Issuu

A COLLECTION OF

PRO BONO STORIES

FREDRIKSON & BYRON 2015

2015 PRO BONO REPORT e must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big W difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.” – Marian Wright Edelman

What would you do if you had a few extra hours a month? Would you sit down beneath a tree and read a book? Perhaps you would go on a hike, or go on a bike ride with a loved one or a friend? Could you change the world with just a few extra hours? Could you improve your community or someone else’s life? It seems improbable that by giving just a few hours of time to someone in need you could have an impact, much less make a significant change. But in this fast-paced, electronically powered world, we often fail to recognize how these little, daily contributions can and do add up to create better communities and better lives. Our lawyers, paralegals and staff volunteer in many different ways. They help low-income individuals become new entrepreneurs; they give a voice to children when they are not able to speak for themselves; they obtain justice for the vulnerable. Many times, the donations of time are small – just a few hours – but they often make a significant impact on the life of an individual or on a community itself. We hope you enjoy reading our stories and reflect on how making a small contribution each day can lead to something no one could foresee.

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Personal Representation Improves Lives

CHAPTER 2 Transactional Business Law Lawyers Help Revitalize a Distressed Community

CHAPTER 3 Help for Nonprofits that Enrich our Communities

CHAPTER 4 Giving Back to Those Who Served

CHAPTER 5 Providing Peace of Mind through Clinic Work

CHAPTER 6 Working for our Four-Footed Friends

CHAPTER 7 Recognitions 33

CHAPTER 8 Volunteerism Helps Enrich and Protect Communities

CHAPTER 9 Epilogue 45

Personal Representation Improves Lives

olunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) is a nonprofit located in Minneapolis that administers a pro bono program to assist people with civil legal issues. Due to limited resources, VLN screens clients for representation based on gross household income. People qualifying for help generally make no more than 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four, that is $30,312 gross income a year. Many of our lawyers volunteer through VLN to take cases where, without assistance, the clients would be overwhelmed by our court system. A few recent cases include:

Greg Karpenko, Daniel Deveny and David Coyle, lawyers in Fredriksonâ€™s Litigation Group, represented a woman who had contracted with a purported international shipping company to ship a package to her son in Mexico. When the package did not arrive at its destination, the woman contacted the company to find out where it was. The company claimed that the delivery truck was robbed in Mexico and refused to compensate her for the value of the package. After being told that there was nothing she could do about it, but knowing that others in the community had experienced similar situations, the woman contacted VLN, who referred the case to us. Because the client was most comfortable speaking Spanish, Ashley Roth, an associate in the Immigration Group, provided translation services. While the team did not have any hard evidence, there was reason to suspect that the company just took what was in the package, possibly to sell it themselves. Knowing how little the woman could afford to lose the value of the items, the team filed a claim on her behalf in conciliation court to recover the value of the package. The owner of the shipping company attended the conciliation court hearing where he presented a waiver allegedly signed by our client. He stated that the shipping companyâ€™s liability was limited to $100, based, he stated, on the federal statutory scheme applicable to international motor carriers. After listening to both sides, the judge ultimately ruled that the alleged waiver did 2

not effectively limit the shipping company’s liability and awarded our client $1,860. The owner decided not to appeal and the team has now worked out a payment plan that was accepted. Our client is very happy with the result.

I t was a great experience for the team. Throughout the process, our client and her family were incredibly grateful that we were even taking this on. To us, it may have been a small case, but it mattered so much to her, and the giant hug after the hearing felt pretty great.” – Daniel Deveny

Dave Marshall, Kyle Ubl and Matt Stortz secured a settlement for their client, Henry, in a case involving a stolen car. Like many of our pro bono clients, Henry faced challenges in life. A chronic alcoholic, Henry had bad credit but needed a car to get to work. He purchased a used car (with a market value of approximately $1,700) for $7,000. Taking advantage of bad credit, the dealership not only overcharged for the car, but charged Henry more than 23% interest. Shortly thereafter, Henry loaned his car to an acquaintance, but when he went to pick it up a few days later, the car was missing and the friend claimed no knowledge of even borrowing it! Henry then reported the car stolen to the police. A week later he learned it had been crushed at a metal recycling facility. It appeared someone had brought the car in and claimed ownership. The metal recycling facility took the car without a title and paid out about $200 for the metal. Henry was understandably distressed – he still owed nearly the full price on the car and needed the vehicle to get to work. The facility claimed it had followed the law, even taking a photo ID of the seller. However, the photo was worthless, as it showed nothing more than a silhouette. After contacting the VLN for assistance, Henry worked with Dave and his team to negotiate a $3,500 settlement on Henry’s behalf. Henry was very happy with the settlement. Henry now hopes to get a release on the remaining debt. 3

The law and the legal process can be incredibly intimidating for anyone not familiar with it; imagine what it is like for a young child. Shareholders Joe Cassioppi and Todd Wind represented a young boy who was the victim of an assault in a lawsuit against his former landlord. Their client was at home with his family when his landlord came to the home and got into a verbal altercation with our client’s father. When the boy tried to intervene, the landlord punched the boy in the chest, knocking him to the floor and sending him to the hospital. Joe and Todd helped our client understand his role as the victim in the criminal proceeding against his landlord and then brought a tort claim against the landlord. On the verge of trial, Joe and Todd were able to settle the case and ensure that our client would have funds to assist with his schooling and other needs. Joe and Todd received assistance from associates Emily Unger and Pari McGarraugh and summer associate Carl Numrich.

Aleida Conners, an associate in Fredrikson’s International Group, recently secured third-party custody rights for a client through VLN. Her client is the older half-brother of a teenage girl from Guatemala. The young girl’s father abandoned her at birth and did not provide financial support to her or her mother. The young girl was forced to leave school at the age of 13 to work as a domestic servant because her mother was not able to provide for her. After enduring years of abuse as a servant and from her father’s current family, the young girl traveled to Minnesota to live with her brother, our client. Aleida worked with the brother to acquire the necessary documentation from the parents to allow her brother to gain custody. With third-party custody rights, her brother has been able to enroll his sibling in school, provide much-needed medical care and most importantly, a stable home to this now 17-year old. The young girl will also be able to apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, which will put her on a path toward legal permanent residency. 4

is case was very meaningful to me because it allowed me to Th give back to my own community. Being an immigrant is wrought with difficulties and having the opportunity to alleviate some of those issues for this family was incredibly rewarding.” – Aleida Conners

Fredrikson also works closely with Children’s Law Center of Minnesota (CLC), a nonprofit that works on behalf of children in foster care, ensuring that their legal needs are met with compassion and trust. CLC normally recruits volunteers to represent children living in foster care. In this case, CLC reached out to us to represent Bonnie, the grandmother and caretaker of a child represented by CLC, after Bonnie was fired from her job sorting mail after putting some letters in the wrong bin. Without income, Bonnie was at risk of losing her ability to support her granddaughter. Ingrid Culp, a shareholder in Fredrikson’s Employment and Labor Group, represented Bonnie after she applied for unemployment on her own, but lost. She needed assistance appealing the decision, which stated that she was “not eligible because applicant tampered with driving records.” CLC contacted us and explained that Bonnie’s granddaughter was severely abused for many years and having to leave her grandmother’s care would be devastating. Bonnie explained to Ingrid that this incident coincided with the time her granddaughter was suicidal and cutting herself and she “just had a momentary lapse of judgment.” Ingrid successfully represented Bonnie on her unemployment appeal, which provided the family the financial stability it needed.

LC is grateful to Ingrid and Fredrikson & Byron for taking C on this representation. Ingrid’s work helped this family remain together. CLC’s client is now in the process of being adopted by her grandmother, and she will soon have the much needed stability and security she deserves.” – Anne Gueinzius

Transactional Business Law Lawyers Help Revitalize a Distressed Community

redrikson & Byron corporate lawyers have assisted low-income individuals understand the legal procedures and requirements of starting a small business for more than 40 years. Many of these individuals immigrated to the United States with a dream – the American Dream – to become successful and to provide a better life for themselves and their families. It may take an experienced corporate lawyer only a few hours to offer this service, but the impact of those hours can be immense as the following story illustrates. In 1998, Neighborhood Development Center (NDC), a small community economic development nonprofit, contacted Fredrikson & Byron to discuss ways in which its business lawyers might assist their clients. NDC had developed a business training program for low-income individuals and was seeking volunteers to provide pro bono legal services in the areas of entity formation, contracts and lease reviews. What follows is a story of how this partnership helped to revitalize a community and is now being replicated in at least one other city.

