< PreviousLocated in the heart of downtown, Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis office serves lo- cal, national and international clients in a wide variety of practice areas including: litigation, corporate transactions, trade law & remedies, securities & financing, real estate finance & development, corporate bankruptcy & restructuring, antitrust, in- tellectual property, and mergers & acqui- sitions – working collaboratively with the firm’s 750 attorneys across its 29 offices. Four of Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis- based women attorneys share their unique breadth of practices and experiences and offer how the firm’s unwavering support el- evates their careers and enables their pur- suit of many community-based volunteer and pro bono activities. ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MINNESOTA · V OL. 8 NO. 9 20AALM: Tell us what stands out to you about your firm’s culture. Muller: It still amazes me how easy it is to get the assistance of one of our attorneys who is fully versed in a certain subject matter, from white collar crime to environmental law to bankruptcy issues. No matter where my clients are located, I’m able to get them the best possible advice in the subject matter area they need in the blink of an eye. Some of these “emergency matches” have resulted in a long-standing relationship with the attorney who advised them and is now working with the client to avoid any further emergency in the specific area of expertise. AALM: Tell us about the work you do in the community. Muller: In 2016, the German government appointed me as the Honorary Consul for Germany in Minneapolis. My consular district includes all of Minnesota, the Dakotas and parts of West- ern Wisconsin. As Honorary Consul, I have a wide range of responsibilities – from regular tasks such as accepting passport applications or certifying signatures, to assisting individuals and their families with issues related to the U.S. criminal system, to organizing a concert of classical music with a quintet from one of the most famous German orchestras. My position allows me to work on important causes and with great organizations such as the Jewish Com- munity Relations Council in Minnesota and the Dakotas. AALM: What do you most enjoy about practicing in the area of corporate business law? Muller: In addition to the Juris Doctor that allows me to practice in Minnesota, I have the German law degrees. On one hand, I enjoy working with U.S. companies on matters with con- nection to Germany, such as the establishment and/or operation of a subsidiary, entering into a distribution agreement, or hiring employees in Germany, or acquiring a German company. On the other hand, I do the same kind of work for German companies here in the United States. Having the law degrees of both countries allows me to explain the differences in both legal systems to my clients and make the “switch” from one system to the other as easy as possible for them. AALM: Tell us about a noteworthy case. Muller: The South Carolina subsidiary of one of my German clients was served with a sub- poena in a criminal investigation by the Federal Department of Justice. The DOJ accused my client of having violated antitrust laws. I immediately involved antitrust attorneys from Cozen O’Connor and basically acted as intermediary between the client in Germany and my col- leagues, explaining he U.S. system to the Germans and certain cultural differences and issues to my U.S. colleagues. The best part – we were successful, and the DOJ didn’t pursue any kind of legal action against my client. Barbara Muller I enjoy working with U.S. companies on matters with connection to Germany, such as the establishment and/or operation of a subsidiary, entering into a distribution agreement, or hiring employees in Germany, or acquiring a German company.” “ AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 21AALM: Tell us what stands out to you about your firm’s cul- ture. Marx: When we opened Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapo- lis office in 2013 as part of the first wave of large national firms entering this market, I continually heard from our new colleagues about Cozen O’Connor culture and how it distinguishes our firm from others. While I thought at the time that that was the routine pitch every firm gives as part of their integration process, what I learned in practice is that you actually can’t oversell how fantastic the culture is at our firm. We have the privilege of working with the most dedicated, supportive, pioneering, and truly fun group of professionals that I have encountered, and they inspire me to push myself and my practice to new heights so that I am doing everything I can to foster and build our firm’s community. AALM: What have you found surprising about the practice of law that you didn’t anticipate when you started out? Marx: I had no appreciation for just how dynamic my practice would become. While I expected the litigation practice AALM: Tell us what stands out to you about your firm’s culture. Zentner: Working with top notch lawyers that have com- manding track records and sophisticated clients is a given within an AM LAW 100 firm. What sets Cozen O’Connor apart from other firms of its size and stature is its colle- gial culture. Attorneys, staff and administrators here are genuinely great people, with a surprising handle on work/ life balance. For years I have worked in a part time capac- ity here; the firm has embraced my decision, supported my professional growth