Frances E. Baillon

Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Elizabeth Drotning, who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth Drotning is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jason Kohlmeyer | Family Law Attorney | Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office, Chtd. Jason Kohlmeyer is a Family Law attorney based in Mankato, Minnesota, serving clients through Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office, Chtd. Raised in Northwest Minnesota, Jason learned the importance of responsibility and persistence at an early age while working summers on his uncle’s bean farm. While still in high school, he joined the Army Reserve and later served as an Army Intelligence Analyst after graduation, developin...

Jason Asmus is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. Jason, 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 Jason is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gary Speier is a registered U.S. patent attorney with a focus on issues facing companies in the life sciences sectors. He provides counsel on a broad range of patent-related matters and regularly conducts pre-suit investigations, intellectual property valuations, and IP due diligence. Gary provides freedom-to-operate clearance reviews and opinions relating to infringement and validity and develops patent procurement and patent prosecution strategies for domestic, international, and foreign ju...

John M. Schmid is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. John M., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chad Stepan serves as Chair of the firm’s Catastrophic Loss Practice Group. He focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, including fires, explosions, structural failures, mechanical failures, product failures and other catastrophic losses and construction-related incidents across the United States. He has handled numerous multi-million dollar claims, including major industrial explosions and fires, and construction and design matters. Chad investigates these incidents and provid...

Gary A. Renneke is recognized by his peers as a leading attorney in Minnesota in real estate transactions. He has extensive experience in all facets of commercial real estate, including acquisitions, sales, leasing and financing transactions, as well as new development and construction projects. Gary has advised clients in commercial transactions involving millions of square feet and valued in the billions of dollars. He has represented property owners, developers, investors, retail center op...

James M. Susag counsels clients regarding franchise, dealer and contract disputes. He has extensive first-chair trial experience, representing clients in numerous jury and bench trials, arbitrations, administrative proceedings and appeals. Some of his recent successes include enforcement of franchise and dealer agreements in federal district courts in California, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and in domestic and international arbitration.

“A well-written real estate document should read with ease like a good book, without the need for re-reading paragraphs to understand the content. It should have clarity and flow.” With more than 30 years of experience and focusing on attention to detail, I strive to spot issues and help clients avoid potential landmines, such as future landlord and tenant disputes. I understand the need to balance legal issues with business practicalities in order to achieve effective results. My...

Alan Silver is a litigator with more than four decades of experience representing clients in trust and estates litigation, ERISA litigation, and commercial and business disputes, including appellate matters. Mr. Silver has been involved in many of the most high-profile trust and estates lawsuits in Minnesota, including litigation involving the Prince Estate, the Hill Trust, the Galloway Trust, the Binger Estate, and the Williams Trust, the family who started the Creamette Pasta Company. He re...