The Appellate Practice Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association will be holding their annual meeting, dinner, and CLE on May 20, 2026. The event is titled, “Then and Now: Reflections and New Perspectives from the Minnesota Court of Appeals.”

Kyle Kroll will preside over the meeting as Chair and will introduce the new Chair. He will also provide special remarks commemorating the service of Judges Dovre Bjorkman and Slieter on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

The event will feature a panel discussion featuring a recently retired judge and a newly appointed judge from the Minnesota Court of Appeals and will include Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman and Judge Rachel Bond, with Judge Jeanne Cochran as the moderator. Judge Dovre Bjorkman will reflect on her years of service, sharing insights on how the court, the practice of law, and the demands of appellate judging have evolved over time. Judge Bond will offer a fresh perspective on stepping into the role, discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the court and the legal community today. Together, they will explore continuity and change, institutional values, and the enduring responsibility of ensuring fairness, integrity, and public trust in the appellate process.

Kyle Kroll will moderate the “Hennepin County Civil Bench Roundtable Panel” at the New Hennepin Courtrooms Tour & Civil Judges Roundtable on May 12, 2026. The roundtable will focus on practical ways to use courtroom technology effectively, civil case management strategies that help cases move efficiently, and professionalism “dos” and “don’ts” when working with the Court and court staff.

Winthrop & Weinstine, along with Baker Tilly and Minnesota Housing, are excited to welcome you to the Affordable Housing Summit on June 4, 2026. The conference is the region’s premier event focused on the development and financing of affordable housing. Now, more than ever, our community needs to gather influential voices to help our local economy advance affordable housing projects. The Affordable Housing Collaborative is a not-for-profit organization that hosts the Affordable Housing Summit (the Summit), held annually in Minneapolis.

This full-day, in-person event brings together state and local governments, developers, not-for profits, and housing advocates to discuss industry trends and legislatives changes and to create opportunities for open conversation and collaboration. Join us and network with your colleagues in the affordable housing community and leave the Summit with a better understanding of development and financing issues and options for your next project. The day will include dynamic keynote speakers, smaller group break-out sessions, and extended breaks for one-on-one meetings, as well as breakfast, lunch, and a networking and cocktail reception to conclude the day.

Sessions this year will include:

• Keynote Speaker: Renee M. Willis, NLIHC
• From Ballots to Budgets: Federal and State Housing Policy
• Supportive Housing in Minnesota — Then and Now
• Developing Housing in Rural Minnesota —  Projects and Partnerships
• Tax-Exempt Bonds: Beyond the Basics
• Smart Sustainability Choices in a Constrained Funding Environment
• From Input to Impact: Community Engagement in Affordable Housing
• Building the Future: AI and Technology Transforming Affordable Housing

Max Shapiro was a co-presenter at “A Legislative Forum on Federal Tax Law.” The event was presented by The Journal of Public Policy at Mitchell
Hamline School of Law on November 13, 2025.

Candice Long co-presented “Federal Transferrable Energy Tax Credits: Market Developments” at the Minnesota Tax Executives Institute (TEI) on April 21, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She discussed recent technical developments concerning clean energy tax credit regulations.

On May 5, 2026, Kyle Kroll moderated and co-presented “Stress Testing Your Appeal: Designing and Delivering Effective Moot Courts,” a live webinar CLE session hosted by the Minnesota State Bar Association. In this comprehensive session, attendees had the opportunity to enhance their appellate advocacy by gaining insights into the best practices for volunteer moot judges and advocates, focusing on preparation, role-playing, and effective questioning. The event concluded with a discussion on the MSBA’s volunteer program and how participating as a moot judge can hone one’s advocacy skills.

Presenters:
Erik Hansen, Burns & Hansen, P.A.
Kyle Kroll, Winthrop & Weinstine
Ellen Wickham, Madel, P.A.
Scott Wilson, Scott Wilson Law Firm, PLLC

Rafi Mottahedeh will be a panelist at the ABA Section of Taxation’s 2026 May Tax Meeting on May 8, 2026.  His presentation is titled, “Applying Fundamental Income and Partnership Tax Principles to the Income Tax and Gift Tax Planning for Transfers of Carried Interests.”

The service partners in Investment Funds, Private Equity Investments and Real Estate Developments frequently assign their partnership profits interest to trusts either for assignment of income purposes or for estate planning purposes. The materials will illustrate the application of the fundamental principles to the transfer of a partnership profits interest obtained by providing past services or providing future services. The materials will discuss the treatment of a profits interest for providing future services that is not vested. The materials will examine the treatment of fee waivers. For investors and service providers who transfer their interests for estate planning, the materials address valuation issues and the impact of Code Section 2701 using vertical slice planning. As an alternative to the transfer of a carried interest, we will examine the creation of a derivative so that the actual property interest is not transferred.

Rafi Mottahedeh will be a panelist at the ABA Section of Taxation’s 2026 May Tax Meeting on May 8, 2026.  His presentation is titled, “Demystifying the Fundamental Income Tax and Partnership Tax Principles Used by Fund Managers, Promoters and Real Estate Developers.”

For any investment activity there are two types of participants, investors who provide the startup capital, either cash or property, and participants who provide services. The materials will differentiate the income tax principles used to determine the treatment of income from services from the income tax principles used to determine the treatment of income from property and then address the income tax treatment when there is an assignment of income from property and the assignment of income from services. The panel will then apply these principles among hedge funds, private equity investments and real estate developments

Kyle Kroll will be speaking at the Minnesota State Bar Association’s 2026 Convention on June 23, 2026. The title of his presentation is, “Brainstorms and Brushstrokes – Translating Inspiration to Canvas.”

Dean Willer will present, “Law School for CFOs,” at the Minneapolis CFO Leadership Council on March 12, 2026. This session is designed for finance leaders who act as de facto legal advisors, helping them navigate complex legal landscapes, review contracts, and manage compliance. Key topics include spotting legal risks before they become costly, strengthening understanding of evolving legal issues, and aligning legal awareness with financial leadership.