Summary

Adam is a member of Taft’s Real Estate practice group. He focuses his practice principally in the areas of real estate development and redevelopment, construction, real estate finance, real property acquisitions and sales, leasing, and land use.

Prior to joining Taft, Adam led a team of real estate and development attorneys at the Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office. During that time, he served as general counsel to the City’s Department of Planning and Economic Development, the City’s Office of Financial Services, the City’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and the Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention & Visitors Authority.

Adam spent a significant portion of his career providing comprehensive legal services to the Saint Paul Mayor, the Saint Paul City Council, and all City Departments, Boards, and Commissions on a wide variety of legal matters including constitutional rights, preemption, contract drafting and compliance, labor and employment, data practices, housing, land use and zoning, real estate development, economic development, general governmental authority, and represented the City in litigation matters.

Adam holds a bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University Bloomington and a juris doctorate from the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He also holds certificates from the ADR Center (Rome, Italy) in Negotiating International Business Transactions and Resolving International Business Disputes.

All Service Areas

Education

  • Mitchell Hamline School of Law (2009)
  • Indiana University Bloomington (2006)

Admissions

  • State - Minnesota
  • Federal - District of Minnesota
  • Federal - 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - U.S. Supreme Court

Notable Matters

Snelling-Midway Redevelopment Site (Home of Allianz Field)

  • Public infrastructure, land use, and stadium development/construction issues

Highland Bridge/Ford Site Redevelopment (Former Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant)

  • Public infrastructure, land use, parkland/open space, and affordable housing issues

Professional Sport Facilities (City Owned)

General contract management, playing and use agreements, capital improvements 

  • Xcel Energy Center – Minnesota Wild
  • Allianz Field – Minnesota United FC
  • CHS Field – Saint Paul Saints

State Bond Financed Projects (Governmental Programs Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §16A.695)

General contract management, lease and management agreements, capital improvements

  • Science Museum of Minnesota
  • Minnesota Children’s Museum
  • Palace Theatre
  • Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Affordable Housing Developments (Citywide)

  • Multifamily housing
  • Single-family housing
  • Supportive housing

RiverCentre Convention and Visitors Authority (General Counsel)

Nonprofit entity created pursuant to special law to equip, maintain, manage and operate the RiverCentre Complex and manage and operate a convention bureau to market and promote the City

  • Capital improvements and complex management and operations
  • Concession and sponsorship agreements
  • Property leases and event licenses
  • Hospitality and business support

City of Saint Paul Office of Financial Services (General Counsel)

  • Public finance (property taxation, sales taxes, utilities, service fees, GO bond issuances)
  • Contract management (real estate, capital improvements, procurements, fleet services)
  • Federal grant administration (ARPA, CARES, CDBG, HOME, ESG)

Housing and Redevelopment Authority (General Counsel)

Department of Planning and Economic Development

  • Economic development and state pass-through grants
  • Housing and business assistance
  • Real estate acquisitions, sales/conveyances, and leasing
  • Conduit bond and tax increment financing