Moss & Barnett Advocate Spring 2022
With the Great Resignation Comes Great Employer Responsibility
Approximately 47 million people voluntarily left their jobs in 2021. These numbers have continued into 2022, with an average of 4 million workers quitting their jobs each month. This unprecedented exodus from the workforce, aptly named “the Great Resignation,” raises numerous legal obligations
for employers. MORE >
Contractual Notice Provisions Why Timing Is Everything
Changes happen on every construction project. When these changes occur, contractual notice provisions require contractors to take affirmative steps to preserve a claim for additional time or money related to the project. Contractual notice provisions can vary greatly, and failure to strictly comply with a contractual notice provision can result in a waiver of claims and nonpayment. MORE >
All’s Fair in Love and Bankruptcy
Consider the following scenario: You are a creditor who lends $100,000 to a debtor on an unsecured basis. Ten years later, the debtor repays the $100,000 loan to you. Shortly thereafter, the debtor files for bankruptcy. You subsequently receive a letter from the debtor’s bankruptcy estate demanding the return of the $100,000 payment, which was made by the debtor within 90 days preceding the debtor’s bankruptcy petition date. The letter threatens litigation unless a resolution is reached. MORE >
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Spring 2022 Cover
We’re Proud to Recognize
Kevin M. Busch
Lawyer
Awarded by Best Lawyers®
Jodi L. Johnson
Lawyer
Awarded by Twin Cities Business
Elizabeth Kiernat
Lawyer
Awarded by Twin Cities Business
Alex R. Schoephoerster
Lawyer
Awarded by St. Cloud Times/LocalIQ
Andy Kaufmann
President and CEO, Zawyer Sports
Moss & Barnett is honored to represent Andy Kaufmann, his sports business holding company Zawyer Sports, and his portfolio of leading sports businesses. After selling his very successful marine and outdoor survival products company, Andy parlayed his passion for competitive athletics, ability to innovate, and acumen for assembling and leading high performing teams into owning and operating some of the most successful minor league teams in ice hockey and baseball. MORE >
Four New Lawyers Join our Team
Leah is a member of Moss & Barnett’s Real Estate team, representing clients in a broad range of general real estate and commercial real estate finance transactions. She prepares loan and real estate sale documents, negotiates title insurance coverage, identifies and resolves title and survey issues, and assists with loan modification, partial releases, and easement issues. Prior to joining Moss & Barnett, Leah focused her practice on residential landlord-tenant law and housing policy. Her background also includes work in the mental health field, public health, and early childhood education. Leah received her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and her B.A., with distinction, from the University of Iowa.
Leah E. DeGrazia
612-877-5326
Sara is a member of Moss & Barnett’s Litigation, Construction Law, and Accountant Law teams assisting businesses and individuals as they navigate commercial disputes. Prior to joining Moss & Barnett, Sara defended product liability matters across a wide range of consumer and commercial industries. In law school, she clerked in-house for a multinational aerospace and defense contractor, focusing on international trade compliance.
Sara received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Drake University.
Sara E. Filo
612-877-5407
Katie is a member of Moss & Barnett's Energy and Public Utilities team, focusing her practice on representing utility service providers in regulatory proceedings before local, state, and federal regulatory bodies. While in law school, Katie clerked with an energy company and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Prior to joining Moss & Barnett, she was a geologist for the state geological survey, developing maps and models supporting management of Minnesota’s land, water, and mineral resources. Katie received her J.D., from the University of Minnesota Law School, her M.S. in Geology from Idaho State University, and her B.A. in Geology from Earlham College.
Katherine J. Marshall
612-877-5375
Maddie is a member of Moss & Barnett’s Multifamily and Commercial Real Estate Finance team, focusing her practice on representing lenders who originate and sell loans secured by multifamily real estate projects to secondary market investors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Within this practice, she conducts title examinations, survey examinations and other due diligence, reviews legal opinions, and prepares loan documents. Prior to joining Moss & Barnett, Maddie clerked at a Twin Cities law firm handling research and due diligence for real estate and general business matters. While completing her undergrad studies at Princeton, Maddie played Division 1 hockey and thereafter worked for the New York Rangers as a Senior Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and her B.A. from Princeton University.
Madeleine F. Peake
Moss & Barnett is pleased to announce that as of January 1, 2022, Bradley R. Armstrong, Lindsay L. Case, Maggie H. Garborg, Peter J. Kaiser, John P. Kennedy, and Erik L. Romsaas have become shareholders in the firm. MORE >

Bradley R. Armstrong
Lindsay L. Case
Maggie H. Garborg
Peter J. Kaiser
John P. Kennedy
Erik L. Romsaas
Moss & Barnett is pleased to announce that John P. Boyle and Jana Aune Deach were elected to three-year terms as members of the firm's Board of Directors effective January 1, 2022. MORE >
John P. Boyle
Jana Aune Deach
Communication is a key component of our direct style of representation and adds to our value proposition to our clients. Our lawyers are recognized as thought leaders, prominent speakers, commentators, and authors on platforms, venues, and publications across the nation and worldwide. Here are two publications we would like to highlight:
Debt Collection Drill
John Rossman and Mike Poncin have turned their long-running audio blog, The Debt Collection Drill, into a videocast series. John and Mike provide sage tips and ongoing intelligence for debt professionals. They review detailed tactics on emerging issues in the credit industry and provide their analysis and solutions to the challenges the collection industry faces daily. MORE >
Safe Harbor
Aylix Jensen offers analysis and insights for the debt collection industry in her monthly newsletter, The Safe Harbor: Debt Collection Law Update by Aylix Jensen. MORE >
Moss & Barnett is pleased to congratulate our lawyers who have been included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, with special congratulations to Kevin M. Busch, who was named as the 2022 Litigation-Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year” in Minneapolis. MORE >
Best Lawyers: Lawyer of the Year
The Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Firms included in the 2022 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. MORE >
Minneapolis, MN
Phone: (612) 877-5000
150 South Fifth Street
Suite 1200
Minneapolis, MN 55402
St. Cloud, MN
Phone: (320) 654-4100
3800 Eighth Street North
Suite 102
St. Cloud, MN 56303