What to Fix Before You Sign an Oil and Gas Lease
A Bulldog Checklist for Mineral Owners Who Want to Keep Their Leverage Most oil and gas lease problems are permanent. Not because the law is unfair—but because the document was signed before anyone slowed down long enough to fix what mattered. If you sign first and argue later, you’ve already lost leverage. Before you sign […]
Why Retirement Is the Right Time to Revisit Your Estate Plan
Retirement can mean many different things to different people. For some, it opens up a new world of travel, experiences, and creative pursuits. For others, it may herald quiet days at home with a good book, a steaming mug of tea or coffee, and no other plans for weeks. Between those extremes are countless ways […]
Minnesota’s New Zero Estimated Exposure Workers’ Compensation Law: What Construction Contractors Need to Know
Starting on January 1, 2026, Minnesota will implement significant changes to its workers’ compensation system, specifically targeting the use of “zero estimated exposure policies” (also known as “if-any” policies) within the construction industry. These updates passed during the 2025 legislative session aim to increase transparency and accountability among contractors who operate without employees or payroll. […]
Attorney Spotlight: Jordan Kolinski
In what area of law do you practice, and why did you choose this? I practice primarily in real property disputes and construction litigation. Growing up with a father who was a carpenter, I was always around construction projects, tools, and equipment. I feel very comfortable discussing and analyzing the subject matter of construction litigation. […]
How to Tell When Someone Is Lying | Body Language and Speech Signals
Two Signals Even Careful Liars Struggle to Control The truth is under pressure. Public trust is down. People expect spin from leaders, half-truths from institutions, and strategic ambiguity from anyone with something at stake. In that environment, bluffing isn’t rare—it’s normal. Which makes one skill invaluable: knowing when the person across from you is not […]
Legal & Business Issues Affecting Contractors 2026
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Hellmuth & Johnson is sponsoring this educational seminar at our office in Edina. This full-day event is offered on 2 separate dates. Seminar Topics: Construction Contracts & Subcontracts – Blake Nelson MN Energy Building Code Refresher – Eric Boyd Employees and Independent Contractors in the Construction Industry – Brian Niemczyk […]
Business Owners: Here Are Your Top Legal Resolutions In The New Year
As a business owner, you focus on generating revenue and creating profit by controlling expenses to add profit to the bottom line. By increasing revenue and controlling costs, you create a profitable business. However, in the day-to-day operation of your business, you may overlook a variety of important legal considerations. This article broadly discusses these […]
3 Examples of When an Irrevocable Trust Can—and Should—Be Modified
Did you know that irrevocable trusts can be modified? If you did not, you are not alone. The name lends itself to that very misconception. However, the truth is that changes in laws, family, trustees, and finances can frustrate the trustmaker’s original intent when the trust was created. Or, sometimes, an error in the trust […]
Wills, Trusts, and Dying Intestate: How They Differ
Most people understand that having an estate plan benefits them and their loved ones. However, many individuals do not initiate the estate planning process because they do not fully understand the nuances of foundational estate planning tools such as a will and a trust and the full implications of dying without either in place. Here […]
Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Act — Employer Advisory Series – Article II of III
Critical Dates for Employers Under Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave: Things to Do & When to Do Them In my previous article, we discussed employer obligations under the upcoming Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (Paid Leave) program launching in January 2026: Overview of Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act: Understanding Employer Obligations. As […]