Saint Cloud, MN

Kim Allen Pennington

As of July, 2022, Kim has ended his nearly 43 year tenure as an attorney licensed to practice law in Minnesota, all of which was spent in private practice in St. Cloud. He will continue to be affiliated w/the law firm by providing mediation, arbitration and related ADR services (pre-suit and in litigation) throughout the state of Minnesota (online sessions and in-person sessions). His contact phone number and email address through PCG Law is unchanged. The ADR services (facilitative and adjudicative) which Kim will continue to offer include the subject matters of serious injury and wrongful death claims, business and employment litigation, commercial and real estate-related litigation, discrimination, harassment and defamation claims, family law disputes (including marriage dissolutions, family disputes related to estates, trusts, inheritances and related family legal conflict) and various additional matters involving legal conflict within the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of Minnesota.* Mediations, arbitrations and other hybrid ADR services provided by Kim will continue to be scheduled through PCG Law staff and/or this website. Kim has been listed as a qualified neutral on the Minnesota Supreme Court's civil facilitative/hybrid and civil adjudicative/evaluative roster since 1994 and on the family adjudicative, evaluative and facilitative/hybrid rosters since 1998. In retiring his license to practice law, he is not eligible to remain on those rosters. However, he will continue to serve as a facilitative and adjudicative neutral (as determined by counsel and her/his clients in each matter).

Michael S. Gaarder

Michael Gaarder grew up in a small, Iowa town where he learned to work hard, cultivate meaningful relationships and truly appreciate life by laboring on the family farm and spending time with his grandfather, a World War II veteran and prisoner of war. While enlisted in the United States Navy, he served as a volunteer assistant on the Naval Legal Service prosecution team and was an integral member of the Staff Judge Advocate's Office in Yokosuka, Japan. Although these opportunities inspired his interest in the legal system, Michael did not pursue his law degree until many careers-vacuum sales, finance, construction, private security-and years later. Michael believes his varied life experiences help him better listen, relate to others and explain the law in ways people can understand. His clients agree. If you ask them to describe Michael, you’ll hear words, like “honest,” “knowledgeable,” “approachable” and “grounded.” He serves clients in all of the firm’s practice areas but focuses primarily on family law, personal injury, contract/business disputes, employment law, new business formation, criminal defense and appeals. Michael credits valuable experience as a law clerk under Crow Wing County Judges Fred Casey and Richard Zimmerman for his ability to present solid motion arguments and cases at trial. From 2013-2016, Michael was nominated, evaluated and selected by his peers to be recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Stars attorney by Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine in its Super Lawyers edition. From 2017-2024 Michael was nominated, evaluated and selected by his peers to be recognized and named to Super Lawyers. Michael was previously named a 2013 Northstar Lawyer by the Minnesota State Bar Association for his significant pro bono work. Michael was the 2014-2015 President of the Cloud City Achievers BNI Chapter in Saint Cloud. When he’s not working with clients or volunteering in the community, he enjoys family time, non-fiction books and adventures in the outdoors.

Russell R. Cherne

Russell R. Cherne graduated from Albany high school in 1993 and has been a life long resident of Central Minnesota, with the exception of attending law school at the University of North Dakota. After growing up on a dairy farm and learning the meaning of hard work and dedication, Russ went to law school in order to help people during those times in their lives when they need an attorney. Russ practices in the areas of family law including divorce, paternity, custody, child support and adoptions as well as criminal defense, business litigation, elder law and estate planning (wills, probate, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and powers of attorney), employment law (contracts, dispute avoidance, litigation and litigation avoidance) as well as personal injury. Russ loves helping people, spending time with his children and family, hunting, fishing and no longer milking cows.

Stephen L. Heller

Stephen L. Heller is the Owner & President of Heller & Thyen, P.A. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in personal injury and bankruptcy law, having helped thousands of clients secure compensation and debt relief. He is recognized as a Super Lawyer and is a member of the Minnesota Association of Justice.

Kevin F. Gray

Kevin Gray has over 25 years of experience in a broad ranging civil practice involving construction, insurance, personal injury and commercial litigation. Kevin has tried in excess of 80 jury trials involving product manufacturers, distributors, agribusiness, personal injury and wrongful death claims. He regularly represents general contractors and subcontractors in cases arising from construction defect claims in Minnesota and North Dakota. Kevin is also a trusted advisor to numerous small to mid-sized companies in matters involving contract drafting and negotiation, employment law and insurance coverage. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Minnesota Law & Politics from 2002-2020 and in subsequent years up to 2025.

Troy A. Poetz

Originally from northern Minnesota, Troy attended law school and practiced in Tennessee before joining Rajkowski Hansmeier in 2003. Troy was ranked best oral advocate in his law school class and served as chief justice of his school's moot court board. Troy primarily defends large insurance companies and their insureds in various litigation. He also handles large-loss subrogation cases in the agricultural space, particularly as it relates to product defect claims. He regularly tries cases to juries and judges throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin in state and federal courts. He has successfully tried multiple serious injury and wrongful death cases to verdict in his expansive career. Troy became a partner at Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd. in 2008. He is a past President of the of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association and is this year's President of the Minnesota's ABOTA Chapter- a national organization for trial lawyers, dedicated to preserving the jury system and promoting civility among trial lawyers. Troy has presented on several topics related to trial tactics and techniques. Troy has been recognized as a Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2005-2013 and a Super Lawyer perennially, including up to 2025. Troy and his wife, Nicole, have three children, 2 in college and 1 still at home. They live on a hobby farm in rural Stearns County. Troy is an avid outdoorsman.

Justin Braulick

Justin Braulick is an experienced personal injury and criminal defense attorney at Heller & Thyen, P.A. He also handles family law cases, providing assertive, diligent, and aggressive representation. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota State Court and Federal United States District Court.