One hundred and fifty-one Fredrikson attorneys were named by Best Lawyers® in its 2026 ranking reports. 103 attorneys were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and 48 attorneys were included in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, recognizing attorneys who typically have been in practice for five to nine years and have displayed outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Ten attorneys were honored as a “Lawyer of the Year,” awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.
Best Lawyers' 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” Recipients
Des Moines, Iowa
- Jodie Clark McDougal – Construction Law
- Bridget R. Penick – Employment Law - Management
Madison, Wisconsin
- Jessica J. Shrestha – Energy Law, Real Estate Law
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Christina K. Brusven – Energy & Regulatory Law
- Mark W. Greiner – Tax Law
- Sean P. Kearney – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
- Ryan T. Murphy – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Howard A. Roston – Litigation - Real Estate
- Mark D. Savin – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Cameron R. Seybolt – Trusts & Estates
2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Bismarck, North Dakota
- Lawrence Bender – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law
- Andrew Neumann – Oil and Gas Law
Des Moines, Iowa
- Philip S. Bubb – Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Real Estate
- Krystle L. Campa – Energy Law, Real Estate Law
- William J. Daly – Banking & Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
- Bret A. Dublinske – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Communications Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- Ryan Haaland – Real Estate Law
- R. Scott Johnson – Litigation - Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law
- Jonathan C. Landon – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law
- Jodie Clark McDougal – Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
- Bridget R. Penick – Employment Law - Management, Immigration Law, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- John C. Pickerill – Advertising Law, Trademark Law
- Emily S. Pontius – Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Kendra D. Simmons – Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- J. Marc Ward – Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Fargo, North Dakota
- Kristy L. Albrecht – Employment Law - Management
- Jessica L. Foss – Trusts and Estates
- William L. Guy III – Trusts and Estates
- Michael S. Raum – Corporate Law, Tax Law
- F. John Williams III – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
- Todd E. Zimmerman – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Securities, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Aubrey J. Zuger – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Real Estate
Madison, Wisconsin
- Justin W. Chasco – Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- Jessica J. Shrestha – Energy Law, Real Estate Law
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Lisa M. Agrimonti – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- James L. Baillie – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Frank B. Bennett – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law
- Jeffrey R. Benson – Real Estate Law
- Matthew Boos – Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- James C. Brand – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Ryan C. Brauer – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
- William J. Brody – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Non-Profit / Charities Law, Trusts and Estates
- Christina K. Brusven – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- David P. Bunde – Commercial Litigation
- Joseph J. Cassioppi – Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Bronwen L. Cound – Trusts and Estates
- Clinton E. Cutler – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Joseph T. Dixon, III – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Christopher J. Dolan – Real Estate Law
- Jeremy P. Duehr – Environmental Law
- John J. Erhart – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law
- Grant D. Fairbairn – Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Terrence J. Fleming – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy, Litigation - Securities
- David M. Glaser – Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care
- David B. Gollin – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- Kevin P. Goodno – Government Relations Practice
- Karen L. Grandstrand – Banking and Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law
- Jeremy P. Greenhouse – Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law
- Mark W. Greiner – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
- William P. Hefner – Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law
- Christopher B. Hunt – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- Loan T. Huynh – Immigration Law
- Katherine B. Ilten – Health Care Law
- Leigh-Erin Irons – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Mercedes M. Jackson – Banking and Finance Law
- Leah Janus – Commercial Litigation
- Ryan S. Johnson – Health Care Law
- Gregory E. Karpenko – Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Sean P. Kearney – International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law
- John M. Koneck – Litigation - Real Estate, Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, Real Estate Law
- Kenneth S. Levinson – Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law
- Debra J. Linder – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Patrick D.J. Mahlberg – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- Jessica D. Manivasager – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Tax Law
- David R. Marshall – Commercial Litigation, Financial Services Regulation Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance
- Brian S. McCool – Real Estate Law
- Pari I. McGarraugh – Litigation - Health Care
- Christopher Melsha – Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Sjur Midness – Banking and Finance Law
- Ryan G. Miest – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Nicole M. Moen – Commercial Litigation
- Ryan T. Murphy – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
