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Mr. Wance is a shareholder and former chair of Buchalter’s Land Use Practice Group. He has built a cross-disciplinary practice involving land use and entitlements, water resources, environmental compliance, natural resources, and public law through the representation of both public agencies and private businesses throughout California. Mr. Wance has handled all aspects of these substantive areas, from advising clients regarding the applicability of the law, to guiding clients through a permitting or entitlement process, or defending clients subject to enforcement actions. He successfully represented businesses and public agencies in sophisticated financial, real estate, water resource, environmental compliance, and land development matters in court and before administrative agencies. Mr. Wance’s land use and entitlement background includes representation of residential developers, public entities, major industrial facilities, and other commercial businesses in all phases of project development before local and state agencies, city councils, and county board of supervisors. He has assisted clients in obtaining development and environmental permits and project approvals for power plants, schools, mixed-use, and industrial development projects.

Mr. Ashwell practices in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, land use and zoning, domestic relations, estate planning and real estate. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, Ohio, and his B.A. degree from Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia. Mr. Ashwell was named a Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2017-2021. He has served as a frequent speaker at CLE classes and seminars related to land use, zoning, easements and ethics in boundary law.

Mr. DiStanislao’s practice is focused on residential and commercial contract and closing negotiations, construction and permanent financing, negotiating leases, easement agreements, covenants, land use and zoning, and civil trial work, including real estate litigation, contract litigation, landlord/tenant law, and personal injury. He also handles traffic defense cases, gun rights restoration cases, and municipal law. Mr. DiStanislao earned his B.A. degree from Hampden-Sydney College. After college, he worked as the Director of Business Development for Bon Air Title Insurance Agency before earning his law degree from Campbell University School of Law.

Mr. Gooch is a clean energy lawyer who helps clients develop, build, and sell solar projects and battery storage facilities. He regularly advises clients regarding leases, land use issues, environmental regulation, and transactional matters such as construction contracts and asset purchases. Mr. Gooch frequently represents Virginia landowners in negotiations with electric utilities and renewable energy developers. He advises clients on key terms of solar lease and option arrangements such as the contract term, liability provisions, and compensation. His industry experience allows him to evaluate project sites and negotiate maximum compensation for his landowner clients. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Gooch was an Assistant Attorney General of Virginia and served as counsel to a number of state agencies, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Renewable Energy Division. He is an expert on Virginia’s Permit By Rule process and other regulations affecting renewable generators and storage developers. Mr. Gooch is a graduate of the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. After law school, he clerked for two years at the Supreme Court of Virginia for Justice William C. Mims.

Mr. Murphy is a real estate and zoning lawyer who focuses on real estate development and transactions in Virginia as a principal in the firm’s Land Use and Zoning Group in Tysons. His practice also extends to general civil litigation, local government law, administrative law, and eminent domain. Mr. Murphy has secured complex land use approvals for clients throughout Virginia, while also successfully representing clients before trial and appellate courts. He has also played a key role in the establishment or relocation of corporate headquarters for many of Northern Virginia’s most successful businesses. His clients have included Fortune 500 companies, homebuilders, hospitals, retailers, public utilities, and institutional users. In addition to his focus on real estate development and transactions, his practice also includes general civil litigation, local government law, administrative law, and eminent domain. Mr. Murphy often draws on his extensive background in public policy, having held key positions with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. Most recently, he was a partner in the Tysons office of Reed Smith LLP. Mr. Murphy earned his B.A. degree from George Mason University and his J.D. degree from George Mason University School of Law.

Mr. Peeples focuses his practice in the areas of maritime and riparian law, construction law, worker’s compensation, and national security. A prolific author, he has written articles on Virginia aquaculture and maritime law, including the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, the Virginia Primary Sand Dune and Beaches Act, and the Virginia Tidal Wetlands Act. Mr. Peeples has been published in a number of professional journals on a variety of topics, ranging from Virginia real property law to the Anti-Terrorism Act. He is a member of the firm’s waterfront law practice group, and he writes blog articles regularly on the group’s website devoted to waterfront (riparian) property rights law, maritime and admiralty law, and environmental law. He has also taught CLE courses on the topic of riparian rights throughout the Commonwealth. Before joining the firm in 2018, Mr. Peeples retired from the U.S. Navy after 22 years of service as a pilot. He completed seven combat deployments and served as the Commanding Officer of a helicopter squadron. His last assignment was Lead Rotational Planner for the Joint Staff, where he provided strategic advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defense.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Mr. Barkhurst has extensive litigation experience in business and real estate disputes. He has developed a special concentration in the area of eminent domain, representing governmental entities as well as landowners in numerous lawsuits. Mr. Barkhurst has successfully represented numerous owners in ranch power line takings. He also represents governmental entities in construction disputes, and he has represented contractors and subcontractors in private disputes. He also has extensive experience handling complex business dissolution and injunction cases. Mr. Barkhurst has a B.A. degree, with honors, from Southwest Texas State University and a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University, and he is a former USAF Captain and F-111 Aviator. 

Mr. Cooney focuses his practice on land use and development. He clerked with Wilson Cribbs + Goren throughout his entire time in law school, where he was able to gain valuable knowledge and skills in the land use, zoning, and development areas so that he could hit the ground running once starting as a full-time attorney. Mr. Cooney brings a creative and detail-oriented approach to his work, shaped by his early interests in architecture and photography. He received a B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University and went on to receive a J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was his class’s valedictorian. During his time at South Texas, Mr. Cooney served as an Associate Editor of the South Texas Law Review, an Editor on the Construction Law Journal, and was actively involved in the Real Estate & Construction Law Society.

Mr. Guarino’s work with the firm focuses on identifying, assessing and resolving a wide variety of land use and traditional commercial real estate matters across all asset types. Mr. Guarino earned his B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University and his J.D. degree from the University of Huston Law Center.

Mr. Izfar represents private land owners and developers in navigating land use and zoning issues in connection local regulation of commercial and industrial developments as well master-planned communities. Previously, he was Assistant City Attorney for the City of Houston where his practice focused on land development regulations within the City of Houston and public-private partnerships. Mr. Izfar earned his B.A. degree from Emory University and his J.D. degree from the Rutgers-Camden School of Law.

Mr. Joeckel is a member of Winstead’s Business Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Joeckel has experience in a range of civil and commercial matters in state and federal courts, including industry experience in real estate, construction, technology, and financial services. He earned his B.B.A. degree from Texas A & M University, his M.L.A degree from Texas Christina University and his J.D. degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.

Mr. Pruitt has exclusively represented cities in the Texas Panhandle and the Houston Metro Region on all matters of municipal law with an emphasis in land use and economic development. He has been the lead counsel for all land use issues in roles with cities and in private practice. Mr. Pruitt has been lead counsel for the creation and operation of tax increment reinvestment zones, public improvement districts, and economic development corporations. He has been directly involved with downtown revitalization initiatives in several cities and has provided guidance on the legal implications of such initiatives. Mr. Pruitt has an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a law degree from Texas A&M University School of Law.

