Swatara Lawyers

I have been representing individuals with their contacts with the legal system for over 47 years. I try to help my clients make informed decisions so that they have the information necessary to make their decisions based upon the best information available. No lawyer should make decisions for the client but enable the client to start the decision making process from the beginning and not become dependent on the attorney but know how to make future decisions in these areas without stress with a new found strength.

As a dedicated family law attorney, and recent nominee as a Super Lawyer - Rising Star in 2024, I am committed to providing compassionate legal representation. I am a Minnesota native. I received my law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. In years prior, I lived in California, where I earned a Master's in Public Policy focusing on Economics from Pepperdine University. I strive to meet the unique needs of each client. Whether through settlement discussion, mediation, or trial, I am committed to advocating for my clients' rights and interests. With this goal in mind, I...

Jill Brisbois is a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist with the Minnesota State Bar Association. Only 3% of all attorneys in the state have earned that achievement. In addition to this, Jill has over 10 years of experience in criminal law, which has given her formidable skills both inside and outside the courtroom. Jill’s excellence in criminal law has been recognized by the Minnesota Super Lawyers Magazine, which selected her to the Rising Stars list for 2013-2017. Whether you’ve been accused of a state or federal crime, Jill Brisbois can provide the high quality of criminal defense you need.

Practicing education law on behalf of students for 29 years.

John C. Lillie, III practices in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation within Minnesota and the surrounding region. John deals with a wide range of criminal matters, including petty misdemeanor traffic citations, gross misdemeanor DWI allegations and serious felony cases. John also focuses on handling a variety of civil cases, with an emphasis placed on those cases which must be tried. He is very aware of the fact that not all cases will be tried, but he prepares every case as if it will be with incredible attention to detail and leaving no stone unturned in...

Joshua London prides himself on accepting a limited number of cases so he can provide the specialized representation his clients need and deserve.

Ms. Torgerson, Esq. founded her own successful law firm in 1995, based out of downtown Minneapolis. She practices however throughout the entire State of Minnesota. Notably, in 2009, Ms. Torgerson, Esq. won a case at the United States Supreme Court, based on a denial of certiorari. Said win is a feat accomplished by a very few select lawyers. In 2010, Ms. Torgerson, Esq. was awarded an Attorney of the Year, by the Minnesota Lawyer legal newspaper. Ms. Torgerson has also been awarded Attorney for the New Millennium. Lynne Torgerson has been handling all types of...

Susan H. Stephan focuses her practice on legal challenges involving workers' compensation, Social Security Disability, personal injury, intellectual property, e-commerce and the Internet, as well as on general corporate legal matters. Susan has worked as a transactional attorney and a litigator on behalf of individual and corporate clients in a variety of industries, including software development, computer technology, health care, human resources consulting, engineering, and the entertainment community. She also has served as adjunct faculty since 2001 and has taught Intellectual Property Law, Music Copyright Law, Antitrust, Law and Economics, Workers' Compensation, Deposition Skills, and Pretrial Skills. Susan has been...

Ginny grew up in North Minneapolis and graduated from Patrick Henry High School. She got her undergraduate Degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a major in Political Science with a focus in Law and Politics and a minor in Sociology: Law, Criminology, and Deviance. While at the University of Minnesota Ginny was a Dean’s List recipient. She then pursued her legal education at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota where she graduated and was also a Dean’s List recipient. While at William Mitchell she was accepted as a member of the...

Matthew Schaap is a shareholder at Dougherty Molenda and serves on the firm's board of directors. He focuses on personal and business litigation, offering clients seasoned guidance in and out of the courtroom. Starting his career as a Judicial Law Clerk to Judge Elizabeth Hayden in Minnesota, Matthew supported judicial decision-making with crucial research and writing. He gained valuable experience assisting in jury trials across criminal and civil contexts, observing winning trial techniques firsthand. Joining Dougherty Molenda in 2004 post-clerkship, Matthew dedicated his practice to litigation and trial advocacy. He aims to be a zealous advocate, ensuring thorough research on all pertinent...

Ms. Molinaro has several years experience practicing tax law, probate/estate administration, estate planning, guardianship/ conservatorship, and HRO/OFP law. Ms. Molinaro strives to provide sensible legal representation to her clients. With litigation experience but also a common sense approach to the law, Ms. Molinaro is an effective advocate both in and out of the courtroom. Ms. Molinaro is licensed to practice in Minnesota, Colorado and North Dakota.