Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
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Steven E. Helland
Steven E. Helland
 
shelland@fredlaw.com
p: 612.492.7113
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f: 612.492.7077
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Assistant: Jill Beckman Ray 612.492.7602
 
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General Bio
 

Introduction

Steve is Chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Internet, Technology & E-Commerce Group and Co-Chair of the firm’s Media & Entertainment Group. His clients are concentrated in the Internet, software, consulting services, medical device, new media, and entertainment industries.

Steve advises clients on a variety of intellectual property and technology matters including: software licensing; technology development and licensing; website development; application service provider (ASP) and hosting arrangements; on-line advertising and spam; copyright, trademark and domain name issues; blogs; telemarketing, email and fax advertising; website terms and conditions; and website audits.

Steve assists consulting, advertising and technology companies with incorporation and formation matters, customer and employment agreements, and with the development, protection, and exploitation of intellectual property assets.

Privacy and security issues are a special focus of Steve’s practice. In addition to speaking and writing on this subject, Steve advises clients on website privacy policies and compliance with privacy laws such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the European Union’s Data Privacy Directive, and the U.S. Safe Harbor. Steve has advised many clients on responding to security breaches including the loss of sensitive customer and financial data due to laptop theft, hacking, industrial espionage, and employee misconduct. 

Steve works with independent artists and production companies, assisting them with employment and agency agreements, as well as with licensing, development, distribution, and financing matters.

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1996, cum laude
  • Vassar College, A.B., 1991, cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1996
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1996

Practice Areas

Representative Experience

  • IT Services and Outsourcing. Negotiated IT services, consulting and outsourcing transactions with Wipro, IBM, Gartner Group, Accenture, Infosys, Deloitte, Covansys, and BearingPoint.
  • CRM and ERP. Represented clients purchasing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, systems, maintenance and other services from SAP, Oracle, Business Objects, Cognos, PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems, and Salesforce.com.
  • Electronic Medical Records, Practice Management, and Health Technology. Represented medical industry clients in transactions with EMR and other technology vendors such as Epic Systems, GE Healthcare, Cerner, McKesson, eClinicalWorks, Misys, Medinformatix, Eclipsys, NextGen, and A4 Health Systems.
  • Consulting, Development, and Advertising Services. Represented Minnesota companies providing consulting, software development, website development, and advertising services to large regional customers such as Target Corp., 3M, and Piper Jaffray.
  • M&A Involving Software, Websites, and Customer Data Assets. Represented buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions transactions in which software, websites, or customer data are primary assets. Purchase price range: $500,000 to $200 million.
  • Technology, Telecom, and Advertising Transactions. Represented clients in transactions with the following vendors: Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, Qwest, Google, HP, Double Click, Yahoo, Allant, Campbell Mithun, Avaya, T-Mobile, and Smart Reply.
  • BSA Software Audit Defense. Represented scores of small and large businesses in responding to and negotiating claims of illegal software installations and copyright infringement by the BSA (Business Software Alliance).
  • Entertainment. Steve has been involved in the following film, television and entertainment projects: Nobody (film, 2009), A Prairie Home Companion (film, 2006); Building at a Crossroads (documentary, 2006); Million Dollar Idea (reality tv, 2005), Suspension (film, 2007).

