Mark E. Utz

Mark E. Utz is a Rochester native who joined this law firm in 1991. Prior to 1991, he was an attorney in the tax department of an international accounting firm headquartered in Chicago, IL. As a Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association, he has extensive experience as a legal advisor in business, real estate and estate planning, including:

Business and Commercial Law

• New Business Formation
• Creating and Negotiating Buy/Sell Agreements
• Consulting on governance documents
• Preparing, reviewing and negotiating contracts
• Creating loan documentation

Real Estate Law

• Contract negotiations and real estate acquisitions and sales
• Title issues and clearance
• Land development and construction contracts
• Advising lenders and borrowers on real estate financing
• Drafting and negotiating commercial leases
• Advocating Development issues before governmental tribunals

Estate Planning and Administration

• Development and review of Succession/Estate plans
• Drafting Wills, Trust Agreements, Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney
• Resolution of probate and trust administration

Mr. Utz has been a frequent speaker on estate planning techniques and business formation issues. He has co-authored a chapter on contract law for the Minnesota State Bar Association publication entitled Contract Law in Minnesota. He has also written for the William Mitchell Law Review.

Mr. Utz is a member of the Real Property and Business Law Sections of the American, Minnesota State, and Olmsted County Bar Associations.

Education/Practice Jurisdiction

University of St. Thomas (B.A., 1982)
William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 1985 William Mitchell Law Review)
Judicial Law Clerk, Second District, State of Minnesota. Admitted to bar, Minnesota; U. S. District Court, District of Minnesota; U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; and U.S. Tax Court.

Personal Interests

Mr. Utz enjoys the great family atmosphere of Rochester with his wife and two daughters. In warmer months, Mr. Utz plays golf and tennis. In the winter, he is active with his family on the ski slopes and tobogganing down local hills! Beyond Rochester, Mr. Utz enjoys being with his family at a lake home in the Hayward, WI area, swimming, snorkeling, waterskiing, fishing and sailing.

Mr. Utz presently serves as a trustee and/or officer on the boards of the following non-profit organizations: Rochester Estate Planning Council (President), Rochester Area Economic Development (President), Ronald McDonald House (IMD Past President), Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce (Chair, Governmental Forums), and Rochester Public Utilities. He has served as director in the past on the Job Training Center, Rochester Rotary Risers (Past President), Rochester Area Builders Association (Past Governmental Affairs Chair) and Tax Round Table (Past President).