Manufacturing

Elevated Experience.
Down to Earth Pricing.

Our attorneys know manufacturing, and they know that cost-effectiveness is vital. To address this understanding, we provide serious value without sacrificing the quality of our legal services.

Manufacturing

Manufacturers constantly face various challenges and issues in their day-to-day operations that require a wide range of legal services. Any law firm can tell you that. However, FMJ can skillfully explain to you what those exact challenges and specific issues are and advise you on how to efficiently handle them.

FMJ’s Manufacturing attorneys have been holistically representing manufacturers for two decades. From R&D, through supply chain, operations, distribution, and sale channels, we know your challenges. We have a history of efficiently solving our clients’ legal issues in every phase of manufacturing.

James Seifert, the head of the practice group, has spent his entire career working in the trenches of manufacturing. Besides holding a Master’s degree in Manufacturing Systems and being a licensed patent attorney, he became the Chief Legal Officer of several iconic Minnesota manufacturers because of his recognized legal and business skills.

With our experience, we understand that cost-effectiveness is vital. To address this understanding, we pride ourselves on providing serious value to our manufacturing clients without sacrificing the quality of our legal services. Access to deep manufacturing experience should not be limited to clients with deep pockets and clients with deep pockets should not have to pay more simply because they can.

Like a well-oiled machine, we know manufacturing, and our attorneys are committed to helping, protecting, and advancing manufacturing companies, their products, their brand, their employees, and their customers.

List of Services

Sales

  • Corporate account agreements
  • Customized employment agreements
  • Distribution agreements
  • Automobile risk response
  • Customer code of conduct compliance
  • Agency representative agreements
  • Warranty strategy

Brand Protection

  • Brand and content protection
  • Intellectual property
  • Trademark and IP litigation

Intellectual Property

  • Patents and trademarks and related strategy
  • Outside inventor process
  • Cease and desist letters and related litigation

Research & Development

  • Key employment agreements
  • R&D trade secret infringement
  • Sudden key-employee departure response

Finance

  • Debt offerings and collections
  • Building mortgages
  • Factoring receivables
  • Loan agreements
  • Real estate sales and purchases
  • Auditor engagement letters
  • Banking relationships

Consulting

  • Law department operations and metrics
  • Industrial hygiene, safety metrics, and related board reporting
  • Corporate waste management and environment sustainability program

Supply Chain

  • Raw material and sourcing agreements
  • Enterprise software agreements
  • Custom software development agreements
  • Foreign asset control compliance
  • Master service agreements

Corporate Governance

  • Board structuring and committee charters
  • Meeting preparation and record keeping
  • Post-acquisition anti-corruption assessment
  • Shareholder-Board interaction policy

 Corporate

  • Succession planning and estate planning
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • HR & Employment Law, and training programs
  • Legal entity restructuring for tax purposes
  • Gun and marijuana policies and compliance
  • Workplace premise issues
  • Anonymous discrimination response and investigation
  • Corporate gifts and entertainment policies
  • Employee exit questionnaire
  • Minority shareholder rights and buy/sell minority shareholder deals

General Legal and Compliance

  • Confidential hotline, set-up, execution, and annual review
  • Response to FTC/DOJ subpoena
  • Whistleblower law and compliance
  • Trade sanctions compliance and interpretation

Manufacturing Team

Manufacturing Resources

March 2024

John Ella to Speak About Minnesota’s Non-Compete Ban on March 20, 2024

Join John Ella and other members of the Hennepin County Bar Association for an informative employment law panel on March 20! Read more

March 2024

Minnesota’s New “Right to Repair” Law

Jim Seifert analyzes this new law and discusses how manufacturers can protect their IP and protect against potential liability claims for incorrect repairs. Read more

March 2024

Legislative Update: More Minnesota Employment Law Changes Might be on the Horizon

The Minnesota Legislature is considering more changes in 2024. Read more

March 2024

Jim Seifert and Nate Snyder to Present Webinar Regarding Right to Repair

Jim and Nate will present to the International Safety Equipment Association on March 14, 2024. Read more

February 2024

Accounting and Legal Trends with Matt Klein from Olsen Thielen – FMJ Law Podcast Episode 17

In this episode, our special guest Matt Klein, a Principal in the Tax Department of Olsen Thielen, joins Rob Fafinski and Adam Brown to... Read more

February 2024

Did Your Organization Claim An Employee Retention Credit? It Might Be Time To Repay It.

Learn more about the ERC Voluntary Repayment Program that is open until March 22, 2024. Read more

February 2024

Is Your Organization in Compliance with the New Earned Sick and Safe Time Law and the Other New HR and Employment Laws in Minnesota?