Selected Publications & Presentations

  • “Social Media: Hot Legal Topics in Health Care,” guest faculty at the University of St. Thomas, June 1, 2011
  • “Legal and Business Tips for Negotiating an EHR Contract,” Health Law Webinar, April 13, 2011
  • Co-Chair and Presenter, “Data Privacy & Security,” MN Bar Association CLE, January 21, 2011
  • “Social Networking - A Practical Discussion of Employment, Privacy, and Internet Issues,” Health Law Webinar, May 12, 2010
  • Quoted in “Setting staff guidelines on social media,” Newsday.com, March 24, 2010
  • “Social Networking - A Practical Discussion of Employment, Privacy, and Internet Issues,” MMGMA 2010 Winter Conference, March 2-3, 2010
  • “Covering Your Assets in the Age of Employee Mobility – Steps Employers Can Take To Keep Trade Secrets a Secret,” Fredrikson & Byron Trade Secrets Seminar, February 17, 2010
  • “Data Privacy and Protection for In House Counsel,” MN Bar Association CLE, Program Co-Chair and Presenter, September 30, 2009
  • “Creating a Social Media Policy for Your Company: Sharing With Employees What They Can and Can Not do on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & Other Social Media Sites,” Webinar with Reed Seminars (available at Amazon.com), May, 2009
  • “Crash Course for In-House Counsel, Intersection of Technology & Employment Law,” Minnesota CLE, March 24, 2009
  • “Legal Nuggets for Negotiating High Value Information Technology Contracts,” Minnesota Medical Group Management Association 2009 Winter Conference, March 9-11, 2009
  • “Technology Innovations That Drive Business,” VISION 2008 Conference, November 13, 2008
  • “How to Get Connected and Stay Involved! Non-Profit and Civic Leadership,” Minneapolis Club, Panel on Civic Leadership Luncheon, October 2008
  • “Technology and the Workplace Without Borders,” 2008 Computer & Technology Law Institute, October 24, 2008
  • Quoted in “After 20 Years, Critics Question BSA’s Real Motives” by Ericka Chickowski, Baseline, January 25, 2008
  • Quoted in “What to Do When You Receive a BSA Audit Letter,” by Ericka Chickowski, Baseline, January 18, 2008
  • Quoted in "8 Ways to Avoid an Audit from the Business Software Alliance," by Ericka Chickowski, Baseline, January 11, 2008
  • "Top Legal Issues for Website Operators and On-Line Advertisers," Computer and Technology Law Institute, October 30, 2007
  • "Misleading Privacy Policy Yields $4.5 Million Award," Fredrikson & Byron's Technology & E-Commerce Focus Newsletter, April 2007
  • "Legal Check-up for Web Sites: Common Problems and Solutions," Minnesota Council on Nonprofits' 2007 Nonprofit Technology and Communications Conference, April 24, 2007
  • "Legal Issues for Filmmakers," Minneapolis College of Art & Design, February, 2007
  • "Impact of Technology Law on Business Transactions," Univ. of St. Thomas, November, 2006
  • "Data Security - Businesses Must Now Notify Customers of Possible Identity Thefts," Upsize Minnesota Magazine, June/July, 2006
  • Quoted in "A Princess of Mars Stage Production Heats Up," Minneapolis Star and Tribune, April 28, 2006
  • "Starting Your Own Consulting Business," Twin Cities Quality Assurance Association, April, 2006
  • "No Fax Advertising Without Signed Consent From Recipient," Fredrikson & Byron's Marketing Law Focus, May 2005
  • "Meet the TV Buyers," Minnesota Film & TV Board Conference, May, 2005
  • "Beware the Data Police!" Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association, October, 2004
  • "Technology Law," Minnesota Paralegal Conference, July, 2004
  • "Privacy Law and Electronic Advertising," Lorman Education Seminar, June, 2004
  • "Practical Guide to the Federal CAN-SPAM Act," Fredrikson & Byron's Flash Focus, January, 2004
  • "Drafting Website Privacy Policies and Terms of Use," Fredrikson & Byron's Marketing Law Focus Newsletter, January, 2004
  • Quoted in "Legal Experts Expect Government to Seek Harsh Sentence [For Computer Virus Author]," Minneapolis Star and Tribune, August 30, 2003
  • "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): Requirements, Enforcement, Compliance Strategies," Lorman Education Services, August, 2003
  • Maximizing Intellectual Property Asset Value Through Licensing," Seminar with Ernst & Young, May, 2003
  • "Negotiating Development Agreements," Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association, February, 2003
  • "Workplace Electronic Privacy," Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, February, 2003
  • Quoted in "Policies on Office Email Use Evolving," Minneapolis Star and Tribune, January 13, 2003
  • “Privacy Law Update,” Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, October, 2001
  • Quoted in “Watchers: Is your employer watching your every move?” Insight (Illinois CPA Society), September, 2001
  • "The Latest on Privacy Law Issues," Hennepin County Bar Association, September, 2001
  • Complying with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, Spring 2001
  • Quoted in “An Ordeal: Copin’ with COPPA,” Wired, online, September 20, 2000
  • "Your Employee's Computer: Managing for Productivity and Legal Compliance," Independent Community Bankers of North Dakota Seminar, September, 2000
  • "Email in the Workplace," Annual Employment Law Seminar, Fredrikson & Byron, October, 2000
  • Quoted in " Email is Forever, so Tidy Up," Messaging Today, April 27, 2000
  • Quoted in “Keep-Tabs Files Reports on Corporate Email,” dbusiness, April 5, 2000
  • E-Trends: More Companies are Monitoring Email, March, 2000
  • "Modern Legal Practice and the Internet," American Bar Association, Technology in the Workplace subcommittee, discussion paper with Paul Landry, 1998

Professional Activities

  • Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association
  • Minnesota High Tech Association
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • American Bar Association, Science and Technology Section
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Computer Law Section
  • Minnesota Film and TV Board, Board member, Executive Committee Member, current Board President

Honors & Distinctions

  • Named by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal to its 40 Under Forty List
  • Named a “Rising Star” in Minnesota Law & Politics

Community Involvement

  • Minnesota Film and Television Board, Board Member
  • Lake Waconia Sailing Club
  • IFP Minneapolis/St. Paul, past Board Member
  • Media Artists Resource Center, past Board Member
  • Givenet, past Board Member