Minnesota Paralegal Association upcoming events

Strategic Use of Receiverships in Family Law to Save Time and Money (July 17, 2026)

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: Strategic Use of Receiverships in Family Law to Save Time and Money

This presentation examines the strategic application of court-appointed receiverships as a powerful tool in high-conflict or complex family law disputes to enhance asset preservation, reduce litigation expenses, and expedite case resolution. While often seen as a last resort, this session will outline how a proactive receivership can resolve deadlocks when parties are unwilling or unable to cooperate, thereby mitigating the risk of waste and ensuring equitable distribution.

Speakers: Jillian Duffy and Jason T. Hutchison

Jason Hutchison is a Twin Cities family law mediator and dispute resolution professional with more than two decades of legal experience. A cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, Jason founded Hutchison Dispute Resolution LLC in 2026 to focus on mediation, moderated settlement conferences (MSCs), and special master and consensual special magistrate work throughout the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area and greater Minnesota.

Before entering private dispute resolution, Jason served for fourteen years as a Judicial Referee in the Hennepin County Fourth Judicial District — one of the busiest courts in Minnesota. During that time, he presided over thousands of cases involving marital dissolution, divorce, child custody, paternity, domestic abuse, orders for protection, Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs), and matters arising under Minnesota's artificial reproductive technologies (ARTS) statutes. Attorneys who worked in front of Jason during his tenure on the bench know him as a careful, thorough, and pragmatic judicial officer — qualities he now brings directly to the mediation and ADR space in Minnesota divorce and family law cases.

Jason's pre-judicial career adds further depth to his credentials. As a prosecuting attorney, assistant city attorney, and private attorney, he handled criminal prosecution, civil litigation, business formation, fraudulent transfer issues, municipal law, real property transactions, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, and land use and title matters — giving him a command of the full range of legal issues that frequently surface in complex family law mediations, including property division, business valuation, real estate, and marital debt. That broad foundation makes him an unusually well-rounded neutral for high-conflict/ high-asset divorce cases, custody disputes, and other family law matters requiring a mediator who can engage substantively with complicated legal and financial issues - while bringing a human touch devolved over years of managing litigation from the Bench.

Family law attorneys in the Twin Cities selecting a mediator for their clients will find in Jason a neutral who has seen these cases from every angle — as a litigator, as a judicial office who presided over cases for fourteen years, and as a trainer who has presented on family law topics at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers' Divorce Camp, AFCC-Minnesota, and numerous MinnCLE programs. He is a current board member of AFCC-Minnesota (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts) and completed his 40-hour family mediation training and SENE/FENE training through AFCC-Minnesota in 2025.

Whether you are a family law attorney in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, or anywhere in the Twin Cities metro looking for a mediator with genuine judicial experience and deep subject-matter expertise, Jason T. Hutchison offers a rare combination of practical knowledge, institutional credibility, and a demonstrated commitment to helping parties reach durable, workable resolutions. To discuss scheduling a mediation or moderated settlement conference, contact Hutchison Dispute Resolution LLC directly.

Jillian K. Duffy brings experience, judgment, and steady advocacy to every matter she handles. She is a Minnesota attorney focusing on family law, divorce, mediation, receiverships, and general business law, advising clients through complex legal and financial issues with clarity and purpose.

Jill represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, custody and parenting time disputes, post-judgment modifications, and appeals. Her practice includes negotiating and drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, assisting with step-parent adoptions, and handling high-conflict and financially complex matters. She is a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral and Certified Family Law Mediator, helping parties resolve disputes efficiently both in and out of court.

Jill also frequently serves as a court-appointed Receiver, managing real estate, financial accounts, businesses and other assets during pending litigation. In that role, she works closely with courts, attorneys, title companies, and financial professionals to ensure compliance with court orders, preserve asset value, and facilitate orderly resolution.

Jill’s professionalism and ethical standards have earned consistent peer recognition. She was selected for Thomson Reuters Minnesota Lawyers Rising Stars (2013–2016) and has been named a Minnesota Super Lawyer annually from 2017 through 2026, including Top 50: Women Minnesota Super Lawyers in 2025 and 2026, and Top 100: Minnesota Super Lawyers in 2026.

Jill is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Women Lawyers’ Association, and the Lavender Bar Association. She earned her Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law and holds bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Criminology from The College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota–Duluth.

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by July 16, 2026.

Sponsored by: Family Law Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Bean at amandab@hllawfirm.com.

IDS Overview (July 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: IDS Overview

This session will provide a practical, end-to-end overview of Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) requirements, including key filing considerations, common challenges, and best practices to improve accuracy and efficiency. We’ll also cover emerging trends, workflow approaches, and how technology and automation can support more streamlined IDS management.

Topics will include:

IDS requirements and duty of disclosure
What to include in an IDS submission
Timing considerations and filing strategies
Workflow options and best practices
QPIDS overview and recent IDS updates
Tools and automation supporting IDS processes

The session will conclude with time for live Q&A.

This is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of IDS requirements while gaining practical insights you can apply immediately in your daily work.

Speakers: Annya Dushine, Keshav Sharma, and Arpit Saxena

Annya Dushine, Global Head, IP Business Solution Consulting

Annya Dushine is the Global Head of Clarivate’s IP Business Solution Consulting team, bringing over 25 years of experience across law firms and in-house IP leadership roles. She partners with global organizations to design and implement strategic, scalable IP operating models that drive efficiency, mitigate risk, and enhance business value.