Our HR & Employment Team can help your organization identify and implement any necessary changes. Read more

February 2024

Bob Fafinski to Speak at the Family Business Center at the University of St. Thomas

On February 29, 2024, Bob Fafinski will be part of a panel discussion entitled: Structuring Ownership for the Future. The panelists will discuss practical... Read more

January 2024

The U.S. Department of Labor Releases Final Rule on Classifying Workers as Employees or Independent Contractors

The Department of Labor's new independent contractor analysis rule takes effect in March 2024. Read more

January 2024

The Corporate Transparency Act is Here. Is Your Organization Ready? FMJ Law Podcast Episode 16

Pat Shriver analyzes the CTA and its new requirements. Read more

January 2024

Copyrights – FMJ Law Podcast Episode 15

Nate Snyder explains a variety of copyright concepts. Read more

January 2024

Robert Fafinski III Elected as Shareholder

Congratulations, Rob! Read more

January 2024

Pat Shriver to Present CLE on the Corporate Transparency Act – January 8, 2024

Minnesota CLE has invited Corporate Attorney Pat Shriver to discuss the new reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act, which became effective on January... Read more

Other Practice Areas

Agriculture

Agriculture

Our Agriculture group has legal experience in all aspects of agribusiness, including general corporate and transactional matters, farm succession planning, and litigation. Our attorneys also represent many types of cooperatives and independent elevators, including grain, feed, chemical, and fuel.
Appellate

Appellate

Our Appellate group has years of experience in assessing, briefing, and arguing appeals at all levels of courts throughout the United States. We have the ability to synthesize and analyze the record and the law, as well as narrow the case focus to those issues most likely to bring client benefit and appellate success.
Aviation & Transportation

Aviation & Transportation

Recognized nationally and internationally for our experience and insider knowledge of the transportation industries, our Transportation & Logistics attorneys are equipped with immense insight and a practical approach to complex logistical and legal issues.
Banking & Financial Institutions

Banking & Financial Institutions

Our Banking & Financial Institution team includes lending attorneys, bankruptcy attorneys, corporate attorneys, commercial and special asset attorneys, and attorneys with experience serving on bank loan committees, boards of directors of banks, and bank holding companies.
Bankruptcy & Insolvency

Bankruptcy & Insolvency

Our Bankruptcy & Insolvency attorneys represent creditors in all aspects of bankruptcy, reorganization, and workouts, and appear in courtrooms across the country. Our philosophy is to actively participate in every phase of the workout and reorganization process.
Competition & Trade

Competition & Trade

We work with clients daily to help them better compete in their marketplace, whether that be local, national, global, or virtual. Our goal is to understand our clients’ businesses and challenges and help them navigate the business and legal obstacles to success.
General Corporate & Business

General Corporate & Business

Our General Corporate & Business group works with organizations of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, across all industries, helping them devise strategies and solve problems. Much of the work we do is contractual – structuring, negotiating, and reviewing contracts.
HR & Employment

HR & Employment

Our HR & Employment attorneys guide our clients through the complexities of employment procedures and policies, employee benefits, hiring and termination practices, and compliance with ever-changing employment laws. We combine our knowledge of the law with specifics of our clients’ businesses to produce optimal outcomes.
Insurance

Insurance

FMJ’s Insurance group represents commercial and nonprofit insurers, as well as serves as outside general counsel to fraternal insurance companies. We advise insurance companies on all aspects of corporate, nonprofit, and insurance law.
Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

Our Intellectual Property attorneys assist with trademark and copyright registration, compliance and licensing, dispute resolution, and pre-dispute counseling. We also have the technical, business, and legal acumen necessary to provide counsel on various intellectual property matters.
Litigation

Litigation

From local courtrooms to the United States Supreme Court, our Litigation group has a proven track record of obtaining favorable outcomes for our clients in a wide variety of legal disputes. We specialize in commercial, general, employment, shareholder, insurance defense, product liability, aviation, transportation, real estate, and appellate litigation.
Mergers & Acquisitions

Mergers & Acquisitions

Our Mergers & Acquisitions team has handled deals collectively worth billions of dollars. With experience representing buyers, sellers and investors, we have the capacity and depth of knowledge to understand the issues that arise during the course of a transaction and offer solutions to ensure your deal moves forward and closes.
Nonprofit & Philanthropic

Nonprofit & Philanthropic

FMJ’s Nonprofit & Philanthropic group is passionate about assisting philanthropies and nonprofit organizations in carrying out their meaningful missions, paired with their extensive experience in an array of areas, makes the firm an ideal fit to help nonprofit and philanthropic organizations face the many nuances of nonprofit law.
Products Liability

Products Liability

With their expansive product knowledge and extensive experience, FMJ’s Products Liability group is able to handle cases effectively, efficiently, and with their clients' interests always at the forefront. The group has served as regional and national counsel to multi-level international Fortune 500 companies in 30 states for over 40 years.
Real Estate

Real Estate

Our Real Estate team has the experience and practical business knowledge necessary to navigate, negotiate, and manage the nuanced elements of real estate transactions, whether you are a business that has ongoing commercial purchase and sale or lease transactions, you are an experienced investor, or you are investing in real estate for the first time.
Sports & Entertainment

Sports & Entertainment

FMJ’s attorneys represent sports and entertainment entities of all sizes holistically and comprehensively. From contracts and operating agreements, through event planning, intellectual property, HR/employment, real estate, and even aviation, we know your needs and your challenges. FMJ is committed to solving each client's legal issues efficiently, so they can focus on their game, their craft, or their content.
Trusts & Estates

Trusts & Estates

Our Trusts & Estates group provides estate planning, estate administration, business and unique asset succession planning, estate controversy assistance and related services to individuals, closely-held businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and corporate fiduciaries. We are always accepting new clients and offer complimentary 30-minute initial consultations and flat-fee estate planning to fit every budget.