Anneliese Simons Sam Andre Nyajuok Deng Luke de Leon Rachel Dougherty

113.2 110.8 109.3 108.7 107.6 105.9 105.5 104.6 100.2 96.6 91.3 91.3 90.4 88.6 86.5 85.5 85.2 84.3 83.4 81.5


Lousene Hoppe John Erhart Loan Huynh Melissa Hodge Sarah Golwitzer Claire Beyer Jennifer Pusch Adam Steinert Jesse Beier Todd Wind Allison Woodbury Dylan Nguyen David Streier Roxanne Thorelli Christy Carrier Marvic Salminen-Morillo Eve Durand Jake Levine Claire Ziller Will Howieson Jacob Strinden Ann Ladd

81.1 80.8 80.2 79.3 77.8 74.6 73.4 73.4 71.2 70.7 70.5 70.3 69.7 68.8 68.6 67.4 67.3 66.7 66.7 64.1 64.1 64.0

Olivia Cares Mimi Alworth Mike Cummings Jessica Sharpe Bridget Penick Chantal Wilson Nate Converse Aramis Mendez Panhia Vang Judy Engel Grace Manzione Chris Pham Jeremy Greenhouse Zach Pratt Ryan Young Travis Panneck Travis Anderson Devin Driscoll Mark Vyvyan Anu Sreekanth Jordan Boudreaux Robert Rohloff

63.3 62.8 62.6 62.4 60.1 59.9 58.7 57.9 57.4 55.8 55.4 54.9 54.6 53.5 53.5 52.8 52.8 52.7 52.6 51.9 50.9 50.2

The following lawyers, paralegals, summer associates and law clerks contributed to pro bono this past fiscal year. Pamela J. AbbateDattilo Beverley L. Adams Marguerite J. Ahmann Kristy L. Albrecht Abdulla Ali Carter Allen Nancy S. Anton Sarah A. Arbaje Thomas B. Archbold Max G. Aufderheide Sarah Austin Nadja Baer Lynn A. Baldus Jane C. Ball Sophia Ball Kyle A. Barlow

Cody M. Bauer F. Charles Bennett Frank B. Bennett Sarah B. Bennett Larry J. Berg Thomas L. Bird Paula M. Blenker Kristin N. Blenkush Andrea Boeckers Lukas S. Boehning Maureen Bogdan Erin M. Boggess Robert C. Boisvert Jr. Lisa M. Bond Jean Boos Matthew T. Boos Diana Alexandra Bospachieva

Louisa Botten Tash S. Bottum Megan Ann Bowman James C. Brand Ryan C. Brauer Lauren M. Breckenridge Nicole A. Bregar Anne Brooking Harleigh E. Brown Lynn M. Brunner Christina K. Brusven Philip S. Bubb Jessica A. Buchert David P. Bunde Tyler J. Bush Kelly Carlson Jason R.S. Cassady

45


Joseph J. Cassioppi Katherine A. Charipar Zhu June Cheng Shana N. Conklin Ryan Cox Collin Crosswhite Danielle Crothers Ingrid N. Culp Jaime Davis Robert Day Tracy L. Deutmeyer Daniel P. Deveny Joseph T. Dixon III Chris Dolan Katherine Jane Douglas Elizabeth M. Dunshee Erin M. Edgerton Hall Kaitlin A. Eke Susan F. Erickson Grant D. Fairbairn Michelle S. Fitch Terrence J. Fleming Leah K. Flygare Jessica L. Foss Dulce J. Foster Aron J. Frakes Acacia M. Fritz Barbara Fritz Katheryn Furlong Clarissa C. Galaviz Claudia Garcia Ryan E. Garrett Samuel D. Gilbaugh Rebecca Gin Austin L. Goodnight Kevin P. Goodno Karen L. Grandstrand Abigale R. Griffin Jodi Gustafson William L. Guy III

46

Laura A. Habein Victoria L. Handler Cassie Hanson Jacob P. Harris Laurie E. Hartman Benjamin J. Hasbrouck Jeffrey D. Hayden Trace Hays Mary E. Heath Steve E. Helland Thomas B. Henke Jasmin Hernandez Du Bois Michelle M. Hill Thomas R. Hipkins Kayla C. Hoel Bridget A. Hoffmann Sten-Erik Hoidal Cody J. Holliday Andrew P. Holm Angela M. Horel Sarah A. Horstmann Caitlin B. Houlton Kuntz Justin G. Hughes Christopher B. Hunt Thuy P. Huynh Ashley K. Ignaszewski Katherine B. Ilten Leigh Erin Irons Mercedes McFarland Jackson Leah Chalmers Janus Amy L. Jenson Andrea G. JensonPacker Eldri L. Johnson Laurie M. Johnson R. Scott Johnson Ryan S. Johnson Paul B. Jones Jade B. Jorgenson

