MINNEAPOLIS (August 15, 2012)—Leonard, Street and Deinard shareholders Tammie Ptacek and Barbara Portwood have been named among the year's "Top Women in Finance" by Finance & Commerce. The business newspaper annually recognizes an elite group of Minnesota women finance professionals who are making significant contributions to their profession and to the wider community.

Tammie Ptacek, who focuses her law practice in project finance for the energy industry, was selected for the role she played as a lead attorney on the team assisting client Atlantic Power Corporation in closing its $1.12 billion acquisition of energy fund Capital Power Income, L.P., this past November. The deal, for which Ptacek was named one of Minnesota's "Attorneys of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer, will allow Atlantic Power to more than double its electric power generating capacity in the U.S. and Canada. Atlantic Power's investments in power plants and transmission lines across the United States include a portfolio of natural gas, hydroelectric, wind and biomass, and the 83-mile-long Path 15 Upgrade transmission line in California.

She also was singled out for her leadership on the firm's board of directors and for volunteering with Leonard, Street and Deinard's Legal Clinic.

Barbara Portwood, who focuses her practice in redevelopment and municipal finance, was honored last year for her work representing longtime client Dakota County Community Development Agency in its New Issue Bond Program. She most recently was selected for the leadership she provides to the firm through her roles on the board of directors, as the firm's diversity shareholder, and as its representative to Twin Cities Diversity in Practice.

In particular, Portwood has helped Leonard, Street and Deinard build a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Her leadership has helped the firm achieve significant success, even becoming a "destination firm" for women lawyers. In 2011, 60% of the firm's lateral hires were women attorneys.

"We are delighted to see Tammie and Barbara earning the recognition of their peers," said Lowell Stortz, president of Leonard, Street and Deinard. "They each are exemplars of professional excellence who also give generously of their time and talents to benefit their colleagues, the profession and the wider community."