Kimberly Lowe
Leaders in Law endorses Kimberly Lowe as our exclusively recommended Corporate Law expert in Minnesota, USA. If you wish to get in touch with Kimberly use the contact information provided above.
For over 20 years I have lawyered from the trenches with experience based on a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of how both for-profit and nonprofit enterprises operate. I guide entrepreneurs, executive management teams, boards of directors, multigenerational families, shareholders and investors through all aspects of the business life cycle from formation to operation to exit.
I provide legal services to many sectors of the economy. I work with social ventures, private and public companies, limited liability companies and partnerships, nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. I help my clients navigate through general business matters, corporate governance, debt and equity financing, purchase and sales, SEC and IRS compliance, business strategy joint ventures and complex reorganizations.
I bring an extensive set of entity and contract tools to help business owners, managers and families navigate through the succession of a business from one or more owner/operators to the next set of owners, with special attention to professional service businesses that may or may not be outright salable.
In the nonprofit sector, I have worked with all types of organizations ranging from public charities and private foundations to trade associations, churches and religious organizations and have counseled them through every intricacy of the nonprofit business life cycle.
In addition to deep legal experience, I bring a breadth of leadership experience to the table for all my clients regardless of sector, purpose or goals. I serve a diverse group of clients on matters involving Benefit Corporations, Business Corporations, Business Strategy and Complex Succession Planning, Cooperatives, Corporate Governance, Debt and Equity Financing, Joint Ventures and Complex Reorganizations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and S Corporations, Non-Profit and Tax-Exempt Organizations, Purchases and Sales of Businesses, SEC and IRS Compliance, Social Enterprises, Private and Public Companies and Employment Law.
Most importantly, I was voted Best Hair in high school and my dogs, Betty and Daisy, love to hang out with me while I work at Avisen Legal’s St. Paul location.
“Helping businesses and the people who own or operate them allows me to do what I enjoy for the benefit of others. I am more than a little nerdy, digging deep to solve complex problems for the benefit of my clients lets me flex my inner nerd.”
“You will find Kim to be one of the most pragmatic, straightforward and competent lawyers you’ve ever met. Kim is the kind of attorney who nerds out over crafting statutes and standards but also has a personality. She is amazing and super well respected. Her firm Avisen helps taxable and tax-exempt entities so she’s well versed. If you need a source to refer out to, I can’t think of a more capable attorney than Kim.” -Jessica Birken
“Kim has laid the groundwork for social business to thrive in Minnesota. She serves as an unmatched thought leader in Minnesota when supporting innovative business models, and it is because of her leadership that my company, Fair Anita, has been able to incorporate as a Public Benefit Corporation. She has provided incredible ideas, connections, and legal counsel, and I am forever grateful for her support. She brings passion and energy to every project, which makes working with her an absolute delight. I highly recommend Kim as the premiere lawyer in the Twin Cities, and I look forward to working with her in the future.” – Joy McBrien, Women’s Rights Advocate and Entrepreneur
Bio: Link to Kimberly Lowe Biography
Blog: Link to Kimberly Lowe Blogs
Areas of Practice
- Entrepreneurial Business Law
- Employment Law
- Estate and Succession Planning
- Impact Counsel
- Licensed Professionals
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Nonprofits, Social Enterprises and Cooperatives
- Outside General Counsel
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1998
- Boston College Law School
- University of Detroit, Honors B.A. in English and Economics, summa cum laude
- Board of Directors – BestPrep (2008-2013)
- BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture Advisory Committee and Curriculum Development Board
- Board of Directors – YWCA of Minneapolis (2005-2010)
- Corporate Secretary – Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (2005-2015)
- Board of Directors – Growth and Justice (2006-2019), Board Chair (2016-2019)
- Board of Directors -LegalCORPS
- Girl Scouts River Valleys Women of Distinction 2014 Steering Committee member, Co-Chair Sponsorship Committee
- Nominated for Minnesota Monthly’s 2021 Best Lawyers
- Named a Top Woman Attorney by Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, April 2021
- Minnesota State Bar Association Pro Bono All-Star, 2012-2018 and 2020
- Minnesota State Bar Association North Star Lawyer, 2012-2020
- Minnesota Business Magazine, The (REAL) Power 50 Award, 2014
- Minnesota Lawyer, Attorney of the Year, 2011 and 2014 and circle of excellence
- BestPrep, Volunteer of the Year Award, 2006
- Minnesota Justice Foundation, Outstanding Service Award, 2006
- Panelist, American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting, “Raising Funds Without Raising Eyebrows: Best Practices for Commercial Co-Ventures a/k/a Cause Marketing,” 04/21/2021
- Moderator, MSBA Business Law CLE, “You, Your Clients and Imminent Beneficial Owner Reporting to FinCEN,” 03/10/2021
- The 2021 New Lawyer Experience, What Every New Lawyer Needs to Know About Forming and Selecting Entities, 01/22/2021
- Benefit Corporations or B-Corp Certification: Differences, Pros and Cons. “Benefit Enterprises in Access to Justice” Presented January 8, 2021 to the Self-Represented Litigation Network’s Justice Tech Entrepreneurs Working Group.
