MORRISON SUND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Member of the Minnesota
Brad represents corporations and insurers in personal injury and property damage cases nationwide. His practice focus is on product liability, premises liability, insurance, and construction litigation. He has received numerous positive verdicts for product liability cases in State and Federal Court and has successfully tried insurance coverage cases involving arson, fraud, and fire subrogation.
Brad graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 1988 after earning his undergraduate degree from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota in 1983. Before joining Morrison Sund PLLC in 2010, Brad was an associate at Flynn, Gaskins & Bennett, LLP and became a partner in 1996.
Brad is a member of the Minnesota, Wisconsin and Hennepin County Bar Associations, is active in the Product Liability Committee for the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Institute and is qualified as a mediator under Rule 114 of the Minnesota Rules of General Practice. He has received a preeminent rating of "AV" from Martindale-Hubbell and is consistently recognized as a "Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law and Politics.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Chairman of the Litigation Practice Group
Brian is the chair of the Litigation Practice Group at Morrison Sund PLLC. His practice is built around commercial litigation and appellate advocacy, with a focus on insurance defense (CGL, E&O, title, bonds, coverage), construction law and class action litigation. His clients include nationally known insurance companies, real estate developers, home builders and hospitality concerns. When it comes to practicing law, his philosophy is to always be prepared.
Brian was awarded his JD from William Mitchell College of Law in 1988, where he served as a staff member of the William Mitchell Law Review from 1986-1987. Prior to law school, Brian graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Brian is admitted to the bar in Minnesota and US Federal District Court. Brian served as law clerk to The Honorable Patrick W. Fitzgerald (Hennepin County District Court) from 1988-1989.
Job Titles:
- a Real Estate / Corporate Legal Administrative Assistant
- Real Estate Paralegal
In 2004, Carrie joined Morrison Sund as a real estate/corporate legal administrative assistant. At the time, she was testing the waters for a possible career change. Now, Carrie assists with all aspects of the firm's real estate law practice, including commercial and residential development projects, commercial, residential, and multi-family acquisition and sale transactions, leasing, and commercial loan and other real estate financing transactions. She appreciates that her clients' real estate holdings are among their most important assets, and she always strives to make sure their interests are protected.
After 19 years at Morrison Sund, Carrie thinks of her co-workers as a second family with whom she has celebrated milestones such as getting married and the birth of her two children. She feels fortunate to have the opportunity to work with and learn from many knowledgeable attorneys and staff over the years.
Carrie earned her undergraduate degree from The College of St. Scholastica, in Duluth, MN and later earned her Paralegal Certificate from the Minnesota Paralegal Institute in Minnetonka. Before joining Morrison Sund, Carrie worked in the health care industry as a Health Information Services Manager and a Corporate Compliance/HIPAA Officer for skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in the metro area.
Outside of work Carrie loves to attend musical theater performances, watch reality television with her two boys, and daydream about her next travel destination over a cup of coffee. She loves the convenience of working in Minnetonka and while she doesn't currently own a boat, she's up for a ride if anyone's offering.
With over 25 years as an attorney, Eric has built his practice around civil litigation and insurance defense. Within those areas, he often focuses on real estate, including title insurance defense, mechanic's lien claims, construction, landlord-tenant disputes, and mortgage foreclosures. In commercial civil litigation, Eric frequently handles contract and shareholder disputes, and disputes relating to insurance coverage. What he enjoys most about his work is helping people solve problems and serving as an advocate for clients.
Eric was awarded his JD, cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law in 1997. As a student he clerked for the civil division of the Dakota County Attorney's Office and served as both a staff member and editor of the William Mitchell Law Review. In 1993 Eric earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University, where he majored in political science. Eric is admitted to the bar in Minnesota's state court and the Federal District Court of Minnesota.
Outside of work, it's all about family for Eric, who is married and the proud father of two school-aged children. He is a volunteer youth coach for soccer, basketball, and football. His interest in sports goes back to his college days when Eric earned a letter at Iowa State for playing on the football team.
