New Associates Join BGS

September 6, 2011  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

Barna, Guzy & Steffen LTD. announces the addition of two new associates to our firm. Joe M. Wearmouth and Sheldon M. Clark have joined the firm’s Business Litigation/Employment Law section. Joe has worked previously as an associate attorney at a large downtown Minneapolis-based law firm where he litigated complex civil cases and worked on sophisticated commercial and residential real estate transactions. He has also appeared in state and federal courts for trials and discovery and dispositive motion hearings. Joe is a 2009 graduate of Hamline University School of Law and graduated summa cum laude, ranking first in his graduating class. He was the recipient of the M. Arnold Lyons Award for Highest Academic Performance in the Graduating Class. Sheldon has most recently worked as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Tammi A. Fredrickson, Tenth Judicial District, in Anoka. He also has experience as a Civil Division Law Clerk for the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. Sheldon graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, in 2008, magna cum laude. He was a Student Ambassador and a Professorial Research Assistant. “The addition of these new talented attorneys will benefit our existing clients and help expand our business opportunities,” said Joan Quade, Shareholder and Practice Group Manager of the Business Litigation/Employment Law section.

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Assisting Vets at MACV's StandDown 2011

August 3, 2011  |  Jon P. Erickson

Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, MACV, held its annual metro assistance days, “StandDown”, on 8/2 and 8/3 at the newly renovated “Boy Scout Base Camp” which is a remodeled facility at Fort Snelling. It’s an air conditioned large space with access to the Fort Snelling LRT station and bus lines. The service providers included many veteran services people, public benefit representatives from metro governmental agencies, housing and shelter agencies, employment assistance, medical services, legal services and miscellaneous providers, even free hair cuts. All of the various organizations had booths/work spaces and representatives to assist the Vets. I volunteered my legal services as a criminal defense attorney and a member of Mn Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys to help Vets solve miscellaneous legal problems. There were prosecuting attorneys present from Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, and other criminal defense attorneys. The screeners brought Vets, most of whom were disabled at some level, to the legal people who then worked to see if their criminal matters could get resolved. It was in some sense an amnesty program for those Vets who took the time to come in and get help to work out their legal problem. One of the Vets I worked with had two old traffic matters unresolved. One involved a no insurance fine, and…

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Karen Kurth Named Shareholder

August 1, 2011  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

The Shareholders of Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. announce that Karen K. Kurth has been voted in as the 21st Shareholder of the firm. Karen practices in the firm’s Employment Law and Business Litigation section focusing her practice on commercial litigation, employment litigation and counseling, construction litigation, real estate litigation, landlord/tenant law, shareholder disputes, and appellate advocacy. Karen’s extensive background in accounting and commercial insurance enhances her ability to evaluate and successfully resolve a broad range of employment and commercial litigation issues. Karen received her J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law in 2002, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in 2002 and to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in 2004. Karen joined Barna, Guzy, & Steffen as an associate in 2004.

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