Janel M. Dressen

Practice Areas

Janel represents business owners and businesses in all types of complex business disputes. Her sweet spot is shareholder, ownership, and business valuation disputes.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association Member and Business Divorce, ADR and Business Committees Member (2019–present)

Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Litigation Council President (2022–2023)

Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Litigation Council Vice President (2021–2022)

Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Litigation Council Treasurer (2020–2021)

Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Litigation Council Secretary (2019–2020)

Minnesota State Bar Association and Co-Author of Civil Litigation Practice Tips (2015–present)

Co-Chair, Private Business Governance Committee, Minnesota State Bar Association's Business Law Section (2017–present)

Member, Federal Bar Association Member

Member, Hennepin County Bar Association Member

Publications

Contributor, Recent Development in Business Divorce Litigation 2024, Business Law Today, ABA Business Law Section

StarTribune 4/5/2023 - Janel Dressen quoted in news article "White Bear Lake youth hockey group sues gambling manager who quit"

Pioneer Press 4/5/2023 - Janel Dressen current case coverage "White Bear Lake Hockey Association sues former gambling manager, alleges civil theft"

To Zoom or not to Zoom? Minnesota Trial Lawyers Beware, Minnesota Lawyer and Finance & Commerce – Partner Content, July 2022

Minnesota Lawyer 1/17/2022 - Janel Dressen was quoted in news article “Contingent fee lien doesn't pay.”

Featured in Capital Analytics: Spotlight On Interview with Janel Dressen, CEO of Anthony Ostlund Louwagie Dressen & Boylan P.A., December 2021

Better to have an enemy that slaps you in the face than a partner who stabs you in the back, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal – Sponsored Content, October 2021

Featured in Minnesota Lawyer's The Power 30, October 2021

Ownership Disputes in Privately Held Companies, Minnesota CLE Deskbook Chapter 12, Representing the On-Going Business, First Ed., 2012, including updates in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021

Member Rights, Fiduciary Duties, Oppression, Liability, Remedies & Indemnification, Minnesota LLCs Minnesota CLE Deskbook Chapter 6, , First Ed., 2016, including updates in 2019 and 2021

Contributing author to Business Divorce Litigation, Chapter 26 of Recent Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation, 2020 Edition, published by the American Bar Association

Minnesota Lawyer (6/5/2020) – Janel Dressen was interviewed by Todd Nelson on the topic “Breaking the Ice: Crisis management dominates in pandemic.”

The Eighth Circuit Further Strengthens the Mandatory Expert Affidavit Requirements In Litigation Against Attorneys, Minnesota Lawyer and Finance & Commerce – Partner Content, August 2019

Don’t Be The Next Lunds & Byerlys: Lessons learned from the Lunds shareholder Litigation, Bench & Bar of Minnesota, June 2019

Minneapolis Star Tribune 3/27/2019 – Janel Dressen was quoted in news article “Minnesota Supreme Court declines to review $45 million award in Lund family dispute.”

Personal

Community Service Committee MSBA Civil Litigation Council (2020–present)

Board Member, Vice President and Secretary, Edina Swim Club (2014–2017)

Chair of the Board of Directors, The Academy of Whole Learning (2014–2017)

Volunteer, Mary’s Place Legal Advice Clinic Volunteer, Legal Aid Society (2000–2019)

Experience

Clintsman et al. v. Gervais et al. (2021): LLC member oppression and Breach of Fiduciary Duty

As lead counsel, represented two siblings in a family–owned business with a total of seven sibling members. The siblings collectively owned six LLCs, which in turn owned over 100 pieces of real estate in various states. The case was largely litigated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with numerous depositions and motion hearings. The court granted summary judgment in favor of Janel’s clients on their oppression and breach of fiduciary duty claims and granted their motion for a fair value buyout. No trial was necessary. It is believed that this is the first decision in which a court has granted a fair value buyout award, on motion, to a member of an LLC under Minnesota’s Revised Limited Liability Company Act, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 322C.

Holmes et al. v. O’Connor and Taco John’s International et al. (2021): Shareholder Oppression and Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Represented three owners in the family–owned Taco John’s business, which is the largest privately–owned company in the state of Wyoming. As lead counsel, Ms. Dressen commenced an action in Wyoming state court against the companies and certain other shareholders and directors for shareholder oppression and breach of fiduciary duty. After extensive litigation, a resolution was negotiated that resulted in a buyout and business divorce of Ms. Dressen’s clients from the Taco John’s enterprise.