Mr. Wison is recognized as a preeminent Texas real estate and land use attorney. A Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), he is one of few practicing Texas real estate attorneys holding the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) designation. Board-certified in commercial real estate law and property owners association law, he brings to his practice a long history of relationships and reputation with governmental and POA lawyers and officials throughout southeast Texas. As the chairman of Wilson Cribbs + Goren, he led the firm to become one of the go-to real estate boutiques in Texas. An adept critical thinker, problem-solver and creative strategist, as well as a skilled negotiator, Mr. Wilson advocates for the interests of a wide array of private and institutional clients, including residential, commercial and industrial developers, property owners, Fortune 500 companies, and other owners and operators. He also has unique knowledge of the laws on land use rights of religious organizations; specifically, the constitutional and statutory exceptions granted to them under state and federal law. Mr. Wilson’s practice involves a broad array of work related to both public and private land use regulations, such as deed restrictions (restrictive covenants), easements, development agreements, platting, economic development incentives, permitting and denial of permits, zoning, statutory vested rights, and traditional land use matters. As a trusted partner to his clients, he also counsels businesses proactively on land use and real estate matters to help avoid costly missteps before they occur. Mr. Wilson is past chair of the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law (REPTL) Section of the State Bar of Texas, the second-oldest and largest section of the State Bar of Texas, with more than 9,200 members. He is a director of the Texas Real Estate and Probate Institute (T-REP), which reviews and lobbies changes to real estate and probate laws to keep them current and effective. A former District Council Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Houston chapter, he has been a long-term contributor to the growth of that Council and is a long time full ULI member. Mr. Wilson has held the position of adjunct professor at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, teaching Real Estate and the Law and Best Practices in Real Estate Development. Recently, Texas Lawyer magazine selected him to receive its Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes lawyers who have made their mark on the state’s legal profession, and RED News named him a Real Estate Icon. As a leader of Wilson Cribbs + Goren, he leverages his extensive experience in land use and real estate law to mentor the firm’s attorneys.

ForeSight Consulting, LLC, a professional services firm established in 2004 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. ForeSight offers comprehensive civil engineering and land surveying services to the construction and building sectors. He manages the firm’s operations, directs its growth strategy, mentors team members, and continues to oversee engineering and surveying projects of various sizes throughout Indiana. A graduate of Purdue University, Mr. Bauer holds a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering Technology. He is a licensed professional engineer and professional surveyor in Indiana and has previously held professional licenses in several other states. In addition, he has served as an adjunct faculty member at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he taught courses in elementary surveying, route survey and design, land survey and subdivision, and hydraulics and drainage. Mr. Bauer has played an active role in the Indiana Society of Professional Surveyors (ISPLS), serving on its board of directors from 2006 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2020. He was honored with the President’s Award in 2010 for his contributions to the society, and the profession of land surveying. He served as president of ISPLS in 2019 and continues his involvement with the society on the Government Affairs Committee. Additionally, Mr. Bauer has served in leadership positions within the Northeast Chapter of ISPLS, including serving as chapter president on three occasions. He is regularly called upon to handle complex surveying cases and has served as an expert witness in matters involving boundaries, easements, and riparian rights. Known as a trusted resource for developers, title companies, and real estate attorneys, he has delivered continuing education presentations on professional surveying topics, including “Professional Surveyor’s Reports,” “Locating Land Boundaries: On Paper and On the Ground,” and “Conducting Due Diligence for a Purchase-Sale Agreement” through the American Bar Association.

Ms. Davisis a research hydrogeologist at Indiana Geological and Water Survey, working to understand and share information of surface and ground water resources in Indiana. She previously worked at Soil and Water Conservation Districts, as a hydrogeologist with DNR Division of Water, as
a consultant along with a geology professor at IvyTech. Ms. Davis has her master’s degrees in both Geology and Civil Engineering from Indiana University and Norwich University, respectively, focused on water resource management, treatment, characterization, and modeling. She currently sits on the AWWA Source Water Protection Committee and holds professional certifications in sediment and erosion control, floodplain management, watershed leadership, and natural resource training.

Ms. Schroeder brings a variety of skills to the complexities of today’s agriculture. She grew up on a farm in Northeast Indiana, so her insight is grounded in experience. Ms. Schroeder works with the agricultural industry as she provides expertise such as litigating complicated environmental matters, drafting contracts for agribusinesses, and helping livestock farms navigate regulatory compliance. She has a diverse group of clients including farmers, rural landowners, agricultural companies, and industry groups. Ms. Schroeder has worked at firms in Indianapolis and Chicago, with her perspective including experience in complex litigation, civil defense, property liability, environmental law, and insurance coverage. She is licensed in Indiana and Illinois. Along with her thriving law practice, Ms. Schroeder is committed to sharing insight with the industry as a sought-after speaker and author. She has authored numerous articles and given presentations on a variety of agricultural, environmental, and legal topics, including the Right to Farm Act, zoning, renewable energy, sustainability, the Clean Water Act, employment law, agritourism, farm security, and insurance coverage. Ms. Schroeder earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Carthage College, her M.S. degree from Valparaiso University and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law.

Mr. Schroeder is an attorney who helps people with environmental law-related issues or have had their insurance claim denied. He helps clients who have environmental law issues, including those arising from Indiana statutes (ELA, Flood Control Act, etc.), federal statutes (RCRA, CERCLA, etc.), regulatory bodies (IDEM, EPA, etc.), common law (negligence, trespass, nuisance, etc.) and more. Mr. Schroeder earned his J.D. degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

Mr. Walker has been working for or with the State of Indiana since 2012. He started working in the Groundwater Section in 2015 and became Section Chief in 2021. Mr. Walker helped develop and provide the Surface Water Threat Minimization and Response Plans for all the community drinking water systems that use surface water as their source. He orchestrated a voluntary PFAS sampling project for all community drinking water systems, ahead of an expected EPA rule. Mr. Walker graduated with a BA in Geography (Geographic Information Science) and Anthropology (Physical Anthropology) from Indiana University.

Cecily Barclay advises clients on land use and entitlements, real estate acquisition and development, and local government law matters. She assists with land use application processing, drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, and negotiating and securing the approval of development agreements. She also handles general plan amendments, annexations, initiatives and referendums, and tentative and final subdivision maps. Ms. Barclay’s projects include redevelopment of land for market rate and affordable housing, life science campuses, hotels and resorts, and transit-oriented mixed-use development projects. She has significant experience in processing entitlements for redevelopment and expansion of regional retail centers, resort hotels, entertainment centers, biotech/R&D campuses, large mixed-use master-planned communities, and multifaceted reuse of former military facilities and other infill development sites. Her work involves advising on land use initiatives, negotiating school fee mitigation agreements, preparing conservation easements to mitigate for loss of biological resources, and drafting affordable housing programs, Williamson Act contracts, and related issues pertaining to agricultural properties. Ms. Barclay works with local agencies on drafting ordinances relating to updating general plans and housing elements, planned development zoning, specific plans, mitigation fees, affordable housing, and growth management. She focuses on how agencies and developers can apply state housing laws, particularly antiNIMBY (Housing Accountability Act) and density bonus laws. Ms. Barclay is a lead author of Curtin’s California Land Use & Planning Law, a publication summarizing the major provisions of California’s land use and planning laws. She also co-authored Development by Agreement, an ABA publication providing a national analysis of laws and practices concerning various forms of development agreements. Ms. Barclay regularly speaks and writes on topics involving land use and local government law, including programs and articles for the American Bar Association, American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, and other state and national associations and conferences.

Ms. Graham has practiced law in the area of real estate transactions and litigation for over 30 years, and has served as a mediator for over 15 years. Her law practice focuses on transactional real estate law and civil appeals. Ms. Graham’s mediation practice emphasizes business and real estate matters. She has also mediated personal injury, unlawful detainer and civil harassment disputes. Ms. Graham is an author of a chapter of the CEB treatise Neighbor Disputes: Law and Litigation, which she continues to update annually. She also edits chapters CEB’s California Easements and Boundaries: Law and Litigation. Ms. Graham has been a panelist at various California State Bar and local bar events on the topics of easements, neighbor disputes, contract issues, elimination of bias and advanced negotiation skills. Ms. Graham has a background in title insurance and liability insurance. She litigated an insurance bad faith matter which ultimately went to the California Supreme Court. She served as a mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel, serving on both its pro bono and pay panels during which time she mediated contract, business, real estate, unlawful detainer, personal injury and civil harassment matters, as well as private mediations. Ms. Graham has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the California State Bar Real Property Section and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Santa Monica Bar Association. She is an active member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Small Firms and Solo Section and presently serves on its executive committee. Ms. Graham trained as a mediator with the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution of Pepperdine University School of Law. She holds a B.A. degree in English from UCLA and a J.D. degree from Loyola Law School.

