BGS Transportation Lawyers at 2026 MTA Convention
August 19, 2026 | Carole Clark IsaksonAs it does every year, the transportation department from BGS attended the annual Minnesota Trucking Association conference. This year’s conference was well attended and took place at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd. Attorneys Carole Clark Isakson, Jacob W. LeVahn, Adam J. Revoir, and paralegal Rachel Schwankl participated as speakers and attendees of the conference, which featured social and networking events and many educational sessions on topics concerning trucking companies. Freight theft and business identity theft are of particular concern. BGS is a sponsor of the conference, and is one of the few MN firms with a focus on trucking and a dedicated transportation department. In actuality it could easily be said that every attorney at BGS supports the trucking industry as all of our expertise is available to our clients. We have attorneys who can assist in transportation matters of course, but also employment, litigation, contracts, acquisitions, business purchases, business succession planning, commercial real estate and more. If you have a transportation legal need, please contact us today!
Read MoreWhat Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) & Why Is It Important?
August 3, 2026 | Carole Clark Isakson
A letter of intent (LOI) is an important document often used to initiate a business transaction. After some initial business discussions and general agreement on terms, the buyer will present an LOI to the seller to signal their serious commitment to doing business with them. It outlines preliminary terms of the agreement, defines expectations, and establishes points to be negotiated. An LOI is typically non-binding, but it plays a key role in setting the direction of the transaction. Therefore, professional legal counsel is critical for creating an LOI that sets up a successful business transaction. What Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) Used for? A letter of intent can be used to accomplish many things in the early stages of a business transaction: Announce the nature of a deal between two parties, such as a merger, acquisition, or joint venture. Propose the basic structure of a deal, including the potential price, timeline, and conditions. Define expectations and create transparency before finalizing the agreement. Provide a framework for continuing negotiations. Protect all parties with confidentiality agreements and exclusivity provisions. Why Writing a Letter of Intent (LOI) Requires Legal Counsel Although letters of intent generally aren’t binding, the confidentiality and exclusivity provisions will be; the parties may also agree that certain other provisions are binding….
Read MoreHonoring James H. Wills
July 30, 2026 | Carole Clark Isakson
Barna, Guzy & Steffen is sad to announce the passing of former MTA board member and highly respected transportation attorney James H. Wills on July 23, 2026. For more than 45 years, Jim practiced exclusively in the areas of transportation, taxation, and corporate law, most recently with the law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen Ltd. Prior to entering private practice Jim worked in management of and as general counsel for two major trucking companies. Jim was a CPA, chemist and attorney admitted to the patent bar. Not that he ever bragged about any of that, that wasn’t his style. Jim will be remembered not only for his brilliance, but for his kindness, sense of adventure, and love for his family. Jim and his wife Peggy are parents to two adult daughters and have a son-in-law and four grand kids of all ages. Jim was a hardworking and devoted attorney who rarely slowed down. When he did take time away from work, he found great enjoyment in golfing, fishing, hunting, skiing, traveling and competing in dog shows. Whether outdoors enjoying nature or spending time with family, Jim appreciated life’s simple pleasures. While Jim retired from Barna, Guzy & Steffen Ltd last year, and from the practice of law, his influence on the transportation…
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