Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  Kendal has been named a Minnesota Rising Star by Super Lawyers for several years. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where she teaches Advanced Family Law. She has been invited to speak on a number of topics, including International Service of Process, Interstate and International Child Custody, and Establishing Child Support, among others. Kendal also serves as co-editor of Minnesota CLE’s Divorce Practice Deskbook, a resource for family law practitioners across the state. In addition, Kendal serves as a board member for the Family Law League, a local non-profit organization focused on professional development and promoting collegiality among family law professionals. Kendal’s interest in and passion for helping families developed during law school when she began volunteering for Tubman, a family violence prevention organization. Kendal has continued her involvement with Tubman and regularly volunteers her time to Tubman’s legal clinics for self-represented litigants.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Lena graduated from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in 2022 and was admitted to the Minnesota Bar that same year. After law school, she clerked for the Honorable Referee Rebecca Rossow in Ramsey County Family Court observing and working on a variety of family law cases, including divorce, child custody, third party custody, child support, spousal maintenance, post-decree issues, and Orders for Protection.
• Adoption
• Paternity
• Premarital Agreement
  Chestnut Cambronne has been a presence in the Minnesota family law bar for over forty years. The Family Law Practice Group has vast experience in all areas of family law, including marriage dissolution, child custody, paternity, child support, post-decree issues, antenuptial agreements, and step- and second-parent adoptions. The group is derived of an exceptional team of staff and attorneys who can assist in many areas impacted by family law matters. The firm has handled family cases in all Twin Cities metro area counties and throughout Minnesota.
• Guardianship
  Allison received her B.A. from Carleton College and her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Minnesota State Court and is an accredited attorney for veterans benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section and the Minnesota Association for Guardianship and Conservatorship (MAGiC). Allison frequently presents community lectures and seminars on elder law topics.
• Spousal Support
  Chestnut Cambronne’s family law attorneys have handled thousands of cases involving complex issues of property division and spousal maintenance, sometimes litigating them to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The firm was instrumental in the landmark decision of Nardini v. Nardini, which continues to be the law today in the areas of determining spousal maintenance for a non-working spouse in a long-term marriage and for valuing and dividing a closely-held family business.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Brian Toder's thirty-year trial practice has focused on business litigation, numerous national class actions where he has served as co-lead counsel, federal criminal defense cases highlighted by three consecutive jury trials resulting in acquittals, and maritime law cases where he brings to his practice his experience as a former ship's master.
• DUI/DWI
  Jennifer also prosecutes on behalf of local municipalities in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Jennifer started her career as a county prosecutor in the State of Missouri, where she served as a senior assistant prosecuting attorney focusing on felony property and tax offenses. Given her experience and knowledge of the criminal process and laws from serving as a prosecutor, Jennifer also represents clients in a number of criminal defense matters, including DWIs, assaults, domestic assaults, thefts, and other motor vehicle-related offenses.
• Fraud
  Jeffrey Bores is the managing partner and shareholder at Chestnut Cambronne, where he concentrates his practice on complex class action litigation representing plaintiffs in securities fraud, antitrust, consumer fraud, and data breach litigation. He also practices appellate advocacy, with a special emphasis on representing law enforcement officers’ organizations as amicus curiae before the Minnesota Supreme Court. He has participated in many cases in which Chestnut Cambronne has served as lead counsel in major class action lawsuits, including
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
• Assault
• Murder
  On September 26, 2024, members of Chestnut Cambronne walked Robert “Bobby” Bintz out of the Oakhill Correctional Facility in Oregon, Wisconsin where he had been wrongfully imprisoned for the last 25 years. For more than five years, a team of Chestnut Cambronne attorneys and staff investigated the 1987 abduction and murder of Sandra Lison in Green Bay, WI. Through twists and turns in partnership with the Great North Innocence Project, and the use of forensic genealogy, the defense team was able to prove to the Brown County, Wisconsin district attorney and the Court that Bobby Bintz was innocent of the crime. Many worked to free Bobby, but in particular, the firm recognizes the pro bono efforts of Jacklyn Heckman, Wynn Curtiss, Jen Crancer, and Chris Renz in this outstanding effort. It was only the third known time in United States history that forensic genealogy has been used to establish the innocence of an imprisoned criminal.