A Bit of History Lake Street in Minneapolis has attracted immigrants throughout its history. The Sons of Norway opened its doors in January 1865, and just down the street, Ingebretsen’s Scandinavian Gifts opened in 1921. These organizations served as a catalyst for development along Lake Street, including the decision by Sears Roebuck & Company to build a mammoth retail and distribution center there in 1928. During its glory days from 1896 to 1955, Lake Street was home to Nicollet Park, where then minor league players Ted Williams and Willie Mays, played baseball with the Minneapolis Millers. Like many urban communities in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Lake Street suffered decay and neglect when many businesses followed middle-class families to the suburbs. Blocks up and down Lake Street became blighted with vacant buildings, drug dealings and other crimes. Sears closed its doors in 1994 and the historic building sat empty for more than 10 years while developers and the City of Minneapolis debated whether to repurpose it or tear it down and replace it with a strip mall.

A Perfect Partnership between a Community Economic Development Center and Transactional Business Lawyers Since May of 1993, working in eight ethnic communities and 25 low-income neighborhoods in Minnesota, NDC has helped build community support around the idea of creating, financing and supporting resident-owned small businesses as a means of revitalizing inner city neighborhoods. While NDC developed a business program for entrepreneurs, they soon realized that the owners needed the help of business lawyers to avoid legal pitfalls that could prohibit success. Many individuals, for example, needed to form the proper entity to provide individual liability protection. Others needed to have experienced commercial real estate lawyers review and negotiate leases to ensure the best terms and protection for their business. In 1998, NDC hired a pro bono coordinator and partnered with Fredrikson & Byron to provide these necessary pro bono legal services to new entrepreneurs. It was during this time that a group of recent Latino immigrants, whom NDC was training at St. Stephen’s Church in South Minneapolis, created the vision for a mercado, a public market where they all could establish their businesses. Through these discussions, NDC ventured into one of its first real estate development projects – a business incubator for low-income Latino businesses. Combining and repurposing three adjacent vacant buildings into the Cooperative Mercado Central, this new business model became the catalyst for change along Lake Street. Fredrikson lawyers formed the business structure for the Mercado, formed individual entities for many of the new start-ups within the Mercado and held business law clinics for the members – most of whom were new immigrants to the U.S. and needed to understand legal issues relating to employment and business taxation. Building on the success of the Mercado, NDC, along with the City of Minneapolis and other nonprofits, took on the biggest challenge yet – how to transform the vacant Sears building, the second-largest building of leasable space in Minnesota after the Mall of America, into a viable and profitable commercial project that would both reflect the diverse neighborhood and attract people from across the community. Once again, the community came together and created the vision for the Midtown Global Market, a multiethnic, year-round public market place, and central component to the larger 9

Midtown Exchange redevelopment project. Business lawyers assisted with many aspects of the project, from creating a master lease for NDC, forming business entities and reviewing contracts for the entrepreneurs, to assisting with zoning regulations. The Midtown Global Market opened in 2006 and is home to more than 40 small businesses featuring fresh fruits and vegetables, specialty groceries, prepared food and gifts from around the world. Voices and tantalizing aromas from Korea, Somalia, Vietnam and Kenya mingle with those from Mexico, Central America and the U.S. in this international village.

Exporting and Replicating the Project In late 2012, NDC was asked to serve as a role model and mentor to ProsperUS, a new program that was being launched to revitalize Detroit’s inner city neighborhoods through the development of small businesses. Mihailo “Mike” Temali, Executive Director of NDC, was looking for a law firm who could assist Detroit’s low-income entrepreneurs in much the same way that Fredrikson did in Minneapolis. Shortly thereafter, we connected NDC and ProsperUS with Kimberly Paulson, Pro Bono Counsel at Detroitbased Bodman PLC. Always interested in new ways to assist in the rebirth of Detroit, Bodman eagerly partnered with ProsperUS. Though still a young project, Bodman has already assisted ten of ProsperUS’s clients with their legal needs, including providing advice and legal services in the areas of corporate, real estate, tax, intellectual property and IT law.

Changing the Face of Lake Street One of the most satisfying outcomes of the partnership with NDC has been the ability to participate in and witness the changes to once-blighted areas of the city. For example, there are currently 43 entrepreneurs in business at the Mercado, which have created nearly 90 jobs and generate more than $1.2 million in annual sales. The Midtown Global Market has created more than 200 jobs and attracts more than 1.2 million visitors each year. Many businesses, including restaurants that started as walk-ups, have developed into brick and mortar establishments, further enhancing the area. One of the 10

first entrepreneurs Fredrikson worked with began as a small walk-up counter at the Mercado Central. He now has seven locations and sells his products in major grocery stores throughout the Midwest. Another Midtown Global Market business that Fredrikson helped with entity formation and real estate has added a second location on Lake Street and employs 35 people. Up and down Lake Street, new businesses have opened with the help of our volunteer lawyers. These businesses not only reflect the diverse immigrant population of the area but they have also helped reenergize and restore Lake Street to its former vibrancy. Still home to The Sons of Norway and Ingebretsen’s, Lake Street is a true reflection of how the right partnership between a nonprofit and transactional business lawyers can help revitalize a community. Fredrikson’s business lawyers have enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to work with this vibrant and creative group of entrepreneurs, oftentimes keeping in touch with their clients and offering assistance beyond the initial request. Since we began our partnership in 1998, more than 400 qualifying individuals and small businesses have received invaluable business law assistance in the areas of entity choice and formation, commercial lease reviews, employment assistance, intellectual property and more. Most of the assistance takes only a few hours of time, but those small amounts add up to a big difference that no one could have foreseen.

DC’s clients – small, inner city entrepreneurs - often confront N legal issues that threaten the viability or potential of their business. Through our partnership with Fredrikson & Byron, we are able to bring our clients high quality legal service that they otherwise would not have access to. Fredrikson & Byron provides a critical service that helps these businesses survive, grow and positively impact their community.” – Mike LaFave, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Help for Nonprofits that Enrich our Communities

ur communities are fortunate to be home to many highly-respected nonprofit organizations that serve low-income, vulnerable or mentally ill citizens. One such organization is Project for Pride in Living (PPL), a 43-year old nonprofit that helps people help themselves by providing stable housing, education and job training opportunities through its programs. Momentum Enterprises is a subsidiary of PPL and is an innovative social enterprise nonprofit. It has facilities that recycle old mattresses and it also provides contract manufacturing positions to several local businesses. In addition, it has an established retail operation that sells high quality used office furniture. All of these locations employ people who have endured long-term unemployment due to a variety of circumstances and require a fresh start. Throughout 2014, Larry Berg, Jeremy Duehr and Lisa Lindenfelser, with assistance from Mary Ranum and Tom Muck, worked to help Momentum sell a small campus of industrial buildings. There were significant “brownfield” issues, including the need for additional environmental testing, and submission of the property to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s brownfield program. The key was to limit Momentum’s future liability for costs relating to additional testing and remediation. Because there were other third party rights in connection with contaminated properties, we also needed to get the buyer to agree to indemnify Momentum against future third party claims. This was an interesting and complex pro bono project, but one that will allow the continued growth and success of this very worthwhile program.

