Sawyer Lawyers

Ms. Kugler practices exclusively in the area of family law. Karen works toward equitable settlements, but is skilled in trial advocacy. Karen discusses the risks and expense of litigation with her clients. She is a knowledgeable, empathetic, and assertive legal advocate and handles all family law issues: spousal maintenance, child support, property division, and custody at the trial and appellate levels. Karen is past Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) Family Law Section and is a past Co-Chair of the RCBA Family Law Section. She is a frequent writer and speaker regarding family law, co-authoring the Child Support...

Throughout his legal career, Luke Smith has practiced primarily in the area of workers’ compensation. Luke has in the past represented employees, employers, and insurance carriers in all stages of litigation. He now is focused on representing employees in workers’ compensation matters. Luke Smith worked at a law firm that practiced employee-side workers’ compensation throughout law school. He graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2016, summa cum laude (highest honors). Luke received several awards for academic performance in law school, participated in law review, and participated in moot court. He represented injured workers in workers’ compensation litigation following law...

I am Charles Gerlach, a solo practitioner serving clients throughout Minnesota. With a background in criminal trial strategy, I have completed over 120 jury trials. My 25 years of experience as a prosecutor now significantly benefits my clients. My practice areas include domestic assault, sexual assault, child abuse, robbery, assault, and driving while impaired. Unlike many firms, Gerlach Law also takes on cases involving traffic citations. I transitioned from prosecution to private practice with a clear goal: to assist individuals in need. I am committed to providing personalized service to each of my clients. When you call my office, you will...

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...

A runner, knitter, deer hunter, mother, wife and attorney living just outside the Twin Cities with her husband (Jason), four children (Esme, Mina, Roland, and Walter), dog (Fletcher), cat (Oreo) and four chickens (Belina, Sandslash, R2D2, and Starlight).

Sarah approaches the practice of law with an emphasis on client service. She learned from her father at a very young age that lawyering is about serving your clients first and foremost. What that looks like in practice is a business model that focuses on frequent client communication, availability of the attorney to the client and a teamwork approach between attorney and...

Christopher D. Jozwiak is a skilled litigator who has won striking victories on behalf of his clients in a diverse range of employment issues. He is a founding partner of Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP and has been recognized as a Rising Star since 2011 and a Super Lawyer since 2014 and was named to the Best Lawyers in America 2018 list for his work in employment law. Chris works tirelessly for his clients in cases involving whistleblower retaliation, sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, reprisal, discrimination, and wrongful termination. He also represents employees and consumers in national class...

I graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, honored Magna Cum Laude. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in Duluth, honored Cum Laude. I specialize in DWI Defense and Criminal Defense, and have experience with these types of cases. I gained experience both in the Public Defender's offices and with a private law firm before opening my own solo practice.
I specialize in Criminal Defense and DWI. My guiding principles as an attorney include the following:
1) A client's interests come before my own convenience. It's your life and liberty on the line, and when you trust me...

David Tanabe is an attorney in the business litigation group with Messerli Kramer, where he focuses on all aspects of bankruptcy law, business restructuring, and insolvency. His clients include financial institutions, lenders, receivers, asset purchasers, trade creditors, and businesses. He also works closely with transactional attorneys on an array of matters, including sales of assets, financing, real-estate purchases and sales, commercial leasing, and workouts. As a ten-year veteran of the NHL, David understands the importance of teamwork and the power of operating efficiently and cohesively. Whether learning the game from Hall-of-Famers as a 19-year-old first-round draft pick or learning the law...

Jim Lindell (University of Minnesota, 1977) is a litigator focused on personal injury cases, including product liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, liquor liability and workers' compensation. He is a certified civil trial specialist and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He is past dean of the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota. Lindell feels his broad work experience prior to law school, including construction, firefighting, teaching, and service in the U.S. Army, allows him to relate well to his clients of highly varied backgrounds. He practices in Wisconsin as well as Minnesota and is a qualified arbitrator and mediator.

