Class Notes

News About Your Classmates and Colleagues

1969

Joseph Dixon has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 for his work in mediation.

1972

Ambassador Samuel Heins was appointed to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

1973

Alan Eidsness has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 edition for his work in family law.

1978

George Hicks recently became part owner of the Minnesota Twins. 

Karen Schanfield was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

1983

Martin Flax was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Chapter Member of the Year by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Steven Rizzi was named acting chair of The Hormel Foundation after serving on the foundation board since 1998 in various positions.

1984

Kathryn Graves was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for her work in family law.

1986

Edmundo Lijo was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year. 

Michelle Miller was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

1991

Peter Carter was promoted to president of Delta Air Lines after a decade with the company.

1993

Scott Neilson has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for his work in litigation.

1996

Michele Garnett McKenzie was named executive director of The Advocates for Human Rights. 

Brian Johnsrud was named the vice chairman of Duane Morris’s employment, labor, benefits, and immigration practice.

1997

Tamara Peterson received the Out & Proud Corporate Counsel Award from the LGBTQ+ Bar.

1998

Robert Pechman recently published his first book, The Riddles of God, and is currently working on his second book, which will be published in 2026. 

Michael Yeh was honored as the recipient of Singapore Corporate Counsel Association’s 2025 Chief Legal Officer Award in the Global MNC Category.

1999

Anne Rasmusson was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Tim Walz.

2000

Weidong Wang was named Lawyer of the Year 2025 — China Award of Capital Market PRC Law Firm by Legal 500.

2001

Eldri Johnson was named as a shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron. 

Ryan Vettleson was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2003

Court Anderson was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for his work in litigation. 

Julien Bergerat was honored as one of the General Counsels of the Year in Southeast Asia by Legal 500 for the fourth time. 

J.R. Maddox was listed in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 for his work in business law. 

C. Jeffrey Price joined Stinson’s Dallas office as of counsel in his business litigation practice division. 

David Zoll was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2004

Jaime Driggs was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for his work in family law.

2005

Angela Behrens was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2006

Matthew Ebert was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

Nena Lenz was named a shareholder of Fredrikson & Byron.

David Schlesinger was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2007

Daniel Koewler was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

Nathan LaCoursiere was appointed as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District in Duluth by Governor Tim Walz.

2008

Julie Strother was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2009

Kyle Hawkins has been appointed as Justice, Place 7, on the Supreme Court of Texas by Governor Greg Abbott.

Tipanan Sirichana was sworn in as a member of Parliament in Thailand.

2010

Paul Dworak was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2011

Christy Hall was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

Wendy Lisman was named a shareholder of Fredrikson & Byron.

Catlan McCurdy was appointed as chief legal officer of Bridger Photonics, Inc.

2012

Elie Biel was promoted to partner at Faegre Drinker.

Qiang Han joined Roche as senior director and senior patent attorney. 

Julia Norsetter joined Tesla, Inc. as senior counsel.

Daniel Peterson joined the law firm of Zimmer & Rens in Brookfield, Wis.

2013

Ethan Barnes joined Venable as counsel in Washington, D.C. 

Lisa Beane was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Tim Walz. 

Justin Erickson was named deputy secretary of state for operations by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. He was also named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year. 

Benjamin Hamborg was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 and the Ones to Watch for his work in litigation. 

Pari McGarraugh was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2014

Sarvesh Desai was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for his work in business law. 

Sarah Hewitt was listed in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 and the Ones to Watch for her work in family law. 

David Tibbals was elected as a shareholder at the Fargo, N.D., office of Fredrikson & Byron.

2015

Robin Lehninger was elected to membership at Dykema’s Milwaukee office. 

Emily Zambrana joined Amazon as corporate counsel.

2016

Jaime Wing was promoted to partner at Norton Rose Fulbright’s Minneapolis office.

2017

David Archer was promoted to partner at Lathrop GPM’s Minneapolis office. 

Caitlin Deal was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 and the Ones to Watch for her work in family law. 

Edward Fleming was promoted to partner at Lathrop GPM’s Minneapolis and St. Cloud offices. 

Marcus Guith was promoted to partner at Robins Kaplan. 

Michael Lyon was promoted to partner at the New York office of Winston & Strawn. 

Roxanne Thorelli was promoted to shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron.

2018

Maria Brekke joined the Shakopee law firm Brekke, Clyborne & Ribich, where she will continue to practice business litigation. 

Rachel Dougherty was elected as a shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron’s Minneapolis office. 

Devin Driscoll was elected as a shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron’s Minneapolis office.

Joseph Novak was promoted to shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine.

2019

Robert Dube was named partner at Eckland & Blando. 

Peter Estall was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year. 

Amber Peterson was promoted to shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine.

2020

Timothy Lovett joined Moss & Barnett as an attorney in the real estate finance team. 

Lindsey Pederson joined Fredrikson and Byron’s corporate, finance and securities and mergers and acquisitions groups in Minneapolis. 

Xu Zhou earned a spot on the 2025 Texas Rising Stars list as one of the top intellectual and patent trial lawyers in the state.

2021

John Otruba joined Constellation Brands as director and assistant general counsel of mergers and acquisitions. 

Marisa Tillman was recognized as a 2025 ABA Commission on Immigration Pro Bono Champion for her work at the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. 

Rachel Wydra was promoted to senior assistant public defender at the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office.

2022

Molly McKinsey was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year. 

Jordan Francis was promoted to senior policy counsel for U.S. Legislation and Regulation at the Future of Privacy Forum. 

Tarun Sharma started a new role as legal counsel for the Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken.

2023

Theresa Green was hired as an attorney at Greene Espel. 

Laura Gustafson joined Faegre Drinker as an associate in the business litigation practice. 

Katja Lange was hired as an associate attorney in the Minneapolis office of Zimmerman Reed in the consumer protection and public client practices. 

Jack Lemkuil joined von Briesen & Roper as an associate in the business/ corporate and trusts and estates sections at the Madison and Green Bay, Wis., offices. 

Atle Saterbak was hired as an associate attorney at Winthrop & Weinstine in the creditors’ remedies, bankruptcy, and work-out practice.

2024

Sierra Paulsen was named a 2025 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year.

2025

Edward Brody joined Winthrop & Weinstine as an associate in the tax credit financing and syndication practice. 

Emily Byers Olson joined Faegre Drinker as an associate in the product liability and mass torts practice. 

Adrian Chan joined Winthrop & Weinstine as an associate in the renewable energy development and construction practice. 

Shayna Korsh joined Winthrop & Weinstine as an associate in the tax credit financing and syndication practice. 

David Lee joined Faegre Drinker as an associate in the corporate practice. 

Layla Mahmood has joined Faegre Drinker as an associate in the corporate practice. 

Lucy Moran was hired as a judicial law clerk at the U.S. District Court in Minnesota. 

Gabriel Richardson joined Faegre Drinker as an associate in the corporate practice. 

Shannon Schooley joined Winthrop & Weinstine as an associate in the commercial lending practice. 

Janelle Walkden joined Winthrop & Weinstine as an associate in the renewable energy development & construction practice.

Minnesota Law Magazine

Spring 2026
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