• Arson
  Jennifer previously worked representing insurance companies in a variety of coverage disputes and anti-fraud litigation claims, including personal injury claims, theft claims, arson claims, and commercial liability claims. Jennifer continues to represent both insurance companies and insureds in a variety of coverage disputes from initial claim submission, to completing coverage analyses, and through resolution of the claim.
• Restraining Order
  Kendal O’Keefe is a partner with Chestnut Cambronne. She focuses her practice exclusively on family law, including divorce, child custody, interstate and international divorce and child custody matters, paternity, asset and debt division, spousal maintenance, child support, domestic abuse (including Orders for Protection) and Harassment Restraining Orders. Kendal is also a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral and offers mediation services in addition to her litigation practice.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
• Business Formation
  Ryan Prochaska is a partner at Chestnut Cambronne PA and practices in the areas of estate planning, cabin succession planning, farm succession planning, estate administration (probate and trust), and business formation and succession. Ryan is licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• Business Disputes
  Eric Bjerva practices in the growing area of Mental Health Law, which encompasses many areas of practice with a special attention to the needs of those with issues of mental health and the complexities those issues create in law. Some of these areas of practice include vulnerable adult protection, guardianship and conservatorship law, substance use disorder, professional license defense, assisted living facility issues, probate litigation, trust and estate litigation, and business law.
• Business Transactions
• Intellectual Property
• Antitrust
  Bryan is a former officer of the Antitrust Section of the National Federal Bar Association and has also participated in the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association's Pro Se Project. He has been a featured speaker at the National American Bar Association Institute on Class Actions. Bryan has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine. He is a current member of the Sedona Conference Working Group Series, a research and educational institute dedicated to the advanced study of law and policy in the areas of antitrust law, complex litigation, and intellectual property rights.

Employment Law

• Employment Litigation
  Emeric Dwyer focuses his legal practice on conducting commercial transactions and litigation, real estate transactions and litigation, intellectual property protection, and serving as general counsel to a variety of businesses. He has significant experience forming small and medium-sized businesses, and completing business and real estate transactions. Emeric also advises clients on a wide variety of matters that arise in the course of operating a business, including employment issues, trademark and intellectual property protection, and corporate governance. When disputes arise, Emeric represents clients throughout the litigation process, including bringing matters to trial.
• Severance Agreement
  Nicole spent several years clerking for district court judges, after which she prosecuted criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. In addition to her criminal law experience, Nicole practiced insurance defense in Illinois where her responsibilities included handling complex bodily injury and property damage cases. Currently, Nicole assists clients with general civil litigation, including business and employment matters, such as drafting contracts ranging from consulting agreements to separation and severance agreements, as well as contract disputes. More recently, Nicole has expanded her practice to include assisting clients navigating divorce and child custody issues through thoughtful, deliberate, compassionate representation to obtain the best result.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  A partner and shareholder at Chestnut Cambronne, Gretchen Schellhas focuses her legal practice in the area of real estate, particularly in counseling and representing homeowners associations. From condominiums to townhomes to single-family common interest communities, Gretchen advises these clients drawing on more than a quarter century of experience in real estate law. Gretchen works closely with property managers and boards of directors to meet the varied needs of association clients, including declarant/developer turnover, contract interpretation, enforcement issues, defense of claims, document revision, and assessment collection. Clients appreciate Gretchen's direct and practical approach to the issues which arise.
• Real Estate Transactions
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  Amber Anderson is a paralegal at Chestnut Cambronne and has experience in a number of practice areas including: real estate matters, employment law, criminal defense, landlord tenant law, and civil litigation. Amber graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and later obtained her Paralegal Certificate from Inver Hills Community College.