and provided me with ample ca- reer development opportunities. My career is not built the same as many of my colleagues but Cozen O’Connor has allowed me to find success in my own way, which I ap- preciate. AALM: Can you tell us about the work you do in the com- munity or pro-bono efforts? Zentner: Cozen O’Connor encourages all attorneys to contribute their services to pro bono opportunities and supports the efforts of its members in doing so. For the past several years I have been a supervising attorney for the Business Law Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School. The Business Law Clinic provides corporate based legal assistance to constituents in the community who would otherwise be unable to afford the costs of an attorney. I enjoy the rewarding feeling of assisting a client who has an entrepreneurial spirit and is looking to start or grow a business that will help their community thrive. And, working alongside the students at the clinic is a won- derful opportunity to help them connect abstract scho- lastic teaching with real-world scenarios. Motivating the students to develop creative, innovative solutions in a time managed way, will hopefully continue to spark their inter- est in corporate legal work. AALM: Can you share what you most enjoy about practic- ing law? Zentner: One of my favorite parts about the practice of law is that it is always evolving. I have a general corporate practice, but over time and with the effort of a team ap- proach, my colleagues and I have developed niche practice areas dealing with supply chain management as well as customs, tariff and trade matters. This evolution in niche practice areas was driven primarily by needs from our team’s clients; however, the firm has embraced this growth opportunity and has allowed us to use our expertise to as- sist other firm clients as well. AALM: Can you share how you work with your partnering attorneys? How does having a team help provide the best legal advice to your clients? Zentner: Simply the best part of my career is the company that I keep with colleagues and clients. The legal team that I have been a part of spans decades – we have worked to- gether through the ups and downs that life provides and continue to loyally serve our clients together. We take a collaborative approach, meaning, we shift clients and projects across practice groups as the need arises. Clients know that they are in the best hands possible when given to a colleague for assistance. Kristi Zentner Heather Marx ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MINNESOTA · V OL. 8 NO. 9 22AALM: What is your proudest accomplishment as a law- yer? Syring: While I am extremely proud of the work I have done with my clients on labor and employment matters, there is one case that I handled that will forever stand out as my proudest accomplishment as an attorney. I work with the Children’s Law Center on a pro bono basis and have represented several different youths who are given a voice in the courtroom when dealing with extremely dif- ficult family situations, none of which are their fault. For nearly three years, I represented two children whose bio- logical parents had their parental rights terminated by the court. As a result, my clients were placed with two won- derful foster parents. The greatest day of my professional career was attending the adoption ceremony of my clients with these foster parents. So many times, my role as an at- torney is one in which I am an adversary and an advocate. This time, however, my role was one in which I helped my clients have a better life with two loving parents. AALM: What have you found surprising about the prac- tice of law that you didn’t anticipate when you started out? Syring: When I started my legal career, I believed I want- ed to do estate planning. One day as a first-year associate, I to bring new challenges with each case, what I have found surprising is how the changes in the economic and politi- cal climates have pushed my practice to include areas like the trade remedies practice that our office recently started at Cozen O’Connor. My part within that trade remedies practice is to provide our clients advice and advocacy in some of the most challenging and nuanced avenues of trade and customs disputes, both in the regulatory and private sector context, and I would never have anticipated when I started practicing 17 years ago that I would find myself in this type of a cutting-edge arena. AALM: Can you share how you work with your partnering attorneys? How does having a team help provide the best legal advice to your clients? Marx: What I appreciate most about our team is that we always lead with “yes.” Whatever our clients or colleagues need, we find a way to get it done and done well. My best success always comes when I partner with my colleagues, both in this office and across Cozen O’Connor’s signifi- cant footprint. Utilizing the depth of knowledge that their strengths bring in areas like corporate law, bankruptcy, real estate, and labor and employment, and coupling that with what I can provide in nearly any litigation arena, has proven time and again to be the best avenue for providing our clients with the type of continuing success that builds lasting relationships. AALM: Can you share a bit about a successful or notewor- thy case that you recently were involved in? Marx: I recently had the opportunity to argue before the North Dakota Supreme Court in a complex banking case that exemplifies how integrated and strong our team is. In a case that began as part