Shareholder Sharon Shi and legal consultant Yelin Tao of Fredrikson’s Shanghai office assisted the Wildlife Conservation Society, a global nonprofit that raises funds and manages conservation projects to protect the planet’s most iconic wildlife. The Conservation Society runs a conservation program in China and needed governance advice and assistance to set up a private foundation in Yunnan province. They wanted to understand the procedural requirements and make sure they were in compliance with the relevant laws. Sharon and Yelin reviewed the requirements and prepared a memo to the Conservation Society outlining their findings and providing an overview of the requirements. Shareholder Bob Oberlies of the Minneapolis office helped coordinate the project, and together they provided the requested assistance. The team received the following note from the organization, which read in part:

I would like to say thanks to you all, especially to Bob and his … partner Sharon. After close communication with me, Sharon conducted the survey and proposed good suggestions to us. We really appreciated that.” – Minfang Gan

Culminating more than 15 years of work and proceedings involving the Charles K. Blandin Foundation in Ramsey County District Court, Keith Libbey and Kent Harbison succeeded in negotiating a stipulated court order favorable to the residents of Itasca County. The Foundation and a Trust were created by Mr. Blandin in his last will and testament of 1941 to provide income supporting a broad 15

variety of economic, social and civic programs throughout Itasca County, Minnesota. The Foundation trustees obtained a court order in 1990 allowing them to distribute trust income for programs and projects throughout the State of Minnesota despite the more restrictive language on distributions in Mr. Blandinâ€™s will. Years later, many of the residents and representatives of programs in Itasca County contacted Keith and Kent to represent them and protect their interests as charitable beneficiaries. In 2002, after extended court hearings and mediation involving the Minnesota Attorney General and the Foundation, the court ordered that: (1) a minimum of 55% of all future distributions be directed specifically to the Itasca County area and (2) a special master would be appointed to review the Foundationâ€™s financial transactions to verify compliance with that order. The Foundation petitioned the court to have the special master removed in 2014. The Itasca County charitable beneficiaries objected to this proposal. Keith and Kent engaged in multiple court hearings, additional mediation sessions and other negotiations that ultimately resulted in a new stipulated order in 2015. The court increased the minimum of all future distributions to the Itasca County area beneficiaries to be at a minimum of 60%. As a result of the 2002 and 2015 Orders, millions of dollars of additional funding have been and will continue to be distributed to the beneficiaries.

It is said that one in every ten Minnesotans misses ten meals every month due to a shortage of funds. These individuals and many more depend on local food shelves to supplement their pantries, and the need is no longer isolated to the urban core of large cities. One such food shelf, Hope for the Community, had been operating as part of a church program in a suburb of Minneapolis. They needed help incorporating as a nonprofit to enable additional fund-raising and to apply for grants to meet the increased need. Shareholders Jessica Manivasager and Kristin Blenkush, along with attorneys Chad Ambroday and Jody McGinley, assisted the group by filing the necessary documents and applying for tax-exempt status. 16

Many nonprofits help fill the gap between private and governmental funding. They strive to educate, inspire or offer services and stability to those who need it. They enrich our lives with art, encourage healthy living and provide access to justice and human rights. Oftentimes, they do this work on a shoestring budget, making the contributions from lawyers and law firms invaluable. In addition to sitting on the boards of nonprofits, Fredrikson & Byron lawyers assist many nonprofits with legal advice. While too numerous to list, a few examples of how our lawyers assisted nonprofits this past year include: Bob Boisvert, a shareholder in Fredriksonâ€™s Employment & Labor Group works with Big Brothers Big Sisters on employment matters; EmilyÂ Chad, an associate in Fredriksonâ€™s Business and Tax Planning Group sits on the board of Dress for Success, a nonprofit that works to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and life. Emily also provides board governance advice to the organization. Sam Young, an associate in the Real Estate Group, worked with the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) on a lease review and negotiation, while Erik Splett and Ryan Brauer provided governance assistance to this nonprofit that works to expand economic opportunities and build wealth for north Minneapolis residents through the creation, growth and development of small businesses in the north Minneapolis area.

Giving Back to Those Who Served

very month, lawyers from Fredrikson’s Minneapolis office attend a free legal clinic at the VA Medical Center that is sponsored by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans. Lawyers prepare wills, Health Care Directives and Power of Attorney forms; give advice on employment matters, most of which are related to service or disability issues; and give advice on bankruptcy – something that many veterans face after returning from deployment. Lawyers volunteering this past year included: Larry Berg, James Brand, Jason Cassady, Kate Charipar, Mike Cummings, Clint Cutler, Angela Erickson, Ron Garber, Kent Harbison, Laurie Hartman, Courtney Hofflander, John Kapacinskas, Steve Kinsella, Ann Ladd, Jody McGinley, Pari McGarraugh, Ryan Murphy, Sarah Olson, Anne Radolinski, Rick Ross, Jeff Serum, Erik Splett, Sarah Tucher, Emily Unger and Laura Wanger.

Fredrikson’s Fargo office, working together with the VA Medical Center and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, held its third legal clinic this past year. The team assisted more than 40 veterans during the day, providing advice and assisting on a variety of issues including estate planning, employment and real estate. One lawyer even answered the question of whether or not there was a need for a permit to conduct a Wild West reenactment on main street in Jamestown. As in the past, nearly the entire office participated, including lawyers Kristy Albrecht, Kyle Barlow, Wayne Carlson, Jessi Foss, Bill Guy, Amy Jenson, Katie Perleberg, 20

Mike Raum, F. John Williams and Todd Zimmerman; and paralegals and staff Roz Buck, Lori Danielson, Brianne Freeberg, Andrea Jenson-Packer, Kim Lattimore, Lacey Lesmeister, Deborah Moeller, Andrea Nowak, Linda Rieniets, Kathy Sandford, Melissa Setzer, Deanna Storey, Dana Taylor and Kim Thompson.

A Fitting Reminder of the True Meaning of Memorial Day Just a few days prior to the Memorial Day holiday, Fredrikson’s Fargo office received an urgent request from the Fargo VA Medical Center, asking if we 21

had a lawyer who could prepare a will for a veteran in hospice care. Because the client was so ill, it would have been difficult for him to go to the office. Knowing this, Jessi Foss, an associate in our Fargo office, volunteered to assist. Jessi recruited her secretary Kathy Sandford and paralegal Lacey Lesmeister, who drafted the documents. When they were ready, Jessi and secretaries Jordan Kent and Heidi Ogaard made the trip to the veteran’s home in Moorhead to sign and witness the will. Jessi and her team also prepared Health Care Directives for the client and his wife, who were both very grateful for the service. Upon completion, Jessi noted that the project provided a nice reminder of the true meaning of the Memorial Day holiday.

Justice for a Vietnam Veteran Perseverance and determination finally paid off after seven years of representation, when a team of lawyers succeeded in securing VA medical benefits for their client, Larry, a Vietnam veteran. Larry was just 18 years old in 1969 when he enlisted in the service and was shipped to Vietnam. He soon found himself fighting in one of the most intense, deadly battles of the war on a firebase in the jungles near the Cambodian border. He suffered both physical and mental injuries. His commanding officers refused to acknowledge or address his injuries, and ordered Larry back into battle. Larry, wounded, in a state of shock and suffering what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, went AWOL. As a result, Larry was given a “less other than honorable” discharge, which left him without any military benefits, including those that would help him heal from his PTSD. In 2009, Larry reached out to Patrick R. Burns, a former JAG officer and volunteer, for assistance. Burns contacted Fredrikson & Byron. John Satorius, a shareholder in Fredrikson’s Corporate Group and Vietnam veteran himself, offered to help. However, John knew he needed assistance from someone with more military law experience, especially with PTSD claims, in order to navigate the complex and oftentimes murky waters of the bureaucracy that 22

is the VA. Private local attorney, John Degnan, another Vietnam veteran who had assisted on similar cases, was recruited to the team. PatrickÂ Mahlberg, then a new associate, also agreed to help. While all of the lawyers, especially the veterans, were able to connect with Larry, a special bond occurred when John Satorius and Larry realized that John also had served in Vietnam with the same Army division at almost the same time as Larry. John also had been stationed at a firebase very close to where Larryâ€™s battle had occurred, and he recalled hearing when he was there about the ferocity of that battle. Throughout the years, the team filed appeal after appeal with the VA, meeting rejection at every turn. At last, after bringing in experts and representatives from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to lead the final appeal, the VA acknowledged that Larry is entitled to disability benefits due to PTSD. After nearly seven additional years of waiting for recognition of his service, Larry and his team count this as a partial victory â€“ the next step is to have his discharge upgraded under the new Hagel rules regarding review of PTSD claims for veterans of the war in Vietnam. We congratulate John and the rest of the team for their perseverance and determination that allowed them to achieve such a positive outcome for their client, and that will give hope to other veterans.

