Bryan J. Huntington, Larkin Hoffman

Shareholder, Larkin Hoffman

What are the biggest challenges you currently see in construction or real estate law?

One of the biggest challenges we are currently seeing in construction and real estate law here in Minnesota is increased regulation by local governments. These regulations are creating inconsistent and onerous requirements on landowners, developers, and landlords when it comes to things such as rent control, restrictions on redeveloping rental properties (e.g., requiring payment of moving costs to existing tenants), jurisdiction-wide bans on certain uses (e.g., tobacco, vaping, mining, billboards), mandating for-cause eviction, etc. Compliance costs will increase considerably. There is a point where regulatory costs will cause developers to relocate their projects entirely.

How do you manage work/life balance?

Delegation is an important element of having work/life balance, and it is a skill that I have taken time to develop. There are plenty of assignments that do not require a shareholder handling every step. At Larkin Hoffman, we put added emphasis on giving our associates as many varied experiences as possible. Delegating is better for the firm and for the legal community as a whole because it means associates get impactful opportunities to develop their skills. Furthermore, I have learned how to say, “No.” During client intake, there might be enough red flags about the situation that it is in the lawyer’s (and the firm’s) best interests to decline taking on the case.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I was the first in my immediate family to obtain a professional degree or graduate from a four-year college. I grew up in a single-parent, low-income family. In many ways, I am living the American dream. I am incredibly grateful to the many people who helped along the way, especially my wife and my mother.