Introduction

Sara is a senior associate in Fredrikson & Byron’s Business & Tax Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Private Equity & Venture Capital Groups. Sara works primarily with closely held and family owned businesses that are in various stages of the business life cycle. She advises her clients on a wide range of business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, governance, restructuring, and finance. Sara’s practice also focuses on a broad spectrum of federal and state tax matters. Emerging companies rely on her strategic counseling to structure their organizations and work through the related legal and financial aspects of starting a new business. Sara often acts as outside general counsel to her emerging company clients. Sara is a member of Fredrikson’s Employee Benefits Committee.

Prior to joining Fredrikson & Byron, Sara worked as a Senior Associate in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Private Client Services practice and obtained her certified public accountant’s license.

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 2005
• University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, Master of Business Taxation, 2004
• Truman State University, B.S., Accounting, 1998, cum laude

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota

Practice Areas

• Tax Planning & Business Organization
• Corporate
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Non-Profit
• Emerging Business
• Construction
• 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 Jessica D. Manivasager, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, March 1, 2013
• “Federal Subchapter K Update,” co-presenter with Emily M. Chad at The 72nd Tax Institute, sponsored by Minnesota Continuing Legal Education and the MSBA Tax Law Section, December 4, 2012
• Co-Panelist discussing hot topics in Federal taxation for “Timely Topics in Taxation,” presented at the Business Law Institute of Hamline School of Law’s Hot Topics in Business Law CLE, October 1, 2012
• Minnesota Lavender Bar Association Annual Conference: “Tax Topics for GLBT Families,” co-presenter with Beverly J. Luther, January 28, 2012
• New Lawyer Experience: “Selecting and Forming Corporate Entities,” outline and co-presenter with Kimberly A. Lowe, Esq., Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, January 15, 2010
• “ABC’s of Partnership Taxation,” outline and presentation, Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis 2006, 2007, and 2009
• “Preparing for the new Form 990” outline and presentation, Co-Sponsored by Francis & Associates, P.A., August 21, 2008

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Children’s Law Center, pro bono Attorney volunteer
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Board of Directors – At Large, Finance Committee, August 2012 – Present
• Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer, May 2011 – April 2013
• Minnesota Adoption Resource Network, member of the Board of Directors, March 2010 – Present
• Minnesota Justice Foundation, Board of Directors, November 2011 – April 2013
• Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota, Board of Directors, President, and Treasurer, 2006-2010
• The CPA Review-Twin Cities, faculty member, instructing on Business Law topics for the preparation of the Uniform National Examination of Certified Public Accountants, 2010 – 2012
• Adjunct Clinic Professor, William Mitchell College of Law - Tax Planning Clinic, 2007-2012

Honors & Distinctions

• Named 40 Under 40 by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 2013
• Fredrikson & Byron Pro Bono Associate Volunteer of the Year Award, 2011
• Appointed to Minnesota Supreme Court, Legal Services Planning Committee, Emerging Leaders Forum, 2010
• Certified Public Accountant (Inactive Minnesota License)
• William Mitchell Law Review