Providing Peace of Mind through Clinic Work

hinking about and preparing for the inevitable can be stressful. Many low-income individuals without funds to hire a lawyer either do not prepare estate documents or find something online that may not be appropriate. To ease the burden of these individuals and families, many of Fredrikson’s lawyers volunteer to assist people in need with estate planning documents. As noted earlier, many lawyers assist through a monthly clinic at the VA. This past year, Natalie Kadievitch and Michael Cummings, lawyers in Fredrikson’s Intellectual Property and Energy Groups, began working with Mid-Minnesota Legal Services to assist low-income senior citizens with estate planning documents. This bi-monthly clinic serves a diverse population of seniors at the Heritage Park Senior Center in north Minneapolis. Because many of the clients are Hmong or Somali elders, Natalie and Mike attended culturally specific training to better understand the client population and their needs. For example, in the Hmong culture, cremation and organ donations are not accepted; burials are underground only. Having the ability to have a Health Care Directive completed that clearly states their wishes provides the necessary peace of mind they need.

I t’s a balance between efficiency and taking the time to listen. I enjoy hearing their stories and helping them accomplish something they didn’t know how to go about doing. Especially with the Health Care Directives, you can see what a comfort it is to get their desires documented.” – Natalie Kadievitch

Estate planning isn’t an easy topic. But together, we get it done.” – Mike Cummings

Kate Charipar, an associate in Fredrikson’s Trusts & Estates Group, recently went above and beyond by responding to a request to assist a 96-year old widow in Columbia Heights who needed a new will drafted after her only child and personal representative entered hospice care. Because her client could not drive to the office, Kate drafted a new will and traveled to the client’s home for the document to be executed.

John Koneck, a shareholder in Fredrikson’s Real Estate Group, worked with a client who was in a home ownership dispute with another family member. John worked with this client for a little over one year in an effort to resolve the dispute. His work included leading negotiations with family members and commencing a lawsuit. Unfortunately, shortly before the case was to go to trial, the client was diagnosed with late-stage, inoperable cancer. A short time later, the client, now in hospice care, asked if we were able to prepare estate documents, including a will, Power of Attorney form and a Health Care Directive for him. Mike Cummings, a lawyer in our Energy Group, volunteered to assist and within hours, took his laptop, a portable printer and two witnesses to the client’s hospice room and prepared the documents as directed. The client, along with his best friend and personal representative, were very grateful for the effort. Our client passed away shortly afterwards knowing that his most highly prized personal items, including the guitar he played for years, would now be distributed according to his wishes. After our client passed away, the lawsuit was recently settled on terms that the client hoped for before he died.

Working for our FourFooted Friends

et owners can become very attached to their animals. When a pet dies, many people make arrangements to have their pets buried in a pet cemetery complete with a stone marker and a place to visit. One such pet cemetery is located in Bismarck, North Dakota where a number of residents purchased space for their animals believing that the pet cemetery would endure indefinitely. However, the law is often undefined as to the rights afforded to pet cemeteries and only a handful of states offer formal protection to pet cemetery plot owners. When the land was sold and the new owners put the plot owners on notice that maintenance would no longer be provided and that they must remove their “keepsakes,” plot owners reached out to Fredrikson & Byron for pro bono assistance to determine if they have any legal options to protect their rights and stop the closing. David Phillips, along with Kristen Hansen, Brad McCamy and Mike Schoepf are representing the plot owners as they move into the discovery phase of the litigation.

Donkeys were once imported and used in the Caribbean islands to work the sugar plantations. Once they were no longer needed, they were abandoned and allowed to roam free. As a result, the donkeys can be found just about everywhere â€“ and not everyone appreciates their cuteness. Des Moines shareholder Marc Ward is assisting a group working to rescue and save injured and unwanted donkeys. Assisted by Jennifer Hodge Burkett, an officer in the Real Estate Group, they have prepared the articles of incorporation and other documents necessary to incorporate the nonprofit in St. John. Once the organization is officially incorporated, Marc and Jennifer will help the organization file for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.

Recognitions

im Dorsey was honored by the Minnesota ACLU this past year, with the Earl Larson Award. The award is named after Federal District Court Judge Earl Larson, who founded the Minnesota ACLU affiliate in 1952, at a time when government undermining of freedom of speech was particularly egregious. It is awarded annually to a member of the legal profession who has excelled in protecting civil liberties. The event also celebrates the time, hard work and financial support from the legal community that make possible the ACLU of Minnesotaâ€™s work in court on issues as diverse as racial justice, LGBT equality, privacy, freedom of speech, separation of church and state and womenâ€™s reproductive health.

Jim Dorsey with Faythe Dyrud Thureen, Judge Warren Sagstuen and Federal Judge John Tunheim

John Koneck was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Hennepin County Bar Association for his career-long dedication to providing pro bono legal services to the disadvantaged. John was nominated by the staff at Volunteer Lawyers Network, who noted that John had assisted with more than 191 cases between 2002, when they began keeping records, and the end of the 2014. Some of these cases were small, some required a little more time, but in total, the contributions resulted in big differences in the lives of those he served. 34

Pam Wandzel, Fredriksonâ€™s Pro Bono & Community Service Manager, was awarded the 2014 Advocate Award by the Minnesota Justice Foundation. This award, given to a non-lawyer, recognizes advocacy on behalf of low-income and disadvantaged clients.

The Associate Volunteer of the Year Fredrikson & Byron is home to many talented lawyers who are dedicated to the profession of law and to helping those less fortunate. Many give up their work and personal time to take a case or support a cause that is particularly compelling to them. The firm proudly recognizes associates who have exhibited a commitment to providing legal services for low-income individuals. Since he began at the firm seven years ago, Kevin Riach, an associate in Fredriksonâ€™s White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group, has consistently taken on pro bono cases, including tough constitutional or criminal law cases. Kevin strongly believes having a license to practice law is a privilege, and as such, it is a professional and personal duty to give back by providing pro bono legal services to those who would not be able to navigate the justice system alone. As such, Kevin has become the go-to person to represent people whose voices would be silenced without representation. For example, he is currently representing a woman in a First Amendment Freedom of Speech case. His client, an anti-war advocate, was charged with disorderly conduct after challenging the City Council on her right to place a sign expressing her views on her front lawn or in the front window of her private home. Kevin also assisted with a case relating to a young vulnerable adult who did not fully understand the long-term consequences involved in selling an annuity for pennies on the dollar. The annuity was meant to provide her with financial support for the rest of her life; however, she was lured into selling portions by a company in Texas. That case led to changes in state law that will help protect vulnerable adults against companies that purchase these annuities by ensuring adequate review of each transaction. Kevin recently became co-lead on a death penalty case in Louisiana. Fredrikson & Byron is proud to recognize Kevinâ€™s dedication to providing pro bono legal services to the disadvantaged. 35

Volunteerism Helps Enrich and Protect Communities

he Attractive Nuisance Tour is an annual fundraiser benefiting the Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF). The proceeds of this event provide funds that help MJF pay law students a stipend to provide pro bono legal services to low-income individuals in communities across Minnesota. The students are placed in legal services organizations and work under the supervision of licensed lawyers. These internships help instill a sense of professional pride in the students and often translate into careers that include giving back through pro bono. Once again this year, Fredrikson & Byronâ€™s band, Noisy Withdrawal, opened this unique fundraiser. Shareholders Steve Beck, Laurie Hartman, Chris Hunt and Sam Orbovich, along with Matt Norris, played to a packed crowd at a local venue and helped raise more than $5,000 for the evening.

Fredrikson & Byron has a long history of encouraging community service by all of its employees. Both lawyers and staff embrace this commitment by providing services too numerous to list. Their volunteer activities include such things as working with teens, serving on local community boards, fundraising for charitable events and working to keep low-income families in their homes. Our firm supports this commitment by giving each employee paid time off to volunteer for firm-sponsored community service programs. This past year, volunteers helped Rebuilding Together Twin Cities scrape and paint two very colorful homes for low-income families, while another group helped gut a home that the organization remodeled into a handicap-accessible home for another family.

Twice this past year, groups of volunteers worked with inner-city teens at TheÂ Cookie Cart, a nonprofit in north Minneapolis that works to prepare youth for college and the workplace. Volunteers conducted mock job interviews and then made cookies that the youth and organization sell to support this important work. No one was surprised that a few dozen cookies were purchased afterwards to share with the rest of the office.

