Maslon Welcomes Attorneys Desmond Bassett, Ryan Clemmons, Pia Puentespina, Julia Richards, and Katherine Schiltz to the Firm

Maslon is pleased to welcome litigation attorneys Desmond Bassett, Ryan Clemmons, and Pia Puentespina, transactional attorney Julia Richards, and financial services attorney Kate Schiltz to the firm. Each served as a summer associate at Maslon during law school.

Desmond earned his J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he competed on the Intercollegiate Mock Trial Team, served on the university’s Law Council, and served as an online editor for the Minnesota Journal of Law and Inequality. Further, Desmond served as president of the Black Law Student Association and was a recipient of the Hon. Pamela G. Alexander Scholarship. 

Ryan represents clients across a broad range of commercial litigation matters, with a particular focus on tort & product liability, construction & real estate, insurance recovery, and appeals. Prior to joining Maslon, Ryan clerked for the Honorable Jennifer Frisch, chief judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. While studying for her J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School, she served as articles editor for the Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality and competed on the law school’s Sports Law Moot Court and National Moot Court Competition teams. 

Pia earned her J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School. She competed on the law school’s National Moot Court Competition team, placing first in the regional competition and advancing to the quarterfinals of the national round. She was also a Maynard Pirsig Honors Oral Argument Finalist, a Civil Rights and Civil Liberties student instructor, and co-head student ambassador. 

Julia earned her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she wrote for the Iowa Law Review and clerked for the Iowa Court of Appeals. Her clerkship afforded her the opportunity to research and review case law, draft complex opinions, and prepare memoranda and briefs for judges. 

Kate earned her J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School. During that time, she worked as a legal research and writing instructor for first-year students, assisted a law school professor with book research, and served as a summer law clerk for the Minnesota Disability Law Center, a program of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.