Lauren Layne is a shareholder at Baker Manock & Jensen, PC, in Fresno, where she chairs the firm’s Business Department and leads the firm’s Water Law and Public Agency practice groups. Her law practice focuses on general water and environmental law, including CEQA and NEPA compliance, and includes various business transactional matters in the areas of water rights, water quality, public agency law, agribusiness, and real property. She also assists clients with land acquisitions and eminent domain proceedings. In addition to representing private farming clients, she serves as general counsel to various irrigation and water districts, flood control districts, and a number of groundwater sustainability agencies. Ms. Layne attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she majored in Soil Science, and earned her J.D. degree, with distinction, from McGeorge School of Law. She is a native of Porterville and has an agricultural background that includes farming and raising sheep. She was very involved in both 4-H and FFA, is a past 4-H Leader, and received her American FFA Degree. She is currently serving as vice chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Cal Poly College of Agriculture Food and Environmental Sciences and as immediate past president to both the Cal Poly Alumni Association and the McGeorge School of Law Alumni Association. She is the chair of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) State Legislative Committee and serves on the ACWA Legal Affairs Committee. Ms. Layne is co-chair of the Fresno County Bar Association Ag Law Section and is a member of Fresno County Farm Bureau.

Mr. Offord graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2005. Thereafter, he remained in Santa Barbara to work at a general litigation firm before attending law school at Santa Clara University and earning his J.D. degree in 2009. As a student at Santa Clara, he was named top of his class (receiving the CALI or the Witkin Award) in four of his courses, in addition to graduating on the Dean’s List. Mr. Offord joined the firm in 2009 after clerking for a law practice that primarily focused on real estate litigation and transactions. His experience includes law and motion practice and all stages of civil trials, including serving as lead counsel in many bench and jury trials. He has participated in State and Federal trials. He is heavily involved in the local real estate community, with an active role in several local real estate associations. He has also obtained his Real Estate Broker’s License from the California Department of Real Estate and also manages a real estate brokerage. He is regularly asked to be a speaker for local real estate organizations and brokerages, including SILVAR, Santa Clara County Association of Realtors®, Shasta County Association of Realtors and San Mateo County Association of Realtors®. He has also guest lectured at Menlo College for the Real Estate Law and Introduction to Law courses. In addition, Mr. Offord has been a speaker for both the Santa Clara County and San Mateo County Bar Associations. At Brewer Offord & Pedersen LLP, Mr. Offord works on matters representing real estate professionals and homeowners involved in neighbor and property disputes, as well as on commercial property matters.

Pallamary & Associates is owned and operated by Michael J. Pallamary, a professional land surveyor licensed by the State of California. Mr. Pallamary has 42 years experience in the land surveying, land planning, land use consultation and engineering professions. He is a nationally recognized authority on land surveying and local land development regulations. Mr. Pallamary is a founding member of the Land Surveyors Advisory Council on Technical Standards (LSACTS). He writes a regular column for The American Surveyor magazine. He owned and operated Precision Survey & Mapping from 1983 to 1999. Mr. Pallamary has also been the owner and president of Land Survey Service of La Jolla since 1983. He is recognized as the preeminent authority on the redevelopment of property in La Jolla and San Diego’s coastal regions. Mr. Pallamary is also the owner and operator of www.tiepoints.com, the state of California’s premiere Land Surveyor Resource and Research Site. This site is also used as a tool to locate City of San Diego Tie Points. Pallamary & Associates specializes in land use litigation and the processing of complex land use permits, land planning, discretionary permits and coastal development permits issued by the City of San Diego and the California Coastal Commission. The company also provide project management services and land development consultation services for conventional projects and also in connection with insurance matters. As the owner of Land Survey Service of La Jolla, Mr. Pallamary owns the largest private collection of property records and survey maps of La Jolla properties. Mr. Pallamary is also a former member of the City of San Diego’s Board of Zoning Appeals in addition to having spent many years as a member of a variety of planning organizations including a term as the elected chairman of the Clairemont Mesa Planning Group, an elected member of the North Bay Project Area Committee and an appointed member of the Mission Bay Park Committee and Mission Bay Park Planners. In these capacities, he has co-authored the Mission Bay Park Master Plan, the Clairemont Mesa Community Plan and the North Bay Redevelopment Master Plan. Mr. Pallamary is also a co-author of the City of San Diego’s Mapping and Land Title Document Preparation Manual.

Alexandra Houle works together with her business partner Elena Houle at My Medicare Solutions, a family company in Auburn, Washington. The company has been in business for 17 years and has served clients in all of Washington state as well as 10+ other states. As a Medicare broker, Ms. Houle is able to represent and compare all the highly rated and recognized insurance companies providing all available Medicare products. The goal of My Medicare Solution is to assist each client in finding an insurance solution that fits their unique needs and make sure that they understand their options and choose a plan that works for them through one-on-one meetings and group presentations. She also provides support for her members all throughout the year and continues to make sure their plan fits year after year.

Brian Isaacson is an attorney with Washington Elder Law PLLC in Edmonds. Mr. Isaacson is a native of the Pacific Northwest and has been practicing law for over 20 years. He focuses on the areas of elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning, IRA planning, tax planning, and stock option planning. Holding a masters of law degree in Taxation, he is a certified Attorney/CPA, and he is highly respected nationwide in the legal and tax community for his extensive and sophisticated work in tax litigation. An active member of the American Academy of Attorney-CPAs and president of its Washington State chapter, Mr. Isaacson approaches his work with great energy and serves his clients with respect and compassion. He is a member of the American Bar Association Tax Section, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and Lawyers With Purpose. Mr. Isaacson is a sought-after speaker and has coauthored several books on wealth preservation, including Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home; Protect Your IRA—Avoid the 5 Common Mistakes; and Tax Free Money For Long-Term Care.

Aaron Paker follows a trinitarian (not Trinitarian) approach to life based around a core value of Love, including in his legal work. This approach can best be summarized as an overarching belief in Ubuntu (“I am because you are”); an interpersonal commitment to love everyone; and an intrapersonal faith in the value of a “Givers Gain” mentality. His family life, friendships, social services, and legal work are all centered on this idea of treating everyone with respect and love and doing all that he can to improve their lives. To Mr. Paker, a client is not a source of income or another face in the crowd. He prides himself on patiently listening to stories that are completely unrelated to the work he is doing, but that are important for the client to share with someone; keeping in touch after the work is done and ensuring that he puts the extra mile in, even at the expense of the profit margin. It is this need to improve lives that drew him to specialize in Crisis cases, typically Medicaid or Medicaid alternatives and Probate. Mr. Paker has been doing Medicaid work for about 10 years, starting as a paralegal and working his way through Seattle University School of Law as a part-time evening student. He graduated cum laude, with special honors, in his Elder Law and Advanced Elder Law classes, has self-published a guide to Medicaid with over 1,300 copies distributed in the first 2 years, and has successfully filed over 1,000 Medicaid applications.