- 2019 Nonprofit Law Conference, Organizational Changes: Mergers, Dissolutions and Conversions, 03/20/2019
The 2019 New Lawyer Experience: Selecting and Forming Corporate Entities Breakout Session, 01/17/2019 - Social Enterprise Executive Education Session, Legal Considerations of Pursuing a Social Enterprise Model, 11/27/2018
- Twin Cities Startup Week at Impact Hub: Social Enterprise Structuring 10/11/2018
- ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting 2018 Austin, TX: What’s the Latest with Unaccompanied Minor Immigrants, and How Can We Help? 09/14/2018
- ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting 2018 Austin, TX: Board Transitions Voluntary and Otherwise 09/14/2018
- Mitchell Hamline SBE Class Speaker, 06/14/2018
- Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 05/21/2018
- Meet the Expert 2018 James J. Hill Center, 05/21/2018
- 2018 MN CLE Nonprofit Conference, State Law Update, 3/13/2018
- Lessons Learned: Bitcoin/ICOs, 02/21/2018
- ConnectUP! MN: How to Structure Your Social Enterprise for Crowdfunding 02/22/2018
- The Purchase and Sale of Small Businesses: Employment/Employee-Related Issues in the Sale of Small Businesses, Minnesota CLE, 2/26/2018
- The New Lawyer Experience, MN CLE, 1/18/2018
- Nonprofits and Social Enterprises, University of Minnesota, 11/29/2017
- Off the Record Career Conversation Series, Mitchell Hamline 10/17/2017
- MN CLE – Significant Changes for Minnesota LLCs: Panel Discussion of Transition Hypotheticals, 10/30/2017
- Twin Cities Startup Week at Impact Hub: Social Enterprise Structuring and The Future of Nonprofit Fundraising: Developing a Hybrid Business Model, 10/9/2017
- University of St. Thomas Non-Profits Talk, 9/7/2017
- Faculty Planner and Committee Member, “The Minnesota Closely Held Business Conference: Highlights of the New Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation Act” – Snapshot Presentation; “The New LLC Statute: What Now?” (Moderator), Minnesota CLE, October 21, 2014
- “The State of Social Enterprise as it Relates to Legal Considerations,” Minnesota Business Magazine, October 9, 2014
- Chair. Faculty & Moderator. “Understanding & Using Minnesota’s New Public Benefit Corporation Act,” Minnesota CLE, August 28, 2014
- Presenter. “The Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation Act,” Minnesota State Bar Association CLE, July 22. 2014
- Presenter, “The Public Benefit Corporation is Here; Now What Do We Do?” Ramsey County Bar Association CLE, Ramsey County Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 17, 2014
- Faculty Member & Presenter, “Ancillary Activities,” Minnesota CLE, Churches and Other Religious Organizations, June 16, 2014
- Presenter, “The Public Benefit Corporation is Coming1,” Hennepin County Bar Association CLE, Hennepin County Bar Association Annual Meeting, May 15, 2014
- Debate Participant, “Future of Doing Good and How We Should Fund Good Works,” bushCONNECT, Regional Leadership
- Conference powered by the Bush Foundation, Guthrie Theater, May 12, 2014
- Faculty Planner and Presenter, “2014 Business Law Institute: Public Benefit Corporations,” outline and presentation, Minnesota CLE and MSBA Business Law Section, May 5, 2014
- Presenter, “2014 Nonprofit Law Conference: Public Benefit Corporations,” outline and presentation, Minnesota CLE and MSBA Business Law Section, March 12, 2014
- Presenter, “Selecting and Forming Corporate Entities,” New Lawyer Experience, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, 2009-2014
- Presenter, “The Public Benefit Corporation Comes to Minnesota”, outline and presentation, William Mitchell College of Law Alumni Series, Webcast Only, December 5, 2013
- Faculty Planner and Presenter, “The 3rd Annual Minnesota Closely Held Business Conference: Future Legislation: The Coming New Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation (Snapshot Session)” outline and presentation, Minnesota CLE, October 29, 2013
