Villard Lawyers

Avery Appelman is a criminal defense attorney and founder of Appelman Law Firm. While his practice is primarily recognized for its work with DWI and related offenses, he has 15 years of experience working with clients facing drug, assault, theft, criminal sexual conduct, traffic, and prostitution charges. Avery's greatest strength is his ability to counsel in a way that assists clients in all aspects of their lives. His team works in partnership with clients to streamline the judicial process, thereby enabling individuals to assist in their own defense. He also recognizes the impact of criminal proceedings on those surrounding the accused,...

Criminal Defense Attorney Carolyn Agin Schmidt has over 20 years experience effectively and vigorously defending criminal cases. Combining this experience with a compassion for the client and a passion for justice, she has earned a reputation for being one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the state.

Top Rated Lawyers in Minnesota, Mpls. St.Paul Magazine The (Real) Power 50, Minnesota Business Magazine Peak Performers, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association Minnesota Rising Star, Super Lawyers Excellent Rated Attorney, AVVO Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans, Minnesota Jaycees IRS & Minnesota Department of Revenue registered attorney Minnesota Supreme Court, admitted attorney J.D., cum laude, Mitchell Hamline School of Law B.A., summa cum laude, Concordia University

Susanne Gad is a renowned advocate for vulnerable and marginalized groups. After a successful, decade-long career as an attorney for the United Nations, Susanne's sister decided to join forces with her sister Sarah and crusade for justice. Susanne is among the most sought-after immigration advocates in the country due to her exceptional track record of success when it comes to asylum status, identifying paths to citizenship, and appealing cases lost by other immigration and human rights attorneys. In fact, a large number of Susanne's immigration clients turned to her in order to fix mistakes caused by their previous immigration...

As a family law attorney, my primary focus is to support clients through the legal process so they may transition into the next chapter of their lives. Prior to representing clients, I worked as judicial law clerk in Hennepin County Family Court. Working side-by-side with judges, I gained an immense understanding of family court procedure, and how judges decide cases. I translate that experience to my practice every day, assisting clients in making the best decisions for their families. I have experience representing clients in all aspects of family law cases, including divorce proceeding, child custody and support matters,...

Gerard W. Mannion is a criminal defense attorney who cares deeply about the well-being of his clients. With every case he works, Gerard fights tirelessly to ensure that his clients achieve the best outcome possible while establishing lasting connections with everyone involved. Originally from Billings, Montana, Gerard has legal experience spanning across three states that includes judicial clerkship, federal criminal defense, and civil litigation. Gerard also spent multiple years in the banking and restaurant industries before moving to Minnesota to join the Kans Law Firm. Gerard earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Montana State University – Billings before...

Todd Gardner began his professional life as a middle school teacher but opted to go to law school in his mid-twenties. During his time in law school, he clerked in the contracts department at Wells Fargo during the merger with Norwest Bank, clerked for five judges in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Workers' Compensation Division and interned with a Hennepin County District Court judge. Following law school, he began working in a Minneapolis small firm representing injured workers and injured persons and later experienced representing insurance companies with a medium-sized law firm in St. Paul. In 2002, he...

DAVID REYES voted 2012 and 2011 "BEST LAWYER" in Edina, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka, Minnesota by the Reader's Choice Awards!! HAVE A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR and FBI AGENT ON YOUR SIDE! I am a criminal defense attorney with over twenty-eight years of criminal law experience. As a former FBI Agent and Federal and State prosecutor, my clients get strong representation from an experienced trial attorney. My background is truly unique. After graduating from law school, I became a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I worked in several states conducting a variety of criminal investigations. After my career as an...

Brendan leads the firm’s labor law practice. He has handled numerous judicial, administative, and arbitration proceedings, including many high-profile appellate cases. Brendan also has drafted legislation and policies adopted by State and Local governments, and he routinely develops cutting-edge organizing strategies for the firm’s union clients. Brendan has served on the Governing Council of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Section. He also has taught at Northwestern University School of Law, the University of Minnesota Law School, and William Mitchell College of Law. In addition, Brendan has published articles in the American Bar Association Journal of Labor &...

Carl Christensen founded Christensen Sampel PLLC. Previous to that he clerked for the Honorable Kenneth Sandvik in the Sixth Judicial District, Lake and Cook Counties and had a short stint as a prosecutor in outstate Minnesota. Carl's scholarship includes multiple presentations and publications on foreclosure, collection, and consumer law. As a student, Carl also contributed to various textbooks on intellectual property and domain name law. He acquired his extensive knowledge of intellectual property and domain name law while a student law clerk at the National Arbitration Forum, a ICANN-designated domain name dispute resolution provider. While in law school, Carl's...

