Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, PLLP

History and geographic reach

Founded in 1971, Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, PLLP is a general practice law firm in St. Paul. It provides legal services to individuals and businesses. The firm works with clients in St. Paul, Minneapolis and communities across Minnesota.

Its stated service area also includes western Wisconsin. That reach matters for clients whose work, property or family ties cross the state line. The exact court, governing law and attorney admission requirements can affect where a matter proceeds.

The firm lists ten main fields of law. Its range covers personal matters, business concerns and disputes that may reach court. In my opinion, the published practice list gives prospective clients a clear first view of the issues the attorneys accept.

Focus and practice areas

The stated fields are family law, estate planning and probate, employment law, business law, criminal defense, litigation and appeals, mediation and ADR, personal injury, real estate law and professional responsibility. Several of these fields overlap in real cases. A business dispute may involve employment questions, while an estate may include real property or ownership interests.

Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh says it handles matters in state and federal court. The firm also identifies trials, mediation and appeals as parts of its work. Those options cover several paths for resolving a dispute, each with its own rules and decision-makers.

Routes for resolving disputes

Mediation places the parties before a neutral mediator who helps them discuss possible terms. The parties control whether they reach an agreement. ADR can give parties a structured setting for addressing disputed facts, legal positions and practical concerns.

Trial calls for evidence, witness testimony and legal arguments before a judge or jury. Appeals focus on claimed legal errors in an earlier decision and usually rely on a written record. Appellate courts apply formal deadlines and briefing rules, so the issues often become narrower at that stage.

Family law and estate matters

The family law work includes child support, spousal support, child custody, parenting time, grandparents' rights and property division. These subjects can arise during divorce, after a family order or in a separate request involving children. Each issue requires attention to the facts of the household and the governing legal standard.

Custody and parenting cases commonly involve schedules, school arrangements, health needs and the child's relationship with each household. Courts review evidence tied to the child's interests under state law. Support cases often use income records, existing obligations and court guidelines.

Property division calls for identifying assets and debts, determining ownership and documenting value. Financial statements, account records and property documents can shape that work. Grandparents' rights raise a different set of questions about family relationships, prior contact and the legal basis for seeking time with a child.

Wills, trusts and probate

The estate planning and probate work includes wills and trusts. A will states how a person wants covered property handled after death and can name a personal representative. A trust places assets under written terms that direct management and distribution.

Probate is the court process used to administer certain estates. A personal representative may gather property, address claims, complete required filings and distribute assets under a will or state law. Estate planning also calls for careful review of how accounts, real estate and beneficiary designations are titled.

Business, employment and court work

The business law field gives the firm a stated role in matters involving companies and their owners. Business legal work may include agreements, ownership questions, internal disputes and claims involving commercial activity. The proper documents depend on the entity, transaction and issue involved.

Contract disputes often turn on the written terms, the parties' conduct and proof of loss. Early review may focus on correspondence, payment records and the agreement itself. If the parties litigate, court rules may require pleadings, document exchange, witness questioning and motions before trial.

Employment claims

The employment practice specifically covers discrimination and sexual harassment. These matters can involve workplace policies, communications, personnel records and accounts from employees or supervisors. The available forum and filing deadline depend on the claim and governing law.

An employment dispute may proceed through an internal process, an administrative agency or a court. Each setting uses its own procedures. A claimant or employer may need to preserve messages, evaluations and other records tied to the events at issue.

Criminal defense and appeals

Criminal defense is another listed field. Criminal cases typically begin with an investigation, citation, arrest or formal charge. The defense process may include reviewing reports, examining evidence, addressing release terms and appearing at scheduled hearings.

Some cases end through a negotiated resolution, while others reach trial. A court may hear pretrial motions about evidence or procedure before deciding what the jury can consider. When a party appeals, the appellate court reviews preserved issues through briefs, the record and, in some cases, oral argument.

Other civil and professional matters

Personal injury, real estate law and professional responsibility round out the published practice list. Personal injury claims often require medical records, incident reports, insurance information and proof of financial loss. Deadlines and liability rules can shape the claim at an early stage.

Real estate matters may concern ownership records, purchase documents, leases, financing terms or disputes over land use and possession. Deeds, contracts and public records often define the parties' rights. Court proceedings may become part of the matter when the parties dispute title, payment or performance.

Professional responsibility deals with duties that apply to lawyers and legal work. Such matters may involve ethical rules, professional conduct questions or proceedings connected to those duties. The firm's inclusion of this field adds a distinct regulatory subject to its civil practice.

How the team is built

The firm reports a roster of fifteen attorneys. The names supplied on its attorneys page include Walter G. Bauch, Mark H. Gehan, Allison W. Maxim and Thomas E. Mcellistrem. The page also names Robert E. Mcgarry Jr., Kelly Marie Mcsweeney, Bryce M. Miller and Maya E. Missaghi.

Evan Nelson, Sonja M. Nyberg, Sarah (McEllistrem) Rolig and Cathryn C. Schmidt also appear in the provided attorney information. As a reviewer, the size of the listed roster is useful because the firm covers many fields and several forms of dispute resolution. The range includes planning work, contested cases and appellate proceedings.

Law clerks, paralegals and secretaries support the attorneys. The firm says these staff members help with research, investigation, drafting, organization and scheduling. Those tasks are part of the document and deadline management that legal matters require.

The office is in the First National Bank Building in downtown St. Paul. The building has an attached heated parking ramp and sits near the Central light rail station and nearby bus lines. The firm's stated client area covers St. Paul, Minneapolis, communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.