“It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” ~ James Madison

Areas Of Practice

Honors and Awards

  • Top 100 attorney, Minneapolis Magazine
  • Top 100 Attorney, St. Paul Magazine
  • Super Lawyer
  • Judicial Selection Commission, Governor-appointed representative from First Judicial District

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota

Education

  • Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
    • J.D. – 1981
    • Honors: cum laude
  • St. Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota
    • B.A. – 1976
    • Honors: summa cum laude
    • Major: English
    • Major: Political Science
Rated By Super Lawyers | Michael G. Dougherty | Selected in 2022 Thomson Reuters

Michael Dougherty has retired from Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. but continues to consult for the benefit of his long-time clients. Michael headed the firm’s municipal law and real estate practice groups. Michael was the designated city attorney for the cities of Apple Valley and Eagan for decades. He began his experience in real estate working for Chicago Title Insurance Company. Michael has extensive knowledge of land use and development, and he counseled developers and governmental entities regularly during his decades of service to he South Metro of the Twin Cities. Since 1991, he has been certified as a Real Property Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Michael frequently lectured on real estate topics. He has addressed lawyer, developer, engineer and real estate organizations on comprehensive planning, zoning laws, special assessments, title examinations and real estate closings. Michael has been repeatedly named to the Super Lawyers® list.

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Real Estate, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1991
  • Qualified Neutral under Rule 114, 2011

Published Works

  • Real Estate Law, Twin Cities Business Monthly, August, 1998
  • Ethics in Land Use, National Business Institute, 2011 to 2011
  • Elements of Land Use Law, National Business Institute, 2009 to 2009

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Member, 1981 to Present
  • Dakota County Bar Association, Member, 1982 to Present
  • St. Mary’s University of Minnesota , Board of Trustees
  • Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce, Past President