Introduction

Sue combines her expertise in environmental law, land use, and real estate law to help her clients permit and develop all types of properties and projects. A shareholder with the Real Estate and Energy Law Groups and the chair of the Environmental Law Group, Sue also assists clients in energy resources development, including natural gas and wind power.

Sue negotiates agreements with governmental agencies to protect buyers of contaminated properties, including Minnesota’s first “Prospective Purchaser Agreement” with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. Sue assists her clients in all land use matters and also handles issues related to permitting, state and federal environmental reviews, clean water requirements including storm water, “Superfund” laws, wetlands regulations, and zoning issues.

Sue also represents clients in all types of real estate transactions including sales, acquisitions, leasing, and financing. She has lectured and written on environmental law.

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1991, cum laude
• University of Wisconsin - Madison, M.A., 1981
• Grinnell College, A.B., History and English, 1974

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1991
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1992
• Wisconsin, 2006

Practice Areas

• Environmental, Chair
• Real Estate
• Energy
• Renewable Energy

Representative Experience

Clients

• Retail – Represents large national retailer on Land Use and Environmental matters
• Manufacturers/Industrial – Environmental and Real Estate advice to industrial, including disposal and cleanup of “legacy” properties
• Energy – Environmental and Real Estate, including development and permitting of wind energy
• Cities – Advice on Environmental issues in connection with redevelopment and environmental reviews

Selected Publications & Presentations

• Author, “Institutional Controls in Minnesota,” Implementing Institutional Controls at Brownfields and Other Contaminated Sites, American Bar Association (2nd edition, Fall 2011)
• Presenter, “Development of Renewable Energy Projects on Agricultural Land,” Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, March 3, 2010
• “Zoning and Land Use,” 2008 Real Estate Law Conference, September 5, 2008
• “Site Considerations and Control,” co-presented with Katie Cole, Fredrikson & Byron’s Midwest Community-Wind Conference, January 31, 2008
• Speaker, 2007 Land Development & Redevelopment Conference, Minneapolis, May 17, 2007
• Speaker, Business Law Institute, “Environmental Due Diligence,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, May 17, 2007
• "Supreme Court Mulls Important Sewer Case," Fredrikson & Byron's Real Estate Focus Newsletter, August 2006
• Speaker, Fredrikson & Byron's Real Estate Seminar: Development Challenges, Pitfalls, and Trends, June 2, 2005
• Speaker, Environmental Law Institute, “Environmental Due Diligence:  Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and Beyond,” April 21, 2005
• Co-author of a chapter in, Tax Increment Financing and Economic Development: Users, Structures and Impact (SUNY 2001)

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association, Vice Chair for the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Environmental Transactions and Brownfields Committee
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Environmental and Natural Resource Section Co-Chair
• Fredrikson & Byron Foundation Board of Directors
• Newspaper Reporter, 1974-1980, Duluth, MN; Janesville, WI; Oconomowoc, WI
• Archivist, 1981-1987, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, River Falls, State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Honors & Distinctions

• Certified as a Real Property Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association

Community Involvement

• Board Member, Minnesota Land Trust
• Children's Law Center of Minnesota, Volunteer Attorney