Exploring Careers in Business Law and Law Student Reception

Event Description

Exploring Careers in Business Law CLE and Law Student Reception co-sponsored by the MSBA’s Business Law Section and the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.    Panel Discussion: Exploring Careers in Business Law (Frey Moot Courtroom (MSL 170)
5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.    Law Student & Attorney Reception (School of Law Schulze Grand Atrium) 

Hear from a diverse group of business lawyers, including in-house counsel, corporate and nonprofit counsel, and governmental counsel, about the array of opportunities available to those with a law degree and an interest in business.  Learn what they do, why they love what they do, and what you can do to prepare yourself for a successful career in law and business.

A reception with appetizers and beverages will follow the program. Members of the Business Law Section are encouraged to attend and share their experiences and advice with law students interested in a career in business law.

Location:

University of St. Thomas Law School, 1101 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The panel discussions will be in Frey Moot Courtroom (MSL 170).  The reception will be in the School of Law Schulze Grand Atrium.

Panelists:

Steven M. Adams (Panel Moderator)
Professor Adams is a Distinguished Senior Fellow and teaches Financial Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions at the University of St. Thomas Law School.  He practiced corporate finance law at Dorsey Whitney and Law Department of Cargill, Inc., before co-founding Wayzata Investment Partners, a private equity firm, where he was General Counsel and an Investment Principal.  Mr. Adams has served on numerous corporate Boards of Directors and currently provides consulting services to private investment fund managers as well as acting as an expert witness in private investment fund litigation.

Government Perspective
Bert Black, Minnesota Office of Secretary of State
Bert Black is the Legal Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of State. As in-house counsel, he handles all legal work for the Office (except litigation, which can only be done by the Attorney General). He was the Reporter for the Advisory Task Force on Minnesota Corporation Law (302A) and has, by his count, participated in the wholesale revisions of eleven entity law chapters. His practice includes not only all the business law aspects of the Office but also elections, rulemaking, legislative and administrative law topics as well as contracting and other operational matters. Bert has been with the Office of the Secretary of State since 1981.

Corporate General Counsel
Karin Nelsen, Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC
Karin Nelsen recently was named Vice President, Legal & Human Resources, at Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC, after eighteen years with Cargill, where she served in a number of capacities, most recently as North America General Counsel.  While at Cargill, Karin spent 6 years abroad working in Moscow, Geneva and Singapore.

Non-profit and Social Enterprise
Heidi Christianson, Nilan Johnson Lewis, P.A.
Heidi Christianson is a partner at Nilan Johnson Lewis, P.A. where she counsels nonprofit corporations and social enterprises, including health care, higher education, and other tax exempt organizations regarding tax and corporate matters.

Large Law Firm
Breia L. Schleuss, Faegre Baker Daniels
Ms. Schleuss is a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels.  In her practice she represents commercial and investment banks, other financial institutions and companies in connection with widely syndicated, club and single-bank loan transactions and is a leader of her firm’s agribusiness finance practice.

Solo Practice/Small Law Office
Paul M. Floyd, Wallen-Friedman & Floyd, P.A.
Mr. Floyd is one of three lawyers with Wallen-Friedman & Floyd, P.A.  Paul provides his attorney clients with practical and legal advice regarding a wide range of issues, including strategic planning, succession planning, governance and management structure, and compensation strategies and design.  He also works with solo practitioners and small law firm owners, who need to remember that, while they are professionals, they are also running a business and frequently need legal advice about the business issues they face.

Public Company Compliance
Laura Santos, TCF National Bank
Laura Santos is Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs Officer for TCF National Bank.  Laura is TCF’s primary liaison with federal banking regulators and is responsible for coordinating regulatory communications and examinations.  She also manages enterprise risk issue reporting for the bank.  Prior to her current role, Laura served as in-house counsel for TCF and as an attorney for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

CLE Credit:

1.25 hours of Professional Development credit approved | Event code: 218101     

Cost:

There is no cost to attend.

Remote Participation: 

Teleconferencing and webcasting will not be available. 

To Register:

Please click the register button at the top of the page.  Law students do not need to join the MSBA to use online registration, but will need to create a profile.  If you have not yet created one with the MSBA, click the Register button and then click the Sign Up button on the Log In page. (Note that you will not be joining the MSBA, only creating a profile to register.)

Want more information about the Business Law Section?

Questions? Contact Sue Bores | 612-278-6325