MINNEAPOLIS – October 31, 2016 – Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., is pleased to announce that Elizabeth “Betsy” Schmiesing has joined the firm as a shareholder in its Regulatory and Environmental practice. She is an accomplished regulatory attorney, litigator and adviser with extensive experience in the areas of environmental, land use and energy law. Schmiesing also has substantial experience in healthcare matters.  Schmiesing has successfully resolved regulatory and contract disputes through litigation and negotiation, and has represented clients in state and federal enforcement actions, agency negotiations and dispute resolution.

She has extensive experience representing clients in actions involving a wide range of government organization, including the EPA, US Department of Justice, MPCA, DNR, MPUC and Minnesota Attorney General, as well as in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Prior to joining the firm, Schmiesing was an in-house attorney at Optum, where she specialized in litigation and risk management.

“With her skill and experience, Betsy is a great addition to our energy and health regulatory practices, and will broaden our ability to serve clients in their regulatory needs,” said Eric Swanson, Shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine. “We are thrilled to have her on our team.”

Schmiesing is a Board Member of Great River Greening, and the past chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section. She also serves as a Volunteer Attorney for the Children’s Law Center of Minnesota.

Schmiesing earned her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, with honors, and her B.S., in Zoology, from the University of Wisconsin, with honors. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable James B. Loken at the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and with the EPA.