As part of the Trusts & Estates team at Morrison Sund PLLC, Erika's practice focuses on estate planning, probate and trust administration, tax planning, business succession planning, and providing general legal counsel to closely held businesses. Erika has applied herself to this area of law throughout her career, giving her the depth of experience to help clients structure their estate plans to meet their objectives in a tax efficient manner. Her legal expertise is paired with a genuine desire to understand each client's unique concerns and develop customized resolutions to address their individual situations and personal goals. Erika prides herself on her ability to make the complexities of trust and estate law understandable and accessible to her clients. Her client-centered approach earned her the Five Star Investment Professional award in 2019 and 2022.
A native Minnesotan, Erika joined Morrison Sund in 2012 after starting her legal career at the Boston-based firm of Rackemann, Sawyer, and Brewster PC. Erika is an alumna of Wellesley College, where she graduated cum laude, and Northeastern University School of Law. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, and Minnesota Women Lawyers. A generous volunteer, she has served on numerous boards including the Minnesota Chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance (Chair), the Wellesley Club of Minnesota, a committee of the board of the Children's Theatre Company, and currently serves on the gift advisory council for Dunwoody College of Technology. She is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and Massachusetts.
When Erika's not working, she is busy raising her two amazing teenage sons, walking her two lovable labs, and caring for her two floofy cats. Erika loves the pace of life in Minnesota and the opportunity to enjoy bright blue skies on even the coldest winter days. During the pandemic she purchased her first boat, a kayak, and is open to eventually getting something with a motor.
Job Titles:
- Trust V. Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Et Al., ( No. A07 - 645 Minnesota Court of Appeals ) ( Affirming Denial of Coverage )
Jim focuses his practice on providing timely advice to his clients for any of their legal needs. Jim practices primarily in the areas of
Commercial real estate acquisitions and sales
Commercial real estate development
Commercial leasing
Multi-family property advice
Real estate finance and workout
Closely held real estate entity formation
Jim chairs the Real Estate Practice Group at Morrison Sund. Over a career that has spanned nearly 40 years, Jim has always focused on getting deals done. He invented the expression of "propanality" which he cleverly uses frequently.
Jim's three great loves are his family, music, and sports. Outside of work, his favorite activities are playing golf, spending time with family, reading, and writing.
After graduating from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1980, Jim earned his JD from William Mitchell College of Law in 1984. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota state and federal court, and in 2006 the Minnesota State Bar Association certified him as a Real Property Specialist, an elite designation. Jim is a member of the Hennepin County Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association (Real Property Section), and the American Bar Association.
Jim is one of Minnesota's most experienced and respected attorneys in his area of practice, which focuses on estate planning, probate and trust administration, family business succession and tax planning. He has a master's degree in taxation and has been enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service since 1985. He is a frequent lecturer on advanced estate planning, tax, and business succession planning topics. He has taught numerous continuing legal education courses on estate planning, tax, and related topics, and is often asked to speak about these topics to various civic organizations. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Associations (MSBA) Probate and Trust law Section where he works on behalf of its members and the public to assist with and improve the practice of estate planning, probate, and trust law in Minnesota. He has also spent years working on MSBA legislative issues.
Jim works closely with couples and individuals to help structure estate plans that achieve their objectives in the most tax efficient way possible. He works with clients to plan and implement trusts for children or grandchildren or develop other strategies to pass wealth to the next generation while minimizing tax liabilities. He guides families and individuals through the probate and estate settlement process, administers and resolves trust and estate disputes, and applies his experience working with fiduciaries to resolve estate, gift and income tax disputes.
After 25 + years as a lawyer, Jim appreciates the opportunity he has to help clients deal with difficult situations. His clients value the clear professional guidance he provides and his knack for making complex issues easy to understand. Jim earned his law degree, as well as a master's degree in taxation, from the William Mitchell College of Law where he graduated with honors. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College.
At the office, Jim is especially popular with coffee lovers because he roasts his own beans. When he's not working, Jim likes to spend time with his wife at the lake, where he enjoys fishing, biking, or spending time on the water in his pontoon boat, jet ski or kayak.
In Jeff's civil litigation practice, his experience includes construction defect cases, mechanic's lien claims, contract disputes, real estate matters and conflicts governed by the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act. Jeff has also litigated adversarial actions before the bankruptcy court. He enjoys dissecting and simplifying complex issues in order to make a clear and effective argument. His approach is to be reasonable, without being a pushover and he appreciates his ability to help clients during what is often a stressful time.