Friends of Fredrikson Program Friends of Fredrikson is a stand-alone nonprofit that began nearly 20 years ago and is run by employees of Fredrikson & Byron. Its mission is to provide assistance to low-income families with children in a variety of ways. One annual program always brings an abundance of joy and satisfaction to many. Every year since our inception, we have “adopted” families in need during the holiday season. Over the years, we have worked through a number of community organizations to do this, including Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, The Link for Homeless Youth and Sharing & Caring Hands. The organizations identify families in need and we work to fulfill their holiday wish lists. Always moving, at times heartbreaking, the requests we receive include such things as a warm pair of socks, newborn diapers or a winter jacket. Our firm has responded to these modest requests and provided a little bit of joy for low-income families. This past year, the Minneapolis and Fargo offices worked with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) to identify families in its networks. All of the families we adopted were formerly homeless and receiving rental assistance through MAC-V. The Des Moines office purchased gifts for a family of six through Children and Families of Iowa’s Adopt-AFamily program.

Additionally, the Minneapolis office provided gifts and gift cards to Jewish Family & Children’s Service to be distributed to their clients, including senior citizens, shut-ins and low-income families. All of this has been possible because of the culture of community at Fredrikson & Byron. Special recognition goes to legal administrative assistant Roxanne Gangl for all of her hard work to coordinate this program and make the activities happen each year. Some thank you notes from the MAC-V families:

[ We] want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Without your support we would not have Christmas this year at all. It’s because of you guys that my family will have smiles and laughter this Christmas. Thank you.” ank you so much! You truly are a blessing to me and my family! Th God bless you!” ank you so much for making this Xmas one to remember! You are Th appreciated more than you will ever know. My girls and I will never forget your gifts. Thank you so much!” ank you so much. My heart is so thankful and I really appreciate Th everything you have done for my family. With these hard times that we have been going through, this gift giving makes it a whole lot easier. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and God bless you.” From the house mom at the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans:

ank you so much for sponsoring veteran families for the holidays. Th Your generosity and thoughtfulness has helped bring joy to these families during their time of need. You all did such a wonderful job and it was a joy working with you! Thank you again.”

Epilogue

FIRM PRO BONO HOURS Special recognition goes to those individuals who met or exceeded their goal of providing 50 hours or more of pro bono work for fiscal year 2015: Steven Kaplan Chelsea Sommers Joann Landkamer Leslie Anderson James Dorsey Sten-Erik Hoidal Andrew Johnson Maureen Young Kyle Ubl David Coyle Warren Mack Cari Martell Timothy Oâ€™Shea Edward Cassidy Pamela Abbate-Dattilo Benjamin Tozer Johanna Franzen Lousene Hoppe Matthew Stortz Joseph Cassioppi Carl Numrich David Marshall Clint Cutler John Erhart Matthew Norris Chelsea Brennan DesAutels Nicole Moen Robert Boisvert, Jr. William Guy III Kevin Riach Kent Harbison Jeannine Christensen Kimberly Lowe Kevin Spreng James Kiner Daniel Deveny Anupama Sreekanth Ryan Heck

1,361.0 575.6 426.6 384.9 306.1 300.1 275.9 265.5 240.3 230.2 221.5 220.1 214.9 213.3 199.3 196.2 183.5 182.1 179.8 160.6 148.7 146.1 144.7 142.1 139.5 137.6 133.5 132.6 128.8 128.0 125.7 119.2 118.5 118.4 117.5 113.4 111.3 109.0

John Koneck Larry Berg David Bunde Kristen Barlow Rand Ashley Brosius Steven Kinsella Jessica Edwards Chad Ambroday Jonathan Baker Joseph Springer Jordan Rife Jody McGinley Erin Secord John Lundquist Ashley Roth David Waytz Ryan Young Bridget Penick Jessica Allen Aleida Conners Maher Abduselam John Satorius Eric Buss Erik Splett Haley Waller Pitts Sarah Olson Bradley Wallace Jason Marino Samuel Orbovich Laura Wanger John Nelson Samuel Young Courtney Hofflander Brad McCamy Ted Koshiol Marguerite Ahmann Zhu Cheng Joseph Schauer

108.7 106.6 104.5 103.2 103.1 99.9 99.5 96.4 96.3 95.7 95.0 94.1 93.1 90.3 90.3 87.9 87.5 84.6 83.2 83.0 82.5 81.4 80.7 80.6 79.6 77.6 76.9 76.5 76.4 74.9 74.3 73.8 72.8 72.6 69.6 69.1 68.6 68.0

Sarah Tucher Ryan Johnson Emily Unger Andrew Nick Barbara Fritz John Stout Elizabeth Alvine Patrick Whiting James Brand Karla Reyerson Ingrid Culp Wayne Carlson Laura Danielson Katherine Charipar Leah Janus

67.2 67.1 67.1 66.5 66.2 65.8 65.2 64.9 64.2 64.1 64.0 63.6 63.4 62.5 61.7

Amy Sobiesczyk Karen Schanfield Asmah Tareen David Winkler Michael Cummings Angela Erickson Richard Kyle, Jr. Gauri Samant Matthew Boos Caitlinrose Fisher Patrick Kelly Natalie Kadievitch Levi Smith Cynthia Moyer Steve Helland

61.7 61.1 58.4 58.1 57.7 57.7 56.4 54.3 53.9 53.4 53.0 52.3 51.0 50.5 50.1

Other lawyers, paralegals, and summer associates doing pro bono work in fiscal year 2015 include: Kristy Albrecht Debra Altschuler Eric Anderson Thomas Archbold James Baillie Jane Ball Matthew Barber Kyle Barlow Jeffrey Benson Jacqueline Bernu Paula Blenker Kristin Blenkush Gail Brandt Ryan Brauer Sheri Brenden Harleigh Brown Christina Brusven Philip Bubb Christy Carrier Jason Cassady Emily Chad Caroline Chicoine Lori Cobb Katherine Cole

Carolyn Coverdale Sharifa Crawford Nikola Datzov Stephanie Davis Amy Dekok Steven Dickinson Chris Dolan Katherine Douglas Jeremy Duehr Emily Duke Elizabeth Dunshee Judy Engel Timothy Eschweiler Grant Fairbairn Jamal Faleel Michael Feller Jessica Foss Dulce Foster Aron Frakes Sharon Freier Lora Friedemann Zachary Froelich Krithiga Ganesan Ron Garber

Thomas Garton Tyler Gludt Philip Goldman David Gollin Jordan Golomb Kevin Goodno Matthew Graham Karen Grandstrand Jodi Gustafson Deborah Halvorson Kristen Hansen Shepard Harris Laurie Hartman Benjamin Hasbrouck Krista Hatcher Thomas Hipkins Quinn Hochhalter Jennifer Hodge Burkett Christopher Hunt Loan Huynh Katherine Ilten Leigh Erin Irons Amy Jenson Jenna Jenson

Andrea Jenson-Packer Alicia Jones Lori-Ann Jones Paul Jones John Kapacinskas Dean Karau Gregory Karpenko Douglas Kassebaum Sara Kilian Jennifer Kitchak Robert Klepinski Amber Koger Laura Kolars Mary Krakow Ann Ladd Alexis Larson Patricia Larson Kimberly Lattimore Paul LaVanway, Jr. Ray Lazar Nena Lenz Lacey Lesmeister Ruilin Li Lisa Lindenfelser Debra Linder Amanda Lorentz Jessie Lu Debbie Maday Eric Madson Patrick Mahlberg Erik Malinowski Thomas Manewitz Jessica Manivasager Shannon Matter Brian McCool Pari McGarraugh Christopher Melsha Mia Mendoza Sjur Midness Ryan Miest Evelyn Milbrath