Travis Pierce is an attorney with Inland Northwest Estate Planning and Elder Law, PLLC, in Spokane Valley. His practice focuses exclusively on elder law and estate planning. He has been an attorney since 1998 and practicing in the state of Washington since 2014. Mr. Pierce is a graduate of Lewis and Clark School of Law in Portland, Oregon. In addition to his JD degree, he earned an LLM (Masters in Law) with Distinction in Elder Law from Stetson University. Mr. Pierce is an active member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys and the Washington Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

Scott Terry is an attorney with Terry Law firm in Sumner. His main areas of practice are estate planning and personal injury. Mr. Terry is a local attorney who grew up in Des Moines, Washington. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 1986, he attended Seattle University School of Law. Mr. Terry has worked as a legal analyst on NW Cable News, as a pro tem judge, and has represented clients in more than 40 jury trials. With more than 30 years of practicing law, he is confident in the legal services he provides in Washington.

After working in engineering and design management with award-winning structural and construction firms for nearly 10 years, Mr. Woods founded his own firm, Woods Residential Engineering & Inspection. Mr. Woods is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states, and he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering (with a focus on structures) from Washington University in St. Louis. He has earned “Accredited Professional” status from the U.S. Green Building Council. Mr. Woods is a member of the Woods Educational Enrichment Foundation, The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) (director of programs for the Chicago professional chapter), The American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois.

Ms. Brown Holmen represents clients who have been injured, or family members of those killed, in car crashes, injured by slip and falls, dog attacks, boating and snowmobile crashes, downed powerlines, sexual abuse victims and other people injured by the wrongful acts of others. She is a strong advocate for people who have suffered injuries because of another person’s negligence and is always keen to fight for justice on their behalf. Ms. Brown Holmen also acts as a Conciliation Court Referee in both Ramsey and Dakota Counties. She has been an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for many years. Ms. Brown Holmen was a member of the Ramsey County Ethics Committee for 6 years. Thereafter, she was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to the Board of Professional Responsibility, an organization that is responsible for the oversight and administration of the Minnesota lawyer discipline system. She was recently honored as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer in Minnesota by the exclusive National Trial Lawyers organization. Ms. Brown Holmen earned her B.A. degree from the College of St. Benedict and her J.D. degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

 Mr. Garner has nearly 25 years of experience in representing the injured. During his time in law school, he clerked for five judges in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Workers’ Compensation Division and interned with a Hennepin County District Court judge. Following law school, he began working in a Minneapolis small firm representing injured workers and injured persons and later experienced representing insurance companies with a medium-sized law firm in St. Paul. In 2002, he left defending insurance companies and opened Gardner Law Office, LLC, focusing on serving the needs of the injured. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Ms. Keller is the managing partner of Keller, Woods & Thompson, P.A. She is an impassioned advocate for her clients. Ms. Keller’s clients view her as caring, compassionate, and thoroughly knowledgeable about insurance law and the full range of avenues for redress of their injuries. Her competitive nature, knowledge of insurance law, work ethic, tenacity, and strategic aggression in a courtroom or negotiation setting has allowed her to successfully close hundreds of cases through settlement, jury trial, arbitration, or appeal. Aside from her litigation practice, Ms. Keller was appointed to the governing committee of the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan. She is a qualified ADR neutral on the State of Minnesota Roster, and serves as mediator for both civil and family law cases. Ms. Keller also frequently serves as a FINRA financial dispute arbitrator and chairperson, as well as a Minnesota No-fault arbitrator. She has been named as a Super Lawyer from 2023 to present, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2015 to 2022. Ms. Keller recently earned a Certificate of Completion for Women and Power, which she attended at the John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University. She is a past chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and continues to serve on the governing council. Ms. Keller is also the president of the Richard T. Oakes American Inn of Court. She taught as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas Law School, where she developed courses on insurance law.

Mr. Kestner has extensive experience with truck accident cases, both as a private attorney and representative for trucking insurers. He is the current chair of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), past chair American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) Interstate Trucking Litigation Group, he is a member of the Amicus Committee for AAJ’s Interstate Trucking Litigation Group and he also holds a Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation in insurance. has litigated truck accident cases in 24 different states in both State and federal Court. Mr. Kestner is also Board Certified in Truck Accident Litigation in Minnesota by the National Board of Trial Advocates (NBTA). He earned his B.S. degree from Skidmore College and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Mr. Mulligan applies a practical approach to each case he works on. He  knows what it is like for his clients who find themselves involved in a lawsuit with no idea about the many moving parts of the legal system. In each case, he takes a pragmatic approach to ensure the best results for his clients. Mr. Mulligan first started his legal career working in primarily construction law before broadening his practice to include insurance defense, personal injury defense, wrongful death claims, insurance coverage analysis, trucking accidents, property appraisals, and subrogation actions. He is admitted to practice law in the Minnesota State Bar, Wisconsin State Bar, and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association as well. Mr. Mulligan earned his undergraduate degree from Marquette University and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Mr. Palmer’s is a seasoned trial lawyer with Keller, Woods & Thompson, P.A. In a world where many personal injury lawyers shy away from the courtroom, he is known for his eagerness to take cases to verdict when necessary. His reputation for securing significant jury verdicts has established him as one of the premier personal injury litigators in Minnesota. Mr. Palmer focuses his practice on truck collisions and catastrophic injury. He has represented families that have lost loved ones in fatal collisions and also people that have endured life-altering injuries. No matter the circumstances, he strives to tell each the impactful story of each client in a sincere and compelling way. In 2023, Mr. Palmer was recognized as Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer, the largest legal publication in the state. He was also named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Minnesota Association for Justice, Minnesota’s largest collective of plaintiff’s attorneys. These honors arrived after Mr. Palmer secured multiple significant jury verdicts for his clients, including the largest personal injury verdict in Sherburne County history. Through his compassionate engagement, he understands the injuries and their impact on each client’s life. He often pays home visits and walks collision scenes to fully immerse himself in the situation. Mr. Palmer also regularly leads technology-driven collision reconstruction and vehicle inspections to assure a complete understanding of the collision specifics. This level of understanding is part of how he tells the personal story of each client. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College and his J.D. degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Mr. Weimer’s main areas of practice include personal injury, insurance defense and construction defect litigation. He earned his B.A. degree from Truman State University and his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Mr. Buckley’s practice involves commercial real estate transactions with an emphasis on commercial mortgage loans, including construction loans, workouts and foreclosures; acquisitions and dispositions of commercial properties, from vacant land to shopping center properties and golf courses; commercial leases, including ground leases; and master-planned communities. He has experience in land use issues, municipal development agreements and residential and mixed-use projects CC&Rs. His clients have included financial institutions and other lenders, developers, public entities and nonprofits. As a founding member and chair of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of Nevada, Mr. Buckley has been instrumental in the enactment of the Section’s legislative proposals and Nevada’s enactment of uniform laws such as the Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act (2017).

Mr. Cabrera represents and advises real estate developers, investors, non-profit organizations, and individuals at all stages of property acquisition, land planning, zoning, and redevelopment processes. He has represented clients with real property disputes in state and federal court, including defending land use decisions of local governing bodies, quiet title actions, partition actions, and boundary line adjustments.

Ms. Rudnick supports energy clients on disputes and regulatory issues related to project development in Nevada. She assists renewable energy developers, mining companies, and water purveyors with a range of environmental permitting and compliance matters. Ms. Rudnick assists clients in preparing regulatory filings, tax incentives and abatements, and other aspects of project finance and development. She also helps developers, lenders, and equity investors in large project finance transactions for energy production, storage, and transmission projects.

