Created in 2008 by the MSBA, the Pro Bono Standard challenges law firms to increase their public service by adding to the number of bro bono clients they take on each year. In order to meet the standard, participating firms must offer a percentage of their legal services to persons of limited means or to organizations that address the needs of people of limited means.

Hanft Fride has strong community roots and is deeply integrated into the Duluth area. Giving back is a fundamental part of the culture at Hanft Fride, and committing to support people unable to afford legal services is one way the firm demonstrates this.

This is the third year Hanft Fride has signed the Standard, which means it will donate 2 percent of its hours to pro bono work in 2012.

About Hanft Fride

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers legal representation through specialized expertise. The firm is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

The Great Lakes Protection Fund’s board of directors is comprised of two governor-appointed representatives from each of the seven member states. The board of directors meets quarterly and oversees the investment of the endowment and governs the Fund’s operations.The Fund was developed to address the ecological problems surrounding the Great Lakes and to help protect and restore the resources.

Dudderar is a member and past chairman of the Board of Legal Aid of Northeastern Minnesota, and also serves as a member of the U.S. Bank National Association Advisory Board of Directors.

About Hanft Fride

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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Richard Burns, now Of Counsel, previously represented small- to medium-sized family-owned businesses and professionals in business and estate planning matters. Previously a Minnesota Law & Politics Top 40 estate planning attorney, he is available to Hanft Fride attorneys to consult on business and estate planning issues and is listed under Closely Held Business. Burns continues to function as general counsel for media companies, primarily in the areas of contract, employment and benefit issues, and libel and privacy matters.

William Burns was selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers 2011 Top 100 list. He handles private and public financing of business enterprises, multifamily and commercial real estate development, health care business issues, commercial real estate development, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides general business advice, management of litigation and other dispute resolution services.

Cheryl Prince practices primarily in family law, including divorce, adoption, paternity and prenuptial agreements. She has handled cases involving both simple and complex property division, spousal maintenance and custody issues. She has also served as mediator in a wide range of disputes including family, personal injury, contract and employment discrimination.

Jennifer Carey was selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers 2011 Top 50 Women list. Carey's practice is in the areas of trusts and estates and real estate, including real estate development and condominium law. Carey is a real property law specialist, certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association. She is also a member of the MSBA Real Property Council and co-chairs the MSBA Real Property Legislative Committee.

John D. Kelly was named to the Minnesota Super Lawyers 2011 Top 100 List. Kelly’s primary practice area is personal injury defense. Kelly has more than 30 years’ experience as a trial lawyer, representing insurers, individuals and corporate clients in tort actions and commercial disputes, professional liability, contract, employment, and personal injury matters.

The objective of the Super Lawyers selection process is to create a credible and comprehensive listing of attorneys that can be used as a resource to assist attorneys and consumers in the search for legal counsel. This multistep process objectively searches for candidates based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected to appear in Minnesota Super Lawyers.

Each of these attorneys will be listed in the August 2011 issues of Minnesota Super Lawyers magazine, Mpls.St.Paul magazine and Twin Cities Business magazine.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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This designation is bestowed on only 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state who are under age 40 or have been practicing law for 10 years or less. They are nominated by the state’s top lawyers and then evaluated by an independent review board.

Baker practices in all areas of estate planning, long-term care planning, probate, trust administration and family law. He earned his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 2000 and joined Hanft Fride later that year.

Kimber practices in the areas of general litigation including insurance defense, commercial litigation, workers’ compensation, construction and appellate practice. He received his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 2002 and joined Hanft Fride in 2004, after practicing in the Twin Cities. Kimber is a frequent speaker and contributor to legal trade publications and gives his time to several organizations in an effort to advance the legal profession. 

Baker and Kimber will be profiled in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of Minnesota Law & Politics magazine.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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This is Richard Burns’ 24th consecutive year of being included in Best Lawyers. Now Of Counsel, he is available to Hanft Fride attorneys to consult on business and estate planning issues. Additionally Burns continues to function as general counsel for media companies, primarily in the areas of contract, employment and benefit issues, and libel and privacy matters.