Feneis v. Feneis: Shareholder Oppression and Breach of Contract

Represented 50% business owner in three family–owned Minnesota businesses against other 50% owner, who was plaintiff’s brother. As lead counsel, obtained a buyout award in plaintiff’s/client’s favor on summary judgment entitling plaintiff to purchase his brother’s ownership interests in the three family businesses pursuant to the terms of the brothers’ buy-sell agreement. Defendant’s summary judgment motion was denied in its entirety and no trial was necessary.

MDR Real Estate Holdings, LLC et al. v. AHA Yorktown, LLC et al.: Breach of Contract, Fiduciary Duty and Oppression

As lead counsel, obtained summary judgment dismissing defendants’ counterclaims and obtaining a very favorable ruling in plaintiffs’ favor in a multi–million dollar contract and business dispute between business partners involving various affordable housing projects.

Christiansen et al.: Legal Malpractice

In a legal malpractice action, on behalf of defendants, obtained complete dismissal of all but one minor claim on Rule 12 Motion to Dismiss, without having to conduct any discovery or incur significant expense. Following the Rule 12 Motion to Dismiss, Plaintiff stipulated to the dismissal of the remaining limited claim, with prejudice, without payment or receipt of anything in return.

Charles Barry v. Twin City Fan Co. and Melanie Barry: Shareholder Oppression and Divorce

Served as lead counsel to Melanie Barry and her trusts in highly publicized litigation and arbitration proceedings involving her ownership interests in Twin City Fan and other family–owned businesses and her marital dissolution from her husband of fifty–five years, pending in Minnesota and Florida, arising out of her former husband’s alleged misappropriation and abuse of corporate assets, 17 year extramarital affair and dissipation of marital assets, and his demand for a fair value buyout. All matters were fully resolved in early 2018 with a full separation of the parties and business interests.

Lund v. Lund: Kim Lund Is Awarded $45.2 Million in Ownership Buyout Dispute

Following a 5 day trial, Hennepin County District Court Judge Ivy Bernhardson ruled that Kim Lund was the “prevailing party” against her brother, Tres Lund, and various Lund’s entities, in a lengthy legal battle centered on the value of Kim Lund’s ownership interests and Tres Lund’s exercise of power and control over Kim’s interests. In the Court’s 54–page opinion concluding this complex shareholder dispute, the Court awarded Kim $45,225,000, which means that Lund’s must buy Kim Lund out over time for that price. The Court also awarded Kim her court costs. The award was upheld on appeal and affirmed in all respects.

JML Heirs, LLC v. Superior Mineral Resources LLC et al.: Contract and Ownership Claims

Represented President of company in arbitration proceeding commenced by claimant alleging various contract, ownership and statutory claims. Obtained full dismissal of all claims, with prejudice, in Respondents’ favor, and a full fee and costs award in Respondents’ favor in excess of $500,000.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

State of Minnesota

State of South Dakota

U.S. District of Minnesota

Career

Her clients, co–workers, and colleagues and competitors in the marketplace remark that Janel M. Dressen is a tenacious business litigator who will advocate tirelessly and creatively to resolve her client’s business disputes. Janel prides herself on being the most prepared person in the room, solving problems that lawyers and clients refer to as “the most challenging” and getting to know her clients and their businesses as much as they do. She loves to solve problems and views all problems as solvable with the right person by your side who has the knowledge, dedication and desire. Janel’s clients will tell you that you can expect to receive laser focus, determination, and sheer excellence when working with her.

With over 24 years of experience in representing business owners and their companies, Janel has an impressive list of victories for her clients. While she represents business owners and businesses in all types of complex business disputes, her sweet spot is shareholder, ownership, and business valuation disputes. Janel was lead counsel for what has been reported to be the largest Minnesota trial award in a shareholder buyout case in Lund v. Lund in which she obtained over a $45 million buyout award in favor of her client, Kim Lund. In addition, as lead counsel, she obtained a significant victory on behalf of her clients during the COVID–19 pandemic. She obtained a summary judgment in their favor on breach of fiduciary duty and good faith and fair dealing claims, as well as limited liability company member oppression claims with a fair value buyout from their real estate limited liability companies. This is believed to be the first reported buyout decision under Minnesota’s Revised Limited Liability Company Act.

Education

Awards