Overview

Leigh-Erin provides practical advice as she partners with private equity funds and mezzanine lenders on mergers, acquisitions, sales and other strategic transactions to close deals in the most efficient manner possible.

Whether it’s negotiating key deal documents, executing closings, mapping out negotiating strategy or implementing post-transaction transitions, Leigh-Erin helps her clients manage all aspects of an acquisition, sale or investment with a solutions-oriented approach. Leigh-Erin has experience closing transactions in a wide array of industries including industrial manufacturing, automotive, rail, life sciences, energy and oilfield services.

Leigh-Erin also represents clients on private securities offerings and a wide array of general corporate issues that arise in their day-to-day operations. Leigh-Erin Co-Chairs the firm’s Private Equity Group and Associate Hiring Committee and is also a shareholder in Fredrikson’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group. She is the past Co-Chair of Counsel for Women, Fredrikson’s initiative focused on women in business.

Leigh-Erin has a deep commitment to pro bono work. She advises many micro-entrepreneurs on general business issues and represents clients seeking asylum.

Services

Credentials

Education

  • Indiana University Mauer School of Law, J.D., 2003, cum laude
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., Journalism and Behavioral Science & Law, 2000, with distinction

Admissions

  • Minnesota, 2003

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2020-2025
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Minnesota - Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions, 2023-2024
  • Minnesota Lawyer POWER 30 Top M&A Attorney, 2023
  • North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2020
  • 40 Under 40, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 2015
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2008-2010, 2012-2015
  • Up & Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2010
  • Pro Bono Associate Volunteer of the Year Award, Fredrikson & Byron, 2008
  • Leaders Impacting the Nonprofit Community, Graduate, 2008

Civic & Professional

Professional Activities

  • Association for Corporate Growth, Minnesota
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • American Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, former Business and Securities Law Section Co-Chair
  • Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity

Community

  • Touchstone Mental Health, Board Member, Board Chair, 2017-2019
  • Children’s Minnesota Foundation, Board Member
  • Neighborhood Development Center, Board Member
  • The Advocates for Human Rights, Volunteer Lawyer
  • Junior League of Minneapolis, Former Member

News & Insights

News

Publications & Presentations

Quoted in "The Rise of Private Equity," Finance & Commerce, April 18, 2019

Elimination of Bias: Women in the ‘Deal’ Profession, The Purchase and Sale of Businesses, Minnesota CLE, March 13, 2019

Selling a Business to an Outsider, The Purchase and Sale of Businesses, Minnesota CLE, March 13, 2019

Panelist, Private Equity Strategies, joint event for The Collaborative and the Association for Corporate Growth, April 9, 2014

Speaker, Doing Private Equity Deals, Minnesota State Bar Association Business Law Institute, May 8, 2013

Co-Author with Lisa Holter and Timothy Nelson, “Government Attention on Private Equity Could Mean Changes for the Industry,” FredALERT: Private Equity, April 2, 2009

Panelist, Community Development, William Mitchell College of Law, November 19, 2008

Presenter, Exit Strategies, Part I: Complete Exit through Sale or M&A,  Women’s Business Development Center of Minnesota, September 19, 2008

Presenter, Simplified Reporting for Smaller Companies: The SEC’s Proposed Amendments, Hennepin County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, September 13, 2007

Presenter, Business Law 103: The Effect of Sarbanes-Oxley on Private Companies, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, December 7, 2006

Lead Panelist, Transactional Pro Bono: Serving Microentrepreneurs and Small Businesses, Pro Bono Institute Annual Seminar, March 3, 2006

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