
Ronald W. Brandenburg
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Areas of Practice
A Closer Look

- BIRTHPLACE: Huron, SD
- FAMILY: Wife Carol, daughters Kelsey and Caitlin, son Chris, sons-in-law Charlie, Marshall and Shad and grandchildren Maisey, Jack, and Blake.
- WHAT I ENJOY ABOUT LAW: It provides me with the opportunity to help clients evaluate and make decisions that satisfy their legal needs.
- FAVORITE PLACE VISITED: Sonoma County, CA
- FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Traveling
- FAVORITE BOOK: Gray Mountain by John Grisham
- FAVORITE AUTHORS: John Grisham and Vince Flynn.
- BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Treat others as you would want your family to be treated.
- FUN FACT: My wife and I met during Mardi Gras in New Orleans while I was attending law school.
Biography
My journey in the legal realm commenced differently from what I had anticipated, stepping into the fray as a new associate of a small firm in in Cloquet that had a satellite office in Moose Lake. That opportunity allowed me to mentor behind the type of lawyer that I wanted to be, someone who was active in his community and respected by his clients. The six and one-half years I spent in Moose Lake exposed me to a variety of experiences, including a fair amount of courtroom exposure, confirming for me that the life of a litigator was not where my passion lied. Departing Moose Lake, I worked at the Hughes, Thoreen & Sullivan firm in St. Cloud where I focused on the developing area of employment law and ultimately became a partner. When the senior members of the firm decided to split, the result, while difficult, actually was fortuitous in that I was given the opportunity to anchor myself at Quinlivan & Hughes in 1995, where I was able to continue and expand my practice as a transactional lawyer. Throughout my extensive career spanning forty-four years, I've assumed diverse roles within the firm, including stints as CEO and CFO, while also contributing significantly to pivotal projects. My legal experiences have also grown in various domains, focusing on business & commercial real estate Law, employment law, and estate planning, catering to a wide array of clientele ranging from large corporations to public and non-profit organizations and professional firms. In that regard I've navigated the intricate legal landscape for educational institutions, healthcare entities, and an array of industries, securing valuable experiences in negotiations with unions and the handling of grievance process for employers. Hailing from my hometown of Huron, South Dakota I was exposed to large extended families on both my mother’s and father’s side. From those experiences of family members helping family members, I became introduced to and recognized the value of the benefits that come from helping others. As a result, wherever I have lived, volunteering has always been close to my heart. I have found that dedicating my time and skills to numerous local charities as a servant leader has been not only beneficial to the recipients of my time but has been extremely self-rewarding for me. “Many hands make for short work” is a motto I have sought to live by and is one I truly believe.
Education
- Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana
- J.D. - 1980
- Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- B.A. - 1976
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1980
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1981
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1991
- U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1992
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1981
Honors
- Who's Who in American Law, 1989 - 1990
- Who's Who Among Emerging Leaders in America
- Who's Who in the Midwest
Professional Associations
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
- Seventh District Bar Association, Member
- Stearns/Benton County Bar Association, Member
- Minnesota State Bar, Co-Chair, Lawyer Referral Committee, 1994
- Minnesota School Boards Association - Council of School Attorneys
Classes & Seminars
- Human Rights Panel Training, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, October 23, 2009
- Ensuring Patient Safety form a Human Resources Perspective, sponsored by Mahowald Insurance Agency, October 2, 2008
- Hot Topics In The Higher Education Workplace, the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University Leadership Training, February 12, 2008
- Effective Management From A Legal Perspective, sponsored by ING Direct, November 28, 2007 and January 17, 2008
- Effectively Addressing Performance Deficiencies, sponsored by Mahowald Insurance Agency, March 20, 2007
- Legal Update, Association of Student Judicial Administrators Regional Circuit 8 Conference, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, November 4, 2005
- The New Minnesota Reference Act, sponsored by Central Minnesota Society for Human Resource Management, February 17, 2005
- The Art of Hiring, sponsored by the Minnesota Association of School Maintenance Supervisors, September 23, 2004
- Supervisor Development Certificate Program, sponsored by St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, February 4, 2003
- Hot Topics In The Higher Education Workplace, the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, December 5, 2001
- Hot Topics in the Education Workplace, sponsored by Minnesota College and University Personnel Administrators, March 27, 2001