of a Texas bankruptcy and grew into numerous civil cases involving significant allegations of fraud, our team obtained successful results for our client at each turn, culminating with a unanimous deci- sion in our favor from the North Dakota Supreme Court, awarding our client millions. While I was certainly proud of the briefing and arguments I presented, what I appreci- ated most about the win was that it solidified all the stra- tegic advocacy and hard work our team put into the case from the outset. Tina Syring was given the opportunity to work on a sexual harassment litigation matter. I was instantly hooked on employment law and litigation. Had I not been given the opportunity to work on that case, I might never have considered L&E, which is a perfect fit for me. One of the greatest things – and surprising things – about the practice of law is the ability to explore what you might be interested in pursu- ing. Cozen O’Connor is committed to exposing our law clerks and first-year associates to the different areas of practice, helping to guide them in finding their path to what truly interests them. AALM: Can you share what you most enjoy about practic- ing employment litigation? Syring: I love employment law and litigation because not one single day is like any other day. My work always dif- fers and presents challenging, complex human issues. It may range from employees simply not working together in the manner a company expects, or the enforcement of a non-compete agreement on emergency basis, or strategiz- ing on how to handle a multi-jurisdiction wage and hour litigation. I could be conducting a #MeToo investigation one day and the next day talking to an employer on how to provide a reasonable accommodation to a person with a disability. It is the interaction with my clients and how we work together, in partnership, to come up with the best solution that is my favorite thing at the end of the day. AALM: Can you share how you work with your partnering attorneys? How does having a team help provide the best legal advice to your clients? Syring: What attracted me to Cozen O’Connor remains true today: the amazing partnerships our attorneys have in working on solutions for our clients. In Minneapolis, I am currently the only labor and employment attorney, but we have over 90 labor and employment attorneys na- tionally. I work closely with several of these individuals in handling a myriad of issues and cases. Each time, I have been awed by the knowledge base and depth of experience we have in approaching these issues to provide the best advice for our clients. AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 23Manage by Leading: A Marketing Guide for Future Leaders BY TERRIE S. WHEELER, MBC Think about the lawyers in your firm or other lawyers you know in the community. Now think of the lawyers that seem to be a cut above the rest. These lawyers are trust- ed and appreciated by their colleagues in the legal industry, in their communities, on the boards they serve, and by their state and local bar associations. Colleagues seek out and truly value their opinion. They are genuinely kind, selfless people who are constantly giving to help others. These lawyers are true leaders who can inspire others to follow them in new directions. In short, people believe in them. MANAGEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL TOO Lawyers who are managers are great at developing systems and processes for litigation efficiencies or effective execution of corporate transactions. They manage a group of associates and other lawyers by sharing what they have learned and by overseeing each team mem- bers’ responsibilities until the work is completed. Managers are very mission-driven, and their goal is to accomplish the tasks at hand and move onto the next deliverable to conquer. BE A LEADER - YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS DEPEND ON IT Some fortunate people are “natural born leaders.” If you were not born to lead, fear not. You can learn the skills necessary to become THAT lawyer people want to be with; THAT lawyer whose opinion is sought after; THAT lawyer who commands the trust and respect of their colleagues. The following ideas will help you uncover your innate skills as a leader and build important leadership skills that will form the foundation you will build your future practice on. SAY YES! When someone (a partner or colleague in your law firm, your bar association, or a community group) asks you to do something, step up and say yes. Leaders develop their reputations by engaging in the world around them – not cloistered away in their offices. SERVE ON A BOARD Non-profit boards are always looking for lawyers to bring their knowledge and experience to the table. Board involvement will help you refine your leadership skills by taking an active interest in the board(s) you serve on. Prepare for meetings. Ask great questions. Vol- unteer to serve on a committee. If you say you will do something, do it. Promote your organization on social media and become “tied” to the organizations you support. ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MINNESOTA · V OL. 8 NO. 9 24BE ACTIVE IN YOUR BAR ASSOCIATIONS For other lawyers to see you as a leader, you need to actively partici- pate in your state and local bar as- sociations. Attend the meetings and meet new people. Take the pressure off yourself by genuinely trying to learn more about the person you are taking to. Ask great questions to show you are listening and are interested in what they are saying. Work your way up the ranks by volunteering to serve in a position of leadership. Then, show up! Make your bar association activities a priority EVEN when you are busy. SPEAK! When establishing yourself as a leader, put yourself out there by offer- ing to speak. Once you begin speak- ing on a regular basis, new opportu- nities will find you. Speaking builds leadership skills because you engage with the audience. Draw them into your topic by providing many exam- ples to demonstrate your points. The more speaking you do, the better you will get! WRITE ARTICLES You build your leadership skills by writing articles because you are dem- onstrating your subject matter mas- tery. You are generously sharing tips and ideas to help educate your read- ers on topics of interest to them. The more writing you do, the more people will see you as a leader, and the more you will be asked to speak and write articles. Talk about positive momen- tum! BE A LEADER IN YOUR FIRM Remember leadership is about how you engage with people and inspire them to follow you toward reaching a common goal. Volunteer to serve on committees in your firm like diver- sity, marketing, law school recruit- ment, and myriad other committees that make your firm tick. Try to have a personal relationship with every per- son at your firm. Have conversations, ask questions, and listen. Leaders are respected and adored by those around them. But you must “walk the walk.” PRO BONO WORK MATTERS Many firms have official pro bono programs, while most rely on the lawyers to meet the guidelines estab- lished in the Rules of Professional Re- sponsibility. To be a leader, you need to be selfless and look beyond what’s in it for you. Pro bono legal represen- tation can provide a personally re- warding way for you to give back and help people without the means to hire lawyers of their own. Adding your pro bono opportunities to your biography will show you are a lawyer who is not just focused on billable hours or fees. KINDNESS AND RESPECT Because leadership is about the gravitational pull you have on oth- ers, you must treat people at all lev- els in all organizations with kindness and respect. Smile at people in the hallway, say hello, check in with your peers and colleagues to see how they are doing. The ultimate compliment as a lawyer is, “Sue is the best law- yer we have AND she is a really nice person.” No one is too busy to show common courtesies to others. Like with everything else in life, it can be the small things you do that have the greatest impact on others. Some people are born natural lead- ers, but others, with a commitment to building leadership skills, can do so. How? By showing others you care about what’s important to them, and that you are willing to spend some of your valuable time helping others achieve their goals. While you will also need to develop strong manage- ment skills, it is your leadership skills that will draw people to you, create trust and loyalty with peers and col- leagues, and offer the most personally and professionally rewarding aspects of your career. TERRIE S. WHEELER, MBC, IS THE FOUNDER OF PROFESSIONAL SER- VICES MARKETING, LLC. SHE SPENDS A SIGNIFI- CANT AMOUNT OF TIME COACHING LAWYERS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL RAINMAKERS. PART OF HER WORK INVOLVES HELPING HER CLIENTS MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR NETWORKING MEETINGS! TERRIE WRITES AND SPEAKS NATIONALLY ON ETHICAL MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR LAWYERS. SHE RECENTLY COMPLETED A SIX-YEAR TERM ON THE MN LAWYERS PROFES- SIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BOARD AND TEACHES MARKETING AND CLIENT SER- VICE AT TWO LAW SCHOOLS. CONTACT TERRIE AT 320-358-1000, OR TERRIE@ PSM-MARKETING.COM. AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 25Human beings are amazing! Collectively, we are clever and excel at many things. We have harnessed fire, invented the wheel, eradicated noxious diseases, created the internet (and smart phones so we are never without it), and put a man on the moon! We are good at lots of stuff, but there is one thing that none of us is very adept at: waiting. McDonalds has been pushing fast- food hamburgers our way for about 70 years. As a result, generations of Americans have an expectation of instant appetite gratification (and a rather unhealthy craving for hot and salty deep-fried strips of potato). Data streaming and downloading technol- ogies allow us access to music, pod- casts, tv shows and movies whenever (and virtually wherever) we want it. Disney’s FastPass and TAS PreCheck were invented to expedite our wait time in queues. Traffic lights make us stop and wait so we are replacing them with roundabouts to keep us moving along. Making things happen faster is just what we do, and in some fields we do it really well. So, umm, why does it take so long to get a patent issued from the U.S Pat- ent and Trademark Office (USPTO)? Why can’t we make that a speedier process? The reason is that while pat- ents deal with innovations in technol- ogy, the process of getting a patent is still very much a relational one. In other words, it involves real people at each end (inventor, patent attorney, patent examiner) and usually requires some measure of mutual cooperation and agreement between those players for a patent to issue. These things take time. Our discussion here is directed to non-provisional U.S. patents (com- monly called utility patents). Typical- ly, it takes about three years for a util- ity patent application to work its