Fredrikson Announces New 2026 Shareholders

Fredrikson has elected the following new shareholders: Aly Brandvold, Olivia Cares, Shana N. Conklin, Nathan D. Converse, Cara S. Donels, Erin M. Edgerton Hall, Austin L. Goodnight, Meaghan Kwan, Jacob D. Levine, Travis J. Logghe, David R. Moeller, Brendan Mochoruk, Abbie S. Olson, Tess L. Pocock, Melissa R. Stumbras, Tash S. Van Lieshout, Panhia Vang, Natalie M. Warehime, Bridget L. Welter and Thomas Wheeler.

Aly Brandvold works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Corporate Governance groups. Brandvold represents private equity funds, venture funds and their portfolio companies, as well as other financial buyers, sellers and investors, in a variety of strategic matters including platform and add-on acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations and other transactions. She has a diverse mergers and acquisitions practice that spans private equity, strategic buy-side and sell-side deals in a wide range of industries, such as technology, manufacturing, advertising and consumer services.

Olivia Cares works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity groups. Cares assists clients with mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other commercial transactions. She also provides fundamental business advice, including with respect to establishment of companies, corporate governance and drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts. She serves strategic and private equity clients in a variety of industries, with a focus on the renewable energy industry and green startups. Cares seeks to provide practical and cost-effective advice, understand clients’ business needs and guide them through all stages of complex transactions.

Shana N. Conklin works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Real Estate & Construction Group. Conklin assists clients with a wide array of real estate matters including purchasing and selling land, leasing commercial properties, platting and subdividing property, or seeking other land use approvals. She works collaboratively with clients to assure that their goals are met. She strives to provide efficient and comprehensive legal services in complex real estate transactions and is committed to being responsive to client needs.

Nathan D. Converse works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Appellate, Health Care Fraud & Compliance and Internal Investigations groups. Converse guides clients through complex business disputes and government investigations. He maintains a broad litigation practice but concentrates on complex business disputes, white collar criminal and regulatory defense, and internal investigations. He has experience representing clients confronting multifaceted government investigations and parallel litigation, minority/majority shareholder disputes, internal corporate investigations and conflicts between business competitors.

Cara S. Donels works in the Des Moines office and is a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation and Litigation groups. Donels’ practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and advice, with an emphasis on the life sciences field. She has experience representing and advising clients in many industries, including medical and mechanical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical researchers. Her practice spans the country and includes appearances in several administrative courts. 

Erin M. Edgerton Hall works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Employment, Labor & Benefits Group. Edgerton Hall performs privileged, neutral workplace investigations and guides clients as they manage employment law compliance. She regularly advises employers on a variety of day-to-day employment and business matters, including navigating complex leave and accommodation obligations. She collaborates with clients to find effective solutions to challenging problems, including representing employers in government investigations and coaching employers through internal investigation. Edgerton Hall also creates legally compliant employer policies and handbooks, taking a practical approach to risk management that centers her clients' business objectives.

Austin L. Goodnight works in the Des Moines office and is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Governance and Private Equity groups. With a practical and business-oriented approach, Goodnight helps clients execute transactions efficiently while protecting value and managing risk. He works closely with business owners, executives and investors to develop solutions that align legal strategy with commercial objectives, keeping outcomes front of mind. He has extensive experience leading mergers and acquisitions across a broad range of industries, advising on transactions of varying size and structure with an aggregate value exceeding $3 billion. 

Meaghan Kwan works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Corporate Governance groups. Kwan represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies, as well as strategic buyers and sellers, in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and other complex corporate transactions. She advises local and national private equity funds, their portfolio companies and strategic buyers and sellers on platform and add-on acquisitions, divestitures, internal reorganizations and ongoing corporate governance matters across a broad range of industries. 

Jacob D. Levine works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Governance and Private Equity groups. Levine advises clients on corporate governance and strategic matters relating to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and enterprise sales. He represents public companies, local and national private equity firms, and mom-and-pop shops in all types of business transactions in industries including software, professional services, life sciences, cyber security, adult day health care, manufacturing and construction, and special and alternative education. Levine serves as a co-chair of the firm’s Tzedakah Group whose members support the missions of various local, Jewish community focused non-profits.

Travis J. Logghe works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Tax/Business Planning, Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions groups. Logghe finds practical and creative solutions within the strict rules of tax law to work for clients to meet their business objectives. His practice focuses on the federal income tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, the formation and taxation of joint ventures and partnerships, debt and equity offerings, and restructurings of corporations and partnerships. He advises clients in a broad range of transactions, including private and public and taxable and tax-free. 