- Presenter, “Business Law 101: Demystifying the Entity Selection,” Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, July 2013
- Faculty Advisor and Presenter, the Minnesota Closely Held Business Conference, “Capitalizing the Small Business,” Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, January 2011-2013
- Faculty Planner and Presenter, Minnesota CLE and the MSBA Business Law Section, Business Law Institute, 2009-2013
- Presenter, “How to Keep Tax Exempt Organizations in Compliance: Intermediate Sanctions and Current Case Law and Legislative Updates Impacting Tax-Exempt Organizations,” National Business Institute, Teleconference Seminar, December
- Presenter, “Structuring Cooperative,” National Business Institute, Teleconference Seminar, December 2012
- Presenter, “Entity Selection for a Small-to-Medium Sized Business: Taxation and S Corporations in Detail,” NationalBusiness Institute, Rebroadcast November 2012
- Co-Presenter, “VC and Angel Financing in a Challenging Economy; Tax Credits and more,” the Collaborative’s 26th Annual Minnesota Venture & Finance Conference, Minneapolis October 2012
- Presenter, “Structured Settlement Transfers: Liquidation of Structured Settlements,” 2012 Minnesota District Judges Association/ Minnesota District Judges Foundation Annual Fall Conference, Minneapolis, September 2012
- Presenter, “Advising the Family Business Owner About Succession and Estate Planning Issues: Setting Reasonable Expectations for Family Business Succession,” Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, August 2012
- Chair, Moderator and Presenter, “Concussion in Amateur Sports: Legal Risks and Options for Nonprofit Athletic and Recreational Organizations,” American Bar Association/Business Law Section, Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, August 2012
- Moderator and Presenter, “Managing & Growing People: Health, Comp., Stock & More,” the Collaborative – Innovative Series Panel Discussion, Minneapolis, August 2012
- Presenter, “LLC or Inc.? Entity Selection for a Small-to-Medium Sized Business: S Corporations in Detail” and “LLC Taxation Considerations,” National Business Institute, Minneapolis, May 2012
- Presenter, “So Your Client is a Small Business Owner: What You Need to Know,” The Small Business Conference, Minnesota State Bar Association and MN CLE, November 2011
- Presenter, “Tax Exempt Organizations from Start to Finish — Incorporation Process and Unrelated Business Income Taxation,” National Business Institute, Minneapolis, May 2011
- Presenter, “The Business Cradle to Grave: The ABC’s of Limited Liability Company Organization” outline and presentation, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, November 2010
- Presenter, “How to read a Financial Statement,” 2009 Family and Closely Held Business Conference, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis August 2009
- Panelist, “Tackling Racism With Sharp Wit Illusion Theater’s Same Difference,” Twin Cities Diversity in practice Minneapolis, November 2008
Drafting Committees
Kim works both locally and nationally on many statutory drafting initiatives, including:
- Minnesota’s Business Corporation Act (302A)
- Minnesota’s Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (322C)
- Minnesota’s Nonprofit Corporation Act (317A)
- Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation Act (304A)
- American Bar Association Business Law Section Model Nonprofit Business Corporation Act
- Uniform Law Commission Drafting Committees
- Funding Through Public Appeals Study and Drafting Committee
- Tenancy in Common Ownership Default Rules Study and Drafting Committee
- Public Health Emergency Authorities Study Committee
- Online Sales Tax Collection Study Committee
- Supply Chain Transparency Study Committee