• Property Damage
• Condominium Law
  Chestnut Cambronne has extensive and unique experience in class action and civil litigation; business representation; tax, estate, and elder law planning; real estate law and litigation; family, criminal, and personal injury law; townhome and condominium law; arbitration and mediation; copyright and trademark law; liquor law; maritime law; and government relations. Whether representing individuals or institutional investors in class actions, representing businesses, prosecuting crimes for local government, assisting an individual or family with estate or elder planning, helping an injured person, representing an individual in a divorce, or advocating for clients at the legislature, Chestnut Cambronne's attorneys represent their clients efficiently and expertly.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Julie is a paralegal at Chestnut Cambronne specializing in personal injury law. She has years of experience with personal injury law claims, including working with clients to understand their unique situations; and requesting and examining medical records requests. Julie is a graduate of Rasmussen College where she earned an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies.
• Medical Malpractice
  Andrew Case is an attorney at Chestnut Cambronne who focuses on civil litigation and municipal prosecution. Before joining our firm, Andrew clerked for several judges in Minnesota District Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He is experienced in litigating a variety of complex civil matters involving appellate litigation, corporate liability and business disputes, medical malpractice and professional liability, real estate disputes, as well as employment litigation. Andrew is likewise experienced in prosecuting and defending criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. Andrew takes pride in serving his clients as a trusted confidant and devoted advocate.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Charles (Charlie) Shafer represents clients in matters involving civil litigation, class action litigation, employment law, and trust and estate litigation, across state and federal court.
• Wills
  Annaliisa’s trust and estate litigation practice has involved a variety of different breach of fiduciary duty claims, will and trust contests, trustee removal actions, claims against or involving personal representatives or other fiduciaries, elder abuse claims, trust instruction actions, and claims against or on behalf of estates and trusts.
• Trusts
  David Rephan is a partner at Chestnut Cambronne. In his twenty-five years of practicing law, he has focused his practice primarily in the areas of elder law, disability law (including special needs trust law), government benefits law, and veterans law. He has successfully litigated class actions and individual actions on behalf of government benefits recipients. David has also participated in successful legislative initiatives to increase the rights of persons appealing to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, as well as other rights of government benefits recipients.
• Power of Attorney
  Stuart Bear is a partner, shareholder, and the president of Chestnut Cambronne and holds a national reputation for providing the highest level of succession planning services for individuals and businesses; including single individuals, married couples, domestic partnerships, blended families, and seniors. His practice specializes in wills, trusts, disability planning, powers of attorney, living wills, asset protection, and Medical Assistance planning. A native of Superior, Wisconsin, Stuart received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota, Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
  Jay Salmen is Of Counsel at Chestnut Cambronne and is recognized as a pioneer in Minnesota in the representation of debtors and creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. He has extensive experience in: debtor-creditor remedies; bankruptcy law; Chapter 11 reorganizations; business litigation; and the representation of banks, lenders, and corporations in structured loan transactions. Jay has also been appointed a United States Bankruptcy Court trustee and has served in that capacity for nearly ten years. He has been extensively involved in the liquidation of Petters Aviation and its subsidiaries, including Sun Country Airlines. Jay is a member of both the Minnesota and Hennepin County Bar Associations and also serves as a Board Member for the Hennepin Theatre Trust, the Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association, and the University of St. Thomas Presidents Council.
• Foreclosure
  Teeda has been with Chestnut Cambronne since 2014. She currently works primarily in corporate matters and real estate matters, particularly with business formation, deed transfers, review of owner and encumbrance reports, townhomes and condominium law, lien foreclosure, eviction, debt collection, and conducting legal research. She also has experience at Chestnut Cambronne with civil litigation, criminal prosecution, and forfeiture law.
• Tax Law
  Erica Lindquist is a partner at Chestnut Cambronne and specializes in estate and gift planning, tax planning and compliance for trusts and estates. She is an active CPA and has more than 10 years of experience in the preparation of estate, trust, gift and individual income tax returns. Clients find this combination of skills very helpful because it allows Erica to assist individuals and families in all stages of estate planning from putting together an initial plan, to the asset transfer planning during lifetime and finally the estate and trust administration, including all related tax compliance, after a loved one passes away.
• Debt Collection