Brian Palmer, Esq
Brian Palmer is a retired lawyer with extensive legal and non-profit organization leadership experience. Mr. Palmer graduated from Brown University and William Mitchell College of Law. While in law school he worked full time first as a Hennepin County Court Clerk and then as an Investigator for the Minnesota State Public Defender.
Upon graduation Mr. Palmer became an Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender in the newly formed Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office. As a Public Defender he was involved in over 100 criminal court and jury proceedings including a jury trial for first degree murder. Mr. Palmer left that position to join the Minneapolis office of Dorsey & Whitney LLP where as a partner in the trial and banking departments his practice focused on advice and, if necessary, trials involving complex, multi-party disputes including directors and officers liability insurance coverage, government regulatory matters including serving as chief outside counsel in the Upper Midwest for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and civil and criminal fraud investigations. He regularly advised corporate boards and directors on all aspects of corporate governance. Mr. Palmer was also a director and chair of the Dorsey & Whitney Foundation from its inception. He worked on implementing the Foundation’s charitable objectives and serving as Dorsey & Whitney’s connection to the not-for-profit community until his retirement from the firm. Mr. Palmer was later convinced to come out of retirement to serve as General Counsel for Lund Food Holdings, Inc. He is now retired from the practice of law.
Mr. Palmer has served on multiple non-profit boards including: The Legal Rights Center, president and honorary board; William Mitchell College of Law, nominating committee chair and executive committee; The Minnesota Opera, nominating committee chair; The Minneapolis College of Art and Design, nominating committee chair, executive committee, and trustee emeritus; The Minneapolis Institute of Art, Print and Drawing Curatorial Council, president; The Minneapolis Institute of Art, executive committee, treasurer, vice chair, chair, and two time director and president search committee chair. He has also served on non-profit boards of social organizations, executive committee, secretary, vice chair and president.
Mr. Palmer and his wife Julie, who has also served on multiple non-profit boards including The Family Partnership and Voyageur Outward Bound School, are fortunate that their daughter, son in law, and three granddaughters – all extremely active – live nearby and provide great joy.