Date: June 16, 2005
Contact: Kelly Griffith, Marketing Manager
Phone: (612) 492-7514
Email: kgriffith@fredlaw.com

For Immediate Release

Fredrikson & Byron Hires Three Lateral Attorneys and Patent Agent

Minneapolis, MN June 16, 2005-- Fredrikson & Byron announces three lateral attorneys and a patent agent have joined the firm: Richard Kyle (Officer), Robert Klepinski (Officer), Nicholas Furia (Associate), Elisabeth Lacy Belden (Patent Agent).

Richard Kyle has considerable criminal defense experience defending individuals and businesses at trial and on appeal in state and federal court. He has worked on a wide variety of white collar cases, including antitrust, bank fraud, environmental crimes, health care fraud, mail and wire fraud, securities fraud and tax evasion. In addition, Richard handles other serious misdemeanor and felony cases for Fredrikson & Byron. Before joining Fredrikson & Byron, Richard was a solo criminal defense practitioner (1997-2005) and an associate at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi (1991-1996). Kyle received his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Robert Klepinski is recognized as one of the leading FDA compliance attorneys. Prior to joining the firm, Robert counseled pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, food and nutritional supplement companies on FDA policy. Robert was a regulatory attorney for Medtronic, Inc., the world's leading medical technology company specializing in implantable and invasive therapies.

While at Medtronic, he set the legal strategy for FDA compliance, including advertising and promotion, quality systems, regulatory and clinical. Robert frequently speaks at both local and national trade associations on FDA policy. He has been a guest lecturer at law schools, including University of Minnesota, Northwestern, Hamline University and William Mitchell. He is currently an adjunct professor at St. Thomas University in their mini MBA program. Klepinski received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law.

Nicholas Furia assists and represents clients in a wide range of property tax matters, including valuation, equalization, and exemption, throughout all stages of litigation and appeal, before both the Minnesota Tax Court and Minnesota Supreme Court. Furia received his J.D. degree from Marquette University and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota.

Lacy Belden is a patent agent specializing in the prosecution of patent applications with emphasis in the mechanical arts.  Ms. Belden has over a dozen years experience in the medical device industry.  In 1991, after receiving a Master of Science degree from University at Texas, Austin,
Ms. Belden began her career in Minnesota as an R&D engineer. In 2002 Ms. Belden transitioned from the role of principal mechanical design engineer to that of practicing patent agent.  Throughout the course of her career, Ms. Belden has been an inventor and is the recipient of over half a dozen U.S. patents.

Fredrikson & Byron is a 170-attorney law firm based in Minneapolis, with offices in London and Monterrey, Mexico. 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. We are the exclusive Minnesota law firm member of the World Services Group, a worldwide network of professional service providers. More information about the firm is available at www.fredlaw.com.