I represent clients before the Minnesota Legislature and before federal, state and local regulatory agencies in insurance, energy, tax, transportation, environmental, and financial services matters. I help clients anticipate problems before they come up, and help them prepare to address issues that are going to be in the public arena. Some of the services I provide are strategy and development, legislative monitoring and lobbying, communications, ethics and election law, and developing grassroots networks.
My Approach
Government affects all of us in one way or another, and affects businesses in more ways than most. I help corporate clients, business associations, non-profit organizations, Indian tribes and others as they interact with federal, state and local government, regulatory agencies, the legislature or courts. Together, we work to anticipate issues that may arise, as well as shape and influence public policy on matters of concern to each client. In some cases that may mean actually changing the law, and ushering clients through the legislative process. In others, it can be representing them in enforcement actions by regulatory agencies, city councils or county boards. I work with organizations in the healthcare, insurance, transportation, natural resources, energy and telecommunications industries, among others, all with an eye toward helping them control their own destinies.
I was brought up believing that it was important to be involved in my community, so the matters closest to my heart are those economic development issues where we work to build something that will have a lasting impact. In 2017, I worked with the Catholic Charities to co-chair the task force to build a new Dorothy Day homeless center in downtown St. Paul. I try to take a front-row seat in seeing my community thrive and grow, whether applauding a local theater production or working in the garden at home.
Practice Areas
Advocacy & Lobbying
Regulated Industries
Campaign Finance & Election Law
Bold Perspectives
Client Alert
Legislative Client Alert: Franken Fallout
12.08.17
Honors & Awards
MSBA North Star Lawyer
Pro Bono Service, 2013-2014
"The 10 Most Influential Lobbyists in Minnesota"
City Pages, January 20, 2010
"The 75 Most Influential People in the Twin Cities"
Minnesota Monthly, February 2013
"The Black Book: 100 Minnesotans You Should Know"
Twin Cities Business, December 2012
The Best Lawyers in America©
Minneapolis Lawyer of the Year: Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2014
Minneapolis Lawyer of the Year: Government Relations Practice, 2012, 2016, 2019
Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2010-2020
Government Relations Practice, 2008-2020
Insurance Law, 2007-2020
Minnesota Super Lawyers®
2003-2019
AV Preeminent
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, Peer review ratings
"Top five lobbyists in the state"
St. Paul Legal Ledger, 1998
Top Minnesota lobbyist
Minnesota Law & Politics, 2000
Associations & Memberships
American Bar Association; Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)
Chair, Insurance Regulation Committee, 2004-2005
Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee, 2008-2009
American Bar Association, Business Law Section
Chair, Government Affairs Practice Committee, 2012-2015
Minnesota State Bar Association
Leadership positions – Administrative Law Section, Public Utilities Section
Ramsey County Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
Public Affairs Council
Director, 2003-2017
Minnesota Governmental Relations Council
President, 1993-1994
Director and Executive Committee Member, 1990-1995
Mortgage Association of Minnesota
Chair, Law Committee, 1984-1989
Federation of Regulatory Counsel
1990-2015
Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence
Board of Directors, 1998-2011
Minnesota Forest Industries, Inc.
Chair, Government Relations Committee, 1997-2003
State Law Resources, Inc.
Director, 2008-2012 and 2014-present
Chair, Insurance Practice Group, 2007-2014
University of Minnesota Law School – Institute for Law and Politics
Advisory Board, 2007-2009
University of St Thomas Law School Mentor Externship Program
2002-2012
William Mitchell College of Law Mentorship Program
2004-2007
Governor's Rules Reform Task Force
Appointed by Governor Ventura, October 2002
The Guthrie Theater
Director, 2016-present
Executive Committee, 2018-present
Chair, Government Affairs Committee, 2018-present
Citizens League
Board of Directors, 2018-2020
Co-chair, Metropolitan Council Task Force, 2015-2016
Cretin-Derham Hall
President's Advisory Council, 2005-present
Eugene and Mary Frey Community Award, 2014
Catholic Charities of the Twin Cities
Director, 2012-2018
Executive Committee Member, 2013-2017
Chair, Advocacy and Community Relations Committee, 2013-2017
Chair, Dorothy Day Center Task Force, 2013-2016
The Nature Conservancy of Minnesota and the Dakotas
Director, 2014-present
Co-Chair, Green Tie Affair Committee, 2016-2017
Chair, Government Relations Committee, 2018-present
Executive Committee Member, 2018-present
The Alzheimer's Association of Minnesota and North Dakota
Director, 2014-present
Chair, Governance Committee, 2015-2016
Secretary, 2015-present
Member, Building Chapter Boards Work Group, 2016
Executive Committee Member, 2017-present
Chair, Government Relations Committee, 2018-present
2008 Republican National Convention
General Counsel, Host Committee