Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Duane L. Paulson and James M. Christenson join Best & Flanagan's Real Estate and Commercial Lending Practice Groups

MINNEAPOLIS, March 15, 2003—The Minneapolis law firm of Best & Flanagan LLP is pleased to announce that Duane L. Paulson and James M. Christenson have joined the firm's real estate and commercial lending practice as partners effective March 15, 2003.    Focusing on commercial lending, mortgage banking and real estate finance, development, purchase, sale and leasing, Messrs. Christenson and Paulson represent lenders, borrowers, developers, sellers and purchasers in all aspects of commercial business and real estate.

Prior to joining Best & Flanagan LLP, Messrs. Paulson and Christenson were partners at Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly LLP.   They will be joining their former partner, Bradley F. Williams, in expanding Best & Flanagan's growing commercial lending and real estate practice, with a concentration in commercial real estate lending.

Best & Flanagan, founded in 1926, is a full-service Minneapolis law firm providing legal services in the areas of government relations, public finance, real estate, commercial lending, litigation, business law, and estate planning and trusts. The firm’s Native American Law Practice Group is experienced in representing tribal governments, tribal gaming enterprises, tribal gaming commissions and tribal members in a number of areas, including tax, finance, tribal trust fund development and reform, compensation and benefits for tribal members, tribal financing of construction and infrastructure, tribal gaming regulation, tribal economic development, as well as representation of tribal members in tribal membership and tribal election disputes. The firm has approximately 55 attorneys and is dedicated to providing practical and efficient solutions to its clients’ legal issues. For more information, visit www.bestlaw.com or phone (612) 339-7121.