Breann Jurek Natalie D. Kadievitch Gregory E. Karpenko Sean P. Kearney Patrick J. Kelly Soobin Kim Steven R. Kinsella Matthew Kopp Katlyn M. Korsakov Shelby Kosiek Geoffrey W.B. Koslig Erin E. Kragh Mary M. Krakow Alex Kron Navita Lakhram Patricia Larson Kristin LeBre Sophie A. Lefebvre Nena M. Lenz Lacey L. Lesmeister Samuel T. Levy David L. Lillehaug Kara Lillehaug Lisa M. Lindenfelser Debra J. Linder Lynn S. Linne MaKennah E. Little Naomi Lopez Tessa Lynch Barbara J. MacInnis Warren E. Mack Debbie L. Maday Patrick D. Mahlberg Erik E. Malinowski Victoria Manfredonia Jessica D. Manivasager Barbara Marchevsky David R. Marshall Kelsey McElveen Kiel C. McElveen Kiersten McMahon Christopher J. Melsha


Ryan G. Miest Amanda M. Mills Alissa N. Mitchell Ayesha Mitha Brendan Mochoruk Nicole M. Moen Deqa O. Mohamed Jennifer Bouta Mojica Bryan J. Morben Adam Mowder L. Adam Mowder Cynthia A. Moyer Jolene R. Mullen Ryan Murphy Logan Murray Eric Nakamura Ryan Neigbauer Benjamin C. Neitzel John Nelson Joann R. Nessler Andrew J. Neumann Emma M. Newby Deborah Norvold Olivia N. Norwood Carl J. Numrich Aaron C. Nyquist Robert M. Oberlies Penny Sue Oleson Abbie Olson Zachary D. Olson Bonnie A. O’Malley Sage H. O’Neil Timothy M. O’Shea Claire Padgett Samuel L. Parker Jeri L. Parkin John Parzych John G. Patterson Mary Beth Peranteau Katie A. Perleberg Hannah Peterson Annette PetersonIgbinovia

John Pickerill Caleb A. Piersma Tess L. Pocock Andrew G. Pomroy Emily S. Pontius Jeffrey W. Post Anne M. Radolinski Mary S. Ranum Michael S. Raum Jack Reed Lindsey A. Remakel Luis G. Resendiz Devan C. RittlerPatton Brett F. Roberts Elijah Rockhold Anthony R. Rodriguez Kristy Dahl Rogers Anne E. Rondoni Tavernier Melodie R. Rose Howard A. Roston Jeremy Ruppert David Salmon Mark D. Salsbury Gauri S. Samant Mark D. Savin Joseph J. Schauer Elizabeth A. Schenfisch Debra Schneider Dale J. Schoonover Jonathon L. Schroeder Jeffrey J. Serum Margaret G. Severson Cameron R. Seybolt Tarun Sharma Kendra D. Simmons Natasha Singer Thomas L. Slaughter Bennett R. Smith

Levi J. Smith James H. Snelson Thomas C. Snook Joseph M. Sokolowski Sean D. Solberg Erik A. Splett Kevin S. Spreng Shataia Stallings Mitchell C. Stauch Aaron Z. Stenz Noah Stommel Noah J. Tabor Ma Tao Christiaan R. Tarbox Asmah Tareen Julie A. Taylor Madeline Thieschafer Courtney A. Thompson Teresa M. Thompson Elizabeth N. Thomson Ashley R. Thronson David B. Tibbals Marcus J. Tibesar Jeanne M. Tracy Mark H. Tranovich Alyssa M. Troje Susan Trombley Brooke C. Trottier Schuyler G. Troy Riley M. Truax Sarah E. Tucher Kyle W. Ubl Brandon R. Underwood Pamela J. Uran Maiyia Vang Maria Vela Jonathan B. Vessey Roselin Victor Bradley Wallace Haley Waller Pitts

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Laura J. Wanger Marc Ward David G. Waytz Richard E. Weiner Bridget L. Welter Amanda L. Welters

Ann D. Wessberg David C. West Thomas R. Wilhelmy Marie E. Williams Natalie Williams James B. Woywod

Roger Yang Masha Yevzelman Tina Yin Sowatzke Todd E. Zimmerman Morgan Zuehlke Aubrey J. Zuger

INDIVIDUAL SERVICE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Fredrikson lawyers, paralegals and staff serve our nonprofit communities in many ways including providing legal services for charitable organizations, handling numerous matters for individuals and serving on boards of directors for organizations focused on the arts, community development, education and legal services. In the past year, Fredrikson lawyers and staff provided board and committee leadership assistance to the following organizations: Pamela Abbate-Dattilo

U.S. Attorney’s Forum on Criminal Justice

Beverley Adams

Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Foundation Board Member Pardon Advisory Board, Advisory Board Member

Lisa Agrimonti

Public Utilities Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Board Member

Marguerite Ahmann

Ragamala Dance Company, Board Member

Kristy Albrecht

Federal Advisory Committee for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Committee Member

