Minnesota Lawyer

Laurie Huotari jokes that her younger self would not believe where she is now. In her case, effective in January, that means leading a group of 19 attorneys as the newly named office managing partner of Stoel Rives’ Minneapolis office.

Pat Martin has gone from making a cold call that prompted Ogletree Deakins to open its Minneapolis office to leading the location as office managing shareholder.

Sarah Brenes is continuing her focus on immigration law as executive director of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans at the University of Minnesota Law School.

University of St. Thomas School of Law professor Julie Jonas has received special recognition for her continued efforts to overturn and prevent wrongful convictions.

Ashley Bennett Ewald is happier as an intellectual property partner at Lathrop GPM than she would have been practicing medicine — if she could have done the math required for medical school.

Erikka Ryan, director of equity, inclusion and foundations for the Minnesota State Bar Association, said the murder of George Floyd motivated her to focus her DEI efforts on the legal profession.

Minnesota American Indian Bar Association president Casey Matthiesen is leading efforts to expand the organization’s scholarship program. 

Professor Kim Vu-Dinh prioritized addressing economic equality after working as a public defender in Alaska.

As the new president of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), Brian Batzli, a partner in Merchant & Gould’s Minneapolis office, is working to help clarify what is patent eligible and who can challenge patents.

Christopher Jison appreciates the welcome that the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association gave him and wants to do the same for others.