William O. Bongard - Press
Six Mitchell alumni named ‘Attorneys of the Year’ and alumna honored for outstanding service
Six William Mitchell alumni recently were named Attorneys of the Year in recognition of their outstanding professional accomplishments by Minnesota Lawyer, a Minnesota legal industry publication. The publication also honored an alumna for her outstanding service to the profession.
Attorney of the Year awards are given to attorneys who distinguished themselves in 2008 with their exemplary work. The criteria for selection include leadership in the profession; involvement in major cases or other newsworthy events; excellence in corporate or transactional services; and public service.
Allan Shapiro ’76 of Finn Shapiro, William Bongard ’81 of Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey, and Sharon Van Dyck ’87 of Van Dyck Law Firm were honored for their work on the tragic railroad grade crossing case against Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. After a six-week trial, the jury in the case awarded $6 million each to the families of four young people killed in a collision with a train.
Michael Ford ’79 of Quinliven & Hughes was honored for his leadership of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
Michelle Jester ’94 of Messerli & Kramer was honored for closing more than $176 million in sales, acquisition and lending transactions over the past year-plus.
William Sieben ’77 of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben was honored for his role in obtaining a $54 million settlement in class-action suit against Wal-Mart.
Susan Holden ’88 of Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey received a 2008 Outstanding Service to the Profession award the for her years of work on behalf of the state bar, the courts, disaster victims, as well as her career as a litigator.
The awards were presented at a special celebration Feb. 24.