Mr. Silva is one of the best-known practitioners of eminent domain and takings litigation in the State of Nevada, as well as a leading practitioner of municipal law. His practice includes representing condemning agencies, municipalities, counties, state agencies and utilities—primarily in Nevada, as well as California and nationwide. He also represents private landowners in takings matters. He also serves as a judge pro tempore for the Reno Municipal Court. Mr. Silva frequently presents educational material at leading industry conferences, including IRWA, IMLA, APA, and Western States Surveyors. He is highly devoted to advancing education of the bar and industry, and writes extensively. Mr. Silva has contributed to the Nevada Real Property Practice Manual, the Nevada Civil Practice Manual, the Nevada Appellate Practice Manual, the Nevada Civil Jury Instructions, the Nevada Appellate Rules of Procedure, the Miller & Starr treatise on real property law, and frequently publishes articles in publications such as Nevada Lawyer and other law journals. Prior to entering practice, Mr. Silva served as a staff attorney at the Nevada Supreme Court and as a law clerk to the Hon. Patrick Flanagan at the Second Judicial District Court in Washoe County, Nevada. In law school, he served as an extern to the Hon. John A. Houston at the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Mr. Stiteler’s practice is focused on real estate transactions and land use matters regarding residential, commercial and multi-family property development. Additionally, he provides counsel on real estate and commercial contracts, purchase agreements and other related matters. He is a member of NAIOP, Northern Nevada was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as Ones to Watch, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate for 2023. Mr. Stiteler received his J.D. from the University of Nevada.

Mr. Taggart is the founding partner of Taggart and Taggart, Ltd. Long respected in the water rights arena, representing businesses and municipalities in transactional and litigation matters, his practice includes water rights acquisitions, sales, contracts, easements, well share and water delivery agreements, adjudications, permitting, extensions, transfers, certification, regulatory compliance and litigation of water rights disputes before state administrative bodies as well as State and Federal trial and appellate courts. Additionally, he practices real property, real estate, land use, redevelopment, complex and general civil litigation, and administrative proceedings. Mr. Taggart provides his clients the unique combination of legal experience combined with particularly skilled considerable success in representation of clients and projects. He continues to be actively involved in working with and handling matters and individuals, corporate clients, business owners, contractors, developers, and lenders throughout Nevada look to him to represent them in complex water law cases and issues.

As an environmental lawyer with over 20 years of experience working on water, sanitation, energy, and environmental governance issues both nationally and internationally, Ms. Kirkwood serves as the organization’s lead on numerous Great Lakes advocacy work and education initiatives. Often testifying or speaking before public bodies, she has made frequent presentations to community organizations and professional and academic audiences on Great Lakes issues from Line 5 to water justice and infrastructure financing to water privatization to climate change. Ms. Kirkwood develops and oversees FLOW’s work on key Great Lakes environmental policies designed to promote healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and access to safe, clean, affordable water for all. Prior to joining FLOW in 2012, she worked for USAID in Thailand as an environmental attorney to implement a regional environmental governance, water, and sanitation program in Southeast Asia. Ms. Kirkwood also worked as an environmental litigator at Farella, Braun & Martel in San Francisco where she represented clients on natural resource and energy-related matters. Ms. Kirkwood graduated from Williams College with a degree in Environmental Studies and History, and received her J.D. and Environmental Certificate from Lewis & Clark Law School. She currently serves as a member of the International Joint Commission’s Water Quality Board and a board trustee of the Americana Foundation.

Professor Lusch retired in 2017, after a 38-year career in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences at Michigan State University. Beginning in 1992 with the publication of the Aquifer Vulnerability Map of Michigan, He helped pioneer the use of geographic information systems for groundwater mapping and management in Michigan. Professor Lusch served as the Principle Investigator or co-PI on numerous applied grants and contracts, many funded by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The Groundwater Inventory and Mapping Project, which he co-directed, won the MDEQ’s Excellence Award in 2005. In 2008, MSU awarded him the prestigious Distinguished Academic Staff Award and IMAGIN, Michigan’s professional geospatial organization, presented him with the Jim Living Geospatial Achievement Award. As a member of the team that developed the Michigan Groundwater Management Tool (MGMT), Professor Lusch received the annual Director’s Recognition Award from MDEQ in 2009. MGMT allowed MDEQ staff to rapidly produce 2,451 provisional wellhead protection areas for Type 1 and 2 water supplies at no cost to these public drinking water systems. He authored the Groundwater and Karst chapter in the 2009 Michigan Geography and Geology book. Professor Lusch was a co-PI of the 2013 – 2018 Ottawa County Water Resources Study which used process-based flow modeling, coupled with field sampling, historical data mining, geostatistical analyses, and geospatial visualizations to better understand the underlying mechanisms controlling the patterns of shallow groundwater salinization in the county. He co-authored the two papers describing the results of this study (Curtis, et al. 2018. Groundwater. 56 (3): 377–398) and (Curtis, et al. 2019. Groundwater. 57 (5): 784–806). In 2022, Professor Lusch co-authored a review paper entitled “Groundwater in Crisis? Addressing Groundwater Challenges in Michigan (USA) as a Template for the Great Lakes” (Steinman, et al. 2022. Sustainability. 14, 3008). He serves as a Technical Advisor to the Michigan Water Use Advisory Council which advises EGLE on the implementation of the Michigan Water Use Program.

Mr. Breen’s main areas of practice include personal injury, accidents, workers’ compensation, wrongful death and nursing home abuse. He has been named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list since 2020, has been named to the Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list for Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury, and is a Platinum Client Champion from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Breen graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. While at The Citadel, he was on the Dean’s List, a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honors Society, a Bond Volunteer, a Member of the Honor Committee, and an officer on the 4th Battalion Staff. Mr. Breen is also a Life Member of The Citadel’s Theta Commission of Kappa Alpha Order and a member of The Loyal Order. After The Citadel, he attended the Charleston School of Law. While in Law School, he was President of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society, a Senator in the Student Bar Association, an Editor for the Maritime Law Review, Faculty Research Assistant for Professor William G. Merkel, a Pupil of the James L. Petigru Inn of Court, and the Associate Justice for External Competitions for the Charleston School of Law’s Moot Court Board. After Mr. Breen graduated from Law School, he passed the South Carolina Bar with a score that ranked in the top 1% of scores nationally and enabled him to practice in over 37 States and Territories. In addition to South Carolina, he is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Mr. Dodds joined Yarborough Applegate in 2021 to focus his practice on representing plaintiffs who have been injured by the negligence of others. His prior experience as a defense attorney has provided him with valuable insight in dealing with insurance companies who are actively fighting against his injured clients, and his clients can depend on him to solve problems and manage their cases throughout the complexities of the legal system. Since joining Yarborough, he has helped his clients recover millions of dollars to compensate them for their injuries and damages. Mr. Dodds has been recognized and selected by his peers in South Carlina as a “Rising Star” in the Super Lawyers publication for Plaintiff’s civil litigation. He also reently co-authored Dealing with Objections to Written Discovery: The Modern Approach to Discovery Objections in South Carolina and Federal Courts. Mr. Dodds received his undergraduate degree from Tufts University, where he was a member of the varsity football team. After college, he attended the Charleston School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude, was an active member of the Charleston Law Review and Trial Advocacy Board, and served as a Teaching Fellow in the Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing Department. Following law school, he  clerked for the Honorable Edgar W. Dickson of the First Judicial Circuit. During his clerkship, he gained invaluable legal research and writing skills and was able to provide a hands-on contribution to the judicial decision-making process.

