E. Joseph " Joe" LaFave

Managing Partner of Madigan, Dahl & Harlan, P.A. Tom's focus has been on business, construction and real estate law. He serves as counselor to a variety of small to medium-size businesses advising them on all aspects of business law from formation and capitalization of entities, to consulting and negotiating various contracts, leases, and other agreements, and finally representing these clients and their needs in federal and state courts across the country. He has advised clients on all f...

Managing partner of the Minneapolis office and co-chair of the firm’s Asset Revitalization and Special Servicer teams, Connie Lahn represents Fortune 500 companies and other business concerns across the country on bankruptcy law, workouts, equipment leasing, foreclosures, real estate remedies, commercial mortgage-backed securities defaults matters, including all related litigation, as well as in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) matters. Connie has represented financial institutions, credit...

David E. Kirkman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. David E., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian practices primarily with the firm’s litigation group and focuses on commercial, landlord-tenant, real estate, and employment litigation. He also draws upon his litigation experience to counsel his clients on methods of avoiding litigation in the first place. Brian represents a wide range of businesses and individuals involved in a variety of disputes, including disagreements over partnership, real estate, and asset purchase agreements, leases, mortgages, mechanic’s liens, an...

Ronald Gardner is a partner at the top franchisee law firm Dady & Gardner, P.A. Hehas represented businesses in virtually all fifty states, including both single-owner and multi-unit franchisees. He has handled issues of unlawful termination, encroachment, and the franchisor's failure to comply with requirements of the FTC and state governments. He is also a nationally known speaker on franchise law and the Past Chair of the ABA's Forum on Franchising.

Paulette S. Sarp is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Paulette S., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paulette S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ailana McIntosh is an MSBA Certified Real Property Law Specialist and a partner at Hellmuth & Johnson. She has extensive legal and business experience representing clients in various transactional related matters, including commercial and residential real estate, for-profit and non-profit entity formation and governance, business mergers and acquisitions, leases, purchase agreements, and commercial contracts. Ailana’s clients include small, medium, and large businesses, financial in...

Chad Johnson is a founding partner of Hellmuth & Johnson, and serves as the firm’s Managing Partner. He founded Hellmuth & Johnson after just two years of practice, growing the firm on the strength of its loyal clients and experienced attorneys to become one of the 20 largest law firms in Minnesota. Chad represents a broad range of businesses, corporations, limited liability entities and individuals in pursuit of their business, real estate and transaction goals. He is admitted ...

Roberta B. Walburn has focused her legal career on complex, high-stakes litigation. Most notably, she played a pivotal role in the Minnesota tobacco litigation, representing the State of Minnesota and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in their groundbreaking lawsuit against the tobacco industry. After four years of litigation—including unearthing more than 30 million pages of internal documents, litigation of crime-fraud issues, more than a dozen unsuccessful interlocutory appeals...

George R. Wood is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. George R., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which George R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.