Speaker Bios: Minnesota Association of City Attorneys 2023 Annual Conference

Facing Forward Series – Addressing Racial Equity and Disparate Impacts from a Municipality's Point of View

Treating Code Violators Like Your In-Laws: Embarrassing, yes, but they need Tough Love

POT-pourri

Beyond the Basics: Difficult Data Practices Issues Confronting Minnesota Cities

Prosecuting Driving While Impaired Offenses from a City Attorney's Perspective

Building a Better AIA Contract

Rules of Procedure: What does Robert Really Want??

An Evidence-Based Approach to Domestic Violence Prosecution

How to Pay for it – Public Finance Tools for Every Occasion

Charter Chatter: Emergent and Vexing Charter City Challenges

Criminal Justice System and Offenders with Mental Illness

PERA Continued Health Insurance Coverage Update

Gender Inclusion and Local Government: Problems, Policy, and Practical Guidance

Flag on the Play? The Supreme Court's Latest Revisions to the 1st Amendment Rule Book: Austin v. Reagan Nat’l Adverting of Austin and Shurtleff v. City of Boston

The Practical Implications for Park Dedication Requirements and Fees Following Puce v. Burnsville

The Common-Interest Doctrine and the Attorney-Client Privilege

Jennifer Cross

Jennifer Cross joined the City of Bloomington as an Assistant Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2012. During her time as a prosecutor, Jennifer has received individual awards from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Minnesota Lawyer. Jennifer also served as the Project Manager for the Legal Department's Racial Equity Action Team, which won a Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2022. Jennifer graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School and received her undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College. Jennifer and her husband Nate live in the Twin Cities and recently welcomed a second daughter into their family

Tom Jacobson

Tom Jacobson is an attorney and shareholder at the Swenson Lervick Law firm in Alexandria, Minnesota, where he serves as the city attorney for the cities of Alexandria, Starbuck, Parkers Prairie, and Henning. Certified as a Labor and Employment Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, Tom also helps employers and employees navigate the sometimes rough and rocky waters of workplace law. Originally from Marshall, Minnesota, Tom earned his undergraduate degrees from the University of North Dakota and his law degree and a master's degree in mass communications from Drake University. Tom and his wife live in Alexandria and have three adult sons. When he's not at the office, he can often be found at a CrossFit box, enjoying the outdoors, or traveling.

Korine Land

Kori Land is a shareholder at LeVander, Gillen & Miller. She is the City Attorney for the cities of West St. Paul, Stillwater, Cottage Grove, Hastings and Randolph. She is the Chair of her Firm's Municipal Practice Group and a past president of the Minnesota City Attorneys’ Association. Kori lives on a hobby farm in Hudson, WI with her husband, which is why she knows so much about writing realistic ordinances on keeping chickens, goats, and bees, and how to regulate Junk. Her husband was born and raised in Arkansas. You can take the man out of Arkansas…

Charlie Ramstad

Charlie Ramstad serves as City Attorney for Detroit Lakes, Lake Park, Callaway, Sebeka, and Barnesville Minnesota and is a past president of the Minnesota City Attorney's Association. He is a Real Property Law Specialist certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association. In addition to 33 years of municipal law, Charlie practices in the areas of real estate, real estate litigation and probate law. In his spare time, he enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, cycling, and camping.

Jared Shepherd

Jared Shepherd is an attorney for Campbell Knutson, P.A. Jared serves as the lead city attorney for Elk River, Shorewood, Dundas, Loretto, and Watertown. His municipal practice focuses on litigation and advice on day-to-day municipal operations, including land use planning, zoning, code drafting and enforcement, contracts, and constitutional issues. Jared represents his firm's clients in affirmative and uninsured litigation and serves as a litigation defense counsel for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. Jared and his family enjoy living in the diverse community of Richfield, Minnesota. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to vinyl, attending concerts, frequenting breweries, and nodding off while attempting to read books after 8 p.m.

Christina Benson

Christina Benson is a civil municipal attorney with Eckberg Lammers. Christina serves as City Attorney for Grant and Assistant City Attorney for Woodbury, Lake St. Croix Beach, Blaine, East Bethel, Oak Park Heights, Bayport, Mendota, and St. Mary's Point. She focuses her practice on providing guidance on land use and zoning matters, contracts, employment law, ordinance review, data practices, and licensing. Prior to joining Eckberg Lammers, Christina worked for the League of Minnesota Cities as a Staff Attorney in the Research department. Around town, you will find Christina with her Leagle and Beagle, antiquing, shopping local, trying out new breweries/cideries, or catching a show with family and friends.

Alex Hassel

Alex Hassel is an Intergovernmental Relations Representative with the League of Minnesota Cities where she advocates on behalf of member cities before state lawmakers and agency officials on the issues of elections, employment and human resources, and regulated industries. Prior to joining the League of Minnesota Cities, Alex served as the Government Relations Coordinator for the City of Des Moines, contributing to city policy development and lobbying at the Iowa legislature on a broad range of municipal issues. Alex earned her undergraduate degree in environmental policy and Certificate in Public Management from Drake University.

