ONLINE
Thursday, May 28, 2026 - Friday, May 29, 2026
8:45 AM - 5:00 PM
The Event of the Year for Minnesota Business Attorneys and Professionals!
The Annual Business Law Institute has a long-running tradition of providing valuable and timely education. With more than 40 years of educating thousands of business attorneys and professionals, the Institute offers dozens of session choices so you can construct an agenda tailored to your particular work, interest, and experience level.
Don’t miss this great annual program featuring sessions on new laws and developments, core business topics, contracts, and a dozen other great sessions covering a wide scope of business practice, and a fun time connecting with friends and colleagues from around Minnesota. If you can attend only one business program this is the one! Nowhere else can you learn so much and have such a good time in the process.
Institute By the Numbers:
Plus, Great Benefits for Attendees!
8:15 – 8:45 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:45 – 9:00 a.m.
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
2026 Business Law Case Update
– Faris A. Rashid & X. Kevin Zhao
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
5 Amazing Things You Can Do With AI
– Daniel A. Tysver
10:00 – 10:10 a.m.
BREAK
10:10 – 11:00 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION A
001
Understanding Franchise Agreements – With Annotated Sample
– Samuel L. Agostini & Rachel D. Zaiger
002
Deals Done, Lessons Learned – 5 Takeaways from Over 20 Years in M&A
– Ryan G. Miest
003
4 Sticking Points to Look Out for in Operating Agreements – With Sample Language That Works
– Allison M. Plunkett
11:00 – 11:10 a.m.
BREAK
11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
101
Updates on Restrictive Covenants: How to Advise Businesses on Non-Completes, Non-Solicitations and Non-Disclosures – With Sample Language
– Christopher A. Amundsen, Katie M. Connolly & Andrew L. Peterson
102
The State of the M&A Market – Current Activity, Trends, Key Issues, Future Outlook and What to Expect from the Trump Administration
– James M. Frommelt, Kam Kielhorn & Adam Webb
– Mark D. Williamson (moderator)
103
6 Hypothetical Shareholder Disputes in Closely-Held Businesses and How to Resolve Them
– Arthur G. Boylan
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH (provided by Minnesota CLE)
Sponsored by Eisner Amper
12:20 – 12:50 p.m.
Business Trivia!
Test Your Knowledge of Minnesota and Twin Cities Businesses with a Fun Game of Trivia!
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
201
Federal Immigration Policy Updates Impacting the Workforce: What Changes Companies Need to Know Regarding Work Visas Such as H-1B, EB Visas, I-9 Audits, HSI Investigations, Travel Bans and More
– J. Mike Sevilla & Allison E. Wells
202
Small Deals, Big Issues – 6 Things That Jeopardize Deals Under $5 Million and How to Avoid or Solve Them
– Jennie A. Clark & Wynne C.S. Reece
203
All In the Family: Considerations for Family Businesses, Including Guidance for Interfamily Loans and Gifts
– Allison M. Plunkett
1:50 – 2:00 p.m.
BREAK
2:00 – 2:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D
301
Litigation Liberation: How a Special Litigation Committee Can Save the Day (and the Company)
– Samantha H. Bates & Leah N. Kippola-Friske
302
5 Technology Contracts – An Overview of SaaS, PaaS, SLA, EULA and Click-Wrap Agreements
– Colman M. Sutter
303
Income Tax Issues for Closely-Held Businesses
– Matthew T. Brown & Derek M. Dockendorf
2:50 – 3:00 p.m.
BREAK
3:00 – 3:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION E
401
Accounting 101 for Business Attorneys – Understanding The 3 Core Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Statement of Cash Flows
– Thomas J. Gorowsky & Logan D. Schramel
402
What’s Happening in Healthcare – Impact of Federal Funding on Medicare and Medicaid, Consequences of Fraud, and the Impact of Minnesota’s NEW Healthcare Transaction Law
– Zachary J. Crain & Christianna L. Finnern
403
The Latest Developments in Federal Securities Laws
– Liz M. Dunshee & Amy C. Seidel
3:50 – 4:00 p.m.