This year also marks William Burns’ 24th consecutive year of inclusion in Best Lawyers. He handles private and public financing of business enterprises, multifamily and commercial real estate development, health care business issues, commercial real estate development, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides general business advice, management of litigation and other dispute resolution services.

John Kelly has been included in Best Lawyers each year since 1995. He has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing insurers, individuals and corporate clients in tort actions and commercial disputes, including antitrust, professional liability, contract, employment and personal injury matters.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 39,000 leading attorneys cast almost 3.1 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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*Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC.

These inaugural rankings showcase the best of the best in 81 practice areas. The mission is to help guide referring lawyers and clients to law firms that meet their needs. The rankings provide a comprehensive review of the U.S. legal profession unprecedented both in the range of firms represented and in the range of qualitative and quantitative data used to develop the rankings.

“U.S. News has more than two decades of experience in providing the public with the most accurate and in-depth rankings of a wide range of institutions,” says Tim Smart, Executive Editor of U.S. News and World Report. “This experience, coupled with our growing reputation as a leading career information resource, makes these law firm rankings the logical next step.”

More than 9,000 clients—including every Fortune 100 company and 587 of the Fortune 1000 companies—provided 194,370 firm practice-area evaluations. In addition, more than 8,000 lawyers also provided input through evaluations. These surveys were combined with existing evaluations and hard numbers to determine rankings.

The national first-tier rankings will be featured in the October print issue of U.S. News and World Report, which will go on sale September 27.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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Richard Burns is now Of Counsel, previously representing small- to medium-sized family-owned businesses and professionals in business and estate planning matters. A Minnesota Law & Politics Top 40 estate planning attorney, he is available to Hanft Fride attorneys to consult on business and estate planning issues. Burns continues to function as general counsel for media companies, primarily in the areas of contract, employment and benefit issues, and libel and privacy matters.

William Burns handles private and public financing of business enterprises, multi-family and commercial real estate development, health care business issues, commercial real estate development, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides general business advice, management of litigation and other dispute resolution services.

Cheryl Prince practices primarily in family law, including divorce, adoption, paternity and prenuptial agreements. She has handled cases involving both simple and complex property division, spousal maintenance and custody issues. She has also served as mediator in a wide range of disputes including family, personal injury, contract and employment discrimination.

Jennifer Carey was selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers 2010 Top 50 Women list. Carey's practice is in the areas of trusts and estates and real estate, including real estate development and condominium law. Carey is a real property law specialist, certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association. She is also a member of the MSBA Real Property Council and co-chairs the MSBA Real Property Legislative Committee.

John D. Kelly was named to the Minnesota Super Lawyers 2010 Top 100 List. Mr. Kelly’s primary practice area is personal injury defense. Kelly has over 30 years experience as a trial lawyer, representing insurers, individuals and corporate clients in tort actions and commercial disputes, professional liability, contract, employment, and personal injury matters.

The objective of the Super Lawyers selection process is to create a credible and comprehensive listing of attorneys that can be used as a resource to assist attorneys and consumers in the search for legal counsel. This multi-step process objectively searches for candidates based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected to appear in Minnesota Super Lawyers.

Each of these attorneys will be listed in the August 2010 issues of Minnesota Super Lawyers magazine, Mpls.St.Paul magazine and Twin Cities Business magazine.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride prides itself on providing the highest quality legal representation for both businesses and individuals. The professional association is located inU.S. Bank Placein downtownDuluth. 

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This is Richard Burns’ 23rd consecutive year to be included in Best Lawyers. Now Of Counsel, he is available to Hanft Fride attorneys to consult on business and estate planning issues. Additionally Burns continues to function as general counsel for media companies, primarily in the areas of contract, employment and benefit issues, and libel and privacy matters.

This year also marks William Burns’ 23rd consecutive year of inclusion in Best Lawyers. He handles private and public financing of business enterprises, multi-family and commercial real estate development, health care business issues, commercial real estate development, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides general business advice, management of litigation and other dispute resolution services.

