DOUGHERTY, MOLENDA, SOLFEST, HILLS & BAUER P.A. - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chamber of Commerce ( past Chair )
- Chamber of Commerce, past Board Member
- Chamber of Commerce, past President
Ashley M. Beard is a dedicated attorney with a strong background in family law and litigation matters. She is known for her unwavering commitment to advocating for her clients and providing them with personalized and strategic legal representation. Ashley's experience spans across various legal settings, including private law firms, a self-help clinic, and as a certified student attorney, showcasing her versatility and adaptability in handling diverse legal matters.
Ashley has successfully handled family law-related matters, such as dissolution, child custody, child support, and parenting time, and provided representation in ex parte proceedings involving allegations of abuse or neglect. Ashley's strategic approach in preparing cases for contested hearings and trials, including advising clients, conducting discovery, developing witness testimony, and organizing exhibits, has resulted in positive outcomes for her clients.
As a Certified Student Attorney, in 2021 Ashley represented the State of Minnesota at various stages of criminal proceedings, including bail hearings, pretrial hearings, and post-conviction hearings. She also conducted legal research, drafted memoranda, proposed orders, and negotiated settlement agreements, showcasing her strong analytical and negotiation skills.
Ashley holds a Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she was an active member of various organizations, including Phi Alpha Delta, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Criminal Law Society, and Mitchell Hamline Health and Wellness Club.
Cassie Wolfgram is a senior associate attorney with the firm. She regularly assists clients with a variety of personal and business litigation matters.
Cassie graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology before attending law school at the University of Iowa College of Law. During law school, Cassie was an Iowa Law School Foundation Merit Scholar and served as an Articles Editor for the Journal of Gender, Race and Justice. She was also a quarterfinalist in the Van Oosterhout-Baskerville Moot Court Competition during law school.
After law school, Cassie began her career in private practice in Iowa before moving to Minnesota in 2018. Cassie's diverse litigation background includes extensive experience in all aspects of both civil and criminal litigation. She has extensive experience with discovery and motion practice. She has also tried numerous cases to jury verdict and argued multiple cases to the Court of Appeals.
At Dougherty Molenda, Cassie assists clients in a wide variety of litigation matters, including the following:
Appeals
Business Torts and Unfair Competition
Commercial Litigation
Conciliation Court
Construction Defects
Contract Disputes
Debt Collection
Defamation
Employment Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Manufacturing Disputes
Real Estate
Shareholder Litigation
Trade Secret Misappropriation
Outside of work, Cassie enjoys hiking to waterfalls with her family and dogs. She loves puzzles and has completed multiple escape rooms throughout the area. Cassie spends most of her free time supporting her children and their various activities, including Lego League, coding, band, piano, and singing.
Jordan Reilly is an associate attorney who focuses his practice on business law and estate planning. A University of Minnesota Law School graduate, Jordan has carved a niche for himself by combining his legal acumen with a significant understanding of the financial dynamics that underpin estate planning and corporate law.
His legal journey began shortly after law school, where he quickly gained extensive experience in estate planning for high net-worth clients. Jordan's expertise isn't just limited to drafting wills and trust agreements; he also possesses a comprehensive grasp of tax law. This expertise ensures that his clients receive well-rounded advice that encompasses all aspects of their estate planning needs.
Jordan's drafting skills are not limited to estate planning. He has a proven track record in drafting organizational documents for closely held businesses, including bylaws and operating agreements. His ability to handle complex real-estate transactions also showcases his capability to navigate through intricate legal descriptions, making him a resource for any client facing property-related legal issues.
Further expanding his educational credentials, Jordan pursued an M.A. in the social sciences from the University of Chicago. Although he initially ventured into a Ph.D. program in political science at Duke University, his passion for the practical applications of law guided him back to the legal profession, where he continues to thrive.
Matthew Schaap is a shareholder with the firm. He regularly assists clients with a variety of personal and business litigation matters.
Matthew began his legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk to Elizabeth Hayden, a Minnesota District Court Judge. As a Law Clerk, he played an active supporting role in the process of judicial decision-making. He provided judges with the legal research, writing and analysis that they used to decide the legal questions and issues before them. As a Law Clerk, Matthew also assisted in numerous jury trials in both the criminal and civil context. This practical experience gave him first-hand exposure to winning trial techniques as he observed highly-effective trial lawyers both in the courtroom and also in chambers.