Brian Mickelsen is a dynamic trial lawyer whose practice includes high-stakes catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and bad faith litigation. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America as “Ones to Watch” and has been featured in national and local media outlets across the country, including the New York Times, Reuters, ABC, Seattle Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Post and Courier. Prior to forming Mickelsen Dalton LLC, he practiced in Atlanta, GA at a personal injury firm during which time he obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients. Brian Mickelsen is experienced in handling all types of South Carolina personal injury cases including premises liability, negligent security, product liability, sexual assault, government liability, traumatic brain injury, car and trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death cases. He has litigated in 12 different states, from coast to coast, and has published and presented at numerous CLE seminars on topics ranging from voir dire, spoliation of evidence, admissibility of social media, and negligent security litigation. Since founding Mickelsen Dalton LLC, Mr. Mickelsen has obtained over $20 million in verdicts and settlements, taken on the largest privately-owned nursing company in the country, and exposed the hospitality industry for knowingly participating in the sex trafficking of women. He is licensed in South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington State. Mr. Mickelsen earned his B.A. degree from Bringham Young University and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Mr. Nichols’s practice focuses on serious injuries suffered due to motor vehicle wrecks, unsafe premises, and hospital bedsores in both Georgia and South Carolina. Prior to opening his firm, he was a Violent Crimes and Appellate Attorney in Augusta, Georgia. Additionally, he is a Major in the United States Army Reserves where he serves as a Judge Advocate General. Mr. Nichols currently serves as an Adjunct Professor for his alma mater, the University of Georgia School of Law. His courses focus on Trial Advocacy and Plaintiff’s Practice. After graduating from law school, Mr. Nichols served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert N. Jenkins and Alex Kinlaw, III in Greenville, South Carolina. It was there that he also served as a Trial Advocacy Instructor for Furman University.

Mr. Slavin is a litigator and trial attorney in Charleston, South Carolina. He has recovered millions of dollars for the children he’s represented and is passionate about helping his clients and other lawyers save and grow their money. Mr. Slavin earned his J.D. degree from Penn State Dickinson School of Law. He is admitted to practice in South Carolina and Pennsylvania and practices across the state of South Carolina, including federal court.

Mr. Threet’s main areas of practice include auto & car accidents, premise liability, and wrongful death. He previously served as Managing Partner with Hobbs Threet, Attorneys at Law. He also served as an Assistant Municipal Judge for the Town of Fort Mill. Mr. Threet earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and his J.D. degree from Charleston School of Law.

Mr. Blankenau’s main area of expertise is Interstate Water Conflict. He has represented clients in a wide-range of water disputes including interstate cases involving the Platte River, Republican River, Missouri River and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Rivers. Mr. Blankenau has also been involved in a variety of water disputes involving groundwater conflicts, served as administrative law judge in over 100 hearings concerning water use, and presently assists various individuals with conflicts concerning competing users. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Blankenau served as legal counsel, assistant director, and interim director of the Nebraska Department of Water Resources. Before attending law school, Mr. Blankenau received a B.S. degree in Natural Resources Management. He received his J.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition to all Nebraska state courts, he is admitted to the United States Supreme Court and multiple federal district and circuit courts.

 Mr. Mostek having formed Mostek Law LLC in 2015, his practice is concentrated on environmental, real estate and corporate law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at Creighton University School of Law (1985) and his Bachelor of Arts degree at University of Nebraska at Kearney (Political Science, Business Administration, Speech Communication, 1982). Mr. Mostek holds a Diploma in trial advocacy skills from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (1989) and is certificated as a lead auditor for ISO 14000 environmental management systems by the British Standards Institute (1996). For nearly 20 years, he has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America (© Woodward/White Inc.) in the specialty of Environmental Law (2006 – 2024), having been named the Nebraska environmental Lawyer of the Year in the 2016 and 2021 editions. Mr. Mostek is also honored to be listed for years among the Great Plains Super Lawyers in Environmental Law. He is Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated, holding an AV® Rating highest legal ability and ethics for more than 25 years. Mr. Mostek is active in his community and the state, having served on the Douglas County Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Governor’s Omaha Council on Lead-Safe Neighborhoods and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s Business Advisory Group. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Governor’s Council to Keep Nebraska Beautiful for nine years and served as Chairman of the Board for three of those years (2010 – 2012). Mr. Mostek continued to support KNB as the Title Sponsor of the annual Keep Nebraska Beautiful golf tournament fundraiser, “Golf for the Environment” for the nine years (2015 – 2023). He is past Chairman of the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association and a longtime member of the Nebraska Industrial Council on the Environment, having served as Chairman of that organization for four years (2004 – 2006). Mr. Mostek is an entertaining and experienced lecturer on environmental, real estate and corporate matters.

 Ms. Rehan is a corporate attorney specializing in employment law, contract negotiation, real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and commercial litigation. As an attorney, she values being a confidant for her clients, using her training and expertise to counsel them through some of life’s biggest decisions. Ms. Rehan clients often have multiple business ventures and need assistance in a variety of areas. With a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, she works collaboratively with business owners, large and small, to help them succeed. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Iowa and her J.D. degree from Valparaiso University School of Law.

Mr. Seidler’s practice includes, but is not limited to, real estate law, land use and zoning, condemnation, eminent domain, business law, estate planning and administration, and state and municipal law. He is a member of the American, Nebraska and Omaha bar associations. Mr. Seidler received his B.A. degree from Drake University and his J.D. degree from Creighton University School of Law.

Ms. Lathrop is licensed as a professional land surveyor in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, and as a professional planner in New Jersey. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and has been involved in surveying since 1974 in projects ranging from construction to boundary to environmental land use disputes. Ms. Lathrop is also a certified floodplain manager through the Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM) and a certified floodplain surveyor through the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors. A former adjunct instructor at Mercer County College in New Jersey, she has also taught as part of the team for the licensing exam review course at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. Ms. Lathrop has been teaching seminars for surveyors since 1986 and has been writing articles for surveyors since 1983. She is a contributing editor for The American Surveyor magazine, and she has four articles included in the American Bar Association’s text, Land Surveys: A Guide for Lawyers and Other Professionals. She and Stephen V. Estopinal, PLS, PE co–authored a book entitled Professional Surveyors and Real Property Descriptions: Composition, Construction, and Comprehension, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 2011. She is also on the faculty of GeoLearn, a web-based educational provider. Ms. Lathrop is a past president of the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors and of the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and she has served on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Geodetic Surveying.

Mr. Nieman as a Nebraska-based State & Local Tax & Incentives Attorney, he has been working for over 38 years with company executive, tax, legal and site development personnel from around the country. He is called on by them to address Nebraska state and local tax and incentive planning strategies, site selection and development and Nebraska tax disputes (audits, claims, appeals and settlement). Mr. Nieman has led McGrath|North teams responsible for all aspects of site development and economic incentives in Nebraska, including site selection, site acquisition, site negotiation, regulatory and building approvals, project incentives and project entitlements. He has designed and drafted much of Nebraska’s tax, tax incentive and site development legislation. Mr. Nieman was the principal designer and drafter of the numerous Nebraska programs. He was also a co-designer and co-drafter of various other tax and incentive legislation, such as the Imagine Nebraska Act, LB 1107 (2020), LB 895 (2008) which added Tier 6 to the Nebraska Advantage Act, LB 872 (2012) which adopted the market state apportionment rule for business services income, LB 343 (2007) which extended the capital gain exclusion to extraordinary dividends and LB 161 (2017) which extended the tax incentive benefit carry forward period for Tier 6 projects. He has also worked with Nebraska’s business community and lobbyists to defend legislative attempts to repeal or reduce these programs. The above incentive and development programs have created over 100,000 new jobs and $35 billion of capital investment in over 900 business expansions throughout Nebraska. Nebraska’s Governors and State Directors of Economic Development have consulted with Mr. Nieman on economic development policy for over 3 decades. He has also authored a number of studies for the business community outlining strategies to improve Nebraska’s business climate. Mr. Nieman earned his B.S.B.A degree, summa cum laude, from Creighton University College of Business, and his J.D. degree from Creighton University School of Law.

