Practice

Businesses and non-profits face legal issues in forming a business, raising capital, negotiating contracts and managing employees. But usually you don’t need an in-house lawyer. Just someone on call for everything. We do that.

Current Clients:

• A solar energy development company
• Major League sports team
• Civil rights non-profits
• Environmental non-profits
• International shipping companies
• Restaurant/Brewery companies
• Real Estate development companies
• National Historic Landmarks

Representative matters:

• Oversees issuance of nation-wide securities and convertible notes for development capital
• Drafts and negotiates supply contracts, services contracts, franchise agreements, event contracts, employee contracts, development contracts, and purchase and sale agreements
• Drafted and negotiated millions of dollars in loans and associated security agreements and notes
• Negotiated real estate options and purchase agreements worth tens of millions of dollars
• Drafts comments in state and federal regulatory proceedings on land use, energy regulation, and environmental laws
• Purchase and sale agreements for over $50M in solar projects
• Advises non-profit organizations on state and federal regulations, civil rights law, non-profit law, political action, fundraising and solicitation
• Advises international shipping companies and equipment manufacturers on regulatory compliance

If we can’t fix the problem, we ensure the litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceeding is resolved in your favor.

Representative matters:

• Represents international marine association in first-of-its kind lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Represents solar company in administrative appeals and regulatory disputes against utility monopoly
• Represents restaurant company in breach of contract litigation
• Represented Brazilian insurance association in a fraud claim against a major medical device manufacturer
• Represented civil rights activist in a defamation suit against a national news organization
• Represented a brewery in a supplier litigation
• Successfully argued litigations, government enforcement actions, and appeals in multiple state and federal courts [e.g., In re 401 Water Quality Certification, 822 N.W.2d 676 (Minn. Ct. App. 2012); Nat’l Wildlife Fed’n v. Martens, et al., No. 6181-2012 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. Oct. 10, 2013); Nat’l Wildlife Fed’n v. EPA, 945 F. Supp. 2d 39, 40 (D.D.C. 2013)]
• Pioneered the use of intervention in appeals of administrative actions in Minnesota [e.g., In re Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the 33rd Sale of State Metallic Leases, 838 N.W.2d 212 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013), review denied (Minn. Nov. 26, 2013)]
• A first-of-its-kind lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [Mingo Logan Coal Co. Inc. v. EPA, 850 F. Supp. 2d 133 (D.D.C. 2012) rev’d sub nom., 714 F.3d 608 (D.C. Cir. 2013) cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 1540 (2014)]
• Successfully appealed a custody determination and created novel law in Minnesota, that immigration status is not an appropriate basis for a child custody determination [In re Custody of A.L.R., 830 N.W.2d 163 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013)]

Represents civil rights activists in civil and criminal disputes involving constitutional rights, international norms, and civil liberties. Mostly pro bono.

Representative matters:

• Represents prominent civil rights activist in a lawsuit against a major media conglomerate
• Advises multiple civil rights leaders on contracts, civil and criminal disputes, regulatory compliance, and threatened lawsuits
• Advises civil rights organizations on a wide range of legal issues related to police violence, voting rights, entity formation, fundraising, and partnerships
• Represents detainee imprisoned on the Guantanamo Bay naval base for the past 16 years [Alkhemisi et al. v. Obama, No. 05–1983 (DDC)]
• Advises several prominent civil rights leaders on myriad legal issues, from IP to defamation, criminal law to election law
• Created novel law in Minnesota, that immigration status is not an appropriate basis for a child custody determination [In re Custody of A.L.R., 830 N.W.2d 163 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013)]
• Co-authored amicus curiae brief in 2013 Supreme Court case [Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., 133 S. Ct. 1659 (2013) (Brief on Reargument of Professors of Legal History and Federal Jurisdiction, Martin S. Flaherty and John V. Orth, As Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioners)]

We provide strategic and compliance advice on all aspects of administrative law, with a focus on energy, electricity, franchises and environmental regulation.

Representative matters:

• Advises international shipping companies, treatment system manufacturers, and associations on laws and regulations governing the discharge and treatment of ballast water
• Advises clients on all aspects of solar facility siting and interconnection
• Represented franchisors and franchisees on all aspects of franchise agreements
• Advises multiple entities on alcohol regulation, marketing and compliance
• Developed the regulatory and legal parameters for one of the world’s largest underground mines
• Advised one of the country’s largest solar developers on Minnesota’s solar mandate and new projects in Minnesota
• Advises clients on the scope and requirements of numerous state and federal environmental, water use, wetlands, land use and security laws