- Divorce
- Child SupportIn every divorce with a child or parenting time case, the issue of child support needs to be determined. Minnesota law establishes a guideline amount for child support based on the income of the parents, the amount of time spent with the children, the number of other children from other relationships, and the costs of daycare and medical insurance, among other factors.
- Child Custody and VisitationUnder Minnesota law, grandparents have specific rights relating to the custody and visitation of their grandchildren. There are specific circumstances that allow a grandparent to seek custody and/or visitation of their grandchildren, including the death of a parent or divorce, or if a child has resided with the grandparent.
- AdoptionOur lawyers fully understand the adoption process from all angles. We maintain literally decades of combined expertise in adoption law, and we are involved in both open and closed private adoptions, a sampling of which includes...
- PaternityOur lawyers know what it takes to prevail on behalf of both the mother and father in the event paternity remains a looming question. We have represented mothers in filing paternity actions, and in establishing child support. We have represented a father’s rights to custody and parenting time based on the best interests of the child.
- Premarital AgreementUnfortunately, statistics show that up to half of the marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. Taking a step back from the excitement and romance of an engagement to exercise prudent planning may be in the best interest of both you and your soon-to-be spouse. Valid antenuptial agreements (also known as prenuptial agreements) are favored in Minnesota courts as a contract between two consenting adults. Best & Flanagan’s Family Law team is frequently called upon to create such comprehensive ante- and postnuptial agreements that are appropriate for and personal to each client’s unique relationship.
- GuardianshipWe also have a diverse Private Wealth Planning section, which is often called upon to offer its experience in establishing or modifying sophisticated, high net worth estate plans for our entertainer clients, as well as in administering estates, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships.
- Spousal SupportEach divorce is unique and depends on the personal circumstances of the client. Our attorneys strive to make sure the division of any assets and ownership interests are divided fairly, including a home, business, bank or other financial accounts, pensions, stock rights, vehicles or other property, as well as individual or joint debt. We are highly adept at defending our client’s position when it comes to spousal maintenance. In the event our client has children, we advocate for custody and parenting time, child support and expenses.
- Legal SeparationIn order to obtain a legal separation, a formal petition must be filed with the court and approved by a judge. Our attorneys are well versed in creating and filing legal separation agreements, as well as in obtaining the requisite court approval.
- Annulment
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsDomestic violence is not always a straightforward legal matter. Often it includes more than just physical abuse, but also psychological or emotional harassment. Our attorneys fight for stringent penalties against abusers, which can result in misdemeanor or felony charges. We aggressively seek to bring a decisive and quick end to the traumatic situation with which our client is faced.
- Identity TheftBest & Flanagan advises content and service providers and a variety of businesses and nonprofits operating online. Clients rely on our attorneys to work on a broad spectrum of projects and transactions ranging from e-commerce, website development, click-through licensing, marketing, distribution, user and terms of service arrangements; hardware and software contracts; intellectual property protection and licensing. We also work with our clients on enforcement of brand names within domain names, social media, adwords/keywords, phishing, false blogging and other online brand identity theft, such as the sale of counterfeit goods in online auctions and the use of brand names in virtual-reality worlds.
- Restraining OrderDomestic violence is not only a criminal act, but can also impact the family law case at hand. We consistently provide comprehensive solutions on how to proceed in order to protect yourself and your family. We work quickly to assess whether or not you or your family is in immediate danger, as well as to legally shield you from your abuser. When necessary, we file a restraining order, denying your abuser contact with you, your children and other immediate family members.
- Corporate LawCollaborative and close working relationships are our most important asset, and our team is highly regarded for innovation and creativity. We are also willing and able to break outside of the traditional hourly rate in order to give our clients practical advice, extraordinary service, personal attention. An unwavering focus on quality is the cornerstone of Best & Flanagan’s Business & Corporate Law practice.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsWe provide comprehensive legal counsel from start to finish, ranging from the creation, design and production of marketing campaigns, through the launch and dissemination of all variety of advertising, sales and promotional materials. We assist our clients in diligently prescreening and reviewing proposed marketing and advertising campaigns. Our practice covers areas as diverse as regulatory compliance, consumer protection, intellectual property, celebrity endorsements, e-commerce, promotions, sweepstakes, contests, event management, sponsorships, product placement, licensing, defamation, invasion of privacy, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, social media issues, and trade association regulation.
