Introduction

Jessica is a shareholder of Fredrikson & Byron and a member of its Tax Planning & Business Organization, Nonprofit, and Internet, Technology & E-Commerce Groups. Her practice focuses on assisting start-up and small business entities to protect their valuable intellectual property assets while achieving their goals through creative corporate and tax planning strategies. Jessica supports many businesses in the role of general counsel, and deals with issues relating to choice of entity in entity formation, business ownership and disputes, and the purchase and sale of businesses.

Jessica also works with nonprofit entities. She assists in obtaining tax exempt status, and federal and state law compliance issues for nonprofit entities.

In her work with the Internet, Technology & E-Commerce Group, Jessica concentrates on copyright protection and registration for a variety of works, including technology-based works such as on-line works and computer programs, as well as more “traditional” works, such as books, scripts, art, and musical arrangements. She provides advice and drafts agreements relating to the transfer of intellectual property assets in transactions and provides advice in negotiating publishing and licensing agreements.

Education

• Temple University Law School, J.D., 1999
• University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1993, Japanese and Sociology, with distinction

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1999

Practice Areas

• Tax Planning & Business Organization
• Corporate
• Corporate Governance & Investigations
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Internet, Technology & E-Commerce
• Media & Entertainment
• Copyrights
• Intellectual Property
• Nonprofit
• Life Sciences
• Energy
• Renewable Energy
• Private Equity & Venture Capital

Selected Publications & Presentations

• The New Income Tax-2013 & Beyond: “Passive Investment Income Tax, the .9% additional Medicare tax, and Closely-Held Business Entity Restructuring,” co-presenter with Sara M. Reisdorf, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, March 1, 2013
• “President Signs 2010 Tax Relief Act Extending 1603 Cash Grant,” co-authored with Alexandra Mertens, FredALERT: Renewable Energy, December 17, 2010
• “Over $1 Billion Available in Federal Tax Credits and Grants for Life Science Companies,” co-authored with John Parzych, FredALERT: Life Sciences, June 18, 2010
• “Single Asset LLCs in Real Estate Transactions,” 2009 Real Estate Institute, St. Paul, November 13, 2009
• “Working with Single-Owner Entities,” 2008 Business Law Institute, Minneapolis, April 28-29, 2008

Professional Activities

• Frequent presenter on choice of entity, closely-held business entity, and tax-exempt entity at Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education and National Business Institute seminars
• Member, American Bar Association, Minnesota Bar Association, and Hennepin County Bar Association
• Adjunct Business Practicum Professor, Spring and Fall, 2008 Spring 2009, and Spring 2010 Semesters, William Mitchell College of Law
• The Afghanistan Transitional Commercial Law Project - Advisor on Partnership Law to The Afghan Transitional Administration, 2002-2004
• United States Department of State Program presenter on intellectual property issues in Almaty, Kazakhstan, October 2002