John Kelly has been included in Best Lawyers each year since 1995. He has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing insurers, individuals and corporate clients in tort actions and commercial disputes, including antitrust, professional liability, contract, employment and personal injury matters.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 39,000 leading attorneys cast almost 3.1 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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*Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC.

Prince was named to the Minnesota Law & Politics Top 40 in the practice area of Family Law. Those named to the Top 40 undergo a thorough evaluation of such factors as special licenses and certifications, professional activity, pro bono and community service as an attorney, scholarly lectures and writings, peer recognition and other outstanding achievements.

Prince’s family law practice includes divorce, adoption, paternity and prenuptial agreements. She has handled cases involving both simple and complex property division, maintenance and custody issues. She has also served as mediator in a wide range of disputes including family, personal injury, contract and employment discrimination.

This accolade follows Prince being named to the 2009 Minnesota Super Lawyers list, an honor she shares with fellow Hanft Fride colleagues John Kelly, Richard Burns, Jennifer Carey and William Burns. She was also recently selected to the Top 100 Women Minnesota Super Lawyers list.

Prince will be profiled in the February/March 2010 issue of Minnesota Law & Politics magazine.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride prides itself on providing the highest quality legal representation for both businesses and individuals. The professional association is located inU.S. Bank Placein downtownDuluth. 

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A native of the Twin Cities, Sandstad received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris. She continued her education with a master's degree in education from the University of Minnesota and went on to graduate with distinction from the University of Minnesota Law School.   

Sandstad's achievements during law school include serving as lead outside article editor for the Journal of Law & Inequality and interning for the Honorable James M. Rosenbaum, then Chief United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota.

Following graduation, Sandstad served as an adjunct faculty member at William Mitchell College of Law and clerked for the Honorable Terri J. Stoneburner at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. 

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride prides itself on providing the highest quality legal representation for both businesses and individuals. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth. 

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A.M. Best Co., an insurance-rating and information agency has provided information on the preeminent insurance defense law firms since 1927. The selection process has not changed much since the '20s. Once a firm is selected as a potential listee, it is asked each year to submit an application that includes names of its insurance company clients. A.M. Best contacts the companies for feedback. If it is positive, the firm can be listed.

The law firms were recognized as a group for the first time in Best's Review magazine's May 2009 edition.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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The objective of the Super Lawyers selection process is to create a credible and comprehensive listing of attorneys that can be used as a resource to assist attorneys and consumers in the search for legal counsel. This multi-step process objectively searches for candidates based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected to appear in Minnesota Super Lawyers.

This honor follows Richard Burns, William Burns and John Kelly being named America's Best Lawyers in March 2008, and Jennifer Carey and Cheryl Prince being named as Top 100 Minnesota Women Super Lawyers in August 2008.

Richard Burns represents small- to medium-sized family-owned businesses and professionals in business and estate planning matters. He also functions as general counsel for media companies, primarily in the areas of contract, employment and benefit issues, and libel and privacy matters, and for a significant charitable organization.

William Burns handles private and public financing of business enterprises, multifamily and commercial real estate development, health care business issues, commercial real estate development, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides general business advice, management of litigation and other dispute resolution services.

Jennifer Carey's practice is in the areas of trusts and estates and real estate, including real estate development and condominium law. Carey is a Real Property Law Specialist, certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association, and a member of the Real Property Council and Legislative Committee of the MSBA.

John Kelly has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing insurance companies and corporate clients in tort actions and commercial disputes, including antitrust, professional liability, contract, employment and personal injury matters.

Cheryl Prince practices primarily in family law, including divorce, adoption, paternity and prenuptial agreements. She has handled cases involving both simple and complex property division, maintenance and custody issues. She has also served as mediator in a wide range of disputes including family, personal injury, contract and employment discrimination.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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Kimber practices in the areas of general litigation, insurance defense, workers' compensation, and appellate practice. He received his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 2002 and joined Hanft Fride in 2004 after practicing for a brief time in the Twin Cities. Kimber is a frequent speaker and contributor to legal trade publications and gives his time to several organizations in an effort to advance the legal profession. 