Deborah Moeller Alycia Morell Daniel Mott Thomas Muck Ryan Murphy Kristi Nickles Kurt Niederluecke Beckie Northrop Norah Olson Bluvshtein Zachary Olson Bonnie Oâ€™Malley John Patterson MaKell PaulingNormandin Rita Pavey Katie Perleberg Hiep Pham David Phillips John Pickerill Karen Pietruszewski Jeffrey Post Steve Quam Anne Radolinski Melissa Rahn Leigh Rand Mary Ranum Michael Raum Lindsey Remakel Luis Resendiz Lisa Robinson Kristy Rodd Dona Rodrigue Melodie Rose Carrie Rosenberry Alexander Rosenstein Richard Ross Howard Roston Jillian Rupnow Mark Savin Debra Schneider Michael Schoepf

Dale Schoonover Charles Segelbaum Renee Senger Jeffrey Serum Cameron Seybolt Rhona Shwaid Anneliese Simons James Snelson Eric Snustad Richard Snyder Joseph Sokolowski Ryan Spanheimer Kelly Staack Christopher Stafford Adam Steinert Susan Steinwall Rebecca Strand Rachna Sullivan Julie Taylor Paul Thomas Kim Thompson Teresa Thompson Jeanne Tracy Aaron Vanderpool Mark Vyvyan Deborah Walker Marc Ward Michelle Weck Amanda Weddle Amanda Welters David West Robert Whitlock Abby Willemssen F. John Williams III Todd Wind John Wurm Masha Yevzelman Todd Zimmerman Aubrey Zuger

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 a number of cultural and social service groups that are of special interest to the law firm’s lawyers and employees. Below is a comprehensive list of the organizations that received support this past fiscal year from the Fredrikson & Byron Foundation: Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota and North Dakota American Immigration Council Anishinabe Legal Services Arc Greater Twin Cities Baby’s Space: A Place to Grow Ballet Des Moines Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative Belwin Conservancy Best Prep Books for Africa Call for Justice, LLC Cancer Legal Line Cantus Charities Review Council Children’s Cancer Research Fund Children’s Health Care Foundation Children’s Home Society Children’s Law Center of Minnesota Citizens League CLUES Council on Crime and Justice Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota Faith’s Lodge FamilyWise Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research Foundation for Public Affairs Friends of Fredrikson

Friends of the Hennepin County Library Fund for the Legal Aid Society Girls in Action Girls Rock!Des Moines Green Card Voices Hamline University Hennepin County Bar Foundation Housing Justice Center Housing Preservation Project Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota Infinity Project Innovative Quality Schools Iowa Legal Aid Judicare of Anoka Jungle Theatre Just the Beginning Foundation Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 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 Loft Literary Center Management Assistance Program Metropolitan Economic Development Association Milestone Growth Fund Minneapolis Crisis Nursery

Minneapolis Institute of Arts Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans Minnesota International Center Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company Minnesota Land Trust Minnesota Literacy Council Minnesota Opera Minnesota Orchestra Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota Sinfonia Minnesota State Bar Association â€“ Mock Trial Program Minnesota State Fair Foundation MinnPost.com Minnesota Film & TV Board Minnesota Justice Foundation National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Neighborhood Development Center Neighborhood Justice Center North Star Science Film Festival Northside Economic Opportunity Network Oslo Center Page Education Foundation Phyllis Wheatley Community Center Plains Art Center Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer Project Prepare + Prosper

Presbyterian Homes & Services Project for Pride in Living Ragamala Dance Rock Star Supply Co. Ronald McDonald House Charities Salvation Army Sandbox Theatre Sanford Health Sharing & Caring Hands Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services St. Paul Chamber Orchestra St. Paul Riverfront Corporation Ten Thousand Things Theater The Advocates for Human Rights The Bakken The Library Foundation, Inc. The Link Tubman Family Alliance Twin Cities in Motion University of Minnesota Law School University of Iowa College of Law University of North Dakota Foundation University of St. Thomas Holloran Center Volunteer Lawyers Network Voyageurs National Park Association Washburn Center for Children YMCA Camp Menogyn YWCA (Fargo)

Fredrikson & Byron Minority Scholarship The Fredrikson & Byron Minority Scholarship program is part of Fredriksonâ€™s commitment to the promotion of diversity among incoming law professionals. The purpose of the program is to promote the legal training of minority law school students and to encourage them to join and excel in the private practice of law within larger corporate law firms in the Upper Midwest. The program was established jointly by the Fredrikson & Byron Foundation and Fredrikson & Byron in 1990. 50

The Minnesota Keystone Program The Minnesota Keystone Program identifies, encourages and recognizes Minnesota companies that help enhance quality of life in the state by contributing 2 percent or 5 percent of pre-tax earnings in the form of time, money or in-kind services. A proud participant since 1989, Fredrikson & Byron has been a contributor at the 5 percent level for the past several years, and our firm was honored to receive the Keystone Award for mid-sized companies in 2010.

Individual Service to Nonprofit Organizations Fredrikson & Byron lawyers, paralegals and staff support our nonprofit communities in a number of 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, legal services and community development. Fredrikson & Byron lawyers and staff have provided board and committee leadership assistance to the following organizations:

Ragamala Dance, Board member

National Consumer Law Center, Committee member Upper Midwest Chapter of the Turnaround Management, Volunteer Services Committee Volunteer Lawyers Network, Benefactor Board, Co-Chair

Robert Aronson

Jeffrey Benson

American College of Bankruptcy, Pro Bono Committee, Chair LegalCORPS, Emeritus Board member Minnesota State Bar Association, Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee

Bob Boisvert

Debra Altschuler

Adath Jeshurun Synagogue, Board of Trustees Rebuilding Together, Board of Directors

Briar Andresen

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Executive Committee, Neighborhood Commercial Spaces, LLC, Board member; Program Committee, Chair Board member Jewish Community Relations Council, Executive Larry Berg Committee, Board member Minnesota Chapter of the Susan G. Komen For the Jim Baillie Cure, Board member American Bar Association Section of Business Kristin Blenkush Law, Pro Bono Committee; Pro Bono Services Committee of the Business Bankruptcy Committee Mid-Continent Oceanographic Institute (f/k/a Rock Star Supply Co.), Board member American Bar Foundation, Fellow Twin Cities in Motion (fka Twin Cities Marathon, Inc.), Board of Directors, Vice President; Governance Committee; Human Resources Committee, Chair

Matt Boos

American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Federal Regulation of Securities Committee; Officer and Director Liability Committee Legal Services Advisory Committee, Board member

Steve Dickinson

Indiana University School of Law, Board of Directors Boy Scouts of America, Northern Star Council, Board member

Greater Des Moines Partnership Regional Economic Development Board, Board member Greater Des Moines Partnership International Council, Co-Chair; Foreign Direct Investments Steering Committee member Iowa District Export Council, Member Minnesota International Center, Board of Directors North Dakota Trade Office, Board member University of Northern Iowa, Business Incubator Advisory Board; John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Advisory Board US China Business Connections, Board of Directors, Vice President

Harleigh Brown

Joe Dixon

Gail Brandt

CALS Program, Board member YWCA of Minneapolis, Committee member

Bill Brody

Hamline Law Alumni Board, Board member Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program, Vice-Chair

Christy Brusven

Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Director Hiawatha Academies, Board member

Jim Dorsey

Philip Bubb

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

Cantus, Board member City of Grant Charter Commission, Commission member Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights – US Foundation, Board member United States Attorney’s Forum on Criminal Justice, Chair

Jason Cassady

Jeremy Duehr

Minnesota State Bar Association Public Utilities Law Section Council, Committee member

Minnesota, Fifth Congressional District, Minneapolis, and Senate District 62 Democratic-Farmer Labor (DFL) Party, Committee member and State DFL Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules Committee delegate

Freshwater Foundation, Board member

Joseph Cassioppi

John Erhart

Federal Bar Association Minnesota Chapter, Board member, Co-Vice President Legal Education

Emily Chad

Dress For Success Twin Cities, Treasurer, Board member; Finance Committee

June Cheng

International Institute of Minnesota, Board member Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Committee member

Aleida Ortega Conners

Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, Secretary and Board member

Ingrid Culp

Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Board member

Laura Danielson

Green Card Voices, Board member

Amy De Kok

Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Special Institute on Shale Plays Committee

Liz Dunshee

American Bar Association, Committee member American Heart Association Twin Cities Go Red, Committee member Sandbox Theatre, Board member St. John’s University School of Theology & Seminary, Board of Trustees, Chair

Linda Fisher

Growth & Justice, Board member NAIOP, Land Use Committee member, Public Policy Committee member

