Golden Valley Lawyers

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.

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...

I joined the Government Law department at Barna, Guzy & Steffen in June 2023. With a solid background in criminal law and trial advocacy, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the legal field through various roles. Prior to my current position, I served as an Assistant Public Defender and a Judge Advocate with the Minnesota Army National Guard for several years. My professional journey also includes several years in private practice, where I represented clients in criminal, civil, and business law matters. In addition to practicing law, I have been an adjunct faculty member at St. Cloud State University, teaching...

Thomas B James (Thomas James attorney at law) is a private practice attorney with over 25 years experience at the Law Office of Tom James in Cokato, Minnesota. He focuses on copyright and trademark law. Thomas James is licensed to practice in Minnesota state and federal courts, the 8th and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal; and the United States Supreme Court. He is authorized to represent client nationwide in U.S. trademark and copyright registration applications, and in Trademark Trials and Appeals Board (TTAB) and Copyright Claims Boards proceedings. In addition to practicing law, attorney Tom James is the author of "E-Commerce...

Kevin is an experienced trial attorney in both State & Federal Courts. Kevin is a Minnesota State Bar Association Certified Criminal Law Specialist and Nationally Ranked Criminal Defense Trial Attorney. Kevin will be your best line of defense from start to finish.

From the initial phone call to working behind the scenes, Kevin has built strong relationships with the prosecutors and judges that he uses to help get the results his clients need even before they go to court. Because of his extensive trial experience and all of the tough cases he has tried across Minnesota, Kevin is able to get...

Jerry has devoted himself exclusively to the practice of divorce and family law in Minnesota since 1993. He practices in all areas of family law including divorce, custody, child support, paternity, grandparents' rights, mediation, appeals, and same sex cases. Jerry is particularly experienced in representing clients in interstate and international divorce and child custody, and frequently advises other attorneys on these issues. Jerry's practice includes collaborative law and alternative dispute resolution. He is the author of the first Minnesota divorce and family law blog in the state, a recurring author for the Minnesota Association for Justice Magazine, and...

I am passionate about helping people, especially when it relates to the burdens of debt and getting a fresh financial start. I began specializing in bankruptcy in 2014. When I am not practicing law, I enjoy spending time with my family. Currently, the majority of my free time is spent chasing my toddler around, but I also enjoy photography and crafting.

I truly enjoy the relationship I have with my valued clients. I have had the privilege over the last 10+ years of representing clients with a variety of legal matters. I enjoy advising a client with a complex transactional matter but also represent the same client in an argument before the court. My experience includes handling hundreds of real estate transactions, forming many business entities, assisting clients with the purchase and sale of businesses (M&A), drafting hundreds of estate plans, guiding fiduciaries through about a hundred probates and trust administrations, defending hundreds of clients charged with crimes from...

PRACTICE AREAS
Civil Litigation, General Business, Contract Disputes, Appeals, Family Law, Employment Law, Construction Law

Mary Hahn has honed her skills in the courtroom over the last 25 years, specializing in civil litigation and appellate law, in particular multi-party business litigation, construction law, business contract disputes and divorce proceedings.

She practices in State District Courts and in Federal Court. She has substantial appellate law experience. She serves as the firm’s primary practitioner at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION

Prior to moving to Northfield in 2000, Hahn practiced law at the Atlanta construction law firm of Shapiro, Fussel, Wedge, Smotherman, Martin & Price.

Hahn...

Scott splits his time between our Cannon Falls and Eagan offices handling Civil Litigation, Probate Litigation, Estate Planning, and Business Transaction matters. Scott previously worked full-time while attending law school at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He knows the value of hard work and will apply those same principles to your current and upcoming legal matters. Prior to practicing law, Scott spent over 10 years as a legal researcher at Thomson Reuters in Eagan, Minnesota. Scott brings a unique and knowledgeable perspective to all legal matters he handles, using his own personal and work experience. This array of experience helps clients...

Meagan M. Guptill grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and attended Duluth East High School, where she competed in Student Congress, Speech and Debate, and performed in local theater. Meagan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, along with her paralegal certificate. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas Law School in 2019. While in law school, Meagan worked at the Kanabec County Attorney’s office, the Isanti County Attorney’s office and the Isanti City Attorney’s Office. While working for three different prosecuting authorities, she gained valuable experience appearing in the courtroom handling bail hearings, restitution...

For more than 15 years, my goal has been to provide quality legal service that creates value for the client. My practice focuses on all aspects of Intellectual Property, including patent preparation and prosecution, trademark registration and contractual matters.

Craig J. Peterson is the founding attorney of The Law Firm of Craig J. Peterson LLC. He provides expert immigration legal advice and services to businesses, universities, hospitals and other organizations as well as individuals seeking employment-related immigration guidance. The firm's services focus on business and employment-related immigration issues, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence processes, citizenship applications and other issues. Craig takes great pride with clients to help them understand the full range of available options and chart the best path forward in meeting their needs and pursuing their goals.

Susan Bowden Gunst has spent her entire career forcing insurance companies to treat people like they say they do in commercials. She has helped injured people recover medical expenses, wage loss and other damages incurred as a result of car accidents, dog attacks, liquor liability, falls and other injuries as a result of someone else's wrongdoing. Susan has also helped families that are suffering with the loss of a loved one by holding the negligent party accountable.

Susan Bowden Gunst has been selected to Top 50 Women in Minnesota Super Lawyers List in 2016 and 2017. In 2014, 2015, 2016,...