Jeff graduated magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 2010 where he was an editor for the William Mitchell Law Review, a semifinalist at the Ruby Vale Corporate Law Moot Court Competition in Delaware, and was awarded the CALI Award for receiving the highest grade in his U.C.C. Article 9: Secured Transactions class. Jeff is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and a volunteer attorney for the Volunteer Lawyers Network. Prior to joining Morrison Sun in 2013, Jeff litigated construction, real estate and business disputes at Strobel & Hanson, PA and served as an intern for the Honorable William Howard in Minnesota's Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County. He is admitted to the bar in Minnesota, state and federal courts.
Jeff loves Minnesota summers, when he gets to spend time at the lake with family and his dog, Scarlett. Little-known facts about Jeff are that he plays drums in a country band, and gummy bears are his go-to treat. He describes his mother as the hardest working person he knows, and he's very proud of his boat, a Boston Whaler, which is small but runs like a champ.
Kelsey is an experienced attorney with special expertise in the areas of business, estate planning, probate administration, guardianships and conservatorships and health care. In her well established career, she's come to value her role helping clients navigate difficult life situations and choices. She strives to provide expertise with a sense of calm, warmth, and friendship. One of the things she loves most about her work is the opportunity to meet new people and she values the relationships she's developed with clients over the years.
Kelsey earned her JD from the Hamline University School of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) and was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in 2009. She earned her undergraduate degree from Hamline University where she majored in Pre-Law and Criminal Justice in addition to earning an American Bar Association approved Paralegal Certification.
When she's not working, Kelsey and her husband are busy raising two energetic boys, attending the kids' sporting events and relaxing with their dogs. Family activities include hiking, camping, alpine skiing, board games and movie night.
Laura has over 15 years of law firm experience and is responsible for managing the firm's business and administrative functions while maintaining smooth, day-to-day operations. She joined Morrison Sund in 2020 and loves the culture of collaboration that allows her to help out in all areas of the firm. Laura attended St. Cloud State University where she earned a degree in marketing.
One life lesson she's quick to share is to be kind, considerate, and always carry chap stick.
Mike brings almost 40 years of legal and business experience to his position as chair of Morrison Sund's Corporate and Business Law Department, a role he assumed when he joined the firm in 2011. He serves as general and special counsel to a wide range of companies, from start-up and emerging businesses to well-established corporations. Mike advises clients in corporate and business law, commercial and government contracts law, mergers and acquisitions, and international business transactions. Mike's approach is to be responsive and respectful towards all parties, as he strives to help clients resolve issues and achieve their goals.
Mike began his law career in Frankfurt, Germany, where he practiced for 12 years. He was an officer and counsel with Irving Trust Company, a large New York bank, and in private practice with an American law firm. He returned to his home state of Minnesota speaking fluent German and spent 15 years building his own successful practice counseling a wide variety of local, national and international companies before merging his practice with Morrison Sund PLLC.
Mike earned his undergraduate degrees in Finance and German from the University of Notre Dame, and his Law and MBA degrees from the University of Denver. Mike is admitted to the bar in the States of Minnesota and Colorado and has practiced before the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court of Federal Claims, and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.
Mike is a former director of the local chapter of the National Contract Management Association. He is the Excelsior Chapter Counselor for the Knights of Columbus, and volunteers with various organizations including Feed My Starving Children.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Member of the Hennepin County Volunteer Lawyers Network
Roger Meyer chairs Morrison Sund's Family Law Practice. For over 25 years, Roger has guided clients through the emotionally challenging and financially complex issues related to divorce, child custody, paternity, and other family law matters. Roger recognizes the uniqueness of each family law case and takes the time necessary to understand the multitude of issues each client faces. He provides aggressive representation for his clients while maintaining a high degree of civility in the profession. Roger also has extensive experience in business litigation, commercial litigation, contract disputes, and general civil litigation.
Roger graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 1994. Prior to that he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota where he graduated with honors. He received an AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory, a designation awarded to attorneys who have proven to be outstanding in their field. He was also selected as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Law & Politics and Twin Cities Business Monthly and named to "Who's Who in Family Law" by Minnesota Law & Politics.
