Lisa SpencerAttorney, President & Shareholder

lspencer@hensonefron.com
(612) 252-2875 LinkedInPdf print

“I take pride in being an effective advocate and legal leader who has earned the respect of my peers. My commitment to professionalism, integrity, and diligence through serving my clients and the profession is unwavering.”

Contact Me

People are often anxious and distraught as they anticipate the end of a relationship. My role is to be objective and provide skillful legal counsel through what can be a difficult transition. I care about your long-term needs and will do my best to safeguard your best interests with purposeful and compassionate guidance.

I represent a wide range of high-net-worth clients including business executives, professional athletes, and entertainers. A long-standing member of the firm’s management committee with 18 years of family law experience, I bring strategic knowhow to cases involving complex financial issues, including:

  • business valuations
  • tax implications
  • executive compensation
  • intellectual property
  • non-marital property

My primary focus is on settlement; very few cases cannot settle on reasonable terms, but they require a skilled negotiator. Combining business savvy with my extensive knowledge of family law and tax matters, I am able to deftly develop creative settlement solutions in quick-paced negotiations. As a recognized leader in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), I strive to get you there. If that proves unattainable, I will zealously and strategically advocate for you in court.

In addition to counsel during a marriage dissolution, my clients depend on me to craft premarital and postnuptial agreements. I am forward-looking and will work with you to create a legal contract that protects your premarital assets and will meet your long-term needs.

Last but not least, I strive to help you minimize the impact of divorce on your family. If young children are involved, I will help tailor a parenting plan that meets your needs and the needs of your children.

 

ASSISTANT
Mary Petersen
(612) 252-2834


EDUCATION
  • J.D., magna cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 2001
  • B.S., University of Minnesota, 1989
BAR ADMISSIONS
  • Minnesota
  • United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
HONORS
  • 2020 Notable Women in Law Honoree, Twin Cities Business
  • 2020 Women in Business Honoree, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
  • Named 2018 and 2020 Minneapolis Family Law Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America® (honoring a single lawyer in each specific practice and metropolitan area)
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® 2015–2023, Family Law
  • Selected for inclusion in Top 50: Women Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2014–2022
  • Selected for inclusion in Top 100: Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2014–2022
  • Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2012–2022
  • Ranked by Chambers and Partners in the High Net Worth Guide 2021–2022
  • North Star Lawyer, Honored by Minnesota State Bar Association for commitment to pro bono service, 2021
  • Featured in Minnesota Monthly Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Minnesota 2022: Family Law
  • Featured in Minnesota Monthly Magazine as The Best Lawyers in America® 2019
  • Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers–Rising Stars®, 2005–2011
  • Executive Editor, William Mitchell Law Review
  • Harry S. Sieben Award for Academic Excellence
  • AV® Preeminent peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell
PROFESSIONAL
  • Henson Efron President 2020-present; Management Committee, 2012-present
  • 4th District Ethics Committee Chair, 2018-2021; Co-Chair, 2016-2018; Investigative Member, 2007–2016
  • AAML Minnesota Chapter Board of Directors Former President; President, 2019-2021; Vice President of External Relations, 2018-2019
  • AAML Minnesota Chapter Divorce Camp, Committee Member 2019-present; Chair, 2018; Co-Chair, 2016-2017 (an annual continuing education conference helping shape legislative changes in family law)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution sections, 2001-Present
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Executive Committee Co-Chair 2009–2011; Officer 2007–2009
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Task Force on the Rights of Unmarried Couples, Family Law Section Subcommittee Chair, 2009
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Diversity Committee Member, 2010–2012
  • Hennepin County Unbundled Services Steering Committee 2012–Present
ADDITIONAL
  • Adjunct faculty member, Hamline University School of Law
  • Guest lecturer, University of St. Thomas School of Law
PUBLICATIONS PRESENTATIONS
  • Guest Speaker, AAML Mid-Year Meeting, "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Working with, Representing & Advocating to Millennials," March 2020
  • Guest Speaker, AAML Divorce Camp, “The Antenuptial Agreement Statute - What is it Good For?,” October 2017
  • Guest Speaker, Family Law Institute, “Common Ethical Traps for the Family Law Attorney” and “General Tax Issues in Family Law,” March 2014
  • Guest Speaker, AAML Divorce Camp, “Effective Discovery,” September 2013
  • Guest Speaker, Probate and Trust Law Institute, “DDT: Divorce, Death, and Taxes,” June 2013
  • Guest Speaker, “Handling Your First Minnesota Divorce Case,” June 2013
  • Guest Speaker, AAML Divorce Day Camp, “Practical and Ethical Considerations for Limited Scope Representation,” May 2013
  • Guest Speaker, Family Law Institute, “Debt Allocation,” March 2013
  • Guest Speaker, Fox 9 Morning News, “Premarital Agreements,” December 2010
  • Guest Speaker, Fox 9 Morning News, “Premarital Agreements,” July 2008
  • Guest Speaker, Mondale & Jones Show on WCCO-AM, “Premarital Agreements,” June 2008

SERVICES

TOP HONORS

Chambers HNW – LTS Best Lawyers Award Badge
Lisa T. Spencer
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Lisa T. Spencer
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Lisa T. Spencer
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Northstar Badge

“MN MN Monthly 2019 BL