Richard Alan Hoel holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Economics from Hamline University. He was a founding partner of Winthrop & Weinstine, a Minneapolis law firm of approximately 85 lawyers. His law practice focused on representing corporate and entrepreneurial clients particularly in the area of buying, restructuring and selling companies. In addition to his law practice, he has been an owner, director, and investor in numerous companies in various industries for over twenty years. As part of this process, he has been personally and professionally involved in the business, tax, securities, and regulatory issues associated with acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings. He has also been the Vice Chairman and long-time Trustee of Hamline University.