ABOUT ME
I love taking canoe trips in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. My logo is based on a photograph I took on Saganaga Lake during a trip with my grandpa in 2014. Anyone who has spent time on Saganaga knows that it is a vast lake filled with islands, channels, inlets, and bays. Navigating it successfully requires keeping two perspectives in mind at the same time. First, you need to understand the big picture, specifically where you are going, and the best route to get there. Second, you must regularly check your position, using the landmarks around you to make sure you are still on course.
I bring that same philosophy to my legal practice. Every matter begins with understanding the client's ultimate goals. From there, I work methodically through each step, continually evaluating progress while keeping the larger objective in view.
I am an organizer by nature. I approach each matter with integrity, diligence, and a commitment to clear, practical communication. I take the time to understand each client's objectives and work with them to develop a plan for achieving them.
I grew up in a military family with deep ties to Minnesota. After earning my undergraduate degree in English, I returned to Minnesota to earn my Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. I previously practiced with law firms in St. Paul, Brainerd, and Maple Grove.
I am licensed to practice law in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I maintain an active presence in the Twin Cities, the Brainerd Lakes area, and beyond. I am passionate about providing quality legal services throughout greater Minnesota and Wisconsin and regularly travel to meet clients where they are. I have traveled to Baudette and Blue Earth for my clients, and many places in between.
My first priorities are my faith and my family. Outside of my practice, I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, caring for our hobby farm in rural Pine County, Minnesota, and spending time at the family cabin in northwestern Wisconsin. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, gardening, playing the banjo and guitar, and serving in my church.
I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.
Education
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, J.D., 2019, cum laude
- Thomas Edison State College, B.A., 2015
Bar Admission
- State of Minnesota, 2019
- State of Wisconsin, 2024
Professional Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Wisconsin State Bar Association
Representative Litigation Cases
Hecker v. Crow Wing County Board, et al., 959 N.W.2d 215 (Minn. Ct. App. 2021).
I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.
Contact Pates Law