Mimi Alworth

Pro Bono Committee Member Legal Aid Services of Northeast Minnesota (LASNEM), Board Member LegalCORPS, Emeritus Board Member Minnesota State Bar Association, Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee, Member

Kyle Barlow

Essentia Health Regional Foundation, West Region, Board Member; Planned Giving Committee Chair

Charlie Bennett

LegalCORPS, Board Member

Frank Bennett

The Collier’s Reserve Country Club, Board Member Washburn Center for Children, Capital Campaign Co-Chair

American Immigration Lawyers Association Co-Chair of State and Local Government Committee

Jeffrey Benson

Travis Anderson

Matthew Boos

Special Olympics of MN Endowment Foundation, Director

Sam Andre

University of Minnesota Bankruptcy Clinic, Adjunct Professor

James Baillie

American Bar Association, Business Bankruptcy Committee, Member American College of Bankruptcy

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Neighborhood Commercial Spaces, LLC, Board Member American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Federal Regulation of Securities Committee, Member American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, SEC Enforcement Subcommittee, Member American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, State Regulation of Securities Committee and Task Force on Model Solicitation Rule, Member


Sarah Borgendale

Ingrid Culp

Lauren Breckenridge

Michael Cummings

Gustavus Adolphus College Alumni Association, Books for Africa, Jack Mason Law & Board Member Democracy Initiative Advisory Board Member, Board Member Tash Bottum Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Innovative Quality Schools, Board Chair Board Member Megan Bowman Park Public Schools & Community Foundation, University of St. Thomas Law School, Board Member; Co-Chair IP and Technology Law Advisory St. Louis Park Public Schools Foundation, Committee, Member Board Member Tiyumba Foundation, Board Member; Secretary

William Brody

Boy Scouts of America, Northern Star Council, Board Member; President; Member

Philip Bubb

Iowa State Bar Association, Construction Law Section Council, Member The Historic Village Inc., Board Member

Jessica Buchert

Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, Capital Campaign Committee Mankato Area Foundation, Board Member South Central College Foundation, Board Member

Marielos Cabrera

Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Board Member International Spanish Language Academy (ISLA), Board Member

Edward Cassidy

Lawyers Concerned For Lawyers, Board Member

Joseph Cassioppi

Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, Board Member Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Officer; Board Member

June Cheng

International Institute of Minnesota, Board Member Yaya Foundation for 4H Leukodystrophy, Co-Founder; Board Member; Officer

MSBA Environmental & Natural Resources Section, Section Council Member

Mike Currie

Judicial Nominating Commission District 5C (Polk County), Member

Laura Danielson

Camp Katherine Parsons, Co-Chair Global Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, President Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Board Member; Executive Committee Member

Tracy Deutmeyer

Diocese of Des Moines, Bishop’s Celebration of Catholic Schools, Co-Chair Second Saturday Des Moines, Vice President; Board Member Trademark Public Advisory Committee, Member

Joseph Dixon III

The Fund for Legal Aid Society, Board Member

Chris Dolan

University of St. Thomas Law School, Board Member

Cara Donels

Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, Member

James Dorsey

Fairvote Minnesota, Board Member United States Global Leadership Coalition, MN Advisory Committee, Member Wild Rivers Conservancy, Board Member

Devin Driscoll

City of Saint Paul Capital Improvement Budget Committee, Member MinnPost, Board Member Minneapolis Capital Long-Range Improvement Committee, Board Member Bronwen Cound Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society, College of Saint Benedict, Campaign Leadership Board Member; Committee Member and Steering Committee, Member University of Minnesota Friends of the Ryan Cox Libraries, Board Member Southview SDA Church, Board Member University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Professor

Katie Cole

49


Brent Eichten

Dakota Ringnecks Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Board Secretary

Kaitlin Eke

MSBA Probate, Trusts & Estates Law Section Council, Committee Member

Judy Engel

National Association of Property Tax Attorneys, Board Member

John Erhart

Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Board Member St. John’s University School of Theology & Seminary, Board of Trustees Member; Executive Committee Member; Finance Committee Chair

Terrence Fleming

Legal Rights Center, Board President

Jessica Foss

State Bar Association of North Dakota, Young Lawyers Committee, Member

David Glaser

Talmud Torah of St. Paul, Past President

Sarah Golwitzer

Animal Lifeline of Iowa, Board Member

Austin Goodnight

Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, Community Connect Program, Member

Kevin Goodno

American Brain Foundation, Ambassadors Council, Committee Member Bush Foundation, Board Member Campaign for Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Legal Services, Committee Member Minnesota Business Partnership, Deputy Public Affairs Council, Board Member

Karen Grandstrand

American Bar Association, Banking Law Committee, Member Independent Community Bankers of America, General Counsels Advisory Group, Member Minnesota Orchestral Association, Board Member Minnesota State Bar Association, Banking Law Committee, Business Law Section, Member; Co-Chair; Executive Council Member Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable, Board Member Norway House, Board Member

