McGrann Shea Attorneys Named to 2010 Minnesota Super Lawyers List
Two McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered Shareholders have been named by Minnesota Super Lawyers magazine as top attorneys in Minnesota for 2010.  Only five percent of the lawyers in the state are named Super Lawyers. 

Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.  Attorneys named in each state have received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research. Thomson Reuters, Legal publishes Super Lawyers magazine across the country.  Super Lawyers can be found online at www.superlawyers.com.

• John Schulz (Family Law, General Litigation, Business/Corporate)

• Debra Yerigan (Family Law)

Debra Yerigan was also recognized on the Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Top 50 Women Minnesota Super Lawyers 2010 lists.

McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered Welcomes John Choi and Debra Yerigan

Prior to joining the firm, John Choi served as the Saint Paul City Attorney (2006-2010).  John will provide civil legal advice and litigation services to the firm's clients.

Deb Yerigan will continue to practice in the area of family law, representing clients in marriage dissolution, child custody, child support, parenting time, spousal maintenance, property division, post-dissolution, paternity, domestic abuse and antenuptial matters.

McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Bill McGrann, Andy Shea, Doug Carnival, Doug Franzen, Kathleen Lamb resigned from O’Connor & Hannan on the morning of Thursday December 14, 1989 due to O’Connor & Hannan’s representation of the government of El Salvador headed by President Alfredo Cristiani. That afternoon, the firm opened its doors, sharing office space with a leasing agent at the Lincoln Centre (now Accenture Tower).  On that day, phone calls were made and clients were thankfully retained.  On December 15, 1989 the firm finished its first full day, celebrating with champagne, thus starting the firm tradition of Friday treats, now the monthly employee recognition lunch.  

The firm started as McGrann Shea Franzen Carnival & Lamb, Chartered, with its main goal, at least at first, being that of survival, one day at a time.  Office furniture consisted of folding tables and chairs along with a few milk crates.   The firm’s first conference table and chairs were free, left behind by a tenant who failed to pay their rent at the Lincoln Centre.  That conference table remains to this day, currently located in Conference Room Three. 

Over the years, McGrann Shea grew and prospered, adding new clients and attorneys, building a reputation as a firm that provided the legal services one typically finds in a large firm but with a small firm touch.   Twenty years later McGrann Shea continues to grow, now with twenty-three attorneys of whom sixteen are shareholders and seven are associates.  Andrew J. Shea, an original founder of McGrann Shea, remains as of-counsel to the firm. 

On January 14, 2010, McGrann Shea hosted its 20th Anniversary Party.  Clients, friends, and family alike were invited to celebrate the firm's first twenty years.  At twenty years, McGrann Shea is a mid-sized powerhouse law firm that competes with the biggest firms in Minnesota in both the quality of clients it has and the quality of legal work we provide our clients.  See a major building project completed or a significant piece of legislation passed and chances are McGrann Shea was a key player, providing exceptional legal services for and on behalf of our clients.

We recognize that McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb has been able to accomplish much in its first twenty years because of our valued clients and employees.  We have great clients and McGrann Shea is honored to serve you.  To our immensely talented employees, thank you for everything you do.  We wouldn't be where we are today without you.

McGrann Shea Attorneys Named to 2010 Rising Stars List
McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered is pleased to congratulate Amy L. Court and Jason H. Thomas for being named to the Minnesota Rising Stars 2010 list. The rating features the top 2.5 percent of up-and-coming attorneys in the state and results from a difficult selection process based on peer recognition, professional achievement, and a set of defined evaluation criteria.

• Amy L. Court (Employee Benefits/ERISA)

• Jason H. Thomas (Commercial Real Estate, Business Law) 

McGrann Shea Attorney Recognized for Real Estate Project
Carla Pedersen and her client, Village Green Companies, were spotlighted in the December issue of the MNCREW News for their project known as the Mill District City Apartments.  The $25 million project will convert what has been an empty lot in the heart of the Mill District into a vibrant housing development.

click here to view full story located on page four MNCREW_News

• Carla Pedersen (Commercial Real Estate, Transactional and Corporate Law)

McGrann Shea Attorney Recertified as a MSBA Certified Civil Trial Law Specialist
McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered is pleased to congratulate John R. Schulz on his recertification by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a MSBA Civil Law Trial Specialist: an attorney who has completed a rigorous approval process to establish full qualification for reliable experience and skills as a specialist in their practice area.    Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Minnesota State Bar Association of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification.

• John Schulz (Family Law, General Litigation, Business/Corporate)

McGrann Shea Attorney Wins 2009 CREWIE Award
McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered is pleased to congratulate Carla J. Pedersen on winning the 2009 CREWIE - Economic Improvement Award for her work on the W Minneapolis - The Foshay project.  The Award is given to one or more MNCREW members whose professional contributions to a commercial real estate deal, development, or redevelopment project resulted in a significant economic impact on a community.

• Carla Pedersen (Commercial Real Estate, Transactional and Corporate Law)