Mr. Otteman is an attorney with McGrath|North and is Chair of the firm’s Tax, Trusts and Estates Group. He specializes in taxation, including state and local taxation, state tax disputes and appeals, state business tax incentives, and site selection and planning. Mr. Otteman has represented clients of all sizes in both income, withholding, and sales tax assessments and claims before the Nebraska Department of Revenue. In addition, he has an extensive background in state tax incentives, including the Nebraska Advantage Act and Iowa’s and Missouri’s incentive programs. He has advised clients of all sizes with their tax incentive applications and claims, and assisted them in key aspects of the expansion planning process. Mr. Otteman is also an experienced Estate Planner and works closely with other members of the firm’s highly recognized and top rated estate planning team. His analytical approach keeps his clients informed on how the law will, or could, affect their business decisions. By looking at situations with a business model analysis, Mr. Otteman spots potential pitfalls and keeps the focus on accomplishing the client’s big picture goals. And, If a dispute should arise, he stands by his team’s ability to provide superior representation before the tax authorities. Mr. Otteman graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University College of Business, and thereafter received his Certified Public accountant registration. Wanting to further expand his capabilities to work with businesses, he received his law degree from Creighton University School of Law, graduating summa cum laude and then his L.L.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law where he was valedictorian graduating magna cum laude. Because of his well recognized expertise, Mr. Otteman has been selected as an adjunct faculty member to teach business students at Creighton University College of Business for several years. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member to law students at the Creighton University School of Law. In addition, Mr. Otteman is a frequent speaker to CPA’s on a broad range of issues.

Mr. Knaak has been practicing law for nearly 45 years in Minnesota and 30 in Wisconsin and Colorado. He is the head of Municipal and Real Estate Development Law with Northstar Law Group. Mr. Knaak has tried cases and argued appeals throughout the country in both State and Federal Courts. For nearly that whole period he has been a city attorney. Past clients include the Minnesota cities of Fridley, Maplewood, Lake Elmo, Newport and Afton. He is currently city attorney for Ramsey and Taylors Falls, Minnesota, and continues to represent private clients on a variety of matters. Mr. Knaak also has considerable experience in litigation involving title insurance claims and title insurance. He served ten years in the Minnesota Senate, representing a district in the northeastern suburbs of the Twin Cities. Mr. Knaak was Special Counsel to the Minnesota Secretary of State in redistricting litigation and was lead counsel on the Senator Norm Coleman election recount. He is a frequent commentator on Twin City news programs on political matters and is a frequent guest political panelist of the Twin Cities Public Television Almanac program. Mr. Knaak also regularly teaches in national seminars on municipal law and has published a number of essays and articles on various topics. His article “Using Development Agreements to Further Environmental Ends: A Case Study” will be published this summer in the ABA’s Probate and Real Property Section magazine. Mr. Knaak earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from John’s University, and his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Mr. Morphew is 1998 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law. He has been practicing primarily in the areas of real estate law, eminent domain law and relocation benefits law for the past 23 years. Mr. Morphew has done numerous bench trials, jury trials and appellate litigation cases on in these areas of law and has been a featured presenter at numerous seminars on these topics. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the Monticello Economic Development Authority and is the past President of the Minnesota Eminent Domain Institute, as well as a past board member of FiberNet Monticello, a community-owned fiber optics telecommunications company.

Ms. Ostlie has been a real estate attorney for over twenty years with a career spanning both litigation and transactional practices. She is a board-certified real property specialist through the Minnesota State Bar Association. Ms. Ostlie began her legal career with title examination and facilitating residential, commercial and new construction closings. Thereafter, she moved to a real estate boutique law firm where she became a recommended attorney for title curative work and insurance claims. She subsequently managed the litigation department at a major Minnesota foreclosure and creditors’ rights law firm, handling hundreds of cases concerning foreclosure, eviction, and creditor’s rights. Ms. Ostlie has argued and won real estate cases before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2018, she began working as senior underwriting counsel at a national title insurance company, where she collaborated with fortune 500 companies and national law firms to close commercial real estate transactions across the country. Most recently, Ms. Ostlie returned to private practice to handle real estate litigation with a former colleague and top real estate attorney. Effective April, 2024, she took the leap to begin her solo practice law firm to continue helping clients with real property law matters. She has significant experience with easement and land disputes, purchase and sale transactions, commercial leasing, contracts for deed, quiet title actions and Torrens proceedings, partition actions, lien priority disputes, foreclosures, evictions, and complex title problems. Ms. Ostlie earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota-Morris, and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law.

Mr. Squires received his B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law. Prior to founding RASW, he was an associate and shareholder at Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A.  Mr. Squires represents school districts, counties and cities throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. His primary areas of practice and experience include general municipal and school law, real estate, land use and zoning, condemnation, construction disputes, and municipal litigation, including appellate work.  Mr. Squires has argued over 50 cases to Minnesota’s Appellate Courts. He has been a frequent presenter to professional groups and organizations in the areas of his practice.  Mr. Squires is a Real Property Specialist certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association and is licensed to practice in both federal and state courts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

 Mr. Steinhoff focuses his practice on civil litigation, real estate and land use. He represents parties in civil litigation in both state and federal court relating to many different types of real estate and debtor-creditor issues, including, but not limited to, landlord-tenant disputes, debt collection, mortgage foreclosures, lien foreclosures, title registrations, title defects, boundary disputes, insurance coverage, breaches of contract, construction defects, property damage, condemnation, inverse condemnation, property taxes, special assessments, and all manner of land use issues. In addition to his litigation practice, he assists clients in the preparation and submission of many types of land use applications, including, but not limited to, re-zoning applications, re-guiding applications, conditional use permit applications, interim use permit applications, variance applications, preliminary and final plat applications, appeals from administrative decisions, and wetlands applications. As noted, he represents parties in trial and appellate court litigation relating to land use and zoning approvals, denials and enforcement actions. Mr. Steinhoff is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and was formerly an infantry officer in the United States Army. He is also a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School.

Ms. Bruce has over 19 years of sales and marketing experience serving Florida’s mitigation banking credit industry. Her vast background in the wetland mitigation and habitat conservation banks industry has designated her as one of Florida’s most sought-after mitigation bank sales brokers. Mrs. Bruce is passionate about partnering with mitigation bankers, environmental consultants and developers to aid in the mitigation process. She is responsible for developing and implementing strategies and forecasts that support existing relationships with industry partners and promote future growth for the industry.

Ms. Church, is an environmental scientist with Snyder & Associates. She has over 14 years of professional environmental experience. Before she started her career as an environmental scientist at Snyder & Associates, she worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers in Rock Island, Jacksonville, and Omaha Districts after graduating from Iowa State University in 2009. Her area of expertise focuses on wetland delineations, stream assessments, Section 404 permitting, and wetland and stream mitigation banking documentation

Ms. Daly is the Director of Environmental Services. She is a Shareholder, Principal Scientist and Director of Environmental Services for CPH Consulting, LLC, a full-service A&E firm. Ms. Daly assists clients with navigating the regulatory world to obtain approvals for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, water & wastewater treatment plant projects with state, federal and local governments. She develops and implements permitting strategies to address wetlands, threatened and endangered species, water quality and industrial discharges. Additional areas of expertise include design, permitting, implementation and monitoring of mitigation banks and traditional mitigation projects. Ms. Daly has 31 years of experience working on projects in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, New England and Puerto Rico. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Business Administration.