Kari O’Leary

Kari is an attorney for the Eckberg Lammers Municipal Law group. She focuses her practice on criminal prosecution for the municipalities we serve. Kari has over six years of criminal law experience. Prior to joining Eckberg Lammers, she was the Assistant County Attorney in Morrison County and Rice County, where she prosecuted all levels of criminal matters from charging to trial, including DWI, assault, domestic assault, and criminal sexual conduct.

Committed to community service and outreach, particularly in areas of education for the municipalities we represent, Kari believes that partnering closely with law enforcement and other justice partners provides effective prosecution and achieves fair outcomes. Kari is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, the theater and getting re-acquainted with her hometown of Northfield, MN.

Leah Koch

Leah Koch is an attorney at Campbell Knutson, P.A. and practices general municipal law and civil litigation. Leah assists with the firm's representation of all city clients, chiefly Farmington, North St. Paul, and Mendota Heights. Leah's transactional practice includes general municipal issues and helping clients react to unexpected events, such as sudden cannabinoid product legalization and the legal repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leah also serves as defense counsel for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. Prior to joining Campbell Knutson, Leah served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Thomas Pugh and the Judge Timothy McManus in Dakota County District Court. In her spare time, Leah enjoys gardening and trying out new home improvement projects.

Casey Carmody

Casey Carmody is a Senior Policy Analyst for the Data Practices Office at the Minnesota Department of Administration. Mr. Carmody received a B.S. in Political Science and Mass Communication from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and an M.A. in Media Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where his thesis focused on media law. He joined the Department of Administration in 2019. Previously, Mr. Carmody managed data practices as a communications specialist for the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.

Meagan Kelley

Meagan Kelley is an associate attorney with Campbell Knutson and practices criminal prosecution. Meagan graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 2017, she graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. While attending law school, Meagan clerked in the Ramsey County Attorney's Office where she handled adult felony cases at various stages of the criminal process. Prior to joining Campbell Knutson, Meagan served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Gary Bastian and the Honorable Adam Yang in the Second Judicial District of Minnesota.

Elisa Hatlevig

Elisa Hatlevig is a partner with Jardine, Logan & O’Brien, P.L.L.P., currently serving as the firm's Managing Partner. Elisa is licensed to practice law in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota. In addition to her work for municipalities, Elisa represents businesses, contractors, manufacturers, and individuals in litigation involving general liability and construction defect claims throughout the Midwest. In her practice for municipalities, Elisa has successfully defended municipalities throughout the state of Minnesota in land use, inverse condemnation, municipal development, contracting and construction, drainage and water resources management complaints, bidding disputes, environmental pollution, and contractual indemnity issues.

Michelle Weinberg

Michelle Weinberg primarily practices in the area of construction law and litigation. She represents and advises clients in matters concerning construction claims, design defects, real estate and land use, environmental law, and other complex legal and regulatory issues. She has experience in all phases of the litigation process in both state and federal courts. Michelle is a problem solver who strives to obtain client-centered and practical results. Michelle lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two children. Outside of work, she enjoys soccer, staying active, the outdoors, and travel. Michelle also volunteers as the legal chair for the Sierra Club North Star Chapter.

Roger Reinert

Roger has been a practitioner of parliamentary procedure for 36 years and was that geek in high school who was on a parliamentary procedure team that went to state four years in a row. He is a licensed attorney who works in the local government, and local elected leadership space. He is a former City Councilor, State Legislator, and both a Bush and Aspen Institute Fellow. He is also an actively serving Commander in the United States Navy Reserve. Roger makes his home on the hillside of Duluth. He is a sailor, an avid runner, and a licensed pilot.

Anna Christie

Anna Christie is an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney. She graduated Cum Laude from Hamline University School of Law in 2007. She worked as a judicial law clerk until June of 2011 when she was hired by the Ramsey County Attorney's Office. Anna worked in the trial division until October 2020 handling primarily domestic and sexual assault and child abuse cases. During that time, she was part of two projects where she was cross-deputized and worked with city attorneys prosecuting misdemeanor level domestic violence cases. She currently works in the Pretrial Justice Division.

Julie Eddington

Julie Eddington is a shareholder and the former president of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered. Julie's practice focuses on public finance and economic development and redevelopment. She advises towns, cities, counties, and authorities in all aspects of public finance, including the issuance of revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, conduit borrowing, development and redevelopment. Julie grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and received her B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1989. In 1991, Julie earned a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison's Journalism School. Julie moved to the Twin Cities in 1993 and enrolled in Hamline University School of Law. She earned her law degree cum laude in 1996.

Libby Kantner

Libby Kantner is an associate at Kennedy & Graven, Chartered, practicing in the areas of public finance and economic development and redevelopment. Born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Libby attended Hamline University where she received her B.A. degree in political science. Libby worked in politics and in local government for several years prior to attending law school. She graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law magna cum laude in 2021.

Corrine Heine

Corrine Heine has been the city attorney for Minnetonka since 2013. Her entire legal career has been in municipal law, representing statutory and charter cities and other local government bodies.