Annya’s expertise spans end-to-end IP lifecycle management for patents and trademarks, including prosecution, docketing, portfolio management, and compliance. She specializes in IPMS selection and optimization, operational diagnostics, workflow design, and large-scale transformation initiatives. Her work focuses on aligning IP strategy with broader business objectives while improving organizational performance and governance.

Known for her practical, results-oriented approach, Annya has extensive experience building and leading IP departments, optimizing global operations, and guiding clients through complex, multi-jurisdictional environments. She is also a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, applying structured methodologies to drive continuous improvement.

Annya is currently based in Florida, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, with a minor in International Business, from Santa Clara University, California.

Keshav Sharma, Director & Product Manager

Keshav Sharma is a Director and Product Manager with over 19 years of experience in intellectual property (IP), spanning operations, technology, and product strategy. He has successfully supported more than 500 clients across diverse technologies and IP verticals, delivering tailored, high-impact solutions.

Keshav’s expertise spans the full patent lifecycle, including filing and prosecution, docketing, paralegal services, IDS and reference management, patent drafting, office action responses, and advanced searching and analytics. He brings deep capabilities in patent monetization, portfolio management, renewal analysis, litigation support, innovation mining, patentability assessments, invalidity studies, and FTO analysis.

In his current role, Keshav drives product strategy and roadmap development for patent administration, defines commercial strategies, and partners closely with clients to optimize processes and implement best practices. He is known for combining technical expertise with operational insight to deliver efficient, scalable IP solutions.

Keshav holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Communication from Rajasthan University, India.

Arpit Saxena, Lead Product Manager & IDS Subject Matter Expert

Arpit Saxena is a Lead Product Manager and IDS Subject Matter Expert with 16 years of experience in IP operations, product leadership, and data analytics. He specializes in delivering user-centric, data-driven solutions that improve performance, efficiency, and business outcomes.

Arpit’s expertise includes patent lifecycle management, filing and prosecution support, docketing, IDS and reference management, portfolio management, and IP data governance. He is highly skilled in workflow optimization, compliance, and operational transformation, with a strong focus on leveraging analytics to drive decision-making.

As a product leader, Arpit is recognized for building and delivering impactful solutions through cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Arpit holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University, India.

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by July 21, 2026.

Sponsored by: Intellectual Property Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mark Ness at markjness.mn@gmail.com.

The Price of Love: Salstrom Calculations Explained (October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Topic: The Price of Love: Salstrom Calculations Explained

This presentation provides a clear and engaging overview of the Salstrom Calculations, explaining the core principles, methodology, and real-world applications behind the model. Attendees will learn how the calculations are structured, what variables influence outcomes, and how the framework can be applied to analyze patterns, decision-making, and measurable results across different scenarios. Designed for both beginners and experienced audiences, the session breaks down complex concepts into practical, easy-to-understand insights.

Speakers: Victoria Brenner and Laura Kvasnicka

Victoria Brenner is an experienced and well-respected family law attorney. She provides trusted support to clients and their dependents going through separations and divorces. Victoria has extensive experience handling custody, parenting time, child support, orders for protection, alimony, divorce, divorces involving closely held businesses, and post-divorce matters for high net worth individuals. She also serves as a Rule 17 Guardian ad Litem and a Rule 53 Special Master.

Victoria is also committed to improving the practice of family law. She is an active member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Minnesota Chapter), whose mission is to minimize the negative impact of divorce and separation on parties and their children. This mission mirrors her view and approach to family law.

In addition, she currently teaches the next generation of lawyers Domestic Violence & the Law at St. Thomas School of Law. Prior to that, she taught family law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law for several years. Victoria has written and presented numerous articles and CLE courses on divorces involving closely held businesses, spousal maintenance, family law appeals, attorney ethics, and grandparent rights.

Victoria proudly serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for Twin Cities Diversity in Practice and Wanton Injustice Legal Detail.

Prior to joining Taft, Victoria served as managing partner of a full-service law firm in Minnesota. She currently serves on Taft’s Executive Committee. Among other recognitions, in 2023, she was awarded Top Woman Lawyer by Minnesota Lawyer.

Laura Kvasnicka is a family law attorney whose background in social work helps her provide trusted advice to her clients. She understands that her clients are often going through one of the most difficult times in their lives and are navigating significant life transitions. Laura is a dedicated advocate for her clients and her attention to detail and clear communication allow her to work with her clients to understand and achieve their goals.

Laura focuses her practice on cases involving divorce, high-conflict custody and parenting time, complex financial situations, child support, spousal maintenance, orders for protection, post-separation matters, and appeals. Laura also assists clients in cases involving interstate jurisdictional issues and international child custody involving the Hague Convention.

Laura works with her clients to negotiate comprehensive solutions for them, whether in or out of court. Prior to joining Taft, Laura practiced commercial litigation and she uses that experience when her clients’ cases proceed to trial.

Laura is an active member of her community, serving on the University of St. Thomas School of Law Alumni Association Board, the Hennepin County Bar Association New Lawyers’ Section Board, MSBA Access to Justice Committee, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Legislative and Public Policy Committee. Laura is also actively involved in pro bono work and serves on Taft’s Pro Bono Committee. She currently teaches Family Law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law as an adjunct professor.

Remote attendance only.

Member Cost: Free
Non-Member Cost: $15

CLE credit has been applied for this session.

Please RSVP by October 14, 2026.

Sponsored by: Family Law Sectional

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amanda Bean at amandab@hllawfirm.com.