Fredrikson & Byron Expands Construction and Real Estate Practice

Fredrikson & Byron announces the expansion of its Construction and Real Estate Groups with the addition of three attorneys in Iowa, including shareholders, Jodie Clark McDougal and Ryan Haaland, and senior associate, Jonathon L. Schroeder.

“Fredrikson is recognized for its outstanding legal service within the construction and real estate industries, and we’re excited to strengthen our growing practice in the region with Jodie, Ryan and Jonathon,” said Brian McCool, Fredrikson’s Real Estate Department Chair. “Their experience and industry knowledge will only enhance our ability to serve our clients.”

Jodie McDougal is a construction and real estate attorney who handles both litigation and transactional matters for her clients within the construction, real estate and landlord/leasing industries in Iowa and beyond.

In her construction work, McDougal counsels clients within the commercial and residential construction industries including general contractors; homebuilders; construction management companies; architectural, engineering and other design professional firms; subcontractors; material suppliers; and property owners and developers. In Iowa’s construction industry, McDougal is regarded as among the most knowledgeable attorneys on mechanic’s lien law. McDougal serves as Chair of the Construction Law Section of ISBA. She acts as general counsel for multiple construction industry associations.

In her real estate work, McDougal represents commercial and residential landlords and property management companies, real estate buyers, sellers, owner-developers, realtors, and homeowner associations in transactional and litigated real estate matters. McDougal has a niche in affordable housing, representing dozens of manufactured housing community owner-operators, including several national companies.

As an active member of several construction, real estate and landlord associations, McDougal speaks regularly to industry groups and takes pride in helping to educate these industries. Also, McDougal regularly publishes articles on various construction, real estate and landlord topics and is the Iowa author of the national lien law resource LienLawOnline.com.

Ryan Haaland helps real estate developers, landowners and business owners of all sizes and types achieve their business goals in Ames, Iowa. He assists clients with real estate projects, business formation and transactions, and estate planning. His extensive real estate practice includes commercial and residential development, multi-family and landowner matters of all varieties, including agriculture and agri-business. Haaland works with clients of various sizes, from large national companies to smaller local entities in all aspects of real estate acquisitions and sales, from negotiating the transaction to working on due diligence matters including land use issues and tax deferred exchanges. Haaland assists his clients in post-close matters, including assisting multi-family clients with operations, leasing compliance and property management matters.

He also assists ag clients, from family farm startups to larger ag entities, both as it pertains to real estate acquisitions and sales and assisting in corporate structuring and governance. Haaland helps real estate developers and individuals with real estate gifting arrangements, assists with legal and tax issues involved in gifting, advises individuals and businesses throughout the state of Iowa and when needed acts as local counsel for out-of-state clients involved in real estate and business transactions. He counsels landlords regarding evictions, complaints (including related to the Americans with Disabilities Act) and issues relating to abandoned mobile homes or properties.

Jonathon Schroeder has a comprehensive real estate and business planning practice in Ames, Iowa, advising clients on real estate transactions, construction law, landlord/tenant matters, homeowners’ associations, business and non-profit formation, and zoning and development law. Schroeder’s clients include individuals, businesses, lenders and other professionals. He is familiar with real estate title examinations and closings, purchase agreements, real estate and construction contract drafting, review and negotiation, and municipal development and zoning issues. Schroeder also assists clients with residential, commercial and agricultural leasing matters business formation, reorganization and dissolution, homeowners’ association disputes and covenant enforcement, and non-profit formation and achievement of tax-exempt status. Schroeder also helps clients with general business needs, estate planning and estate probate.

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 330+ attorneys are based in Minneapolis, with offices in Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, Mankato, St. Paul, Saltillo, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. Learn more at fredlaw.com, LinkedIn or @FredriksonLaw.