Notable Women in Law 2022

Meet TCB’s 29 Notable Women in Law, exemplary professionals who handle complex transactions and use their expertise to guide a variety of clients through obstacles. They also are instrumental in serving as mentors, doing pro bono work that addresses social and economic causes, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive; it includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.

To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.

Suzette Allaire

Suzette Allaire

Chief operating officer and acting CFO, Maslon LLP
With more than 15 years of law firm experience, Suzette Allaire has been leading innovation in technology, operations, and finance. Currently in a dual role at Minneapolis-based Maslon LLP, her
Jane Bremer

Jane Bremer

President, Bremer Law P.C.
Jane Bremer is the president of Bloomington-based Bremer Law P.C., a woman-owned law firm providing specialized legal counsel to the telecommunications industry, including representing some of the 10 largest broadband
Miaja Cassidy

Miaja Cassidy

Chief compliance officer OU, Medtronic
With 25 years in business, Miaja Cassidy has provided expertise in managing risk and building integrated compliance programs that support corporate strategies. She blends her business and legal experience to
Rikke Dierssen-Morice

Rikke Dierssen-Morice

Partner, Maslon LLP
As a partner at Minneapolis-based Maslon LLP, a commercial law firm, Rikke Dierssen-Morice manages an insurance litigation practice, defending major Minnesota businesses. Annually, Dierssen-Morice assists more than 100 policyholders, from
Janel Dressen

Janel Dressen

Attorney, shareholder, CEO, Anthony Ostlund
Janel Dressen is the first female CEO of Anthony Ostlund Louwagie Dressen & Boylan P.A., a commercial litigation-focused firm in Minneapolis. Dressen has been instrumental in helping the firm navigate
Gina Fox

Gina Fox

Associate general counsel, Life Time Inc.
Gina Fox is the associate general counsel at Chanhassen-based Life Time Inc., where she provides practical and business-focused advice to her clients. Fox is the support and guide for new
Debra Frimerman

Debra Frimerman

General counsel and corporate secretary, Calyxt Inc.
Debra Frimerman leads legal, licensing, intellectual property, insurance, and compliance for Calyxt Inc., a plant-based tech company in Roseville. She works with the board of directors to advise on topics
Ann Gemmell

Ann Gemmell

Vice president of enrollment, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Ann Gemmell is known for her exemplary recruitment skills as the vice president of enrollment at Mitchell Hamline, the nation’s first law school to have a partially online enrollment option
Katheryn Gettman

Katheryn Gettman

Member, Cozen O’Connor
Katheryn Gettman has served as an in-house counsel, private practitioner, business founder, and entrepreneur, and she is now a member of global legal services provider Cozen O’Connor, based in Minneapolis.
Melissa Goodman

Melissa Goodman

Partner, Ciresi Conlin LLP
Melissa Goodman is a partner and trial lawyer at Minneapolis-based Ciresi Conlin LLP, with a focus on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation. She represents multinational corporations, small businesses, and
Kathryn “Katy” Grave

Kathryn “Katy” Grave

Attorney, shareholder, Henson Efron
Kathryn Graves has been a respected family attorney for the past 30 years, representing a variety of family law matters such as alternative dispute resolution, child support, custody, domestic abuse
Kathleen Hayden

Kathleen Hayden

Senior corporate counsel, Mall of America
Kathleen Hayden reviews and negotiates all lease contracts that cover retail, restaurants, and attractions for MOA, where she has worked for more than 15 years. She also handles legal matters
Veena Iyer

Veena Iyer

Executive director, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Veena Iyer leads a staff of about 30 and hundreds of volunteers to provide legal representation, educational outreach, and advocacy for low-income immigrant and refugee communities. Iyer began her career
Gina Kastel

Gina Kastel

Executive partner, Faegre Drinker
Gina Kastel serves on the firm’s executive leadership team and management board. She has been leading lawyer and consultant integration for Faegre Drinker as executive partner, and she has also
Amy DuMond Kottke

Amy DuMond Kottke

Partner, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Amy DuMond Kottke has more than two decades of experience advising clients nationwide on real estate development, financing, acquisitions and sales, mergers, commercial leasing, and construction issues. Kottke is known
Jane Maschka

Jane Maschka

Partner, Faegre Drinker
Jane Maschka leads the finance litigation team at Faegre Drinker. She represents major financial institutions and companies, often dealing in transactions of hundreds of millions of dollars. She is the
Erin Mathern

Erin Mathern

Shareholder, Winthrop & Weinstine
Erin Mathern is a leader of Minneapolis-based Winthrop & Weinstine’s affordable-housing practice, which seeks to combat discrimination and inequality at a policy level. Whether it’s her role in the Mino-bimaadiziwin
Heather McElroy

Heather McElroy

Partner, Ciresi Conlin LLP
Heather McElroy specializes in business and environmental litigation at Ciresi Conlin LLP. An experienced trial attorney and skilled legal writer, McElroy’s written analysis of complex legal issues has led to