- Unincorporated Organization Acts Drafting Committee
Publications
- Quoted in “No Single Path.” by Sarah Lutman. Twin Cities Business, June 20, 2014
- Nonprofit Revitalization Act Impacts New York Nonprofits and Organizations Registered to Solicit Contributions in the State, ABA Nonprofit Organizations Committee Newsletter, Fourth Quarter 2013, co-written with Matthew Norris, J.D. Candidate, 2014, University of Minnesota Law School
- Minnesota Should Enact Public Benefit Corporations, Star Tribune, co-written with Jeffrey Ochs, Founder of Cornerstone Stories, a Minnesota social business, and a board member of Social Enterprise Alliance-Twin Cities, February 7, 2014
- “Governance Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations: Creating a Structure that Allows for Responsible Leadership,” Kimberly A. Lowe, Author, Bureau of National Affairs: Corporate Accountability Report, August 2011
- “Minnesota Business Law Deskbook – Corporations and LLCs, 1st Edition,” Editor, July 2010
- “Minnesota Business Law Deskbook – Corporations and LLCs 1st Edition,” Editor, July 2010
Uniform Law Commission
- Minnesota Appointed Commissioner (2016-Present)
Hennepin County Bar Association
- Immediate Past President (2016-2017)
- President (2015-2016)
- President-Elect (2014-2015)
- Treasurer (2013-2014)
- Finance and Planning Committee Chair (2013-2014)
- Secretary (2012-2013)
- Board of Directors (2011-2017)
- Finance and Planning Committee Member (2009-2016)
- Finance and Planning Committee Bylaws Subcommittee Chair (2011-2012)
- Board of Directors, Hennepin County Bar Foundation (2012-2016)
Minnesota State Bar Association
- Business Law Section Council, Executive Committee Member
- Treasurer Business Law Section Council (2018-2019)
- Secretary Business Law Section Council (2019-2020)
- Nonprofit Corporations, Committee Member
- Business/Professional Corporations, Committee Member
- Partnerships/Limited Liability Companies, Committee Member
- Beneficial Corporation Drafting Committee (2012-Present), Chair
- Minnesota State Bar Association’s Legal Education Task Force Member, (2014-2016)
- Minnesota State Bar Association Assembly Member, (2013-Present)
- Member Investment Committee (2018-Present)
American Bar Association, Business Law Section
- Member, Nonprofit Organizations Committee
- Member, Corporate Governance Committee
- Co-Chair, Social Entrepreneurship and Social Benefit Entities
- Co-Chair, Governance Nonprofit Organization
- The Business Lawyer, Editorial Board Member (2018-Present)
- Business Law Today, Content Director (2018-Present)
- Business Law Section, Pro Bono Committee, Chair (2015-2018)
American Bar Association
- ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Member of (2017 – 2020), Business Law Section Liaison (2014 – 2017)
National Council of Farmers Cooperative
- Legal Tax and Accounting
- Vice Chair- Securities Committee (2010-2016)
Firm Description:
What we do
We focus on representing businesses, business-owners, investment funds and non-profits on the legal issues that relate to the formation, operation, growth and sale of their businesses.
If you are starting up a business, fund or non-profit, hiring or firing employees, negotiating contracts, raising capital to make it grow, building a plant, buying other companies, selling your company or need to set up your estate to take care of the next generation, we are here for you and we want to help.
How we do it
Why we do it
We take pride and joy in seeing our clients succeed. We also take pride and joy in helping each other succeed. We believe this makes us better lawyers and that means better results for you.
We are entrepreneurs. We manage our own business, just like you. We understand both the passion and pain of owning and running a business. That lets us craft solutions for you that are practical and meet your needs.