way through the USPTO, from filing until patent issuance or application aban- donment. Three years! Why so long? Part of the reason that it sometimes takes several years to obtain an issued patent is to understand that, like leg- islation, the patent application pro- cess is often one of compromise. As U.S. Patent Applications – Our Need for Speed Z. PETER SAWICKI AND JAMES L. YOUNG | Intellectual Property Z. PETER SAWICKIJAMES L. YOUNG Mr. Sawicki and Mr. James L. Young are shareholders at Westman, Champlin & Koehler. Pete and Jim both have over 30 years of experience obtaining, licensing, evaluating and enforcing patents. Each has also developed an extensive practice regarding the clearance, registration, licensing and enforcement of trademarks. They work closely with clients to understand their values and business plans and provide customized and effective strate- gies for intellectual property asset procurement, growth, management and protection. To contact Z. Peter Sawicki, call (612) 330-0581 or call James L. Young at (612) 330-0495. Please email them directly at either psawicki@wck.com or jyoung@wck.com. Part of the reason that it sometimes takes several years to obtain an issued patent is to understand that, like legislation, the patent application process is often one of compromise.” ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MINNESOTA · V OL. 8 NO. 9 26patent attorneys we try to obtain the broadest possible scope of patent pro- tection for our client (the patent ap- plicant). The job of the patent office is to issue valid patents (not so broad or vague as to be invalid). The process is not adversarial in nature, but rather a negotiation to ascertain the scope of protection defined by an issued patent that is acceptable to both the patent applicant and the patent examiner. This sometimes becomes an extended exchange, involving multiple commu- nications back and forth. Each time the USPTO issues an Office Action (a written rejection of a patent application) the applicant is allowed up to six months to respond (and occasionally it can take all that time to do so, although usually such a response is made within 2-3 months). Accordingly, part of the time a pat- ent application is pending is taken up with waiting for responses to be sub- mitted by the patent applicant. Once an applicant does respond, that of course doesn’t immediately move that application to the top of the patent ex- aminer’s pile of work to do. That pat- ent application is taken up for further examination when the patent exam- iner’s workload allows it. One big component of the time in- terval from when a patent application is filed until its final disposition is the time it takes the USPTO to make its initial examination of the application. Currently, the average time between a patent application’s filing and the issu- ance of a first Office Action is about 16 months. Why so slow? Because the USPTO is underfunded and under- staffed. The USPTO fee structure is designed to fully fund patent exami- nation operations, but for many years collected USPTO fees were diverted by the government for other purposes. As a result, the USPTO has chronical- ly suffered from a lack of manpower (and somewhat ironically, from being saddled with dated technology). The number of patent applications being filed has steadily increased over time but without enough patent examiners the backlog of applications awaiting initial examination stays rather large, thus delaying the issuance of a first Office Action in each new patent ap- plication. There are other reasons that con- tribute to the sluggishness of the U.S. patent application process, such as administrative appeals, re-filing of the patent application as a continuation, occasional government shut-downs, and the like. When you consider all this, three years as an average wait time doesn’t seem quite so bad after all. If it’s any consolation, it could be much worse. For example, the average time it takes to get a patent issued in Brazil is about 11 years. While Brazil has proved very adroit at producing fabulous soccer players (e.g., Pele, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Marta, etc.), efficient governmental bureaucracy is not one of its strengths. AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS PRESS RELEASES EVENTS PROMOTIONS ACTIVITES HONORS RECOGNITIONS TALK TOWN of the Eckland & Blando LLP promotes Vince C. Reuter to Partner and Lara R. Sandberg to Special Counsel of the Firm. Mr. Reuter’s practice focuses pri- marily on commercial litigation, government contracts, federal and state administrative law, and admiralty and maritime law. Ms. Sandberg’s practice focuses primarily on litigating and negotiating settlements on claims brought by property owners against the United States under Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 and the Tucker Act. Halunen Law is pleased to announce that Lon R. Leavitt, former Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Arizona, has joined the firm’s for- midable False Claims Act (FCA) practice group. With a successful 12- year tenure in the District of Arizona, one of the largest and busiest federal districts in the country, Leavitt brings extensive experience and insight on FCA strategies. Anthony Ostlund is pleased to an- nounce the addition of four new associates – Joseph Richie, Stepha- nie Knapp, Austin Keller and William Pat- erson to the firm’s Busi- ness Litigation practice. Joe Richie joins Antho- ny Ostlund from the law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP