Michael W. Hero - a Northfield, MN Business Law Estate Lawyer

Northfield Business Law Estate Lawyer

Updated: 02/28/2026

Areas of Practice

Business Law Estate
Civil Litigation
Criminal Defense
Real Estate Law

Litigation: 25%

Attorney Information

Overview

Michael W. Hero is a Northfield native and 1968 graduate of Northfield High School. In 1972 he graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. degree. Prior to practicing law, he worked extensively in the construction field in Minneapolis and along the Canadian border in Minnesota. He graduated with the degree of Juris Doctor magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 1983.

After law school he held attorney positions with several law firms and companies before starting his own law practice in Northfield in 1988 known as Hero Law Office. He expanded the law practice to include a title company known as Hero Abstract and Title Company in 1994. While in private practice in Northfield he represented hundreds of small businesses, thousands of individuals, and several banks, litigated and tried numerous civil lawsuits, and closed thousands of real estate transactions.

In 2006 he scaled down his practice and began working in an “Of Counsel” position for a Northfield law firm and a second law firm in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Mike served as a director and corporate secretary of Heywood Bancshares, Inc., a bank holding company, and served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the First National Bank of Northfield until the bank was sold in 2019 and the holding company was dissolved in 2020.

Mike is a past trustee and president of Laura Baker Services Association, an organization located in Northfield dedicated to the care and assistance of people with developmental disabilities.

He is an avid fly fisher, fly tyer, canoer, and traveler.

His areas of practice are: Business Law, Estate Planning, Real Estate, Probate, and Civil Litigation.

Awards and Honors

Honors

American Jurisprudence Awards (3) Insurance, Trusts & Family Law
West Publishing Hornbook Award for Scholastic Excellence
Member, Guild of St. Ansgar

Education

Legal Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1983
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  Honors: magna cum laude
Non Legal Education
- Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota, 1972
  B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  Honors: cum laude

Current Employment Position(s)

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Of Counsel (by Appointment)
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References

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The First National Bank of Northfield
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Cannon Valley Bank
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First State Bank of Castle Rock
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Norwest Mortgage, Incorporated
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Languages

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German
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Pro Bono Activities

Past Trustee and President of Laura Baker Services Association

Representative Clients

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Cannon Valley Bank
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First State Bank of Castle Rock
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Norwest Mortgage, Incorporated
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The First National Bank of Northfield
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Bar Admissions

Minnesota, 1983
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1983

Other Affiliations

Rice County Bar Association, 1984
Minnesota State Bar Association, 1983
Fifth District Bar Association, 1984
Trustee, Laura Baker School Association, 1989
Trustee, St. John's Lutheran Church Foundation, Incorporated, 1988
Co-Chairman of the Board, Rural Connections, Incorporated, 1988 - 1990

Fraternities and Sororities

Chi Iota Kappa

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Contact

Northfield, MN

158 Water Street N.
Suite 1
Northfield, MN 55057

Directions

Phone: 507-252-2775

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.jacobsen-law.com

Credit Cards Accepted
Free Consultations

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Michael W. Hero - Northfield, MN