Date: September 15, 2004
Contact: Kelly Griffith, Marketing Manager
Phone: (612) 492-7514
Email: kgriffith@fredlaw.com

For Immediate Release

Fredrikson & Byron Announces New Shareholders

Minneapolis, MN September 15, 2004 - - Fredrikson & Byron has elected 11 new shareholders: Jeffrey Benson (Real Estate Group), Judy Engel (Family Law and Property Tax Appeals groups), Steven Helland (Technology & E-Commerce Group), Thomas McMasters (Intellectual Property Group), Sjur Midness (Banking & Financial Services Group), Daniel Mott (Corporate Group), Kristy Rodd (Family Law Group), James Snelson (Securities Group), Robert Stuart (Tax Group), Stephen Tight (Securities Group), and Mark Vyvyan (Litigation and Real Estate groups).

Jeffrey R. Benson practices in the firm's Real Estate group. His practice focuses on providing a full range of commercial real estate legal services and advice to major regional and national corporations, to REITs and other institutional holders of real estate, and to real estate developers. He also has considerable experience in large, multi-property, multi-state real estate portfolio acquisitions and dispositions.

Judy S. Engel is a shareholder in both the Property Tax Appeals and Family Law groups. In her property tax appeals practice, Engel is experienced in the negotiation and trial of cases involving commercial property valuation, equalization, and exemption issues. In her family law practice, she works on legal separations, divorces, and paternity cases with an emphasis on financial and business related issues.

Steven E. Helland practices in the firm's Technology & E-Commerce, Corporate, and Entertainment groups. He assists clients in the software, consulting services, Internet, medical device, and entertainment industries with matters such as: software licensing and development, technology licensing, content development, application and service provider arrangements, CRM, ERP, and records management systems, spam, hacker attacks, website terms and conditions, general business contracts, and website audits.

Thomas L. McMasters is a shareholder in Fredrikson & Byron's Copyrights, Trademarks, and Patents groups. He has experience in a broad range of intellectual property matters, including patent and trademark prosecution, licensing, and copyrights. McMasters' patent practice focuses on computer software and hardware technologies. He has a master's degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Data Communications and Software Engineering.

Sjur Midness is a shareholder practicing in the areas of corporate, commercial, and finance law. His practice focuses on negotiating and documenting mergers and acquisitions, commercial loans, and mezzanine investment transactions.

Daniel C. Mott has a strong background working with cooperatives and other organizations on business issues ranging from basic formation to complex mergers, acquisitions, and joint venture structures. He has extensive experience in the organization, structuring, and financing of new venture cooperatives and has structured many cooperative joint ventures. Mott also negotiates and drafts agreements for mergers, asset purchase acquisitions, and business combinations.

Kristy A.K. Rodd is a shareholder in the Family Law group. Kristy's family law practice includes business valuation cases, complex property divisions, valuation and division of executive compensation, premarital agreements, complex non-marital tracing, litigation and settlement of marital and non-marital assets, spousal maintenance, custody, and post-dissolution issues.

James H. Snelson is a shareholder in Fredrikson & Byron's Corporate and Securities groups. His work involves a variety of business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, securities offerings, compliance with SEC requirements, and corporate formation and governance.

Robert J. Stuart practices in the tax planning and tax controversy areas, representing clients in state and federal litigation and administrative proceedings. Stuart concentrates his tax planning practice on international, corporate, healthcare, executive compensation, and tax-exempt organization tax law.

Stephen A. Tight is a shareholder in the Securities and Corporate groups. His practice focuses on public and private company mergers and acquisitions as well as public and private company securities offerings. Tight has substantial experience with acquisitions, divestitures, mergers and spin-offs of companies and their subsidiaries, securities offerings, and Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and compliance.

Mark W. Vyvyan practices in the firm's Litigation and Real Estate groups. Mark focuses his practice on real estate-related litigation. He also handles general litigation, as well as a broad range of real estate transactions, including land use, acquisition, development, leasing, and financing.

Fredrikson & Byron is a 170-attorney law firm based in Minneapolis. It has an office in London and affiliates in Mexico City, Warsaw, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The firm's primary areas of practice include banking, corporate, employment, healthcare, intellectual property, international, litigation, real estate, securities, and tax. We serve a broad range of clients, including multinational corporations, public companies, privately-held businesses, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and family businesses. Fredrikson & Byron's attorneys also work with individuals on estate planning, family law, and immigration matters. The firm's web site is www.fredlaw.com.