After 15 years of experience working as a prosecutor, I've made the switch to criminal defense because I want to use my skills to help people. I've handled tens of thousands of criminal cases of every kind, and I truly believe I have the skills to help people and make a difference. My goal is to craft a unique and personalized approach to defending every case. Every case and every client are different, with different circumstances, and they should be treated that way.

Nick Sperling has over a decade of experience in business litigation and transactions, nonprofit law, real estate litigation and transactions, and technology/IT law. Nick takes a pragmatic approach to legal representation and focuses on obtaining the best possible results for his clients.

I'm Creig Andreasen, an attorney based in Minneapolis, working at Avisen Legal, P.A., where I focus on real estate and banking law. My career started in residential real estate, which provided me with a solid foundation in guiding clients through intricate processes, from property purchases to securing financial transactions. My practice primarily involves helping landowners with the acquisition, leasing, selling, or financing of real property, as well as advising financial institutions on due diligence, loan documentation, and managing troubled loans. I am a Certified Real Property Specialist, a recognition granted by the Minnesota State Bar Association that highlights my extensive knowledge...

Rob Shainess is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on resolving real estate, construction, and business disputes. Rob’s clients range from individual property owners to national banks, and everyone in between. Rob is proud to have been named a Rising Star each year from 2012-2017 by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Before founding Capstone Law, Rob spent seven years as a real estate and construction litigator with one of Minnesota’s largest elite law firms. In 2011, Rob set out to start his own firm, believing that he could offer his clients better value if he shed the bloat associated with large firms.

Jeff practices in the areas of personal injury, police brutality, civil rights law, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, automobile and truck crashes, and premises liability. Jeff also has significant experience litigating and advising on non-compete issues, breaches of contract, tortious interference, and other related business matters. He was named a 2013 “Attorney of the Year” by Minnesota Lawyer for his work on a $3.075 Million Dollar police brutality wrongful death—one of the largest police brutality settlements in Minnesota History. Jeff was also part of a team of class counsel who obtained a $2 Million Dollar settlement for violations of the...

Rajin is a partner in Thompson Hine's Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation group. He focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secret, copyright, and licensing disputes. He is dedicated to securing practical, business-driven solutions for clients, whether through strategic negotiation, litigation or trial advocacy. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes technology disputes involving some of the world’s largest companies. His experience spans a broad spectrum of technologies, including mobile communications, semiconductors, IT network management, video streaming, speech coding, and software. As a registered patent attorney, he also handles inter partes review proceedings before the Patent...

Raoul Shah has spent his career seeking justice for those injured by the actions of others. Raoul brings significant trial and litigation experience and his tireless and measured work ethic to his clients. His collaborative and creative mindset, coupled with his extensive courtroom and legal writing experience, help clients achieve real, just, and meaningful results in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Raoul previously worked as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney. He first worked as an attorney within the child protection system, working collaboratively with many parties to advance the wellbeing of children in the child protection system. Raoul then served...

Beth E. Bertelson is the founder of Bertelson Law Offices, P.A., located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Focusing her practice on labor and employment law, she represents employees in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and throughout Minnesota in litigation and pre-litigation negotiations in matters involving severance, employment and noncompete agreements, and related issues. Certified as a specialist in labor and employment law by the Minnesota State Bar Association, Ms. Bertelson also mediates employment disputes and has been designated as a "qualified neutral" under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice for the District Courts. She also assists clients in a...

Kelly J. Keegan has been lead defense counsel on hundreds of cases of all types and levels, ranging from serious felonies to minor traffic offenses. Additionally, Kelly handles post-conviction matters such as expungement, probation violations, Department of Human Services background study disqualifications, reinstatement of the right to possess firearms, and sentence modification motions. She has represented clients under investigation prior to being formally charged, as well as clients facing grand jury indictment. Kelly is admitted to practice in Minnesota State Court as well as Federal United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She enjoys working in the courtroom...

As a partner at SiebenCarey, Mike has earned a reputation for being a strong advocate for the rights of injured workers. He has achieved success in the areas of workers' compensation, personal injury, and auto accident insurance litigation.

Mike graduated from Hamline University School of Law after working for more than 15 years with government, nonprofit and education organizations. Mike was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in 1997, the Federal District Court in 2004, and is qualified as a mediator by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Every year since 2014, Mike has been selected as a Minnesota Super...

