One hundred and forty-eight Fredrikson attorneys were named by Best Lawyers® in its 2025 ranking reports. Ninety-nine attorneys were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and 49 attorneys in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch,® recognizing attorneys who have been in practice for at least five to nine years and have displayed outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Eight of these attorneys were also honored as a “Lawyer of the Year,” awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.
Best Lawyers® 2025 “Lawyer of the Year”
Des Moines, Iowa
- Bridget R. Penick — Labor Law - Management
- J. Marc Ward — Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- James L. Baillie — Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Christina K. Brusven — Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Terrence J. Fleming — Litigation - Securities
- Loan T. Huynh — Immigration Law
- Debra J. Linder — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Lindsey A. Remakel — Environmental Law
The Best Lawyers in America® 2025
Bismarck, North Dakota
- Lawrence Bender — Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law
- Andrew J. Neumann — Oil and Gas Law
Des Moines, Iowa
- Philip S. Bubb — Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Real Estate
- Krystle L. Campa — Real Estate Law
- Bret A. Dublinske — Administrative / Regulatory Law, Communications Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- R. Scott Johnson — Litigation - Patent, Trademark Law
- Jodie Clark McDougal — Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
- Bridget R. Penick — Employment Law - Management, Immigration Law, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- John C. Pickerill — Advertising Law, Trademark Law
- Emily S. Pontius — Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Kendra D. Simmons — Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- J. Marc Ward — Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Fargo, North Dakota
- Kristy L. Albrecht — Employment Law - Management
- Jessica L. Foss — Trusts and Estates
- William L. Guy III — Trusts and Estates
- Michael S. Raum — Corporate Law, Tax Law
- F. John Williams III — Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
- Todd E. Zimmerman — Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Securities, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Aubrey J. Zuger — Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Real Estate
Madison, Wisconsin
- Justin W. Chasco — Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- Mary Beth Peranteau — Energy Regulatory Law, Environmental Law
- Jessica J. Shrestha — Energy Law, Real Estate Law
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Lisa M. Agrimonti — Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- James L. Baillie — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation = Bankruptcy
- Frank B. Bennett — Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
- Jeffrey R. Benson — Real Estate Law
- Matthew T. Boos — Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- James C. Brand — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Ryan C. Brauer — Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- William J. Brody — Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Non-Profit / Charities Law, Trusts and Estates
- Christina K. Brusven — Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- David P. Bunde — Commercial Litigation
- Joseph J. Cassioppi — Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Bronwen L. Cound — Trusts and Estates
- Clinton E. Cutler — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Joseph T. Dixon, III — Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Christopher J. Dolan — Real Estate Law
- James E. Dorsey — Commercial Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law
- John E. Drawz — Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Liz M. Dunshee — Corporate Law
- John J. Erhart — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law
- Grant D. Fairbairn — Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Terrence J. Fleming — Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy, Litigation - Securities
- David M. Glaser — Health Care Law
- David B. Gollin — Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- Kevin P. Goodno — Government Relations Practice
- Karen L. Grandstrand — Banking and Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law
- Jeremy P. Greenhouse — Environmental Law
- Mark W. Greiner — Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
- William P. Hefner — Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law
- Christopher B. Hunt — Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- Loan T. Huynh — Immigration Law
- Katherine B. Ilten — Health Care Law
- Leigh-Erin Irons — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Mercedes M. Jackson — Banking and Finance Law
- Leah C. Janus — Commercial Litigation
- Ryan S. Johnson — Health Care Law
- Gregory E. Karpenko — Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Sean P. Kearney — Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law
- John M. Koneck — Litigation - Real Estate, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, Real Estate Law
- Kenneth S. Levinson — Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law
- Debra J. Linder — Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Patrick D.J. Mahlberg — Administrative / Regulatory Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- Jessica D. Manivasager — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Tax Law
- David R. Marshall — Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance
- Brian S. McCool — Real Estate Law
- Pari I. McGarraugh — Litigation - Health Care
- Christopher J. Melsha — Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Sjur Midness — Banking and Finance Law
- Ryan G. Miest — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Nicole M. Moen — Commercial Litigation