BREAK
4:00 – 4:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION F
501
Accounting 201 for Business Attorneys – Diving Deeper Into 3 Advanced Topics: Accrual v. Cash Accounting, Revenue Recognition, and Expensing v. Depreciating Capital Assets
– Thomas J. Gorowsky & Logan D. Schramel
502
Finally Open for Business – What the Cannabis Market Looks Like in Minnesota Along with the Key Business Issues to Understand Such as Banking, Interstate Commerce and More!
– Nicole L. Rash
503
Securities and Governance Panel: Game Show!
– Gulzar Babaeva & Patrick Seul
– Liz M. Dunshee & Amy C. Seidel (moderators)
8:05 – 8:35 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:35 – 8:55 a.m.
ANNUAL MSBA BUSINESS LAW SECTION MEETING
8:55 – 9:00 a.m.
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
2026 Business Law Legislative and Regulatory Updates
– Kimberly A. Lowe
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
2026 Update from the Secretary of State’s Office
– Secretary Steve Simon
10:00 – 10:10 a.m.
BREAK
10:10 – 11:00 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION G
601
Deep Dive into the NEW Minnesota Paid Family Medical Leave – What We Have Learned So Far
– Amy E. Boyle & Nicole A. Truso
602
A Look at 5 Emerging Business Industries – Influencers, Podcasts, Video Games, NIL Athletes, and Influencer Agency Models
– Alex Frescoln & Kimberly A. Lowe
603
M&A Documents Part I – Launching the Deal: Structuring NDAs, LOIs, Confidentiality, Information Flow and More
– Susan J. Markey
11:00 – 11:10 a.m.
BREAK
11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION H
701
Keeping a Nonprofit Scandal Free: Lessons of Feeding Our Future – Plus, an Essential Checklist for Compliance
– Jess Birken
702
What to Do With Breweries and Other Distressed Businesses – Impact of Declining Alcohol Consumption, Hemp Ban, Market Realities and More!
– Jeffrey C. O'Brien
703
M&A Documents Part II – Executing the Deal: Purchase Agreement and Closing Mechanics
– Susan J. Markey
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK
12:10 – 12:50 p.m.
Midday Reception for All Attendees!
Compliments of Minnesota CLE
Fun, Food & Fogo!
Join fellow attendees at this complimentary midday social at Fogo de Chão, conveniently located in the same building as the Conference Center. Enjoy hearty hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and casual conversation with colleagues in a relaxed setting.
1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION I
801
NEW Fraudulent Business Filings Act – How to Correct Business Records, Administrative Process and More!
– Lauren Bethke
802
How to Manage and Conduct Successful Internal Employment Investigations
– Patricia Y. Beety & Jennifer R. Coates
803
Business Insurance Primer – Types, Coverages, and Key Policy Considerations
– Michelle K. Kuhl & Lauren E. Nuffort
1:50 – 2:00 p.m.
BREAK
2:00 – 2:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION J
901
Lawyers Are Terrible at Setting Up Their Own Business – Setting Up the Right Way from the Start
– Paul M. Floyd
902
Navigating the NEW Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act: A Practical Guide for Companies
– Kellie C. Johnson
903
Understand and Calculate the Value of Your Client’s Business
– Mitchell Hoistad, Cory J. Markling & Christopher Van Schooneveld
2:50 – 3:00 p.m.
BREAK
3:00 – 3:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION K
1001
6 Tips to Take Your Business Negotiations to the Next Level
– Rita O’Keeffe & Mark R. Privratsky
1002
Navigating Internal Employee AI Use – Policies, Pitfalls, and Best Practices for Employers
– Terran C. Chambers
1003
Solving the Founder’s Isolation Paradox – How Owners Can Continue to Grow and Scale Their Business While Mitigating Risk
– Jacqueline D. Kuiper
3:50 – 4:00 p.m.
BREAK
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Do You Navigate Legal Issues in More Than One State? Then You Need to Know About the Ethical Rules for a Multi-Jurisdictional Practice – Overview and Updates for Business and Corporate Attorneys
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Aram V. Desteian & Casey D. Marshall
LIVE IN-PERSON
Monday & Tuesday, May 4-5, 2026
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
ONLINE REPLAY
Thursday & Friday, May 28-29, 2026
Attend online
Online replay includes all plenary and breakout sessions. A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
$495 MSBA members / $495 paralegals / $595 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 12.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credit for the Day 2 afternoon plenary. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 12.0 credits.