Jessica Foss

State Bar Association of North Dakota, Young Lawyers Committee member YMCA Cass Clay, Board member

Dulce Foster

Eighth Circuit History Committee for the District of Minnesota, Treasurer Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference Program Committee Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Board member; Grants Committee, Co-chair Minnesota Law Review, Alumni Advisory Board member

Joe Fousek

Deborah Halvorson

Johanna Franzen

Kristen Hansen

Minnetonka-Hopkins Gymnastics Association, Board President Urban Land Institute, Minnesota Young Leaders Group, Board member WATCH, Board member

Sharon Freier

Annais Rittenberg Conservation Fund, Board member eWomen Network Foundation, Grant Committee The Discipleship Network of America, Midwest, Director

Ron Garber

J Street Minnesota, Chair

Tom Garton

RS Eden, Board member, Audit/Finance Committee, Chair

David Glaser

Lawyers Professional Responsibility, District 7 Ethics Committee Investigator State Bar Association of North Dakota, Pro Bono Committee

Kent Harbison

Loan Repayment Assistance Program of Minnesota, Advisory Board member Minnesota State Bar Association, Civil Gideon Committee

Shep Harris

City of Golden Valley, Mayor Robbinsdale Schools Legislation Action Coalition, Member Sabes Jewish Community Center, Board member

Krista Hatcher

The Link, Board member, Executive Committee

Talmud Torah of St. Paul, President and Board member

Sten Hoidal

Phil Goldman

Lisa Holter

United Jewish Fund and Council, Board member

David Gollin

Temple Israel of Minneapolis, Board member

Kevin Goodno

American Brain Foundation (f/k/a American Academy of Neurology Foundation), Board Chair Minnesota Business Partnership, Deputy Public Affairs Council, Board member

Volunteer Lawyers Network, Board member Association for Corporate Growth, Planning Committee Girls in Action, Co-Chair of Board Minnesota State Bar Association, Business Law Section, Committee member Women’s Business Development Center, Advisory Board member

Lousene Hoppe

American Bar Association, Banking Law Committee Concordia College, Board of Regents Hamline University School of Law, Advisory Board of Business Law Institute, Board member Independent Community Bankers of America, General Counsels Advisory Group, Member Minnesota State Bar Association, Banking Law Committee, Co-chair; Business Law Section, Executive Council member Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable, Member

American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, Minnesota Area Subcommittee, Co-Chair; Criminal Justice Section, LGBT Committee, Chair American Constitution Society, Minneapolis/St. Paul Lawyer Chapter, Advisory Board member Minnesota Bar Association, Diversity Bar Assembly, Member Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, Board member National Lesbian and Gay Law Association, American Bar Association Outreach Committee and Liaison to ABA Criminal Justice Section

William Guy III

Christopher Hunt

Karen Grandstrand

Floyd Shores Homeowner’s Association, Board of Directors State Bar Association of North Dakota, Business Entity Drafting Task Force, Chair; Uniform Trust Code Drafting Task Force, Chair University of North Dakota, Alumni Association, Emeritus Board member; Caucus, Member University of North Dakota, School of Law Building, Advisory Committee member University of North Dakota Foundation, Emeritus Board member

Salvation Army, Advisory Board, Chair; Programs and Services Committee

Beau Hurtig

Independent Community Bankers’ Legislative Committee

Loan Huynh

Advocates for Human Rights, Board of Directors American Immigration Counsel, Board of Trustees Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Women’s Committee, Co-Chair

Leigh-Erin Irons

Neighborhood Development Center, Board member Touchstone Mental Health, Board member

St. Paul Riverfront Corporation, Treasurer, Board member Summit Academy OIC, Board member

Katie Ilten

Ted Koshiol

Annex Teen Clinic, Board member Family Wise Services, Board of Directors

Teatro del Pueblo, Treasurer and Board member

Leah Janus

Behavior at Work Collaborative, Board of Directors City Church â€“ Minneapolis, Vice Chair, Board member

Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Director Minnesota State Bar Association, Consumer Litigation Section, Council member Seward Coop, Director

Ryan Johnson

American Health Lawyers Association, Life Sciences Practice Group, Vice-Chair BHALDI, Founder, Board and Executive Committee member Life Science Alley, Alley Institute, Advisory Committee Minnesota Cup, Life Science and HealthIT Division, Review Board Minnesota State Bar Association, Health Law Section, Governing Council University of Minnesota Joint Degree Program in Law, Health and the Life Sciences, Advisory Board member Young Scientists Roundtable, Planning Committee

Paul Jones

Sandbox Theatre, Board member

Steve Kaplan

Innocence Project of Minnesota, Board member

Pat Kelly

Commerce of Minnesota, Advisory Board

Sara Kilian

Ann Bancroft Foundation, Granting Committee Hennepin County Bar Association, Board of Directors; Finance and Planning Committee, Vice-Chair Minnesota Adoption Resource Network, Board Chair Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Professional Development Committee

Bob Klepinski

Big Sand Lake Association, Board member BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, Board member YMCA Camp Menogyn, Board member

John Koneck

Meet Minneapolis, Board member Minnesota Board of Law Examiners, Board member Minnesota State Bar Association, Certification Council of Real Property Section, Co-Chair; Governing Council of Real Property Section, Member

Mary Krakow

Richard Kyle, Jr.

Minnesota Criminal Rules Advisory Committee, Member Minnesota State Bar Association, President

Ann Ladd

Life Science Alley, Board member The Bakken Museum, Board member

Ray Lazar

The Landings Town Home Association, Board member

Ruilin Li

Minneapolis Saint Paul Foreign Direct Investment Initiative, Steering Committee University of Minnesota China Center Advisory Council, Leadership Committee US-China People Friendship Association of MN, Board member

Keith Libbey

Carleton College, Board of Trustees

Debra Linder

Minnesota State Bar Association, Employee Benefits Council, Secretary Next Generation Downtown Lions Club PACER Center, Advisory Board

Catherine London

University of Minnesota, Joint Degree Program in Law, Science and Technology, Advisory Board

Kim Lowe

American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Nonprofit Organizations and Non-profit Governance Committee member; Business Law Section Liaison, Pro Bono and Public Service Standing Committee member; Pro Bono Committee, Chair; Nonprofit Organization Subcommittee, Co-Chair; Corporate Governance Committee Task Force on Social Ventures, Chair; Nonprofit Organization Committee member; Corporate Governance Committee member; Tax Section Growth and Justice, Board member Hennepin County Bar Association, President, Executive Committee member, Board member; Finance and Planning Committee member

Hennepin County Bar Foundation, Board member LegalCORPS, Board member Minnesota State Bar Association, Business Law Section, Executive Council Member; Non-profit Organizations Subcommittee member; 302A Drafting Committee member; General Assembly Member; Policy Committee Member National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Legal Tax and Accounting Committee member, Vice-Chair Securities Law subcommittee Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Corporate Secretary Volunteer Lawyers Network, Board member

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, Chair of Board North Memorial Medical Center, Board member

Patrick Mahlberg

Minnesota Justice Foundation, Board member

Erik Malinowski

Daniel Mott

Innovative Quality Schools, Board member, Chair National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Subcommittee on Litigation between Cooperatives and Members, Chair United Hospital Foundation, Executive Committee, Board member

Cindy Moyer

Children’s Law Center, Board member Minnesota Chapter of International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Coalition, Board member; Program Committee, Chair The Fund for Legal Aid, Board member, Executive Committee member Upper Midwest Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, Board member

Tom Muck

Minnesota Taxpayers Association, Board member Page Education Foundation, Advisory Board member

Ryan Murphy

The Bell Museum, Planetarium Program Committee

Minnesota State Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section, Committee member

Jessica Manivasager

Laura Myers

Minneapolis Ibaraki Sister City Association, Board member MRA-The Management Association, Board member and Executive Committee member

Brian McCool

City of Shoreview, Planning Commission member Shoreview Area Housing Initiative, Board member NAIOP, Land Use Committee, Co-Chair; Public Policy Committee

Christopher Melsha

Hope Fore Tomorrow Charities, Inc., Board member Northwest Shores Homeowners Association, Board member Totino-Grace High School, President’s Council and Advancement Committee

