Fredrikson & Byron Hires New Associates

Fredrikson & Byron announces the addition of twelve associates to the firm’s Minneapolis office, one associate to the firm’s Bismarck office and one associate to the firm’s Fargo office.

Tyler J. Bush is an associate in the Bank & Finance Group. He assists lending institutions and borrowers in a wide range of complex financing transactions. Bush advises banks and other lending institutions on a variety of loan transactions and represents private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers in commercial finance matters.

Dalton K. Crum is an associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. He provides merger and acquisition support in strategic and private equity transactions to both buyers and sellers. Crum represents clients navigating the legal and business crossroads. He has worked both with private equity firms and directly with companies on a variety of strategic transactions. Crum has experience working with multiple private equity firms to close portfolio company add-on transactions, platform sales and corporate reorganizations.

Devin T. Driscoll is an associate in the Litigation Group. He leverages his knowledge of state and federal courts to help clients navigate complex litigation, either at trial or on appeal. Driscoll represents clients in a wide range of disputes. His insight into the trial and appellate systems of Minnesota’s state and federal courts help him effectively advocate for clients. Before joining Fredrikson, Driscoll served as a law clerk to Chief Judge John R. Tunheim of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and Associate Justice David L. Lillehaug of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He also brings extensive campaign experience, including service as a regional voter-protection director for President Biden’s 2020 campaign and a state director for President Obama’s 2012 reelection.

Abigale R. Griffin is an associate in the Litigation Group in Fredrikson’s Fargo office. She represents clients in a range of regulatory and compliance litigation matters. Griffin is a devoted advocate whose primary practice is complex commercial litigation. She is experienced handling business disputes. Prior to joining Fredrikson, Griffin served as a summer law clerk to the Honorable Shon Hastings, Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of North Dakota. In this role, she researched complex bankruptcy issues and assisted Judge Hastings with in-court proceedings. She also spent time as a law clerk at Fredrikson during law school, gaining valuable experience to apply to her practice.

Melissa R. Hodge is an associate in the Employment & Labor Group. She assists businesses with their employment-related compliance and litigation matters. Melissa advises businesses on managing the employer-employee relationship and helps companies develop and strengthen their employment policies. Prior to joining Fredrikson, she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David L. Lillehaug and the Honorable Anne K. McKeig of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

William M. Howieson is an associate in the Business & Tax Planning Group. Howieson is a practical tax and business attorney who partners with clients to solve complex legal problems. Howieson works with family-owned and closely-held businesses to resolve federal, state and local tax issues. Howieson also advises clients on general corporate and transactional matters.

Aaron J. Hurd is an associate in the Real Estate Group. Hurd provides tailored service to clients in the areas of commercial leasing, real estate finance, purchase and sale agreements, land use and real estate due diligence. Hurd represents retailers, corporations, lenders, borrowers, landlords and tenants, using his varied skill set to deliver practical solutions on a wide array of real estate matters.

Emily M. McAdam is an associate in the Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Workouts and Litigation Groups. McAdam supports clients from a variety of industries with debtor/creditor law, bankruptcy and complex commercial litigation. McAdam is devoted to providing effective solutions to complex business needs. She works closely with clients to understand their specific concerns and develop strategies to meet their business litigation, bankruptcy and restructuring goals.

Sage H. O’Neil is an associate in the Business & Tax Planning Group. He advises clients on a variety of transaction and litigation matters. O’Neil assists businesses with tax issues and works to provide practical support to clients’ issues.

Tanner J. Pearson is an associate in the Oil & Gas Group in the firm’s Bismarck office. Pearson assists clients in the oil and gas industry with litigation matters. He concentrated on business law and civil litigation while attending law school and served as a summer associate in Fredrikson’s Bismarck office.

N. Chethana Perera is an associate in the Intellectual Property Litigation Group. She supports her clients in patent, copyright and trademark disputes. Before joining Fredrikson, Perera clerked for Magistrate Judge Steven E. Rau and Judge Joan N. Ericksen in the District of Minnesota. While clerking, Perera gained invaluable judicial insight into motion practice and honed her research and writing skills. She puts her experience to work on behalf of her clients to help them protect and monetize their intellectual property.

Edward M. Peilen is an associate in the Securities Group. He provides high-quality, strategic advice for clients on securities and general corporate matters. Peilen works with clients in all types of enterprises to provide business planning and to help them realize long-term goals. In his practice, he assists clients ranging from recent startups to public companies. Prior to joining Fredrikson & Byron, Peilen served as an artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Aaron Z. Stenz is an associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. He provides thorough, strategic general counsel to clients at all stages of mergers and acquisitions. Stenz represents buyers and sellers in all manner of corporate transactions and corporate governance matters, facilitating key details such as the drafting and negotiation of contracts, due diligence, financing and entity formation, and asset and stock purchase agreements. In his practice, Stenz counsels corporate clients on how to most efficiently achieve their goals. He delivers for his clients through an emphasis on understanding not just business, but their business, and his focus on practical, timely, and cost-effective service and solutions.

Thomas Wheeler is an associate in the Litigation Group. He assists clients throughout all stages of litigation. Wheeler provides legal representation to clients in a wide range of business disputes, and he uses his experience serving as a judicial law clerk to resolve complex legal issues. Prior to joining Fredrikson, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lorie S. Gildea, Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, and as a legal extern to the Honorable Paul A. Magnuson, United State District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. Wheeler graduated from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where he received the Living the Mission award.

Fredrikson & Byron is a 300-attorney law firm based in Minneapolis, with offices in Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, Mankato, St. Paul, Saltillo, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. Fredrikson & Byron has 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. More information about the firm is available at www.fredlaw.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and on Twitter @FredriksonLaw.