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride prides itself in providing the highest quality legal representation for both businesses and individuals. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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Duluth, MN - Richard Burns from Duluth-based Hanft Fride has been designated one of the Top 40 Estate Planning and Probate and Elder Law attorneys in the state by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine. He is also Minnesota state chair in the American College of the Trust and Estate Counsel, an association of selected attorneys skilled in estate and trust matters.

Richard Burns represents small- to medium-sized family-owned businesses and professionals in business and estate planning matters. He also represents numerous charitable organizations and functions as general counsel for media companies, primarily in the area of contract, employment and benefit issues and libel and privacy matters. 

Burns is listed among "The Best Lawyers in America" and Minnesota Law & Politics "Super Lawyers." He has served extensively within statewide and national organizations to advance the legal profession and believes strongly in community involvement. Among other things, he was a founder and is a former chair of the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation, is a former chair and a recipient of the United Way Distinguished Service Award, and is a past chair of Miller-Dwan Medical Center.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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Tilden practices in the area of civil litigation. He graduated, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he double majored in classical history and political science. He received his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Miami in May 2007 where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and served as an articles and comments editor on the University of Miami Law Review.

Tilden is licensed to practice in Minnesota and North Dakota and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the State Bar Association of North Dakota and the American Bar Association.

LaCoursiere addresses a diverse array of legal matters, practicing primarily in civil litigation. He studied English and political science at the University of Minnesota Morris, graduating with distinction and honors in 2002. He received his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2007. During law school, LaCoursiere clerked for the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, conducted research for Professor Fred L. Morrison and Associate Clinical Professor of Law Prentiss Cox, and served as managing director for the Maynard Pirsig Moot Court Program. Prior to joining the firm, LaCoursiere clerked for the Honorable David Minge at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

LaCoursiere is licensed to practice in Minnesota and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride prides itself in providing the highest quality legal representation for both businesses and individuals. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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Carey practices primarily in real estate law and estate planning. She is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Real Property Law Specialist and is a member of the Real Property Council and Legislative Committee of the MSBA. She is a member of the American, Minnesota and Wisconsin Bar Associations.  

Prince practices primarily in family law. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Law and on the board of the Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section. She also teaches family law at the University of Wisconsin Superior. She is a member of the Minnesota State Bar, State Bar of Wisconsin and Eleventh District Bar Association.

To arrive at the top 100 female attorneys, Minnesota Law & Politics conducts a detailed evaluation process including a personal evaluation of verdicts and settlements, transactions, experience, honors and awards, and several other criteria. Finally, candidates are evaluated by peers in their specific areas of practice.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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Selection to "Best Lawyers" is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 2 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country. Because no fee or purchase is required, being listed in "Best Lawyers" is considered a singular honor.

Richard Burns represents small to medium-sized family-owned businesses and professionals in business and estate planning matters. He also functions as general counsel for media companies, primarily in the areas of contract, employment and benefit issues and libel and privacy matters, and for a significant charitable organization.

William Burns handles private and public financing of business enterprises, multifamily and commercial real estate development, health care business issues, commercial real estate development, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides general business advice, management of litigation and other dispute resolution services.

Carey's practice is in the areas of trusts and estates and real estate, including real estate development and condominium law. Carey is a Real Property Law Specialist, certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association, and a member of the Real Property Council and Legislative Committee of the MSBA.

Kelly has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing insurance companies and corporate clients in tort actions and commercial disputes, including antitrust, professional liability, contract, employment and personal injury matters.

Prince practices primarily in family law, including divorce, adoption, paternity and prenuptial agreements. She has handled cases involving both simple and complex property division, maintenance and custody issues. She has also served as mediator in a wide range of disputes including family, personal injury, contract and employment discrimination.

Established in 1899, Hanft Fride offers the best possible legal representation through specialized expertise. The professional association is located in U.S. Bank Place in downtown Duluth.

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