in New York where he practiced business litigation with an em- phasis on intellectual property litigation, contract disputes, and business torts. Stepha- nie Knapp joins Antho- ny Ostlund after serv- ing as a law clerk to Judge Nancy E. Brasel of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Austin Keller is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School. Will Paterson is also a recent graduate of the University of Minne- sota Law School. Melchert Hubert Sjodin PLLP, with offices in Waconia, Chaska and Hutchin- son, has recently added a new associate attor- ney to their Hutchin- son office. Jason Lee represents estate planning, estate ad- ministration, real estate, and business clients in Melchert Hubert Sjodin’s Hutchinson office. Creig Andreasen has joined Lommen Abdo as a shareholder in its Minneapolis office. Creig Andreasen con- centrates his practice on Minnesota real estate law and banking. He works with landowners who want to acquire, lease, sell, or fi- nance real property. He helps finan- cial institutions with: due diligence; reviewing, analyzing and curing col- lateral and title related issues; as well as drafting, negotiating, and inter- preting loan documentation Maslon LLP is pleased to announce the addi- tion of attorneys Jon Septer to the law firm’s Real Estate group and Joshua Hencik to the Laura R Sandberg Vince C. Reuter Austin Keller Joseph Richie Creig Andreasen Jon Septer Stephanie Knapp William Paterson Jason LeeAWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS PRESS RELEASES EVENTS PROMOTIONS ACTIVITES HONORS RECOGNITIONS SUBMIT PRESS RELEASES FOR NEXT MONTH’S TALK OF THE TOWN AT WWW.ATTORNEYATLAWMAGAZINE.COM/SUBMIT-TOT/ Dave Seawell, Publisher | Minnesota Edition | (763) 742-2805 | DSeawell@AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com firm’s Corporate & Se- curities Group. Septer represents owners, in- vestors, lenders, and closely held businesses in connection with all phases of the commer- cial and agricultural real estate life cycle. Hencik advises clients on a broad range of corporate and finan- cial transactions. Moss & Barnett, A Professional Associa- tion, is pleased to an- nounce that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan have appoint- ed Shannon M. Heim to the Gover- nor’s Task Force on Broadband. Heim’s term runs from October 14, 2019 through April 2, 2023.On March 29, 2019, Governor Walz issued an Executive Order continuing former Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton’s Task Force on Broadband. Maslon LLP is pleased to announce the addi- tion of attorneys Na- thaniel Ajouri, Anna Barton, Clayton Carl- son, Jeremy Krahn to the law firm’s Litigation Group, and Max Schramm to the firm’s Corporate & Securities and Technology, IP & Me- dia Groups. Ajouri as- sists organizations and individuals with gener- al commercial litiga- tion matters, with par- ticular focus on intel- lectual property dis- putes. Barton advises clients on general com- mercial litigation mat- ters, concentrating her practice on employ- ment, insurance cover- age, and tort & product liability cases. Carlson assists clients with their general business litiga- tion needs, working primarily on real estate, tort, and product liabil- ity matters. Krahn is a business litiga- tor concentrating on general com- mercial matters. Schramm counsels business clients on general corporate and commercial law matters. Bassford Remele is pleased to announce that Kyle S. Willems and Maria P. Brekke have become associates of the firm. Kyle Willems focuses his practice in construction, real estate, product lia- bility, fire/explosion, general liability, and tort litigation. Ma- ria Brekke focuses her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, appellate law, products liability, and trust and estates litigation. Prof. Joanna Woolman named to post honoring former Justice Meyer. An endowed chair has been estab- lished at Mitchell Hamline School of Law that aims to position the school as a leader in advancing the protec- tion of children in the courts and through public policy reform. The Justice Helen M. Meyer Chair in Child Protection will support teach- ing, research, and the development of best practices that yield the most ben- efits for children at risk because of abuse, neglect, or other adverse cir- cumstances. Mitchell Hamline School of Law will take the next step as the nation’s lead- er in online and on-campus legal edu- cation with the launch next fall of a new blended-learning enrollment op- tion. The new offering integrates ele- ments of Mitchell Hamline’s pioneer- ing Hybrid J.D. program and its Ex- ecutive and Weekend J.D. options into a single partly online, partly on-cam- pus option. Joshua Hencik Shannon M. Heim Anna Barton Clayton Carlson Jeremy Krahn Nathaniel Ajouri Kyle S. Willems Maria P. Brekke ROBINS KAPLAN LLP PROVIDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE WHEN IT MATTERS MOST Robins Kaplan is among the nation’s premier trial law firms, with more than 250 attorneys in eight major cities. Our attorneys litigate, mediate, and arbitrate client disputes, always at-the-ready for an ultimate courtroom battle. When huge forces are at play, major money is at stake, or rights are being trampled, we help clients cut through complexity, get to the heart of the problem, and win what matters most. BISMARCK | BOSTON | LOS ANGELES | MINNEAPOLIS | NAPLES | NEW YORK | SILICON VALLEY | SIOUX FALLS 800 553 9910 | ROBINSKAPLAN.COM AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 29Next >