FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A. is proud to announce that three attorneys—Stephanie A. Ball, Robert R. Kanuit, and Mia E. Thibodeau—were named 2026 Minnesota Super Lawyers, and one attorney, Daniel F. Burns, was named a 2026 Minnesota Rising Star. Through a rigorous selection process, Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys in each state who have distinguished themselves within their practice—an honor awarded to only 5% of Minnesota attorneys each year.
Stephanie A. Ball is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and practices in the areas of civil litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, construction, insurance and surety law, commercial litigation, and lender liability. She is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Civil Litigation Specialist and is the past President and a National Board Representative of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. She has also been recognized as an Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer.
Robert R. Kanuit practices in the areas of real estate, banking and lending support services, bankruptcy and creditors’ remedies, business entities, collections, contracts, estate planning, trust and probate, and project development. He has been a Board Certified Real Property Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association since 2006, and a Minnesota Super Lawyer from 2014 to 2026. He graduated cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law.
Mia E. Thibodeau focuses her practice on municipal financing, general municipal law, divorce/family law, estate planning, trust and probate. She joined Fryberger’s Duluth office in 2006 after graduating from Willamette University College of Law and has spent her entire career at Fryberger. She previously received the Minnesota Rising Star award from Super Lawyers Magazine (2012–2016) and was named a Top Lawyer by Duluth Superior Magazine (2010–2012).
One attorney from the firm was named a 2026 Minnesota Rising Star: Daniel F. Burns. Rising Stars are chosen by peers as top up-and-coming lawyers. Only 2.5% of attorneys receive this honor each year.
Daniel F. Burns represents government entities, nonprofits, and lenders in tax-exempt bond issuances, as well as financing transactions for housing or economic development projects. He joined Fryberger in 2024 and became a shareholder in 2026. This is his third year being named a Rising Star, and he is the only attorney in Minnesota listed in the category of Government Finance. He attended the University of St. Thomas School of Law. After graduating in 2016, Burns decided to stay in Minnesota and gained experience in the public finance sector of law.
“We are proud to have attorneys from our firm selected yet again for the honors of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars,” said Carrie Oberstar, Executive Director of Fryberger. “These honors reflect the outstanding legal expertise, unwavering dedication, and the exceptional service these attorneys provide to our clients.”
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, or the Superior office at 715.392.7405.
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