Chantell Bergquist is an associate attorney at Burns and Hansen and focuses on family law and civil litigation. At a young age, Chantell knew that she wanted to become an attorney because she saw the need for empathic attorneys, not the robotic kind of attorneys people generally picture. Before graduating from Bemidji State University, Chantell was already attending Mitchell Hamline School of Law so she could take the fast track into practicing family law. Chantell is also a published author in Mitchell Hamline's Law Review. She is thoughtful and meticulous, leaving no stone unturned as she maneuvers through the case toward...

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 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...

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.

Jerri Adams Belcher is a fearless and tenacious advocate for employees’ rights. She represents individuals who have experienced discrimination, retaliation, and harassment in the workplace. Prior to joining Engelmeier & Umanah, P.A. Jerri litigated and tried employment, insurance, and construction-defect cases. During law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she developed her advocacy skills as a judicial intern for then Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Further, she completed externships at the Wisconsin Department of Justice in its Civil Litigation unit, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C. Jerri also...

Barry O’Neil is a trial attorney, who is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota Bar Association. Mr. O’Neil’s practice involves the resolution of complex commercial disputes, professional liability claims, employment-related issues and insurance claims. A significant portion of Mr. O’Neil’s practice is in the area of professional liability defense with emphasis in legal malpractice. Mr. O’Neil is the practice group manager of the firm’s Trials and Litigation Practice Group, and he also heads Lommen Abdo’s entertainment litigation initiative. Mr. O’Neil has extensive experience in employment litigation including all types of employment discrimination claims, and he has additionally acted...

Bart Torvik is a skilled personal injury and foodborne illness attorney, with years of experience in litigation. After graduating at the top of his class from the University of Minnesota Law School, he clerked for Judge James M. Rosenbaum, the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Following this position, Bart worked at a large Minnesota firm where he handled every aspect of litigation, from initial consultations to jury trials. In 2010, Bart moved to Evanston, Illinois after his wife Laura became a Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. In...

I'm a trial lawyer. I'm grateful for the opportunity to fight for justice on behalf of individuals going through hard times against some of the largest corporations in the country.

After law school, I joined the Marine Corps and served as a judge advocate. There's no better training ground for a trial lawyer - I tried over 100 felony and misdemeanor cases. I'm proud of the results I got, including one of the first successful defenses of a Marine discriminated against based on sexual orientation. I deployed to Iraq in a nation building capacity to work with...

Legal Experience—Solving Complex Business Problems Ms. Lockner is a partner in the firm's business litigation department who works with business leaders facing legal disputes that cause financial exposure and other risks to their business. Using her extensive litigation and trial experience, Ms. Lockner offers strategic legal guidance on how to use litigation—either defensively or affirmatively—to meet their business objectives. As a trial attorney, she has the skills and expertise to wield the threat of trial as a sword, but understands and appreciates her clients’ need to use it only as weapon of last resort. Ultimately, Ms. Lockner’s goal is to further...

I practiced criminal law in California for 16 years and continue to practice criminal law in both the State and Federal Courts in Minnesota. I was honored as an attorney of the year from the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association in 2002. I have handled and tried cases to juries in everything from petty theft, DWI, and minor drug cases to very serious robberies, burglaries and homicides. I have won numerous cases and most recently won a felony sexual assault appeal and then won the jury retrial in the case in Washington County Minnesota in 2010. I...

Charles Clas gained considerable experience in criminal law before he even graduated from law school. He participated in the Misdemeanor Prosecution Clinic at the University of Minnesota School of Law, and served as an instructor and member of the Civil Rights National Moot Court team. Charles also worked as a law clerk at Caplan & Tamburino Law Firm, P.A. before joining the firm as a full time attorney in 2014. Charles has successfully tried many criminal cases for the firm, such as marijuana possession, DWI, felony expungement, and 3rd degree assault. If you need experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense you...

