Janel Dressen and Will Paterson will present “Legacy or Litigation? Steering Private Companies Through Succession Conflicts” at Minnesota CLE’s Estate and Succession Planning for Business Owners. Succession planning in private businesses often triggers conflict – over control, money, expectations, and legacy. In this session, Janel and Will will share hard-won lessons from the trenches of ownership battles and business divorces to show how thoughtful planning can keep companies out of court. This session will highlight:
• Why strong written agreements matter – and the clauses that most often avoid litigation.
• Duties of owners and managers, and how misunderstandings fuel conflict.
• Key terms to include in succession plans, from valuation to voting to dispute resolution provisions.
• Real-world conflict patterns, and how clear documentation and communication could have prevented them.
The CLE session will be delivered in person at Minnesota CLE Conference Center on February 20, 2026. For a detailed description of the program, registration and directions, click here: https://www.minncle.org/seminar/1053012601.