William Guy III

Floyd Shores Homeowner’s Association, Board Member

50

State Bar Association of North Dakota, Business Entity Drafting Task Force and Uniform Trust Code Drafting Task Force, Chair University of North Dakota Alumni Association, Board Member University of North Dakota Alumni Association Caucus, Member University of North Dakota Foundation, Emeritus Board Member

Kristen Hansen

State Bar Association of North Dakota, Energy Law Committee

Cassie Hanson

MSBA Professional Regulation Committee, Chair

Shepard Harris

City of Golden Valley, Mayor Golden Valley Rotary Club, Chair

Laurie Hartman

Twin Cities German Immersion School, Board Member

Jeff Hayden

Boys & Girls Clubs Minnesota Alliance, Board Member Minnesota Government Relations Council, Board Member Monitors Foundation, Board Member Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Board Member

Mary Heath

Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization/ Just the Beginning Steering Committee for Minnesota

Thomas Henke

Minnesota State Bar Association, Employee Benefits Council, Member Trellis, Pension Advisory Committee, Member

Thomas Hipkins

Camp Odayin, Board Member

Jennifer Hodge Burkett

Alleman Catholic High School, Strategic Planning Committee, Co-Chair

Kayla Hoel

American Immigration Lawyers Association, Bylaws Committee

Sten-Erik Hoidal

Minnesota Law Review Alumni Committee, Board Member Minnesota State Bar Association, Computer and Technology Section, Governing Council, Member Volunteer Lawyers Network, Board Member; Secretary


Christian Hokans

Audubon Neighborhood Association in Northeast Minneapolis, Board Member

Cody Holliday

REACH for Resources, Inc., Board Member; Deputy Chair Saint Anthony Area Chamber of Commerce, Board Member Saint Anthony Village Parks and Environmental Commission, Commissioner

Lousene Hoppe

ACS Minneapolis/St. Paul Lawyer Chapter, Advisory Board Member Federal Practice Committee, Board Member Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Board Member National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, President of Board of the Directors

Will Howieson

Voyageurs Conservancy, Finance Committee Member

Justin Hughes

Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library, Board of Trustees, Board Member State Bar Association of North Dakota, UND School of Law Joint Committee, Member

Christopher Hunt

Salvation Army Nominations Committee Chair; Board Member; Executive Committee Member

Loan Huynh

Michael Jacobs

Greater Mankato Growth, Public Policy Committee Member Mankato Area Foundation, Investment Committee Member

Leah Janus

Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Officer Minnesota Bar Association, Consumer Litigation, Council Member Seward Coop, Director

R. Scott Johnson

Bergman Academy, Board Member BioConnect Iowa, Board Member Technology Association of Iowa, Board Member

Ryan Johnson

American Health Lawyers Association, Life Sciences Practice Group, Vice Chair healthcare.mn, Advisory Board MedCity INVEST Twin Cities, Advisory Board Northstar Science Film Festival, Board Member; Founder Planetary Society, Advisory Council Science Debate, Board Member Silicon Valley AI, Founding Director University of Saint Thomas, Future of Health Care Conference Planning, Committee Member

Paul Jones

Sandbox Theatre, Board Member University of Minnesota, Professor

Hopkins Education Foundation, Board Member Jade Jorgenson Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar The Link, Board Member Association, Women’s Committee, Co-Chair Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Gregory Karpenko Board Member Minnehaha Academy Board of Trustees, The Advocate for Human Rights, Board Member Board Member Patrick Kelly Tiyumba Foundation, Board Member Global Minnesota, Board Member Leah Huyser Minnesota Bar Association International MSBA Appellate Practice Section Council, Institute, Committee Member Secretary; Treasurer Minnesota Bar Association International Section, Secretary

Katherine Ilten

FamilyWise Services, Board Member

Mercedes McFarland Jackson

EMERGE Community Development, Former Board Chair; Board Member Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Board Member; Strategic Executive Committee Member; Board Development Committee The Science Museum of Minnesota, Board Member; Governance and Nominations Committee Member, Vice Chair

Steven Kinsella

Turnaround Management Association Upper Midwest Chapter, Board Member

John Koneck

Minnesota Board of Law Examiners, President Minnesota State Bar Association Real Property Law Section, Pro Bono Program, Chair

Erin Kragh

Estate Planners Council of Southern Minnesota, Inc., Board Member Mankato Area Foundation, Board Member

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Mary Krakow

City Church, Board Member Minnesota Healthcare Behavior at Work Collaborative, Board Member

Ann Ladd

Medical Alley, Board Member The Collider Foundation, Board Member

Navita Lakhram

Children’s Cancer Research Foundation, Planning Committee Member Minnesota Women Lawyers, Partner Leadership Council, Chair Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Board Member

