Minneapolis
(612) 492-6875 P
(952) 516-5636 F
lindgren.jay@dorsey.com

Jay R. Lindgren

Partner

Jay Lindgren is a nationally recognized legal expert in innovative finance and regulatory strategies for urban redevelopment and public infrastructure projects. He practices in the areas of Land Use and Project Development, Municipal Law and Public Finance. He is the Chair of the Infrastructure practice group and co-Chair of the Urban Redevelopment group. Jay represents project developers and governments seeking to solve complex land use, real estate development, urban redevelopment, and infrastructure issues. His representative legal skills include:

• Development Agreements
• Representation of clients before executive, legislative, regional, and municipal governments
• Public-private partnerships, including construction and operations agreements
• Municipal comprehensive planning, zoning and boundary adjustments
• Public finance, municipal budgeting and economic development programs (including TIF and tax abatement)
• Housing and Redevelopment Authorities
• Cooperative agreements between governmental units
• Municipal corporation governance, including public hearing and open meeting requirements and procedures
• Public procurement, both competitive and negotiated
• Ethical practices requirements of public officials
• Legislative bill drafting

He began his legal career in the Public Finance practice group, serving as bond counsel, issuer’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel in state, municipal and industrial development bond financings.

Metropolitan Council
Former Chief Administrative Officer of the Metropolitan Council, the regional agency in charge of community development, land use planning, transit, open space and wastewater treatment for the seven-county Twin Cities, Minnesota metropolitan area. As regional administrator, he oversaw a $530 million annual budget and 3,700 employees. Jay was the Council’s general counsel prior to being named regional administrator. While at the Council, he worked on comprehensive land use planning programs throughout the Twin Cities region and was instrumental in the development of the region’s first light rail line.

North Dakota Legislature
10 years, serving as a member in both the House and the Senate.

Admissions

• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Admitted to practice before the State Courts of Minnesota and North Dakota
• The United States District Court for Minnesota

Honors

• Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” (Band 1) by Chambers USA (Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use)
• Selected by peers for "The Best Lawyers in America" (2006-2011)
• CityBusiness selected Jay as one of “Forty under 40” Twin Cities business leaders in 2000
• MSP Communications has named him among its “Super Lawyers”

Education

• University of North Dakota School of Law
  J.D., 1994, With Distinction
  
• Concordia College
  B.A., Political science/history, 1984, cum laude
  

Professional Activities

• Jay is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers
• The Minnesota Bar Association
• The Hennepin County Bar Association
• The North Dakota Bar Association
• Lambda Alpha International (an honorary land economics society)
• The Urban Land Institute
• Co-chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Initiative sponsored by ULI-Minnesota and the Regional Council of Mayors
• The Sensible Land Use Coalition

Presentations

• Jay has been a frequent speaker throughout the Twin Cities area and nationally on topics including tax increment financing, public-private partnerships, land use law and planning, "Smart Growth" initiatives, transportation policy, and regional governance.
• "Regionalism and Encouraging Great Regional Cooperation," National League of Cities, July 2010.
• "Public-Private Partnerships in High-Speed Rail Development," Webinar, May 2010.
• "Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation: Determining a Fit for Minnesota?" ULI Minnesota, April 2010.
• Moderator, "Metropolitan Highway System Investment Study Policymaker Workshop," a joint effort of the Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, January 2010.
• "Managing Risks under the P3 Model: What Needs to Happen to Attract Private Capital?" Construction Super Conference, San Francisco, December 2009.
• "Creative Alternative Sources of Financing in Today's Market: Government Money, Private Equity, Non-Traditional Sources and Seller Financing," Real Estate Institute, November 2009.
• "Next Steps for Regionalism: What Fits the Twin Cities Greater Metro Area?" Regional Policy Conference, September 2009.
• "Connecting People, Jobs & Communities," Regional Business Organization Conference, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, September 2009.
• "Regionalism: The Role of the Metropolitan Council," Atlanta Leadership Visit, Atlanta Regional Commission, May 2009.
• "Getting Local Land Use Approvals," University of St. Thomas Real Estate Leadership Forum, February 2009.
• "Zoning and Land Use," Real Estate Law Conference, September 2008.
• "Not Just a Walk in the Park: What You Need to Know About Current Issues Concerning Parkland Dedication and Fees," Real Estate Institute, November 2007.
• "Taxable and Tax Exempt TIF Revenue Bonds," Ehlers & Associates Public Finance Seminar, February 2007.
• "Development Agreements: Practical Tips for Greenfields, Brownfields and Greyfields," Minnesota Association of City Attorneys Educational Conference, February 2006.
• "Understanding Land Use and Other Concepts in Mixed Development," Lorman Education Services Seminar on Urban Development and Redevelopment in Minnesota, August 2005.
• "TIF Financing Issues," Ehlers & Associates Public Finance Seminar, February 2005.
• "Mixed Up About Mixed Use? Understanding Land Use and Other Concepts in Mixed Use Development," Real Estate Institute, November 2004.
• "Alternative Revenue Sources and Financial Planning," Ehlers & Associates Public Finance Seminar, February 2005.
• "Transportation & the Twin Cities Economy: A Business Community Discussion," January 2004.
• "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Developing Town Centers and Urban Villages," Minnesota Chapter of American Planning Association, October 2004.
• "The Role of the Metropolitan Council: Development in the 7 County Region," Real Estate Institute, November 2003.
• "The Metropolitan Council: Minnesota's Comprehensive, Compelling and Controversial Model for Metropolitan Land Planning," International Municipal Lawyers’ Association Conference, October 2003.
• "Law and the Policy of Suburban Sprawl," American Constitution Society, October 2003.
• "Comparing Minnesota & Washington Growth Management Acts," Inter City Leadership Visit, September 2003.
• "LRT and the Environment," Hennepin County Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee, October 2001.
• "Growing Smart to Preserve Natural Resources," Metro Environment Breakfast Series, June 2001.
• "Growing Smarter in the Twin Cities," Minneapolis Kiwanis Club, April 2001.
• "Building Communities that Work," Women’s Transportation Seminar, January 2001.
• "Environmentally Responsible Transportation," Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, October 2000.

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