DULUTH, MN—Duluth-based law firm Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A. recently announced the election of Mia Thibodeau as the firm president effective January 1, 2024.
Former president, David Oberstar, has been with Fryberger since 1984 and has served as president for 19 years. Oberstar will continue to contribute at Fryberger in an of-counsel role.
“We’re proud to announce Mia Thibodeau as Fryberger’s next president,” Oberstar says. “The nominating committee and shareholders have been planning for this transition and we are pleased to have Mia lead the firm.”
Thibodeau joined Fryberger’s Duluth office in 2006 after graduating from Willamette University College of Law and has spent her entire 17-year career at Fryberger. Thibodeau received the Minnesota Rising Star award from Super Lawyers Magazine (2012 – 2016) and was named a Top Lawyer by Duluth Superior Magazine (2010 – 2012).
At the firm, her areas of practice include public finance and economic development, municipal law, real estate law, and estate planning.
“I am honored and excited to serve as president of the firm as it begins a new chapter,” Thibodeau says about being selected as the new president. “We want Fryberger to remain a pillar in the legal community. My goal is to ensure that Fryberger continues to hire the best lawyers it can and provide the best legal services, period.”
Going forward, Thibodeau plans to foster an inclusive, team-oriented environment where communication is encouraged. Her goal is to bring Fryberger into its next phase by staying rooted in legal professionalism while adapting to current workplace and technology trends.
“We all feel the transition will be smooth,” says Thibodeau. “We’re going to remain focused on providing quality legal services. That’s the most important thing.”
About Fryberger
Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A., is a 27-attorney practice providing a range of legal services that include business and corporate law, real estate transactions, employment and labor law, litigation, wills and trusts, finance, and personal injury. The group holds licenses across an array of states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Arizona, and Michigan. For more information, call the Duluth office at 218.722.0861, the Cloquet office at 218.879.3363, the St. Paul office at 651.221.1044, or the Superior office at 715.392.7405.