Paul LaVanway

American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section, International Patent Laws Committee, Vice Chair American Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section, Landslide® magazine, Editorial Board Member

Nena Lenz

Cannon Valley Makers, Corporate Secretary for Board of Directors

Jacob Levine

Warren Mack

Dahlberg Family Foundation, Board Member Jorja Fleezanus and Michael Steinberg Fund for Music, Board Member Madeline Island Music Camp, Board Member Minnesota Orchestra, Board Member North Memorial Medical Center, Board Member

Patrick Mahlberg

Wright County Planning Commission, Member

Jessica Manivasager

Belwin Conservancy, Board Member Minneapolis Ibaraki Sister City Association, Board Member MRA – The Management Association Inc., Board Member; Executive Committee Member

N. Georgette Marling

Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, Board Member

David Marshall

Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, Board Member

Brian McCool

Hennepin County Bar Association, Board Member Minnesota Hillel, Board Member

National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Public Policy Committee, Member St. Odilia Catholic Church, Parish Trustee

Ken Levinson

Sarah McCray

Carver County Sheriff ’s Office Mounted Posse, Chair Temple Israel Minneapolis MN, Usher Captain University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Professor

Association of Legal Administrators of Iowa, Secretary

Jodie McDougal

Carleton College, Board of Trustees

Iowa Manufactured Housing Association, Board Member Iowa State Bar Association, Construction Law Section Council, Committee Member

David Lillehaug

Kiel McElveen

Debra Linder

Kiersten McMahon

Keith Libbey

Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society, Board Member; Chair of Governance Committee Minneapolis Downtown Next Generation Lions Club, Treasurer; Board Member; Legal Consultant, Council of Governors Minnesota State Bar Association, Employee Benefits Council, Past Chair PACER Center, Inc., Advisory Board

Lynn Linné

Minnesota State Bar Association, Tax Section, Council Member

52

Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce, Board Member Special Olympics Minnesota, Board Member Minnesota Paralegal Association Pro Bono Committee, Co-Chair

Ryan Miest

Baby’s Space, A Place to Grow, Board Member and Governance, Committee Member Baby’s Space Environments, Board Member Pathways Minneapolis, Inc., Board Member; Finance Committee Member


Amanda Mills

Edina Morningside Preschool, Board Member Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, White Collar Crime Practice Group, Co-Chair Find Your Power, Secretary of the Board of Directors

Nicole Moen

Aaron Nyquist

Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Council President Golden Valley Orchestra, Board Member Minnesota State Bar Association International Business Law Section, Committee Member

Robert Oberlies

Committee on Foreign Relations, Member Harvard Club of Minnesota, Past Board Member Minnesota China Business Council, Board Member; Co-Chair Bryan Morben The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Daily Work, Board Member Governance Committee Vice-Chair Minnesota State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Council Member Penny Oleson First Lutheran Church Red Wing, Chair

Daniel Mott

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Legal, Tax and Accounting, Committee Member; Past Chair

Jeri Parkin

Kim Motzko

John Patterson

Legal Administrators MN Chapter, Board Member

Ryan Murphy

American College of Bankruptcy - 8th Circuit Chair of Distinguished Law and Business School Committee, Committee Member Turnaround Management Association, Upper Midwest Chapter, Program Committee Co-Chair

Logan Murray

Children and Family Urban Movement, Board Member Drake University Law School Recent Alumni Board, Board Member; Co-Chair Job Rides, Inc., Board Member Waukee Parks and Recreation Board, Board Member

Emmy Nelson

Mahtomedi Area Education Foundation, Board Member Boy Scouts of America, Northern Star Council, Board Member; Council President Deer Lake Conservancy (Environmental), Board Member

Bridget Penick

American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment, Committee Member Ballet Des Moines, President of the Board Iowa Legal Aid Central Iowa Advisory, Council Member Iowa State Bar Association, Committee Member Woodlands Creek Reserve Home Owners Association, Board Member; Secretary

Annette Peterson-Igbinovia

North Hennepin Community College Paralegal Advisory Committee, Committee Member

Christopher Pham

Federal Bar Association, MN Chapter, Diversity Committee, Board Member Greater Twin Cities United Way Leadership Council, Member John Nelson Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Grassroots Culture, Board Member Board Member Peacemaker Minnesota, Member The Legal Revolution, Board Member Yellow Tree Theatre, Board Member Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Sue Ann Nelson Board Member Minnesota State Bar Association, Tax Section, University of Minnesota Law School, Member; Past Chair Sports & NIL Clinic, Adjunct Professor National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Legal, and Clinic Director Tax and Accounting Committee, Member International Enneagram Association, MN Chapter, Board Member

Kurt Niederluecke

Tess Pocock

University of Minnesota Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, Advisory Board Member

Iowa State Bar Association/Young Lawyers Division, Co-Chair of Diversity Committee Polk County Women Attorneys, Board Member

