New Shareholders / New Hires

12/20/2006

News Release

CONTACT:  Margie R. Bodas, 612-336-9329

Lommen Abdo heads into 2007 with three new shareholders and three new attorneys.

Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg, P.A. has elected three new shareholders and hired three additional attorneys, as it expands to serve its clients growing needs. The three new shareholders are Tim Matson, entertainment and intellectual property law; Valerie Sims, litigation; and Deb Swenson, bankruptcy litigation. The new hires include Paul Bezilla, entertainment and intellectual property law; Brett Clark, litigation; and Bryan Feldhaus, entertainment and business-related law and litigation.

The three new shareholders have varied practices:

Valerie Sims practices in the area of litigation, with an emphasis on class actions, construction litigation and insurance defense matters. Valerie litigates cases involving personal injury, employment disputes, manufactured housing communities, antitrust, property damage, and other claims involving homeowners, businesses, and professional liability. She has been selected as a "Rising Star" in the area of litigation by Minnesota Law & Politics. Valerie also maintains a strong commitment to pro bono work by assisting low income housing residents and litigating landlord tenant disputes. Contact Valerie at valerie@lommen.com or 612-336-9318.

Deb Swenson’s practice is focused in the areas of commercial litigation and representation of creditors and Trustees in bankruptcy. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies involved in the transportation and staffing industries. She works with her clients in the nationwide recovery of accounts receivables, bankruptcy motion practice and defense of adversary proceedings, including preference actions, and other business litigation. Deb works as primary counsel with a network of local counsel throughout the United States in virtually all state and federal courts. Contact Deb at debs@lommen.com or 612-336-9351.

The newest members to join the firm include:

Paul Bezilla’s illustrious 25-plus years in the entertainment industry includes legal services for an array of high profile individuals and companies, including Frank Sinatra, Cher, Quincy Jones, Warner Bros. Records, The Walt Disney Company, PolyGram Music Publishing and K-tel Records. Bezilla joins Lommen Abdo to work in its music, film, television and other entertainment areas, focusing on intellectual property (IP) issues, from contracts to copyright, technology and software, to publishing, licensing and other areas. A native of the region, he was born in Chicago, raised in northeastern Iowa and attended the University of Iowa law school. Paul moved to the Twin Cities four years ago as legal counsel for American Express in its technology and intellectual property group. Contact Paul at: paul@lommen.com; 612-336-9344.

Brett Clark, a 2006 St. Thomas graduate and Montana native, was a member of St. Thomas’s National Moot Court team and won two Dean’s Awards, one in Appellate Advocacy and one in International Law. He’ll apply his skills at Lommen Abdo as a litigation associate.  Contact Brett at brett@lommen.com; 612-336-9308.

Bryan Feldhaus, a 2006 St. Thomas graduate and Nebraska native, combined public service and academic success, participating in student government, community service and moot court. He received the Dean’s Award for Advanced Trial Advocacy. He will work in the areas of litigation, entertainment law and business at Lommen Abdo. Contact Bryan at bryan@lommen.com; 612-336-4389.