MINNEAPOLIS — May 7, 2024. Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., is pleased to announce that four new attorneys have joined the firm. Jacob (“Jake”) G. Peterson has joined the firm as Counsel in the Corporate & Transactions practice; Vanessa D. Runtsch and Michael Terres have joined the firm as Associates in the Specialty Tax Credits & Incentives practice; and Jingjia (“Violet”) Zhang has joined the firm as an Associate in the Renewable Energy Development & Construction practice.

Jacob (“Jake”) G. Peterson, Counsel in the Corporate & Transactions practice, represents individuals and various types of businesses in large-scale corporate transactions; he also has experience handling a wide array of commercial real estate matters for business clients, including acquisitions and dispositions, easement, liens, and other land use matters. His past experience in a blended litigation and transactional setting provides him with a unique perspective when advising his current corporate clients. Jake earned his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law and was the Articles Editor for the Journal of Corporation Law. He earned his B.A., summa cum laude, from Hamline University.

Vanessa D. Runtsch, Associate in the Specialty Tax Credits & Incentives practice, advises clients on intricate federal, state and local tax issues, including issues relating to indirect tax, income and franchise tax, tax implications relating to mergers and acquisitions, and opportunities for tax benefits and credits. In her current legal practice, Vanessa draws on her past experiences as an associate at a “Big 4” accounting firm and as a risk management consultant for a large financial institution. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, her M.B.A. from Colorado State University, and her B.S. from the University of North Dakota. She is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Third Party Risk Professional (CTPRP).

 Michael J. Terres, Associate in the Specialty Tax Credits & Incentives practice, has experience advising clients on tax controversy matters and on complex federal and state tax issues, such as qualified small business stock gain exclusions, tax implications in bankruptcy proceedings, ordinary and necessary business expense deduction and capitalization, and qualified disaster losses. Prior to joining Winthrop & Weinstine, Michael was a Senior Tax Advisor at a national accounting and business consulting firm. Michael earned his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and his M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business. He also earned his B.S. in Business Economics from the University of St. Thomas.

 Jingjia (“Violet”) Zhang, Associate (licensed in California) in the Renewable Energy Development & Construction practice, has experience guiding clients through cross-border energy transactions and complex renewable energy projects. Her passion for the environment and interest in quelling the effects of climate change, stemming from her previous legal experience in Beijing, China, helped shape her current renewable energy practice. Violet earned her LL.M. in Environmental Law and Policy from Stanford Law School, and her LL.B. and B.A. from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China.