Carl Numrich

Andy Pomroy

Voyageurs National Park Association, Board Member

MN Coalition for the Homeless, Board Chair

53


Emily Pontius

Des Moines Metro Opera Board of Directors, President Iowa State Bar Association Centralized Diversity Task Force, Member Plymouth Congregational Church, Council Member

Zach Pratt

First Tee – Central Iowa, Board Member

Jennifer Pusch

Minnesota State Bar Association Tax Section Council, Member

Anne Radolinski

Minnesota State Bar Association, Lawyer Certification Board for Labor and Employment Lawyers, Board Member

Melissa Rahn

Bell Museum, Member; Advisory Committee Member Minnesota Business Partnership, Deputy Minnesota Government Relations Council and Public Affairs Council, Committee Member

Kenard Rockette

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Board Member

Kristy Rogers

Iowa State Bar Association, Public Relations Committee Member Polk County Bar Association, Board Member

Anne Rondoni Tavernier

MoveFWDMN.org, Board Member

Melodie Rose

National Association of Corporate Directors – Local Chapter, Board Member Women Corporate Directors Foundation, Strategic Committee Member

Marvic Salminen-Morillo

International Hands in Service, Board Member

David Salmon

Franklin Center, Board of Trustees

Gauri Samant

MN Asian Pacific Bar Association, Committee Member

Ann Rainhart

Mark Savin

The Guthrie Theater, Board Member

Rabbi Liaison Committee, Former President

Susan Ramfjord

Karen Schanfield

Bethesda Lutheran Church Food Pantry, Board Member

Mary Ranum

Board of Regents of Concordia, Chair

Michael Raum

North Dakota Supreme Court, Joint Procedure Committee Member Plains Art Museum, Board Member United Soccer Club of the Red River Valley, Board Member; President

Lindsey Remakel

Hennepin County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Co-Chair Minnesota State Bar Association, Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section Council, Member

Devan Rittler-Patton

Chrysalis Foundation, Board Member Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute Community Connect Program, Member

Brett Roberts

Iowa Prayer Breakfast Committee, Finance Subcommittee Member Judicial Nominating Commission (Iowa District 5C), Commissioner State Judicial Nominating Commission (Iowa), Commissioner

54

Infinity Project, Board Member Jewish Family & Children’s Service of St. Paul, Committee Member Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, Member MinnPost, Board Member

Elizabeth Schenfisch

Minnesota State University Mankato, Women in Leadership Program, Advisory Board Member

Debra Schneider

Loan Repayment Assistance Program, Board Member

Dale Schoonover

Ashland Productions, Board Member St. John’s University Planned Giving, Committee Member

Jonathon Schroeder

Ames Chamber of Commerce, Board Member The Ames Home Builders Association, Board Member

Charles Segelbaum

Golden Valley Board of Zoning Appeals, Member Golden Valley Planning Commission, Member Mitchell Hamline Law School, Intellectual Property Institute Advisory Board, Member


Cameron Seybolt

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Minnesota State Chair

Jessica Shrestha

Joint Alpha Committee, Member State Bar of Wisconsin Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Executive Committee Member State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors, Board Member Wisconsin Remote Notary Council, Council Member

Kendra Simmons

Lead DSM, Governance Chair Mind & Spirit Counseling Center, Board Member; HR Committee Chair

Thomas Slaughter

Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing, Board Member

Sandra Smalley-Fleming

Opportunity to Lead, Event Director The Women’s Club of Minneapolis, Building Committee Member University of St. Thomas Law School, Board of Governors, Executive Committee Vice-Chair YWCA: It’s Time to Talk Event, ITT Steering Committee, Member

Levi Smith

Twin Cities-Metro Certified Development Company, Board Member

James Snelson

Cristo Rey High School, Board Member University of Minnesota Law School, Board of Advisors, Board Member

Eric Snustad

University of Minnesota-College of Science & Engineering (CSE), Alumni Advisory Board, Engagement Committee Chair

Richard Snyder

Minnesota Land Trust, Board Member Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, Committee Member

Erik Splett

Neighborhood Development Center, Board Member

Kevin Spreng

James J. Hill Reference Library, Board Chair Minne*, Board Member Real Phonic Radio Hour, Board Member

Anupama Sreekanth

Karen Sandler Steinert

American Bar Association, Business Planning Group, Committee on Estate Planning and Administration for Business Owners, Farmers and Ranchers American Bar Association, Real Property, Trusts and Estates Law Section CLE Committee, Co-Chair American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Membership Committee and New Members Committee

Jeffrey Steinle

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Chair Pillsbury United Communities, Board Member and Executive, Committee Member South Dakota Biotech Association, Board Member

