Apple Valley, MN

Matthew J. Schaap

Matthew Schaap is a shareholder with the firm and serves on the firm’s board of directors. He regularly assists clients with a variety of personal and business litigation matters. Matthew began his legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk to Elizabeth Hayden, a Minnesota District Court Judge. As a Law Clerk, he played an active supporting role in the process of judicial decision-making. He provided judges with the legal research, writing and analysis that they used to decide the legal questions and issues before them. As a Law Clerk, Matthew also assisted in numerous jury trials in both the criminal and civil context. This practical experience gave him first-hand exposure to winning trial techniques as he observed highly-effective trial lawyers both in the courtroom and also in chambers. Matthew joined Dougherty Molenda in 2004 after completing his judicial clerkship. At Dougherty Molenda, Matthew focuses on litigation and trial practice. Matthew’s primary goal in any litigation is to serve as a zealous advocate for his clients by thoroughly researching all issues (both legal and technical) that are important to presenting the case in court. However, Matthew also focuses on helping clients to understand the legal process so that they can actively participate in the case and make informed decisions about its resolution. To accomplish this goal, Matthew has developed a variety of practical guides to assist clients in understanding critical aspects of the legal process, such as discovery. Like all litigation attorneys at Dougherty Molenda, Matthew provides his clients with early case analysis designed to 1) evaluate the risks of litigation and 2) develop successful trial strategies that maximize the likelihood of favorable trial or settlement outcomes. At times, litigation involves an appeal to a higher court. During law school, Matthew’s appellate brief was selected by the Legal Writing Department faculty as the “Best Appellate Brief in the First Year Law School Class.” As an attorney, Matthew has continued his commitment to excellence in legal writing: He has authored or co-written numerous appellate briefs that led to affirmance of favorable outcomes for clients. Matthew has also presented numerous oral arguments in appeals, including before the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., receiving numerous favorable outcomes in these venues. In addition to his civil jury trial and appellate experience, Matthew has successfully represented the firm’s clients at numerous mediations, arbitrations, court trials, motion hearings and jury trials. He has first-chaired numerous jury trials to successful monetary results, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He has been recognized in Minnesota Law and Politics as a top young attorney and was named to the Minnesota Rising Stars® List and the Minnesota Super Lawyers List.

Michael E. Molenda

Mike was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1950. He grew up in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield where he attended high school and participated in swimming, golf, and drama. After high school, Mike attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where he continued to swim and where he met his wife, Linda. Upon graduating from UW-La Crosse, he accepted a position as a physical education teacher at Rosemount Middle School; he also served as head swimming coach for Rosemount High School. He served in both of these roles until 1978, when he left coaching and pursued a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. Mike graduated from law school, cum laude, in 1982, and went on to practice in the areas of family law, criminal law, and personal injury. He also served as a mediator, parenting time expeditor, parenting consultant, and Early Neutral Evaluator in the family law area. Now retired, Mike enjoys golfing and traveling with his wife Linda. They have a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons. Mike remains active in the International Association of Lions Clubs, having served as club president, District Governor for Lions Clubs in Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington Counties in 2010-2011, and as Council Chairperson for Lions Clubs in Minnesota, Manitoba, and Northwest Ontario in 2011-2012.

Loren M. Solfest

Loren Solfest is a managing shareholder and Vice-President of Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. He heads the firms banking, business and commercial law and civil and commercial litigation practice groups and he has been practicing transactional and litigation law since 1986. He practices in the areas of banking, commercial litigation, business and real estate law. He has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of transactions and cases in state and federal courts, at both the district and appellate court levels. Loren is certified as a Real Property Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, is also a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice, and he has served as a mediator and arbitrator in numerous cases since 1997. Loren is licensed to practice law in the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin. He is also admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; the United States District Court, District of Minnesota; and the United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin. Loren has been repeatedly named to the Super Lawyers list and AV Peer Review Rated. In 2025, Loren was named to the Minnesota Monthly Top Lawyers list.

Ross N. Tentinger

Ross N. Tentinger is a Twin Cities native who attended the University of North Dakota, earning both his Bachelor of Science from the School of Business and Economics, and Juris Doctor from the School of Law, where he graduated cum laude. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and is a member of the American Bar Association and Minnesota Bar Association. Ross focuses his practice on personal injury and business litigation, handling cases involving wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, and slip and fall injuries. He is an experienced litigator and trial attorney.

Robert B. Bauer

Mr. Bauer is a shareholder and the President of the firm. He represents clients in general municipal, land use and real estate matters including zoning and comprehensive guide plan amendment applications, litigation of condemnation actions and special assessment appeals; general civil litigation; shareholder dispute litigation; wills, trusts and business succession planning.

Christine J. Cassellius

Christine Cassellius has resided in Dakota County with her family since 2003. Christine is an Assistant City of Apple Valley Attorney working extensively in criminal prosecution matters. Christine represents the City of Apple Valley in criminal court on a weekly basis. She has represented the City in many jury trials, has drafted several Memoranda to the Court of Appeals, and has argued many cases to the Court of Appeals on behalf of the City of Apple Valley. Christine also works in the private sector in family law. In her family law practice, she represents clients in marriage dissolutions, custody proceedings, child support proceedings, adoptions property division, paternity matters and spousal maintenance proceedings. Many of her cases involve high conflict custody and parenting time disputes.

Michael G. Dougherty

Michael Dougherty has retired from Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. but continues to consult for the benefit of his long-time clients. Michael headed the firm’s municipal law and real estate practice groups. Michael was the designated city attorney for the cities of Apple Valley and Eagan for decades. He began his experience in real estate working for Chicago Title Insurance Company. Michael has extensive knowledge of land use and development, and he counseled developers and governmental entities regularly during his decades of service to he South Metro of the Twin Cities. Since 1991, he has been certified as a Real Property Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association. Michael frequently lectured on real estate topics. He has addressed lawyer, developer, engineer and real estate organizations on comprehensive planning, zoning laws, special assessments, title examinations and real estate closings. Michael has been repeatedly named to the Super Lawyers® list.