Melissa Manderschied

Melissa Manderschied has been the city attorney for Bloomington since 2016. Prior to serving Bloomington, Melissa worked at Kennedy & Graven. Melissa was a planner at the Metropolitan Council and an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer before attending law school.

Mark Rahrick

Mark Rahrick practices law in Owatonna and is city attorney for five small municipalities in southern Minnesota. His work in municipal law includes real estate, litigation, contract law.

Jacqueline Buffington

Dr. Jacki Buffington is an associate professor of Criminology in the Department of Justice, Culture, and Social Change at the University of Minnesota Duluth, as well as a licensed forensic clinical psychologist in private practice. She has been performing competency to stand trial and competency at the time of the offense evaluations in state hospitals and in the community in Virginia and in the community in Minnesota for over 15 years. She is a consultant for the Sixth Judicial District Courts, as a program evaluator for the two mental health courts in the district, as well as the coordinator and screener of the Rule 20 Screening Project. She has provided a variety of trainings and workshops, speaking at the annual meetings for judges, public defenders, and dispositional advisors across the state; training psychologists to perform Rule 20s; and training law enforcement and jail officers on mental health crises and de-escalation.

Robert Alsop

Bob is a shareholder with the law firm of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered. For the last 35 years, he has been counseling government entities in a variety of issues, including matters relating to labor and employment. In recent years, Bob has gained significant experience advising clients with regard to their options when advised by PERA of their obligation to provide ongoing health insurance coverage under Minn. Stat. Section 299A.465 to a former employee.

Mary Tietjen

Mary is shareholder with the law firm of Kennedy & Graven Chartered and has been representing cities for 25 years. She is currently the city attorney for several metro area cities and advises cities daily on employment and labor related matters. Along with her colleague, Bob Alsop, Mary has represented numerous cities in continuing health insurance appeals and PERA claims and provide advice to cities on the 299A process.

Jess Braverman

Jess Braverman is the legal director at Gender Justice where she ensures that their litigation strategy not only promotes the dignity of her clients but also advances Gender Justice's mission of removing barriers to gender equity. Jess engages in impact litigation on issues such as transgender rights, sex discrimination, and reproductive rights. Jess came to Gender Justice from the Hennepin County Public Defender's office, where she spearheaded the office's Special Litigation Unit focusing on racial profiling in policing. Minnesota Lawyer honored Jess as one of their 2021 Attorneys of the Year, and she earned the 2020 Equality and Justice Award from the Minnesota Lavender Bar Association.

Peter Zuniga

Peter Zuniga is the Deputy City Attorney for the City of Bloomington where he leads the civil division for the City Attorney's Office. Peter provides timely and objective legal advice and solutions to the city's Human Resources Department, City Clerk's Office, Fire Department, Police Department, and its Human Rights Commission and routinely advises the City on the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Prior to the joining the city, Peter spent eleven and a half years at the State of Minnesota where he was Deputy Chief Counsel at the Minnesota Department of Transportation and most recently, General Counsel at the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. While at the Department of Human Rights, he oversaw the agency's enforcement investigations and litigation, including investigations and litigations defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Minnesota.

Peter Mikhail

Peter Mikhail is a shareholder with LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1994. He practices civil litigation and has been representing cities for more than 20 years. He also serves as the city attorney for South St. Paul. His practice includes eminent domain, real estate, land use, and constitutional law. He is a member of the MSBA and the Minnesota Defense Lawyer's Association, he's a board member of the Minnesota Eminent Domain Counsel's Association, past president of the Hennepin County Bar Association's Eminent Domain Section, and has been named a Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics.

Paul D. Reuvers

Paul is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and William Mitchell College of Law. Following law school, he clerked for Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Esther Tomljanovich. Paul is a founding member of Iverson Reuvers and has defended municipalities in litigation for over 30 years. He has litigated and tried cases in state and federal court and is a frequent speaker on a range of municipal issues. Paul is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell.

Soren Mattick

Soren Mattick is a shareholder with Campbell Knutson. Soren practices in the areas of general municipal, land use, litigation, labor and employment, and real estate for the cities of Big Lake, North St. Paul, Orono, Plymouth, St. Louis Park and Zimmerman.

Oliver Larson

Oliver Larson has worked at the Minnesota Attorney General's Office since 2012, and currently serves as the manager of its Environmental and Natural Resources Division. In his time at the Attorney's General Office, Oliver has handled a wide variety of litigation involving commercial disputes, regulatory enforcement, environmental permitting, and constitutional claims. Prior to joining the Office, Oliver worked as a commercial litigator in Chicago for thirteen years. Among other things, Oliver serves as a resource on attorney client and work product privilege issues, and was the lead attorney for the Attorney General's Office in Energy Policy Advocates v. Ellison.

Jim Thomson

Jim is a shareholder and former president at Kennedy & Graven. He practices in the areas of Litigation, Land Use, and Local Government Law. Jim is the city attorney for Brooklyn Park, Oakdale, North Oak, and Shakopee and is a defense attorney for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. In his spare time, Jim enjoys running, attending Twins games, spending time with his two granddaughters, and taking trips with his wife, Barb.