John Stout

American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Corporate Governance Committee, Emeritus Chair and Vice Chair American Bar Association, Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, Committee Member American Bar Association,,Business Law Section Rule of Law Working Group, Co-Chair Metropolitan Economic Development Association, Co-Founder; Secretary; Director Milestone Growth Fund, Co-Founder; Chair/CEO Minnesota Film Board, Co-Founder; Board Member National Association of Corporate Directors, Co-founder, Minnesota Chapter, Emeritus Director

David Streier

Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON), Board Member

Jacob Strinden

Haiti Eye Mission, Inc., Board Member

Noah Tabor

Ankeny Area Democrats, Committee Member Ankeny United Church of Christ, Board Member Eden Theological Seminary, Board Member Iowa Public Health Association, Board Member Job Rides, Inc., Board Member United Church Funds, Board Member

Asmah Tareen

British American Project, US Executive Committee OMEED, Co-Founder; Board Member

Pillsbury United Communities, Board Member

55


Courtney Thompson

Advertising Federation of Minnesota, Board Member INTA – Anti-Counterfeiting Committee, Committee Member Mitchell Hamline School of Law Intellectual Property Law Review, Alumni Board Member

Teresa Thompson

Anne Bancroft Foundation, Board Member; Governance Committee Member Edina Swim Club, Board President

Roxanne Thorelli

Calumet Lofts Homeowner’s Association, Board Member Hennepin County Bar Association, New Lawyer’s Section, Board Member; Chair

Ashley Thronson

Women’s Business Development Center, Ambassador & Advisory Committee Member

Marcus Tibesar

Cretin-Derham Hall Alumni, Board Member Hawk Alumni Committee, Member

Jeanne Tracy

Off-Broadway Musical Theatre, Board Member

Alyssa Troje

Hennepin County Bar Association, Real Property Section, Chair House of Charity/St. Stephen’s Human Services, Board Member University of St. Thomas Law School, Student Mentor Program, Alumni Giving Fund Committee Member

Schuyler Troy

Panhia Vang

Harvard Club of Minnesota, Board Member Immigrant Law Center, Board Member

Mark Vyvyan

Allison HOPE Foundation, Board Member Volunteer Lawyers Network, Board Member

Haley Waller Pitts

MSBA Public Utilities Law Section, Council Member

Marc Ward

Broadlawns Hospital Board, Board of Trustees, Chair Iowa State Bar Association, Business Law Section Council, Member Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa, Board Member

Tammy Warren

Association of Legal Administrators of Minnesota’s Salary Survey Committee, Co-Chair

David Waytz

Temple Israel-Minneapolis, Board Member

Matthew Webster

American Immigration Lawyers Association, MN/DAK Chapter, Chair

Richard Weiner

Brazil-Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Board Member Camp Possibilities, Advisor Canada-Minnesota Business Council, Board Member

Bridget Welter

Minnesota Justice Foundation, Board Member

Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, Board Member

Amanda Welters

Kyle Ubl

David West

Mirandola Ensemble, Board Member New Century Home Owners Association, Board Member Transfiguration Catholic School, Advisory Council

Brandon Underwood

Iowa State Bar Association, Construction Law Section Council, Member Spina Bifida Association of Iowa, Board Member

Linda Upmeyer

Care Initiatives, Board Member

Pamela Uran

Emmaus Lutheran Church, Congregational President

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Project Success/Community Presence, Member The Origins Program, Board President

Thomas Wilhelmy

ABA/IPT Advanced Property Tax Program Planning Committee, Chairman Institute for Professionals in Taxation, Affiliate Member National Association of Property Tax Attorneys, Education Programming, Vice President; Board Member

F. John Williams

National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, Board Member Oak Grove Lutheran School Foundation, Board Member Red River Valley Estate Planning Council, Board Member


Chantal Wilson

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, Board Member Miss Minnesota Education Foundation, Board Member

Central Iowa Wind Ensemble, Board Member Iowa Biotechnology Association/STEM Committee, Committee Member Iowa Intellectual Property Law Association, Board Member

Todd Wind

Randy Zellmer

ALS Association of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, Board Member Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, Panel Member Page Education Foundation, Board Member

Masha Yevzelman

Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT) Twin Cities, Chair Jewish Family & Children’s Service of St. Paul, Board Member Minnesota State Bar Association, Tax Section, Past Chair

Blue Earth County Historical Society, Finance Committee, Member CityArt, LLC, Committee Member North Mankato Activities and Business Association, President Summit Heritage Foundation, Board Member Welcome Manor Family Services, Chair

Aubrey Zuger

Hope Lutheran Church Council, Member Oak Grove Lutheran School, Board of Regents, Board Member

Tina Yin Sowatzke

Association of University Technology Managers, Inc. – AUTM Central Region Planning Committee, Committee Member

