News from Madge S. Thorsen

Ms. Thorsen recently completed a bench trial involving quieting title to real estate in the unusual context of a co-tenant redemption from foreclosure. She represented an individual seeking to regain his equity in commercial warehouse property. She continues to represent clients like this one, from small businesses to individuals, in real estate and commercial litigation and arbitration.

Spring semester 2010 saw Professor Thorsen in the class room at William Mitchell College of Law teaching an Alternative Dispute Resolution Survey course. The coursework ranged from a module on arbitration to several exciting mock negotiation sessions, followed by the 30 hour training necessary for students to qualify as Rule 114 neutrals in the state of Minnesota. Many a role play was carried out, as students learned the art of serving as a mediator and how to be an advocate representing parties in mediation.

Ms. Thorsen's year as Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association ADR Section is drawing to a close. The Section has presented some exceptional seminars this year, including mediating sexual abuse claims; virtual mediation; the pros and cons of arbitration; the future of community mediation in the State of Minnesota; and the fate of the National Arbitration Forum. The last seminar of the year in May will be on provocative topics in ADR.

Ms. Thorsen will be presenting as a panelist for a Minnesota CLE webcast entitled: "What Advocates Want (and Don't Want) in Arbitrators - What Arbitrators Want (and Don't Want) in Advocates." This will be a lively discussion of the characteristics of good advocacy in arbitration and of quality in arbitrators.

Richard Kaplan, Ms. Thorsen's long-time partner, is in the process of moving to Utah and joining a law firm there. Friends and clients and friends wish him the best.

mthorsen@mthorsenlaw.com

Phone: 612.767.3040
Fax: 612.767.3042