- Business Formation
- Business Disputes
- Business Transactions
- Limited Liability CompaniesWe want to inspire your business and empower your creativity. Best and Flanagan’s Entertainment Law practice group provides business structuring, tax planning and other strategic advice for corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and individuals. We represent world renowned and Grammy
- Trade Secrets
- Intellectual PropertyOur technology lawyers provide business counsel to help clients build and maximize their intellectual property value. We serve as counsel in mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as in joint ventures, strategic alliances and intellectual property asset acquisitions. We also help clients develop internal processes to protect their intellectual property rights, and draft employment, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. We conduct intellectual property audits and structure a wide range of commercial agreements to address licensing, software development, supply and distribution, e-commerce, and technology investment issues. To ensure that we are meeting our clients’ needs, our intellectual property lawyers are flexible and adaptable in fee arrangements that maximize efficiency, value and service. We help clients understand the implications of what they are facing and work to find cost-effective solutions to maximize the value of technologies, helping to avoid costly litigation and other intellectual property issues.
- Unfair CompetitionWe have successfully advocated our clients’ rights in many types of intellectual property enforcement disputes, ranging from trademark and copyright infringement, to unfair competition actions, trade secret misappropriation cases, and voluntary arbitration or mediation of intellectual property disputes.
- Wrongful TerminationOur employment and labor lawyers also are skilled advocates, representing clients in court, mediations, arbitrations, labor negotiations and before administrative agencies, such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the Minnesota and U.S. Departments of Labor. We deliver depth of experience in discrimination and wrongful termination cases, disputes over non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, wage and hour claims and other workplace disputes.
- Employment DiscriminationWon a motion to dismiss in Minnesota federal court, resulting in complete dismissal of 11 claims of race discrimination, tortious interference, defamation and constitutional due-process violations.
- Employment Contract
- Employment LitigationBest & Flanagan’s employment and labor lawyers are skilled and strategic trial lawyers who represent large corporations, small businesses, and individuals in employment litigation—in state and federal court, mediations, and arbitrations in Minnesota and across the country. We litigate cases as efficiently and practically as possible, knowing that not every case requires a full court press. We also vigorously represent employers in administrative proceedings before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, other federal agencies, and their state and local equivalents.
- Non-compete Agreement
- Premises Liability
- Construction LitigationBest & Flanagan’s seasoned construction litigation team adopts a novel approach to the resolution of construction claims: we listen to our clients, take a hard look at the facts and then act both boldly and nimbly to drive a resolution. Our team represents a wide range of parties in the construction industry: owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, risk managers and captive groups. We work on public, private, hybrid, commercial industrial and multi-family residential projects for both public and private and hybrid projects.
- Eminent DomainOlivia is an Associate in the areas of Real Estate and Municipal Law. As part of that practice, Olivia is advancing the experience she gained prior to joining Best & Flanagan, where she advised both city governments and private developers on complex real estate and development issues to bring a development to fruition. Part of her practice also includes eminent domain and condemnation proceedings and private property litigation.
- Land Use and Zoning
- Property Damage
- Personal Injury
- Disability Discrimination
- Estate PlanningMary E. Shearen’s practice includes estate planning, probates, trusts and wealth transfer for clients at all levels of wealth. She provides customized, client-friendly services for individuals seeking estate planning help or help with estate services, trustees needing help administering trusts and trust beneficiaries regarding trust issues.
- BankruptcyOur attorneys are veteran advocates in prosecuting and defending litigation claims that arise out of or relate to bankruptcy proceedings. We consistently deliver both trial and motion experience and a multi-dimensional understanding of the bankruptcy code in order to resolve even the most complex bankruptcy disputes both in and out of court. Our experience includes a broad range of bankruptcy litigation disputes, such as those pertaining to...
- ForeclosureOur attorneys have navigated clients beyond failed or failing financial transactions. We assist clients both locally and nationally in connection with real estate foreclosures, lease enforcement, receiverships, bankruptcy and deed-in-lieu matters, as well as with the modification/restructuring of such transactions where a workout is a viable first alternative. We also advise clients on debt renegotiation and alternative financing options, including debt and equity offerings, business sales and mergers.
- Tax Law