International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP announced today that Nicholas A.J. Vlietstra has joined the Firm as a partner in the Finance & Restructuring Group. Mr. Vlietstra will be resident in the Firm’s Minneapolis office.

Mr. Vlietstra joins Dorsey after 12 years at U.S. Bancorp, where he served as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and where he previously served as Chief Consumer Banking Counsel and Chief Litigation Counsel. In his years at U.S. Bancorp, Mr. Vlietstra oversaw a wide range of banking and consumer regulatory compliance issues, as well as all facets of U.S. Bancorp’s litigation nationwide. He has extensive experience in consumer law and banking regulations and in working with regulators, including the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Mr. Vlietstra was an associate of Dorsey & Whitney from 1994 to 1999. He received a JD degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and a BA degree from the University of Wisconsin. After law school, Mr. Vlietstra clerked for Judge James B. Loken on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

“Nick Vlietstra brings Dorsey incredible expertise and experience in bank regulatory matters and a deep knowledge of the banking industry,” said Dorsey & Whitney Managing Partner Ken Cutler. “He will be a superb addition to Dorsey’s strong presence in banking, an industry that has been a focus for the Firm since its founding over 100 years ago.”

“I look forward to helping Dorsey continue to build its strong banking practice across the country and around the world,” noted Mr. Vlietstra. “It is a great firm with an exceptional client base that fits perfectly with my experience and expertise.”