Matthew joined Dougherty Molenda in 2004 after completing his judicial clerkship. At Dougherty Molenda, Matthew focuses on litigation and trial practice. Matthew's primary goal in any litigation is to serve as a zealous advocate for his clients by thoroughly researching all issues (both legal and technical) that are important to presenting the case in court. However, Matthew also focuses on helping clients to understand the legal process so that they can actively participate in the case and make informed decisions about its resolution. To accomplish this goal, Matthew has developed a variety of practical guides to assist clients in understanding critical aspects of the legal process, such as discovery. Like all litigation attorneys at Dougherty Molenda, Matthew provides his clients with early case analysis designed to 1) evaluate the risks of litigation and 2) develop successful trial strategies that maximize the likelihood of favorable trial or settlement outcomes.
At times, litigation involves an appeal to a higher court. During law school, Matthew's appellate brief was selected by the Legal Writing Department faculty as the "Best Appellate Brief in the First Year Law School Class." As an attorney, Matthew has continued his commitment to excellence in legal writing: He has authored or co-written numerous appellate briefs that led to affirmance of favorable outcomes for clients. Matthew has also presented oral arguments in appeals before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals (Washington, D.C.), receiving favorable decisions of affirmance from both courts.
In addition to his civil jury trial and appellate experience, Matthew has successfully represented the firm's clients at numerous mediations, arbitrations, court trials and motion hearings. He has been recognized in Minnesota Law and Politics as a top young attorney and was named to the Minnesota Rising Stars® List from 2007 to 2016.
Education
Hamline University School of Law, J.D.
Melanie Finley assists clients with many different litigation issues and legal disputes.
Melanie joined the firm with a diverse background of legal experience working directing in the court system for many years. During law school, she worked in a trial support role in the Anoka County Attorney's Office. Before law school, she worked for a number of years as a clerk in the Anoka County Court system. Melanie uses her extensive background in the Minnesota Court system in her current role as a litigation attorney at Dougherty Molenda.
Melanie applies her hands-on legal experience to develop practical solutions for clients in matters ranging from simple legal consultations to complex litigation support.
At Dougherty Molenda, Melanie assists clients in a wide variety of litigation matters, including the following:
Appeals
Business Torts and Unfair Competition
Commercial Litigation
Conciliation Court
Construction Defects
Contract Disputes
Debt Collection
Defamation
Evictions
Manufacturing Disputes
Real Estate
Shareholder Litigation
Trade Secret Misappropriation
Unemployment Benefits Appeals
Michael Dougherty has retired from Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. but continues to consult for the benefit of his long-time clients. Michael headed the firm's municipal law and real estate practice groups. Michael was the designated city attorney for the cities of Apple Valley and Eagan for decades. He began his experience in real estate working for Chicago Title Insurance Company. Michael has extensive knowledge of land use and development, and he counseled developers and governmental entities regularly during his decades of service to he South Metro of the Twin Cities. Since 1991, he has been certified as a Real Property Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association.
Michael frequently lectured on real estate topics. He has addressed lawyer, developer, engineer and real estate organizations on comprehensive planning, zoning laws, special assessments, title examinations and real estate closings. Michael has been repeatedly named to the Super Lawyers® list.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Family Law Attorney
Payton Yahn is a family law attorney who has been recognized for her academic achievements in law school. Graduating magna cum laude from University of St. Thomas School of Law, Payton has consistently demonstrated a dedication to excellence and a genuine passion for family law. During her academic work, Payton's writing earned publication in the St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy, reflecting her analysis and understanding of complex legal issues relating to will contests. In her family law role, Payton applies a combination of academic rigor and practical experience to her practice. She exhibits compassion in her practice and applies her extensive work as a judicial law clerk to help her clients understand how judges make decisions in family law cases. Her strategic approach to legal challenges reflects a commitment to providing clients with tailored and effective representation. Payton assists clients with the following issues in her family law practice:
Mr. Bauer is a shareholder with the firm, and he represents clients in general municipal, land use and real estate matters including zoning and comprehensive guide plan amendment applications, litigation of condemnation actions and special assessment appeals; general civil litigation; shareholder dispute litigation; wills, trusts and business succession planning.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder With Dougherty, Molenda
Sharon K. Hills is a shareholder with Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. Sharon has been with the firm for over 30 years, practicing primarily in the area of family law. Sharon handles various types of family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, spousal maintenance, modification of custody, support and maintenance matters, and prenuptial agreements. Sharon has also represented numerous clients in cases involving division of property interests between cohabitating partners. During her many years with the firm, Sharon has successfully argued and defended many cases before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court. Sharon is a leading family law attorney in Dakota County and has been named to the Super Lawyers® list by her peers in the Minnesota bar annually since 2014.