- Laura L. Myers – Advertising Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Sue Ann Nelson – Litigation and Controversy - Tax
- Kurt J. Niederluecke – Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent
- Robert M. Oberlies – Mergers and Acquisition Law
- John G. Patterson – Litigation - Construction
- Steven J. Quam – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Anne M. Radolinski – Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Mary S. Ranum – Real Estate Law
- Lindsey A. Remakel – Energy Law, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law
- Simon C. Root – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Melodie R. Rose – Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Howard A. Roston – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Litigation - Real Estate, Real Estate Law
- Karen Sandler Steinert – Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Mark D. Savin – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Real Estate Law
- Dale J. Schoonover – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
- Manda M. Sertich – Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Cameron R. Seybolt – Trusts and Estates
- Sandra Smalley-Fleming – Arbitration, Commercial Litigation
- Levi J. Smith – Banking and Finance Law
- Mollie Smith – Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- James Snelson – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Joseph M. Sokolowski – Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Anupama D. Sreekanth – Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
- John H. Stout – Corporate Governance Law
- Teresa M. Thompson – Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Mark W. Vyvyan – Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation - Construction
- Haley Waller Pitts – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law
- Ann Dunn Wessberg – Advertising Law, Copyright Law, Trademark Law
- Todd A. Wind – Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Antitrust
- Allison O. Woodbury – Tax Law
- Daniel A. Yarano – Energy Law
2026 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America
Bismarck, North Dakota
- Tyler J. Gludt – Oil and Gas Law
- Spencer D. Ptacek – Oil and Gas Law
Des Moines, Iowa
- Michael D. Currie – Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction
- Cara S. Donels – Commercial Litigation Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent
- Sarah B. Golwitzer – Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction
- Austin L. Goodnight – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Alex N. Kron – Energy Law, Real Estate Law
- Grace E. Manzione – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law, Privacy and Data Security Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Olivia N. Norwood – Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Thomas M. Patton – Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent
Fargo, North Dakota
- David B. Tibbals – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Madison, Wisconsin
- Leakhena Au – Environmental Law
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Marguerite J. Ahmann – Health Care Law
- Samuel Andre – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Aly Brandvold – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Tyler Bush – Banking and Finance Law
- Olivia E. Cares – Energy Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Daniel P. Deveny – Commercial Litigation, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- Janet Dorr – Labor and Employment Law – Management
- Devin T. Driscoll – Litigation - Environmental
- Bridget A. Duffus – Energy Law
- Dominick J. Grande – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Jade B. Jorgenson – Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Katlyn Korsakov – Trusts and Estates
- Meaghan Kwan – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Jacob Levine – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- John McCutcheon – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Amanda M. Mills – Commercial Litigation
- Brendan Mochoruk – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Carl J. Numrich – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Aaron Nyquist – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Shantal Pai – Environmental Law
- Travis Panneck – Banking and Finance Law
- Jeri Parkin – Real Estate Law
- Edward Peilen – Corporate Law
- Jennifer R. Pusch – Tax Law
- Natasha Robinson – Commercial Litigation, Health Care Law
- Anne Rondoni Tavernier – Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Gauri S. Samant – Tax Law
- Ben Sharp – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Roxanne Thorelli – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Sarah E. Tucher – Commercial Litigation
- Kyle W. Ubl – Appellate Practice
- Tash Van Lieshout – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Deborah J. Walker Kool – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Bridget Welter – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- David Woger – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Ryan C. Young – Commercial Litigation
Best Lawyers is an elite global network of legal professionals recognized through trusted, peer-reviewed distinction. For over four decades, its Purely Peer Review® methodology has upheld the principle that recognition should be earned through the opinions of fellow attorneys, not marketing influence or paid listings. Each year, more than 13 million confidential evaluations are collected worldwide, contributing to one of the legal industry’s most rigorous and trusted vetting processes. Only about 5% of lawyers in the United States and 3% globally are recognized, reflecting the selectivity and credibility of the results. Proprietary safeguards are in place to reduce bias and uphold the accuracy of the peer feedback. For the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, more than 26 million evaluations were analyzed. The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America recognitions were determined based on more than 5.4 million evaluations.
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 400+ attorneys are based in Minneapolis, with offices in Ames, Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, Madison, Mankato, St. Paul, Saltillo, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. Learn more at fredlaw.com or LinkedIn.