Current Employment Position(s)

Of Counsel, since 2000

Lawyer Overview

Lee is Of Counsel to the firm of Briggs and Morgan, Professional Association, and is based in our Minneapolis office. Lee is practicing principally in the areas of:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Corporate law
• General practice

Upon graduation from law school, Lee served three years as a First Lieutenant and Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Department of the United States Air Force. From 1960-1979, Lee was an attorney and partner in the firm of Levitt, Palmer & Bearmon, which became Levitt, Palmer, Bowen, Bearmon and Rotman (and which merged with Briggs and Morgan in 1983). In 1979, he joined Carlson Companies, Inc., where he became Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. From 1979 to 2000, Lee was Chief Legal Officer for Carlson Companies, Inc., where he was an advisor to Curt Carlson and Marilyn Carlson Nelson. He was also responsible for security, and served on several boards of directors of affiliated companies, as well as the Carlson Companies' investment, audit, benefits and retirement committees.  He is a qualified neutral as a mediator and arbitrator on the Minnesota Supreme Court roster.

Consistent with his commitment to ethical concerns, in 1999 he established the Lee Bearmon Award in Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Fund at the University of Minnesota Law School. He and Scott Davies coauthored a chapter on ethical issues for an American Corporate Counsel Association publication entitled Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel.

Lee has been designated as a 'Super Lawyer' by Minnesota Law & Politics, MplsSt.Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Monthly. This group represents the top 6 percent of Minnesota lawyers.  Lee is a member of the American, Minnesota and Hennepin County Bar Associations.  He is a member of the Board of Directors for both the Sholom Foundation and the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Minnesota, Inc. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for both the Beth El Synagogue and the Talmud Torah Foundation.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lee received his B.B.A. with high distinction from what is now the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota where he was elected to membership in Beta Gamma Sigma. He received his law degree with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi. Lee was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Minnesota Law School in 1999. Lee became Of Counsel to Briggs in 2000.

Areas of Practice

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Business Law

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law, Business Organizations

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1956

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association (Member)
• Minnesota Bar Association (Member)
• Hennepin County Bar Association (Member)
• Sholom Foundation (Member, Board of Directors)
• American Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Minnesota, Inc. (Member, Board of Directors)
• Beth El Synagogue (Trustee)
• Talmud Torah Foundation (Trustee)

Honors and Awards

• Designated "Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics, Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Monthly
• University of Minnesota Law School Distinguished Alumnus, 1999

Past Employment Positions

• United States Air Force, Judge Advocate General's Department, Lieutenant and Captain
• Levitt, Palmer & Bearmon, Attorney and Partner
• Levitt, Palmer, Bowen, Bearmon and Rotman

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  J.D.
  Honors: With Honors
• University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management
  B.B.A.
  Honors: With High Distinction

Address

2200 IDS Center
80 South 8th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Phones

(612) 977-8400 (Direct Dial)
(763) 212-8005 (Carlson Companies)

Faxes

(612) 977-8650
(763) 212-1582 (Carlson Companies)

Emails

Contact Us
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Websites

http://www.briggs.com/