Roger is a member of the Hennepin County Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) and Legal Access Point, organizations which provide pro bono services to the public. He has also served as a mentor to law school students at William Mitchell College of Law and University of St. Thomas School of Law, as well as young lawyers at VLN. He served on the board of directors for AccessAbility, a non-profit which advocates for people facing a variety of challenges.
Outside of work, Roger enjoys getting together with family and friends, spending time outdoors, listening to music, and being active in the community. A little-known fact about Roger is that he was a student athlete at the University of Minnesota, where he was on the Track & Field and Cross-Country teams.
Ryan is an experienced litigator who has tried cases involving a range of issues such as breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent transfers, breach of contract, statutory employment claims, mechanic's liens, construction defects, along with other business and individual claims, and criminal matters. In addition to his litigation practice, Ryan assists clients with their residential and commercial real estate transactions.
Before joining the firm in 2006, Ryan practiced commercial litigation with Gislason & Hunter, LLP, was a law clerk with Messerli & Kramer, P.A. and interned with Judge John P. Smith while he served as District Court Judge of Minnesota's Ninth Judicial District.
Ryan graduated cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 2003. He was a published Law Review author, and he represented William Mitchell College of Law at the Florida State Bar Association's national Tax Moot Court Competition. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Land Title Association and Hazeltine National Golf Club.
When he's not working, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and taking his dog Gus out for runs.
Scott loves constructing and analyzing arguments. It's what attracted him to the law in the first place - that and a constant need for intellectual challenges. One of his favorite experiences is what he calls the "eureka" moment, when he finally solves a difficult problem. Clients appreciate Scott's knack for textual interpretation and the effectiveness and clarity of his writing.
Scott graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School where he served on the Moot Court Board, was an editor of the Wisconsin International Law Journal, and vice president of the Jewish Law Students Association. Prior to law school, Scott earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin where he graduated with honors. He is admitted to the Bar in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Outside the office Scott prioritizes spending time with his wife and two young daughters. A favorite family activity is playing games, including board games, card games and video games.
Scott has over thirty years of legal experience collaborating with business owners and their companies serving as an advisor, counselor and advocate on legal matters that impact them. Scott's primary practice involves working with closely held companies on employment and business issues, including dispute resolution.
In his employment law practice, Scott represents executives, business owners and corporate boards on employment law issues. He has a wealth of experience drafting and enforcing executive employment agreements, equity agreements, codes of business conduct, non-compete/non-solicitation agreements, indemnification agreements, retention and change-in-control agreements, long-term incentive plans, bonus and commission plans, and transition and severance agreements.
In his business law practice, Scott acts as general counsel to clients, advising them on a wide range of issues that arise in their day-to-day operations. He partners with business owners, management, investors and boards on start-up and organizational matters, M&A transactions, raising money, shareholder agreements, buy-outs and a variety of joint venture and other commercial transactions.
Scott began his career as a trial lawyer and uses that experience to help his clients resolve disputes, including representing them in litigation when necessary. While he has experience in all types of business disputes, his primary focus is disputes that arise out of the employment, shareholder, and/or officer and director relationships in closely held companies.
In 1991, Scott graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law, after earning his undergraduate degree in 1986 from Williams College. He practiced law for four years at the San Diego law firm of Higgs, Fletcher & Mack. In 1995, he moved to Minnesota where he worked at several firms including Doherty Rumble and Butler, Oppenheimer Wolff and Donnelly, and Leonard O'Brien Spencer Gale and Sayre, before joining Morrison Sund in 2019. Scott is licensed to practice law in both Minnesota and California.
A little-known fact about Scott is that he played on the high school basketball team that won the Oklahoma state championship in 1980. He's even more proud of having raised two children who are now successful adults. In his free time, he likes to make memories with family and friends, especially at Black Butte Ranch in Oregon.
Tom has been married to his wife, Susan, for over 50 years. The couple lives on a small lake in the Minnetonka area where they enjoy watching the seasons unfold and spending time with their two children and five grandchildren. Despite having grown up in farm communities in Iowa, Tom loves beaches, shorelines, and large bodies of water. His boat is a 1988 Skiff Craft, a 26' wooden boat handmade by Amish craftsmen and refurbished in 2000.