Fredrikson & Byron attorneys David L. Lillehaug, Masha M. Yevzelman, Joseph J. Cassioppi, Emily A. Unger and Todd A. Wind have been named to Minnesota Lawyer’s 2020 “Attorneys of the Year.” They will be honored during a virtual awards event on February 17, 2021.
Lillehaug is recognized for his outstanding service to the profession, and Yevzelman is recognized for her individual work. Cassioppi, Unger and Wind are recognized as a group for their successful outcome following a 20-day trial in a large revocable trust matter in Hennepin County, Minnesota District Court.
An outside panel selected the 2020 “Attorneys of the Year” honorees based on the following criteria: leadership in the profession, involvement in major cases, other newsworthy events, excellence in corporate or transactional services and public service. The nominations were submitted by judges, bar groups, clients and attorneys. The honorees come from diverse practice groups including criminal law, litigation, public service, intellectual property and in-house counsel.
Cassioppi is a trial lawyer who specializes in fiduciary litigation—representing clients in trust, estate, and closely held business disputes in trial and appellate courts in Minnesota and across the country. He serves as Co-Chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Trusts & Estates Litigation Group and Chair of the firm’s Recruiting and Hiring Committee.
Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Lillehaug, also a former United States Attorney for Minnesota, focuses his practice at Fredrikson & Byron on corporate and governmental investigations, administrative law and complex civil litigation. He serves as a special master, arbitrator, mediator and expert witness. During seven years on the Supreme Court, Justice Lillehaug sat on more than 600 cases and wrote over 140 opinions. Legal scholars have focused on his jurisprudence on the standards for dismissal and summary judgment in civil cases.
Unger is a litigator who advocates for trustees, beneficiaries, guardians and personal representatives in trust and estate disputes, and represents individuals and businesses in a broad range of civil disputes. She serves as Chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Counsel for Women Group.
Wind is the Chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Antitrust & Trade Regulation Group and is a certified civil trial specialist. He is an experienced trial lawyer, concentrating on complex business litigation including antitrust, fraud and related business tort cases. In addition to numerous jury trials and court trials, Wind has experience in domestic and international arbitration proceedings and in government investigations relating to trade regulation issues.
Yevzelman is the Chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Tax Disputes & Litigation Group. She represents public and private companies, trusts, estates and high-net-worth individuals in complex tax disputes. Yevzelman handles all stages of tax controversies – voluntary disclosures, audits, administrative appeals, tax court, district court and appellate litigation.
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 300+ 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 on LinkedIn or @FredriksonLaw.
Media Contact: Kelly Griffith, 612.492.7514, kgriffith@fredlaw.com.