Attorney Profiles

Ms. Magnuson has extensive legal experience in both the public and private sector. Before joining the Firm in 1992, Mary was the managing attorney for the Gambling Division of the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. In that capacity, she provided legal representation to all of Minnesota state agencies responsible for the regulation of gambling. She was a member of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Gambling, Chair of the Indian Gaming Committee of the North American Gaming Regulator's Association, and reporter for the Canterbury Downs Commission.

Ms. Magnuson represented the State in compact negotiations as legal counsel to the Compact Negotiating Committees appointed by Governors Perpich and Carlson. Because of the leadership the State of Minnesota provided in the negotiation of gaming compacts, Ms. Magnuson has been sought after to provide consultation and advice to several state governments and organizations on the issue.

Mary represents Indian and non-Indian entities involved in the development and operation of gaming activities throughout the United States and Canada. She also represents a number of multi-national corporations that manufacture or supply gaming equipment to Indian and non-Indian facilities. Mary is an experienced litigator in state and federal court, having handled such cases as Leonard v. Jackpot Travel, (D. Minn. 1993) (the first case in Minnesota to recognize the requirement of the exhaustion of tribal court remedies); State v. Lower Sioux Community, Civ. No. 4-89-936 (D. Minn., filed July, 1991) (by stipulated settlement affirmed the legal structure under which Minnesota Indian tribes were permitted to offer high-stakes Blackjack at their casinos); and Fleury v. Minnesota Gambling Control Board and Allied Charities of Minnesota, Court File C4-93-2568 (Dist. Ct., Jan. 1994) (holding that plaintiff restaurant and bar owners lacked standing to challenge the constitutionality of charitable gaming in Minnesota).

Her work throughout the United States has resulted in appearances before legislative and regulatory bodies in most of the states that permit gaming. As a result, she is familiar with the types of gaming permitted around the country and with many of the individuals responsible for the regulation of gaming activity and the development of gaming policy. In 1993, Ms. Magnuson was appointed to serve on the Minnesota Racing Commission, a position she held until her term expired in 1999. Mary currently serves as President of the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance, the Minnesota affiliate to the National Council on Problem Gambling, which is dedicated to raising public awareness of and education on the issue of problem gambling. She is the author of several reports and articles on gaming issues in Minnesota and a frequent speaker on gaming-related topics at conferences throughout the country.