FREDRIKSON & BYRON FOUNDATION Funded by contributions from the law firm’s officers, the Fredrikson & Byron Foundation exists to support law-related institutions and events, organizations that complement the rule of law and access to justice, and cultural and social service groups. The following organizations received support in the 2023 fiscal year from the Fredrikson & Byron Foundation. Alzheimer’s Association of MN & ND American Brain Foundation Anishinabe Legal Services Ann Bancroft Foundation Arc Minnesota Art Buddies Ballet Des Moines Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative Belwin Conservancy Bismarck Library Foundation, Inc. Bismarck-Mandan Orchestral Association (BMSO) Books for Africa

Bricker Lavik Com Law Firm, dba Collaborative Comm Law Cancer Legal Care Cantus Charities Review Council Children of Incarcerated Caregivers Children’s Cancer Research Fund Children’s Law Center of Minnesota Children’s Minnesota - Health Legal Partnership (HLP) Coffee House Press Connections to Independence (C2i) Cookie Cart Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

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Des Moines Metro Opera Dress for Success FamilyWise Foundation for Public Affairs Friends of Fredrikson Friends of the Minnesota Sinfonia Girls Rock!Des Moines Global Minnesota Global Rights for Women Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp (GFMEDC) Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery Guthrie Theater Hennepin Theatre Trust HIAS House of Charity Institute for Lawful, Safe, & Effective Policing International Institute of Minnesota Iowa Legal Aid Jewish Community Relations Council of MN/Dakotas Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund Judicare of Anoka Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota Legal Rights Center Legal Services of North Dakota Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota LegalCORPS Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) Madeline Island Music Camp Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation Metropolitan Econ. Deve. Assoc. (“MEDA”) Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans

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Minnesota Land Trust Minnesota Literacy Council Minnesota Orchestral Association Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota State Fair Foundation Minnesota Urban Debate League Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation MinnPost.com Mitchell Hamline Gateway to Legal Education Mitchell Hamline Law School MN Film & TV Board MN Justice Foundation - PASS MN Justice Foundation Summer Clerk Program MSBA Mock Trial Program Neighborhood Development Center Neighborhood Development Center Capital Campaign Neighborhood Justice Center Northern Plains Dance Northern Star Council Northside Econ Opportunity Network (NEON) NorthStar Science Film Festival OMEED Page Education Foundation PeaceMaker Minnesota Phyllis Wheatley Community Center Pillsbury United Communities Plains Art Museum Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer Project Prepare + Prosper PRISM Project for Pride in Living Project SUCCESS Ragamala Dance Reader/Writer Rebuilding Together Minnesota


Ronald McDonald House Charities/Red River Valley Salvation Army Sandbox Theatre Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Spina Bifida Association of Iowa St. Pascal’s School (Afterschool Care Program) St. Paul Chamber Orchestra St. Thomas Law School State Bar Association of North Dakota The Advocates for Human Rights The Bakken The Bridge for Youth The Fund for Legal Aid The Immigrant Law Center of MN The Link

The Sanneh Foundation Touchstone Mental Health Tubman Twin Cities In Motion University of Iowa College of Law University of Minnesota Law School University of North Dakota Foundation Volunteer Lawyers Network Volunteers of America Voyageurs National Park Association Wallin Education Partners Washburn Center for Children Yaya Foundation for 4H Leukodystrophy YWCA Cass Clay - Fargo

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fredlaw.com/patents

At Fredrikson, we’ve built a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet” by bringing business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to our work with clients. We operate as business advisors and strategic partners, as well as legal counselors. A proactive, problem-solving mindset runs throughout our service areas, which enables us to understand and keep client objectives firmly in mind, as well as anticipate and address problems before they arise. Our lawyers blend a common-sense approach with in-the-field experience, and we utilize our firm’s strong reputation and our lawyers’ broad networks to get things done.

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60 South Sixth Street / Suite 1500 / Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4400 Tel. 612.492.7000 / Fax 612.492.7077 USA / China / Mexico / fredlaw.com


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Articles inside

Supporting and Growing Communities

2min
pages 30-31

Supporting and Growing Communities

2min
pages 28-30

Supporting and Growing Communities

1min
page 27

Supporting and Growing Communities

2min
pages 26-27

The Advocates for Human Rights Law Firm Pro Bono Award

2min
pages 34-35

Roxanne Thorelli, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2023 Excellence Award for Pro Bono Service

1min
page 36

Mark Vyvyan, Volunteer Lawyers Network, 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award

1min
page 37

Ed Cassidy, 2023 Distinguished Service Award

2min
page 39

Supporting and Growing Communities

1min
pages 27-28

Making an Impact in Foster Care - UPDATE

2min
pages 22-23

Financial Relief

2min
pages 21-22

Financial Relief

1min
pages 20-21

Pro Bono Services Lead to a Second Chance

2min
pages 19-20

Pro Bono Services Lead to a Second Chance

3min
pages 17-19

Housing Justice

2min
page 16

Individual Representation Brings New Beginnings

2min
page 15

Matthew Webster, 2023 Associate Volunteer of the Year

6min
pages 12-15, 38

Individual Representation Brings New Beginnings

3min
pages 10-11
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