Henson Efron is pleased to announce business law attorney Rochelle Hauser has been selected for inclusion in the 2023 Top Women in Law awards by Minnesota Lawyer. Top Women in Law celebrates the outstanding achievements of exceptional women working in various sectors of the legal community.

 Rochelle Hauser, shareholder and business law attorney, is earning her spot as next-in-line for a leadership role at Henson Efron. She has cultivated relationships in the marketplace that have earned her ownership and co-ownership of the Firm’s two largest clients, and she is being recognized internally and externally for her knowledge and expertise in corporate law, more specifically M&A work. Rochelle has won her clients, and her internal team, over with her high-level responsiveness, diligence, and ability to anticipate roadblocks to proactively manage complex transactions with ease. Under her leadership, the Henson Efron team can close deals in as little as 45 days without sacrificing necessary due diligence. This is highly valued by our clients, one of which is on a growth journey with the goal of becoming the largest privately held collision repair business nationally. Under Rochelle’s advisement, they have moved from 28 to 226 shops in 3 ½ years.

 In the world of business law, the responsibilities and size of corporate in-house legal departments has grown significantly over the last several years. While Henson Efron has delivered a substantial amount of legal work to a particular Fortune 500 company over the years, their in-house team has continued to grow and pull work back from the Firm to manage costs. That has not deterred Rochelle. By quickly identifying where she can add value and solidifying relationships, she now works closely with their Board of Directors managing their stringent annual Board assessment process. Rochelle is driving results for the Firm with her leadership, agility, and talent.

 Rochelle works hard at leading others, and it is not about a title but rather action. She takes the time to recognize the contributions of others, regardless of their place in the organization. She is fully present and empowers others to be the best they can be by being inclusive, open to innovative ideas and sharing her knowledge and wisdom. She regularly gives credit when credit is due, within the firm, inspiring team members to deliver above and beyond.

 During 2020, Rochelle created a Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee within the Firm, taking the initiative to raise awareness, educate others and enhance the culture at Henson Efron at a critical time during a global pandemic, political division, and local unrest. She was a key factor in building a safe space for team members during a challenging time. Rochelle is an active advocate for DEI at Henson Efron and is a liaison for the firm with the Twin Cities Diversity in Practice organization, creating opportunities for attorneys of color to advance their careers.

 Rochelle is also a member of the Firm’s charitable giving committee; an active member of the investment advisory committee and trustee for the firm’s 401k plan; a key contributor in creating a policy for managing originating credit for the Firm; and a champion for our recruitment efforts, particularly with Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

 Rochelle has been honored as:

·      2024 Best Lawyer (embargoed 8/17/2023)

• 2022 Attorneys of The Year, Minnesota Lawyer
• 2020 Notable Women in Law Honoree, Twin Cities Business
• Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2021–2023
• Minnesota Super Lawyers–Rising Stars®, 2013, 2017

Over the last year, Rochelle has been driving growth for both the Firm and her clients at an impressive pace. The Henson Efron business law practice group has experienced 10% growth so far in 2023, and Rochelle has been key to that success by managing 15 to 17 separate complex M&A deals for more than a few clients since January 1, 2023, alone. Notably, client Classic Collision has added 15 shops to its fleet just in 2023, progressing toward their goal of becoming the largest privately held collision repair business nationally.

 At the pace at which Classic Collision is growing, they have not had the time to establish an in-house legal department to manage the growing legal needs of the organization on an ongoing basis. Now with an expected annual revenue approaching $1 billion, leadership increasingly relies on Rochelle for general counsel, conflict resolution or to bring in the right skill set from other practice areas to quickly address their needs. From the beginning, Rochelle has been a strategic partner with Classic ownership, key in guiding them through deals totaling well over $550 million across 15+ states. But it is not just transactional for Rochelle. With her developed business acumen and industry expertise, she provides actionable insights making her indispensable to our client’s leadership. She is facilitating growth across the Firm by identifying opportunities where other practice areas can add value, taking a comprehensive approach to client service.

Rochelle is committed to her profession beyond the walls at Henson Efron. She consistently gives back to the legal community by building better lawyers and leaders, no matter where they are employed. Consistently, every year for the last ten plus years, Rochelle has led one or more teaching opportunities through Minnesota CLE, or WomenVenture, a local nonprofit whose mission is to empower women to build profitable and sustainable businesses that transform communities. She has covered topics from supply chain risk management in contracts to starting a business; from negotiating sales and distribution agreements to the purchase and sale of a business. Year after year, she empowers others to deliver excellence in the legal arena.

·      Co-Presenter, Minnesota CLE: “Asset Sales A to Z: Drafting the Purchase Agreement,” 2022

·      Co-Presenter, “Representing the Buyer in an Asset Purchase – The Nuts and Bolts of the Purchase Agreement & Closing Checklist,” 2022

·      Co-Presenter, Minnesota CLE Business Law Institute: “Purchase & Sale of a Business – Key Pre-Deal Matters: Letters of Intent, Non-Disclosure Agreements and Due Diligence,” 2021

·      Co-Presenter, Minnesota CLE Business Law Institute: “Purchase and Sale of a Small Business,” 2020

·      Presenter, Minnesota CLE Purchase and Sale of a Business Seminar, 2020

·      Co-Author, Purchase and Sale of a Business Deskbook, Minnesota CLE, 2019

·      Author, "Protecting Your Security Interest in an LLC Membership Interest: Methods and Considerations for Perfecting", Henson Efron Thought Leadership, September 18, 2018

·      Co-Presenter, Minnesota CLE Business Law Institute: “Key Considerations for Supply Chain Risk Management in Contracts,” 2017

·      Presenter, Minnesota CLE Advanced Contract Issues for In-House Counsel: “5 Top-of-Mind Matters for Supply Chain Risk Management in Contracts,” 2017

·      Co-Presenter, Minnesota CLE Representing the Ongoing Business Deskbook Series: “How to Prepare and Negotiate Sales and Distribution Agreements,” 2017

• Co-Presenter, Minnesota CLE, The Complete Lawyer: “Starting a Business,” 2016
• Co-Presenter of Legal Seminar Series at WomenVenture, 2013–2015
• Co-Presenter, Minnesota CLE Business Law Institute: “Multinational Commercial Contracts,” 2011
• Co-Presenter, Minnesota Chapter the Association of Corporate Counsel Legal Sampler: “Hot Topics in Negotiating Commercial Contracts,” 2011

 Before shifting more of her focus to continuing education, Rochelle served as Assistant Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law from 2014 – 2018 where she spent ample time sharing her real-life experience with students to enhance their learning journey. Rochelle believes strongly that understanding the practical application of concepts is integral in the development of problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills necessary to stand out in the field. She is a natural teacher and finds sharing her expertise energizing and inspiring.

 As mentioned earlier, Rochelle is a liaison for the firm with the Twin Cities Diversity in Practice organization, creating opportunities for attorneys of color to advance their careers.