Janel M. Dressen

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 21 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.

In addition to her numerous successes on behalf of her clients, Janel is a frequent author and presenter locally and nationally on various business litigation topics, most notably shareholder oppression, fiduciary duties and business divorces. Janel is a co–author of chapters in the Ongoing Businesses and Minnesota LLCs Deskbooks published by Minnesota CLE, and a co–contributor to the American Bar Association’s Business Divorce Litigation chapter. She is regularly requested to speak on business litigation topics by local and national organizations, and she has won numerous awards, including being named a Minnesota Attorney of the Year in 2017, and one of the “Top 50 Women: Minnesota Super Lawyers” since 2019. In 2021, Janel was chosen by the firm’s leaders as only the second Chief Executive Officer of Anthony Ostlund, making her the first female to lead the firm. She has served on the firm’s Executive Committee since 2018.