Mentor
Chris Tuft works with insured and self-insured clients on matters related to workers’ compensation issues with Arthur Chapman. When representation is needed before the Department of Labor & Industry, the Office of Administrative Hearings, Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals, or the Minnesota Supreme Court, it is important to have experience from which to draw. Tuft’s more than 25 years of practice in the area of workers’ compensation means clients receive authoritative advice and representation in this often-complicated area of the law.
Mentee
Kari Dahlin practices employment law and commercial litigation at Arthur Chapman. She defends corporations and non-profits on a variety of matters, including business torts, statutory-based discrimination and public accommodation claims. Dahlin is licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida. She is an active member on the firm’s COVID Task Force and frequently presents on vaccines mandates and accommodations, an ever-evolving and popular topic.
Mentor Questions with Chris Tuft
What sparked a connection with your mentee?
Arthur Chapman is committed to mentoring. I was and am the beneficiary of strong mentoring relationships throughout my career, and I like to pay this forward. Kari and I do not work together on cases on a day-to-day basis, however, Kari wanted to work on a specific aspect of building her career: business development. This is something I am passionate about, and our mentoring relationship was formed.
What’s one thing you have learned from your mentee?
I have really appreciated Kari’s positivity and the fact that she is very open minded to suggestions. While Kari is a very skilled and experienced attorney, working on the business development side of our business was relatively new to her. I believe that marketing and business development plans are not one size fits all, and I think Kari and I connected through developing plans that fit her practice style and personality.
What’s one word you would use to describe your mentee?
Invested. When we started working together, we agreed on goals, how often we would communicate and meet, etc. Kari has been completely committed to this mentor/mentee relationship.
How has having a mentoring relationship helped you during the COVID Pandemic?
Working with Kari and other mentees, especially when our office was closed, has allowed me to stay connected with attorneys in our firm—which is an obvious answer. However, beyond that, specifically working with Kari on developing her marketing and business development style and tactics has required us to think creatively about what can be during a pandemic where developing relationships face-to-face has not been possible. I really enjoyed the opportunities to brainstorm with Kari and our Marketing Director, Kristin Olmstead to make progress toward Kari’s goals.
What’s one piece of advice you have to create a strong mentorship connection?
Be committed. Mentor/mentee relationships take on different forms at different stages in your career, but the one constant is that both the mentor and mentee are committed to the relationship.
Mentee Questions with Kari Dahlin
WHAT SPARKED A CONNECTION WITH YOUR MENTOR?
Chris is such a respected attorney, and very shortly after I joined Arthur Chapman, it was clear how invested she is in associate development. She spoke at an associate marketing seminar in my first months at the firm and shared multiple practical steps she took to grow her practice. Chris mentors a number of attorneys at Arthur Chapman, and I was delighted to form a mentorship relationship with her.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR MENTOR?
Be yourself. Chris and Arthur Chapman are wonderful about letting attorneys be themselves and play to their strengths. Chris has been a great encouragement in with regard to many writing, speaking, and practice opportunities.
WHAT’S ONE WORD YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOUR MENTOR?
Dedicated. Chris is all in, all the time. She is deeply committed to attorney development, and I am grateful for her many contributions.
HOW HAS HAVING A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP HELPED YOU DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC?
Pandemic or not, it is no small thing to know that your team believes in you and is working for your good. Chris’s dedication to mentoring is in keeping with the culture at Arthur Chapman, for which I am very grateful.
WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE TO CREATE A STRONG MENTORSHIP CONNECTION?
Staying in regular touch with Chris has been very beneficial. Every week, I send Chris a quick email update of my practice and marketing activity for the week, and we have live meetings every couple of months. The more you communicate with your mentor, the more your mentor learns about you, and the better-equipped your mentor is to counsel you.