Sjur Midness

Coffee House Press, Treasurer, Board member

Ryan Miest

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

Nicole Moen

American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, Board member Harvard Club of Minnesota, Board member

Advertising Federation of Minnesota, Board member

John Nelson

Grassroots Culture, Board member Yellow Tree Theatre, Board member

Sue Ann Nelson

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Committee member

Matthew Norris

Minnesota State Bar Association, Business Law Section 302A Drafting Committee

Sarah Olson

Baby’s Space, Board member International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation, Minnesota Chapter, Board member

Zach Olson

American Diabetes Association, Board of Directors

Sherrill Oman

Affordable Housing Connections, Board member

Sam Orbovich

ARRM, Board member Care Providers of Minnesota, Committee member LeadingAge Minnesota, Committee member Lyngblomsten, Governance Advisory Committee Minnesota State Bar Association, Administrative Law Section Governing Counsel

Tim Oâ€™Shea

Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Committee member Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota E-Discovery Working Group, Board member Crystal Patterson American Bar Association, RPTE, Probate and Fiduciary Litigation Committee, Chair Maximilian Montessori Academy Parent Teacher Organization, President Riverpark Center, Board member

John Patterson

Boy Scouts of America, Northern Star Council, Board member; Camping and Properties Committee, Vice president St. Thomas Academy, Trustee, Executive Committee member

Bill Pearce

Emily Pontius

Children and Family Urban Movement, Catwalk for College Event Committee Des Moines Metro Opera, Board of Directors and Executive Board, Secretary Iowa State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Vice-Chair

Melissa Rahn

Minneapolis Community and Technical College Foundation, Board member; Fundraising Committee, Chair; Alumni Advisory Council Minnesota Film & TV Board, Board member; Legislative Advocacy Committee, Chair Minnesota Government Relations Council, Committee member Public Affairs Council, Committee member Reach for Resources, Board member, Vice Chair Womenwinning State PAC, Board member

Bismarck-Mandan Orchestral Association, Inc., Board member The Library Foundation, Inc., Treasurer, Board member

Virginia Rahn

Katie Perleberg

Fargo-Moorhead Opera Company, Board of Directors Theatre B, Board of Directors

Concordia College, Board of Regents, Board member Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Board member University of Minnesota Law School, Board of Advisors, Board member

John Pickerill

Lindsey Remakel

Advertising Federation of Minnesota, Board member Art Buddies, Board member

Bridget Penick

American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, Contributing Editor Ballet Des Moines, Board of Directors Girls Rock!Des Moines, Board of Directors and Secretary Iowa State Bar Association, Annual Meeting Committee; Employment and Labor Section Council; Executive Committee Fast Action Advisory Team Iowa Legal Aid Central Iowa Advisory, Council member Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission, Member Polk County Bar Association, President-Elect Woodlands Creek Reserve Home Owners Association, Board of Directors and Secretary

Jim Platt

Angel Foundation, Board member Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Chapters, Board member

Minneapolis Community and Technical College Foundation, Board member

Mary Ranum

Minnesota State Bar Association, Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section Council, Chair Voyageurs National Park Association, Board Chair

Karla Reyerson

Twin Cities-Metro Certified Development Company, Board member

Kevin Riach

Coalition for Impartial Justice, Board member Second Chance Coalition, Steering Committee, Member Minnesota State Bar Association, Judiciary Committee, Member

Melodie Rose

Heritage Christian Academy Foundation, Board member

Richard Ross

Minnesota Management Attorneys Association, Founder, Board member Minnesota State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Institute, Planning Committee, Member Oak Ridge Country Club, Board member; Admissions and Membership Committee, Chair

Howard Roston

Herzl Camp Association, Board member

Ashley Roth

International Medical Graduate Taskforce, Advocacy Committee member

John Satorius

Belwin Conservancy, Board member Belwin Foundation, Board member International Education Center, Board member Lacek Foundation, Board member MinnPost, Board member

Mark Savin

Owners’ Counsel of America, Board member

Karen Schanfield

Jewish Family & Children’s Service of St. Paul, Board member National Academy of Arbitrators, Committee member St. Paul Jewish Community Center, Committee member

Debra Schneider

Loan Repayment Assistance Program, Board of Directors

Dale Schoonover

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

Chuck Segelbaum

City of Golden Valley Planning Commission, Chair

Cameron Seybolt

Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education, Member

Rhona Shwaid

Kevin Spreng

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

Howard Stacker

Summit Academy OIC, Advisory Board member

Karen Sandler Steinert

American Bar Association, Real Property, Trusts and Estates Law Section, Member; CLE Committee, Co-Chair; Business Planning Group, Estate Planning and Administration for Business Owners, Farmers and Ranchers Committee

Sue Steinwall

American Bar Association, Environmental Transactions and Brownfields Committee, Vice Chair Minnesota Land Trust, Chairman of the Board

John Stout

American Bar Association, Business Law Section: Corporate Governance Committee, Emeritus Chair; Corporate Social Responsibility Task Force, Vice Chair; Governance, Task Force on Human Trafficking, Member; Governing Council, Member; Intellectual Property Section, Member American Bar Foundation, Fellow Center for International Private Enterprise, Emeritus Director Metropolitan Economic Development Association, Co-founder, Secretary, Board member Milestone Growth Fund, Co-founder, Chair, Secretary Minnesota Film Board, Co-founder, Emeritus Director National Association of Corporate Directors, Minnesota Chapter, Emeritus Director

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter, Board member; Evening of Hope, Chair Twin Cities Cardozo Society, Steering Committee, Member

Rachna Sullivan

Anneliese Simons

OMEED, Board member, Officer

The Arc Minnesota, Committee member

Richard Snyder

Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, Committee member

Joe Sokolowski

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Board member University of Minnesota Law School, Alumni Relations Committee, Chair

Asmah Tareen Todd Taylor

Algae Biomass Organization, Board member Mini-Hops Gymnastics Association, Board member Minnetonka-Hopkins Gymnastics Association, Board member University Enterprise Laboratories, Board member

University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, Board member

Teresa Thompson

Lindsay Sokolowski

Steve Tight

Peace and Hope Trust, Inc., Chair Women’s Business Development Center of Minnesota, Board member

Anne Bancroft Foundation, Board member American Heart Association, Committee member Twin Cities Heart & Stroke Gala, Committee member

Ben Tozer

International Right-of-Way Association, North Star Chapter 20, Board member

Jeanne Tracy

Off-Broadway Musical Theatre, Board President

Mark Vyvyan

Maple Grove Youth Football Association, Board member Volunteer Lawyers Network, Board member

Deb Walker Kool

Rich Weiner

American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Board member British-American Business Council, Board member

David West

Central Lutheran Church Congregation Council, Board President-Elect The Origins Program, Board President

Patrick Whiting

Arc Greater Twin Cities, Board member

American Bar Association, Model Principles Implementation Task Force, Vice Chair; Corporate Governance Committee

Robert Whitlock

F. John Williams III

Todd Wind

National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, Board member Red River Valley Estate Planning Council, Board member

Pam Wandzel

Northside Economic Opportunity Network, Board Chair Volunteer Lawyer’s Network, Quality Control Committee

Marc Ward

Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa, Board member

Mill City Commons, Secretary, Board and Executive Committee member ALS Association of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, Board member Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, Panel member

Masha Yevzelman

Minnesota State Bar Association, Tax Section, Chair

Aubrey Zuger

State Bar Association of North Dakota, Board of Governors, Secretary-Treasurer The Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley, Board member

Epilogue Fredrikson & Byron and its Pro Bono Committee thank all the lawyers, paralegals, librarians, summer associates, interns, and staff who have helped provide free legal and other volunteer services to economically disadvantaged people, nonprofits, and to our community. We will continue our commitment to increase these services in the years to come. The Pro Bono Committee welcomes any 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 Manager, Pam Wandzel, or to any member of the Pro Bono Committee: Cindy Moyer (Chair), Patrick Kelly, Jody McGinley, Steve Quam, Debra Schneider, Sten Hoidal, Haley Waller Pitts and Aubrey Zuger.

Fredrikson & Byron Where Law and Business Meet® At Fredrikson & Byron, 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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Fredrikson & Byron 2015 Pro Bono Report