Mr. Joseph J. Dudley, Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. in 1945 and has practiced law in the state of Minnesota since 1978. Mr. Dudley served in the U.S Air Force (Vietnam) and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1972. He received his law degree in 1977 from Hamline University, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Dudley is a member of the Ramsey County Bar, Minnesota State Bar, Federal Bar and American Bar Associations. Mr. Dudley’s main areas of practice include Corporate, Commercial Litigation, Franchising, Transportation and Environmental Law. Dudley and Smith, P.A. is a Minnesota law firm practicing in most...

Graduated with Honors from William Mitchell College of Law 1983 Founder of Warner Law Office, P.A. 1987 Practice devoted exclusively to employment law.

About Benjamin

Benjamin Tarshish is a partner attorney at the Tarshish Cody law firm. He prides himself on providing his clients with practical legal advice. He is a passionate, aggressive, and ethical lawyer.

Benjamin was raised in a suburb of Minneapolis. He is a graduate from Carleton College in Northfield, MN and received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN.

Benjamin is licensed to practice law in both Minnesota and Illinois.

Unlike the stereotype for many lawyers and attorneys, Benjamin is outgoing, friendly, and has a sense of humor. This makes working with him on a particular legal...

Jim has practiced law since 1972 in Minnesota and 1986 in Wisconsin. In addition to his law practice, he is a licensed real estate broker (since 1976). He has served as President (twice) of the South St. Paul Rotary Club and Board of Directors of the St. Paul Heritage and Festival Association. Presently, Jim advises several privately-held companies on matters of initial incorporation and corporate governance. In addition, he counsels clients regarding real estate matters, condemnation proceedings, estate planning alternatives including trusts and wills, and related issues such as elder law, health care directives, powers of attorney,...

Mr. Satre has over 29 years of legal experience practicing almost exclusively in the area of employment litigation. He has litigated numerous, high profile sexual harassment cases involving large parties including: The Stroh Brewing Company; Hooters of America; Pfizer; and many other national and international companies. Mr. Satre is a former Board Member of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Employment Lawyer’s Association. Mr. Satre’s highly esteemed reputation as an authority in the employment area has resulted in him receiving numerous awards. Mr. Satre’s peers have recognized him as a “Super Lawyer” many times...

I have been practicing intellectual property law for 25+ years. I have experience representing Fortune 500 clients as well as small businesses and independent inventors. My background is mechanical engineering.

Many times in life each of us come to a crossroads or encounter an issue in which we need to get legal advice on how best to proceed forward. At such times it is important to obtain guidance from someone who can act like a beacon in a possible sea of doubt or confusion. Mooney Law Office is committed to providing you with top notch legal representation. Mooney Law Office has represented hundreds of clients over the years in the ten county metropolitan area as well as out-state Minnesota. Every client is approached with a focus on integrity, advocacy and understanding....

Teresa grew up in northern Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior, and returns whenever possible to visit family and friends. After graduation from Ondossagon High School, she attended nursing school and practiced as a registered nurse first as a labor and delivery nurse certified in high risk obstetrics, then as an adult critical care nurse in surgical intensive care. Her interest in advocacy for her patients led to a career in law. Teresa devotes her law practice to representing individuals who have been harmed by serious medical errors and medical negligence. She brings a unique blend of...

I'm the owner of Subzero Criminal Defense. I focus my practice on the defense of most serious offenses: murder, sexual assault, domestic assault, and child pornography. The more serious your case, the more important it is to defend your innocence. I'm also the creator of FalselyAccused.com. It's a website devoted to reverse engineering wrongful convictions from the past to help people falsely accused today. If you are falsely accused, there is no better attorney to craft a strategy to combat your false accusations.

Janelle was born and raised in Southern California. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law with honors. During her time in law school, Janelle served as senior editor of the St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy, worked as a student attorney in the Nonprofit Organizations and Elder Law clinics, and volunteered extensively with the Minnesota State Bar Foundation and Wills for Heroes. She currently lives in Eden Prairie with her husband and their five children. In her free time Janelle enjoys creative writing, supporting Minnesota hockey, and spending time outdoors...