Nick practices exclusively criminal defense with a focus in DUI / DWI, assault, and drug charges. Nick is a dedicated and passionate attorney that wants to fight for the best results possible in any criminal case. He understands that no one-size-fits-all approach will work for everyone. His representation is tailored to the individual needs and goals of each client. If the state has charged you with a crime, a good Minnesota criminal defense lawyer is essential. The state has an extraordinary amount of resources at their disposal. Simply put, you cannot fight them alone. In addition to practicing criminal...

Kevin Leiran is a skilled, aggressive attorney practicing in the areas of Bankruptcy, civil litigation, probate and estate planning. Call Kevin today for quote.

I assist clients with comprehensive estate planning in Minnesota and Wisconsin, which includes sophisticated wealth preservation, transfer, and asset protection techniques. I represent a broad range of clients including young couples or others with modest estates, to farm and business owners, to highly compensated executives.

For more than 15 years, my goal has been to provide quality legal service that creates value for the client. My practice focuses on all aspects of Intellectual Property, including patent preparation and prosecution, trademark registration and contractual matters.

As an estate planning, elder law and estate administration (probate) attorney I understand that every family is unique with unique issues and goals. Retain me, and I will help you understand your choices and find the solutions that work best for you and your family. I help my estate planning clients of all ages protect their assets, establish legacies for their families and retain control of their health care decisions. I do this using a variety of powerful estate planning tools, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives (living wills) and beneficiary designations. For my estate administration and...

I was born and raised in Illinois and spent my undergraduate years at the University of Alabama. (Roll Tide!) I graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Political Science. Afterward, I moved back north to attend the University of Minnesota Law School, where I earned my degree in 2023. I am currently admitted to practice law in the state of Minnesota. During my time in law school, I served as the co-President of the University’s chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. I was also involved with the Latinx Law Students Association (LLSA), OutLaw, and participated in clinics with the Binger...

Bankruptcy and Consumer Rights Attorney

Attorney Malee M. Ketelsen is an elder law and immigration attorney in Minneapolis who is ready to take on your case and provide you with the representation you need at this pivotal time in your life. Come to Ketelsen Law Office, where you can have confidence in the help and support you can receive. Attorney Ketelsen received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa. She later obtained her Juris Doctorate at Drake University School of Law. She has a membership with several well-known associations, including the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Elder Law Section of the National...

Wil H. Florin was born in Salzburg, Austria and raised in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He received his B.A. from Ball State University. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in 1980. Wil was recently selected to serve a four (4) year term as a member of the Stetson University Board of Trustees. In addition, he is serving his second three (3) year term as a member of the Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers.

In October 2018, Wil became only the 89th inductee to the Stetson University College of Law’s Hall of Fame in the...

Michael Joyce joined TSR Injury Law in 2017. He brings valuable experience handling claims involving motor vehicle crashes, dog bites, premises liability, wrongful deaths, brain injuries, and other personal injury matters. Michael understands how the lives of families can be turned upside down in an instant after a serious injury or death and works tirelessly so that his clients get the type of legal representation they deserve in holding at-fault individuals responsible.

Michael was born and raised in Minnesota. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles before graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2017 from...

Nathan M. Maus is another outstanding addition to our team of personal injury attorneys. His experience includes auto accidents, dog bites, premises liability, wrongful death and other personal injury matters. Nathan understands the impact an injury or death has on individuals and families. Therefore, he works hard for his clients to hold those responsible accountable.

Nathan was born and raised in Minnesota. He received his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University. He attended William Mitchell College of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2013. While at William Mitchell, Nathan earned the prestigious Endowed Burton Award for Excellence in Legal Writing and...

With offices in Eagan, Minnesota, the law office of Prettyman Law provides clients throughout Minnesota with exceptional legal services in all aspects of family law. The firm’s areas of expertise include divorce issues; marital property characterization, valuation, and division; spousal and child support, child custody cases; paternity matters; and marital settlement agreements. Since founding the firm in 2011, Anna Prettyman has established a reputation for handling even the most complex and contentious disputes with the utmost discretion. She understands the sensitive nature of difficult family law matters, and is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of each client....

Beau received his undergraduate degree at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, and his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota State and the Winona County Bar Associations.

Beau represents clients in criminal defense, DUI/DWI cases, family law, landlord/tenant disputes, debt collection, and real estate matters.

Beau is married and has four wonderful children. He enjoys playing and watching sports and is very active in the community. Beau has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors at Ready Set School and has served as President...