- Ryan T. Murphy — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Laura L. Myers — Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Sue Ann Nelson — Litigation and Controversy - Tax
- Kurt J. Niederluecke — Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent
- Robert M. Oberlies — Mergers and Acquisition Law
- John G. Patterson — Litigation - Construction
- Steven J. Quam — Administrative / Regulatory Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Anne M. Radolinski — Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Mary S. Ranum — Real Estate Law
- Lindsey A. Remakel — Energy Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law
- Simon C. Root — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Melodie R. Rose — Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Howard A. Roston — Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Litigation - Real Estate, Real Estate Law
- Mark D. Savin — Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Real Estate Law
- Dale J. Schoonover — Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- Cameron R. Seybolt — Trusts and Estates
- Sandra Smalley-Fleming — Arbitration, Commercial Litigation
- James H. Snelson — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Joseph M. Sokolowski — Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Anupama D. Sreekanth — Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Karen Sandler Steinert — Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- John H. Stout — Corporate Governance Law
- Teresa M. Thompson — Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Haley Waller Pitts — Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- Ann Dunn Wessberg — Advertising Law, Copyright Law, Trademark Law
- Todd A. Wind — Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Antitrust
- Allison O. Woodbury — Tax Law
- Daniel A. Yarano — Energy Law
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® 2025
Bismarck, North Dakota
- Justin G. Hughes — Real Estate Law
- Spencer D. Ptacek — Oil and Gas Law
Des Moines, Iowa
- Michael D. Currie — Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction
- Cara S. Donels — Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent
- Sarah B. Golwitzer — Litigation - Construction
- Austin L. Goodnight — Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Alex N. Kron — Real Estate Law
- Grace E. Manzione — Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Privacy and Data Security Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Olivia N. Norwood — Labor and Employment Law - Management
- Thomas M. Patton — Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent
- Zachary S. Pratt — Intellectual Property Law
- Kristy Dahl Rogers — Energy Law
- Brandon R. Underwood — Construction Law, Labor and Employment Law - Management
Fargo, North Dakota
- Kyle A. Barlow — Trusts and Estates
- David B. Tibbals — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Marguerite J. Ahmann — Health Care Law
- Samuel M. Andre — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Jesse C. Beier — Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- F. Charles Bennett — Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
- Olivia E. Cares — Energy Law
- Katherine A. Charipar — Trusts and Estates
- Daniel P. Deveny — Commercial Litigation
- Bridget A. Duffus — Energy Law
- Dominick J. Grande — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Caitlin B. Houlton Kuntz — Banking and Finance Law
- Jade B. Jorgenson — Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Molly Leisen — Environmental Law
- Lynn S. Linné — Tax Law
- Wendy A. Lisman — Banking and Finance Law
- Kelsey J. McElveen — Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent
- Kiel C. McElveen — Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
- Amanda M. Mills — Commercial Litigation
- Alissa N. Mitchell — Real Estate Law
- Benjamin C. Neitzel — Mergers & Acquisition Law
- Carl J. Numrich — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Jeri L. Parkin — Real Estate Law
- Jennifer R. Pusch — Tax Law
- Gauri S. Samant — Tax Law
- Levi J. Smith — Banking and Finance Law
- Ryan M. Spanheimer — Intellectual Property Law
- Erik A. Splett — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- David M. Streier — Energy Law
- Roxanne N. Thorelli — Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Marcus J. Tibesar — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Benjamin R. Tozer — Energy Law
- Alyssa M. Troje — Real Estate Law
- Sarah E. Tucher — Commercial Litigation
- Amanda L. Welters — Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Ryan C. Young — Commercial Litigation
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive Purely Peer Review® evaluation. More than 184,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and Best Lawyers received more than 25.8 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. For the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 23 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 80,000 leading lawyers included in the milestone 31st edition. For the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, more than 4 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 27,000 lawyers honored in the new edition. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
Fredrikson & Byron is a leading Midwest law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally and globally. With a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet,” our attorneys bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to work with clients and operate as business advisors and strategic partners as well as legal counselors. The firm’s 375+ attorneys are based in Minneapolis, with offices in Ames, Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, Madison, Mankato, St. Paul, Saltillo, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. Learn more at fredlaw.com or LinkedIn.