Ms. Keefer, MS has been a restoration biologist for the Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) since June 2020, and she has eight years of experience working in the natural resources field. She is responsible for preparing and overseeing coordination of S+W’s mitigation project submittals to the Interagency Review Team. During her time at S+W, she has been instrumental in the submission and approval of over 20 in-lieu fee (ILF), mitigation bank, and permitee responsible projects. To date, the S+W ILF program is fully in compliance with all its advance credit sales obligations. Prior to joining the S+W team, Ms. Keefer worked for a northeast Ohio environmental consulting firm where she primarily worked on mitigation projects. She also worked at two different environmental test laboratories performing soil and water analyses using sophisticated equipment. During her formal education, she conducted a rigorous research study in native species revegetation and seed ecology. Ms. Keefer published her findings as the primary author of a peer reviewed research paper that appeared in the Journal of Rangeland Ecology and Management.

Mr. Macalus is an Environmental Technician that performs multiple services for Environmental Permitting and Wetland and Watercourse Delineations. Throughout his career he has performed habitat, vegetation, and wildlife surveys throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Maine. He specializes in aquatic ecology and has a passion for the conservation and preservation of the aquatic resources that affect us every day.

Mr. Scarborough joined Young/Sommer in 2023 and focuses his area of practice on energy, environmental, and land use law. Prior to joining, Austin worked at other law firms in the Capital Region, where he assisted clients on various energy, environmental, land use, and cybersecurity matters. He provides counsel on matters such as environmental compliance, due diligence, and obtaining permits and approvals at local and state levels. He also regularly presents on wetlands issues and updates at the state and federal level.

Ms. Blake Salami’s heartfelt mission revolves around supporting families in crafting comprehensive estate plans that not only safeguard their assets but also honor their inherent dignity. With over a decade of dedicated experience in elder law, estate planning, disability rights, and social justice, her passion lies in serving the unique needs of older adults, strategizing with families, and advocating for individuals with psychiatric, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds immeasurable joy in being a devoted wife and mother of two precious children. Family is the bedrock of her values, and this understanding deeply influences her approach to legal practice. Through her journey, she has had the privilege of successfully representing clients in federal and state courts, administrative hearings, and special proceedings. She champions their rights and interests in critical matters, including Medicaid eligibility, guardianship, probate, and civil rights. Ms. Blake Salami is licensed to practice law in both Georgia and New York. She is also a licensed social worker. This multidimensional background allows her to provide a holistic and empathetic perspective to her clients. Together, she wants to build strong families and resilient communities, where every individual’s rights and dignity are cherished.

Mr. Davidson is proud to have a staff that matches his ideals and beliefs in doing whatever it takes to help their clients. Together, they are happy to tackle any concerns you may have for you or your loved ones. He is a devoted father of three grown boys and husband to his lovely wife, Rhonda. Mr. Davidson Christian faith and family are most important to him. He has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of estate planning, elder law, guardianships, probate and administration, trusts and wills, veteran pensions, and special needs planning. Mr. Davidson is dedicated to helping individuals and families plan for the future. He also understands the stress and legal issues involved in dealing with families in the midst of a crisis such as a loved one going into a nursing home or passing away. Mr. Davidson received his J.D. at Cumberland School of Law, Samford University and his Master of Laws in Taxation from The University of Florida Levin.

Ms. Geerdes has established herself as one of the premier trial and asset protection attorneys in the United States. Due to her experience and expertise, She also has extensive management and leadership experience in coordinating state-wide projects for professional legal development related to improving the caliber of attorneys, having trained everyone from novice attorneys to veteran judges on legal practice and the law. Ms. Geerdes highly successful legal career in the state governments also enabled her to develop and maintain close ties with both the local State Legislatures and the State Bars to oversee and litigate the most important legal issues pending in the United States and the local States. She is now one of the most sought-after attorneys to train lawyers across the United States in the area of estate planning, elder law, and asset protection, supervising over 50 attorneys in the United States who specialize in the complex area of asset protection.

Mr. Mullis primarily practices in Elder Law and Estate Planning with Anderson, Walker & Reichert, LLP in Macon, GA, with an additional practice focus on Investigations and Compliance. He received his law degree from Mercer University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa. Mr. Mullis served as a Judge Advocate General’s Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring in 2016. His JAG career included estate planning for Soldiers and their family members as well as advice on tax and benefits. Mr. Mullis has unique experience with government benefit programs from his prior concurrent work as a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Special Agent. During his 20+ year career as a DoD Agent, his work often examined Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs disability and healthcare services and billing, as well as other benefit programs such as Social Security and SSI. Mr. Mullis’s seasoned experience with program coverages, cost share, exclusions, and alternatives to insurance delivers an insider perspective to learning government benefits. His practice with Anderson, Walker & Reichert provides clients with advice and planning support for decisions on future funding of medical cost share, long-term care costs, available options, and qualifying for Medicaid and Veteran benefits, as well as tax-advantaged trusts to implement asset protection goals. Mr. Mullis assists clients with understanding Medicare limitations for long-term care and hospice as well as educating clients on its several coverage parts. He also gives clients information to help them choose whether to enroll with Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. Mr. Mullis is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Mr. Spalding is a Member at Stoll Keenon Ogden, joining the firm in 2019 and working out of the Louisville, Ky., office. He is highly skilled in zoning matters, including changes to district development plans, variances, conditional use permits, waivers, and other administrative approvals. Additionally, Mr. Spalding has appeared on behalf of clients before zoning authorities in multiple counties in Kentucky on a variety of real estate classes, including retail, educational, and residential. As a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Corporate Finance & Lending, and Business Services practice groups, he is experienced in a range of complex real estate transactions. Prior to joining Stoll Keenon Ogden, Mr. Spalding worked in private practice at a large regional law firm, where he assisted institutional lending clients in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) loan originations and warehouse line financings throughout the United States with interests of more than $250 million. He also served as in-house counsel for a regional real estate development and management firm.

Ms. Wimberly has been with the firm since 2016. She focuses on Utility & Energy law and has over five years of experience representing utility companies throughout Kentucky and Virginia. Ms. Wimberly assists electric, gas, and water utilities in a range of regulatory matters, including rate cases, certificate of public convenience and necessity proceedings, change of control proceedings, fuel filings, and environmental surcharge cases. She also has significant experience representing utilities in eminent domain lawsuits to secure property rights to construct utility infrastructure.

Ms. Baker practice focuses on elder law (including Medicaid and asset protection planning), disability law (including special needs trust law), and estate planning. She is licensed in Minnesota. Ms. Baker earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Mr. Estle is practices in the areas of elder law, Medical Assistance planning, probate and trust administration, and general estate planning. He routinely represents clients with elder law issues, focusing on the costs and considerations of long-term care and elder health. Mr. Estle practices with an exclusive estate planning and administration and elder law focus. He received his B.A. from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and his J.D. from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Estle is admitted to practice in Minnesota and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association. He is a Board member on the Minnesota Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

Ms. Frasier practices and counsels clients about elder law issues, such as long-term care and asset preservation planning, medical assistance and veterans benefits, as well as guardianship and conservatorship, special needs and disability planning, estate planning, and probate and trust administration. She received her B.A. from Carleton College and her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Ms. Frasier is licensed to practice law in Minnesota State Court and is an accredited attorney for veterans benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In his thirty years of practicing law, Mr. Rephan has focused his practice primarily in the areas of elder law, disability law (including special needs trust law), government benefits law, and veterans law. He has successfully litigated class actions and individual actions on behalf of government benefits recipients. Mr. Rephan has also participated in successful legislative initiatives to increase the rights of persons appealing to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, as well as other rights of government benefits recipients.