David R. Moeller works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Energy & Natural Resources, Energy Regulation & Permitting, and Renewable Energy groups. Moeller is based in Duluth, Minnesota, and advises utilities, developers, large energy users and infrastructure investors on complex regulatory matters before state and federal utility commissions. His practice focuses on developing regulatory strategies that enable clean energy, transmission and large-load infrastructure projects—including data center and energy-intensive developments—to advance from planning through approvals and operation. He represents clients in securing regulatory approvals and navigating commercial and compliance matters associated with utility and energy projects.

Brendan Mochoruk works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. Mochoruk advises private equity funds, portfolio companies, founders and strategic businesses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and other complex corporate transactions. He regularly represents clients in platform and add-on acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations and corporate governance matters across a broad range of industries. Known for his practical, business-focused approach, Mochoruk serves as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the transaction lifecycle, helping them navigate strategic opportunities and complex legal challenges.

Abbie S. Olson works in the Mankato office and is a member of the Renewable Energy, Renewable Fuels and Real Estate & Construction groups. Olson is an MSBA Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist who represents utilities, renewable energy developers, commercial developers and businesses in the acquisition, development, financing and management of real estate assets throughout the Midwest. Her practice focuses on complex real estate transactions involving energy and utility infrastructure, renewable energy development, commercial real estate and title matters, including site acquisition and control, due diligence, title and survey review, leasing, easements and project development.

Tess L. Pocock works in the Des Moines office and is a member of the Renewable Energy Group. Pocock assists clients with the development of renewable energy projects, focusing on the commercial real estate aspects as well as a range of real estate matters. Known for her dynamic and solution-driven approach, she supports developers and stakeholders to address complex legal issues and advance projects efficiently and strategically. She draws on her experience in environmental law and mergers and acquisitions to provide practical, business-focused advice on the legal and commercial issues that impact complex transactions and energy projects. Outside of her practice, Tess serves as President of Polk County Women Attorneys.

Melissa R. Stumbras works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Employment, Labor & Benefits, Employment & Labor Litigation and Litigation groups. Stumbras partners with clients as they navigate a variety of employment-related litigation and compliance matters. She represents employers before state and federal courts in litigation ranging from single-plaintiff employment disputes to complex trade secret and non-competition litigation. She also counsels clients regarding routine policy and workplace issues.

Tash S. Van Lieshout works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity groups. Van Lieshout advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions and a range of corporate and governance matters. She takes a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to guiding clients through every stage of a transaction, drawing on a deep understanding of their businesses, strategic priorities, and long-term objectives. Her clients include emerging growth companies, established corporations, and private equity firms across a variety of industries, including life sciences, medical devices, software, professional services and manufacturing.

Panhia Vang works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the Litigation and Real Estate & Construction groups. Vang guides clients through all stages of litigation, having represented clients in high-stakes shareholder disputes, contract disputes, patent and copyright infringement disputes, and property disputes. She previously prosecuted attorney misconduct at the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility. She represents clients with professional ethics issues or in disciplinary proceedings. Vang also has an active pro bono practice helping individuals obtain refugee resettlement, asylum, U.S. citizenship and release from immigration detention.

Natalie M. Warehime works in the Des Moines office and is a member of the Energy & Natural Resources and Renewable Energy groups. Warehime advises clients on real estate matters during the development of renewable energy projects. Specializing in solar, wind and battery storage projects, Natalie provides comprehensive legal guidance to renewable energy clients navigating the complexities of site acquisition, land use, regulatory compliance and project financing.

Bridget L. Welter works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the firm's Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity groups. She regularly advises private equity funds and their portfolio companies on acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions. Bridget leads transaction execution, drafts and negotiates key deal documents, manages legal due diligence, and provides practical, business-focused counsel to help clients navigate risk and achieve their strategic objectives. Through her collaborative approach, she serves as a trusted advisor on critical transactional matters.

Thomas Wheeler works in the Minneapolis office and is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Appellate groups. Wheeler represents clients in complex disputes involving regulated industries, emerging technologies and sophisticated business relationships. Known for his strategic and creative approach to litigation, he has successfully handled software, healthcare, licensing and product liability matters, and he has significant experience pursuing claims against federal agencies under the Administrative Procedure Act. Wheeler is committed to understanding his clients’ business objectives and developing practical solutions that advance their goals.

Fredrikson & Byron is a leading Midwest law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally and globally. With a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet,” our attorneys bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to work with clients and operate as business advisors and strategic partners as well as legal counselors. The firm’s 425 attorneys serve clients from offices in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Mexico and China. Learn more at fredlaw.com or LinkedIn.