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Jeffrey A. Peterson

Contact: P /612.604.6509E /[email protected]

Education

University of Arkansas School of Law, LL.M., Agriculture and Food Law, 2007

University of Kansas, J.D., 2002

Hamline University, B.A., 1997

Bar Admissions

Minnesota, 2007

My Approach

Clients rely on me to give practical advice, with a strong legal foundation, that helps them get from point A to point B in the most efficient way possible. When working with clients, especially those in the agriculture industry, I rely on my long history in the industry – which began when I grew up on my family’s dairy farm – and apply that first-hand knowledge to my representation of clients. I make sure that clients have all the information they need to make sound business decisions and provide pragmatic, digestible advice on complex problems.

Outside of work, I spend a lot of time attending my kids’ activities, and I also love tinkering and burning brush at our fixer-upper cabin, and going hiking or spending time with my family in the Boundary Waters.

Practice Areas

Practicing Creditors’ Remedies, Bankruptcy & Work-Out

My Experience

I represent banks and financial institutions in connection with a wide range of matters, spanning everything from front-end lending to workouts and bankruptcy. I have a special focus on the agriculture industry, and previously worked for Country Hedging, Inc. (the commodity trading subsidiary of CHS)  as a commodity branch manager and market analyst in Kansas City, advising clients on commodity hedging strategies and trading agricultural futures and options for grain and livestock producers and grain cooperatives in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado.

Representative Matters

• Representation of financial institutions in commercial and agricultural loan negotiations and documentation
• Representation of financial institutions in commercial and agricultural loan workouts
• Representation of financial institutions, lessors and trade vendors state court receiverships and assignments for the benefit of creditors and in commercial and agricultural bankruptcy reorganizations and liquidations
• Representation of financial institutions and trade vendors in litigation, including litigation involving state agricultural liens, the Federal Food Security Act (7 U.S.C. §1631 et al), the Federal Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. § 181 et al), preferential transfers (11 U.S.C. §547) and fraudulent conveyance actions
• Representation of grain, livestock, poultry and dairy companies, and agricultural cooperatives in ongoing credit, marketing, production, distribution, and regulatory compliance
• Representation of food processors, distributors, retailers, and franchisers in ongoing credit, marketing, production, distribution, food safety, and regulatory compliance

Honors & Awards

The Best Lawyers in America©

Banking and Finance Law, 2024-2025

Minnesota Super Lawyers®

2023

Minnesota's Top Lawyers

Minnesota Monthly, 2022

Urban Hero Award-Heart of Downton

St. Cloud Downtown Council, 2018

Minnesota Rising Star

Thomson Reuters, 2014

Associations & Memberships

American Bar Association Foundation

Fellow, 2024-current

American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers

Fellow, 2022-current

American Bar Association Subcommittee on Agricultural and Agri-business Financing

Chair, 2014-2017

American Agricultural Law Association

Board of Directors, 2014-2017 & 2021-2024; President, 2022-2023

Minnesota State Bar Association

Kansas Bar Association; Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section

President, 2006-2007

Kansas Bar Association; Continuing Legal Education Committee

Vice Chair, 2006-2007

Johnson County (Kansas) Bar Association

Bankruptcy Committee, Chair, 2004-2006