Dean M. Zimmerli - New Ulm, MN

Dean Zimmerli, a partner of Gislason and Hunter, grew up on a Southern Minnesota farm. He understands and appreciates the work farmers do to maintain their business and feed and fuel the country. Much of the work he does relates to the agriculture industry. His practice includes civil litigation related to agriculture law and agribusiness, business and corporate law, real estate, environmental law and land use, finance and banking, commercial disputes and general litigation.

Zimmerli's broad experience in civil litigation beyond collection and enforcement actions allows him to provide comprehensive representation to banks and other creditors through the entirety of a lending relationship with a borrower. He regularly represents banks and other creditors in bankruptcy and state courts to enforce the creditor's rights, recover collateral and maximize recovery on troubled loans.

He has developed expertise and a unique perspective in drainage and water law, by representing project proponents, concerned landowners and drainage authorities. Zimmerli represents clients throughout the drainage project process from preparing petitions, to advocating at drainage authority meetings and hearings and litigating drainage appeals. Serving as an advisor to landowners or other stakeholders with concerns over potential projects, he represents clients from all points of view on drainage projects.

Beyond drainage, he helps clients with various regulatory and environmental concerns related to water and agriculture, including disputes between landowners concerning water, flooding, crop loss and more.

Zimmerli is a skilled appellate attorney who has briefed or argued numerous cases before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and other appellate courts. He enjoys the intellectual challenge that appellate work entails and is able to pare down complex cases to their essential parts in order to provide concise and persuasive analysis to appellate judges. He provides advocacy and attention to detail on cases managed from inception and cases where clients have sought new representation on appeal.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Chelsey and their rescue dog. As a family they camp, hike, fish and tackle remodeling projects on their Victorian-era home. In the fall and spring he continues to help with his family's farm.