Palisade Lawyers

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

Shannon Cook is an attorney with the Minneapolis-based business law firm Bernick Lifson. Her areas of focus include tax law, collections, and creditors remedies. She received her Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law, along with a Law and Business certification. As a student, she was head of the school's Tax Law Society. Before attending William Mitchell College of Law, she earned her Bachelor of Science from University of Minnesota.

Bob graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School (cum laude) in 1974 and has been a trial lawyer for 40 years. Since law school, he has practiced as a lawyer in Minnesota and throughout the country on trial and appellate levels in the state and federal courts. Bob was an associate attorney and then partner with the law firm of Carlsen, Greiner & Law from 1974 to 1986 where he handled complex construction, personal injury, employment, commercial and product liability litigation. In 1994 Bob completed the Ultimate Trial Advocacy College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was a one-week intensive trial...

Universidad Catolica Andres Bello: Abogada 1999. Hamline University Law School: Master of Laws 2001. William Mitchell College of Law: Juris Doctor 2003. Licensed to practice in Venezuela, and before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the United States District Court. Fluent in Spanish and English Faculty at National American University: Paralegal Program Currently serving as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Diversity Committee.

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...

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

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.

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...

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

I have always had a strong desire to help others. Both of my parents are philanthropic minded and growing up, they taught me & my 8 siblings to remember that not everyone was as fortunate as our family. My family was very rich in compassion and kindness. As I got older, it became clear to me that whatever occupation I chose, I felt a need to help others in the same way that was modeled by my parents. Watching my father run his own small-town law practice, counseling others, taking the time to understand...

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...