As a Partner at Latitude leading the Minneapolis office, Michelle brings more than 30 years of experience as an attorney, business owner and entrepreneur.
She began her legal career at Briggs and Morgan (now Am Law 200 firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP) where she was a Shareholder in the financial institutions and real estate department. Michelle continued her private practice as a Partner at Dunkley & Bennett and at Am Law 200 firm Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, advising clients in a variety of commercial real estate, lending, and general corporate and business matters.
In addition to her years of private practice, Michelle has served as General Counsel for a startup commercial tenant rep firm and as SVP and General Counsel of an established turnaround firm. She was also Vice President and General Counsel at CSM Corporation where she served as a member of the company’s executive management team and provided legal representation and business consultation for CSM’s diverse multi-state portfolio of more than 100 commercial properties, 3,000-plus apartments in 20 complexes, and 38 franchise hotel properties.
Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in recruiting and mentoring of attorneys, including serving as co-chair of the recruiting committee at Briggs and Morgan.
As an entrepreneur and business owner, Michelle started and operated a WBE-certified commercial painting company, a real estate investment company, and a company with a patented PPE helmet for the construction, manufacturing and industrial industries. Most recently, Michelle was owner of Culligan Legal & Business Counsel, PLLC, where she provided legal and business advisory services to commercial real estate, construction and small businesses.
Michelle’s civic involvement includes previously serving as President of the Board of Directors for nonprofit Progress Valley, Inc., and as a current member of the Board of Trustees for her alma mater, Visitation High School.
She earned her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School (magna cum laude) where she was Order of the Coif and Law Review Editor, and her B.A. (summa cum laude) from Drake University. She also has a Mini-Master in Real Estate Development from the University of St. Thomas.
A native of the Twin Cities, Michelle enjoys staying active with her five children and three dogs.
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