For 30 years, Joe Finley’s practice has focused on commercial real estate and lending (purchase and sale, finance, development and leasing), and on infrastructure and natural resources—including “hard rock” minerals. He has also participated in land use, environmental, title insurance and foreclosure/receivership litigation. Joe has worked on several “brownfield” redevelopments and public-private joint ventures, and on public developments such as the new Minnesota Twins ballpark and the “Central Corridor” light rail transit line.

Joe is an MSBA Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist. He has been named in The Best Lawyers in America since 1995 and has been recognized as a Leading Business Lawyer by Chambers USA. He has also been selected for inclusion in both Super Lawyers® and Top 40 Minnesota Real Estate and Environmental/Land Use Law Super Lawyers®.

Joe chaired the firm’s Real Estate department from 1990 through 1995; its Business Division from 1996 through 1998; and its Saint Paul office from 2000 to 2005. He was president of the firm from January 1, 2006, to December, 31, 2008, and became senior counsel to the firm in January 2010.

Outside of his law practice, Joe is an owner and officer of a commercial real estate investment company known as Birch Coulee Fund, LLC; Leonard, Street and Deinard has no interest in or affiliation with Birch Coulee Fund, LLC.

Professional and Civic Activities

• Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
• Member, Urban Land Institute
• Member, American, Minnesota and Hennepin County Bar Associations
• Member, Board of Visitors, University of Minnesota Law School, 2007 to present
• Member, Board of Advisors, University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business
• Past member, Transportation Advisory Board of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Council
• Adjunct Professor, William Mitchell College of Law, 2005–2007
• Past co-chair, Schools & Scholarships Committee of the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Minnesota

Education

• J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, 1980
• M.C.P., City Planning, Harvard University, 1977
• B.A., cum laude, Harvard University, 1974

Admissions

• State of Minnesota, 1980