Ben M. Henschel
Ben Henschel is a founding partner of Henschel Moberg. Recognized as one of the Twin Cities’ top family law attorneys, he has been consistently selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and voted a Top 100 Super Lawyer in the most recent Super Lawyers polls. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
He has negotiated settlements and successfully tried dissolutions on behalf of very wealthy clients. His cases often involve complex business valuation, nonmarital property, permanent spousal maintenance, and executive compensation issues. He has also served as a mediator, neutral evaluator, or court-appointed Special Master in many family law proceedings. His experience as a neutral makes him an effective advocate for clients in mediation or other Alternative Dispute Resolution processes. And he is a qualified mediator under Rule 114.
Ben is known for his calm, analytical, and well-reasoned approach, which is a powerful and reassuring asset to those faced with family law disputes.
Education
- J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minn., 1991
- Honors: cum laude
- B.S., St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minn., 1986
- Honors: With Distinction
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Past President, Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
- Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
- Member, Association of Family & Conciliation Courts
Honors and Awards
- Named the Best Lawyers® 2016 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Minneapolis.
- Selected to Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers- 2012- Present Minnesota Super Lawyers
- Selected to Super Lawyers—2003-present
- Selected to Top 40 Family Law Super Lawyers—2003-present
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America—2006-present
- Award of Special Recognition for Early Case Management/Early Neutral Evaluation Statewide Training Team from Minnesota Judicial Branch—September 2010
- Award of Appreciation for Joint Physical Custody Study Group from the Minnesota Judicial Branch—Fall 2008
- Excellence in Service Award for Financial Early Neutral Evaluators from the Fourth Judicial District Family Court—February 2007
- Commendation for Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Services in Hennepin County from the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
Published Works
- “Family Law Financial Deskbook, Nonmarital Claims and Tracing,” Contributor, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2008-2020
- “Family Law Financial Deskbook 2016, Nonmarital Property,” Contributor, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2016
- “The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book,” Contributor, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, November 2015
- “Be Aware of the Divorce Double Dip,” Attorney at Law Magazine, Sept. 2013
- “Premarital Agreements: When to Pop the Question About a Prenup,” Attorney At Law Magazine, May 2013
- “The Family Law 50, the 50 Cases Every Family Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out,” Contributor, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, November 2012
Representative Cases
- Habberstad v. Habberstad, 2014 WL211294 (Minn. Ct. App. 2014)
- Peterson v. Peterson, 2014 WL802261 (Minn. Ct. App. 2014)
- Strop v. Clarkson, 2012 WL539195 (Minn. Ct. App. 2012)
- Fedt v. Fedt, 2008 WL 4007424 (Minn. Ct. App. 2008)
- Stifel v. Stifel, 2008 WL 853298 (Minn. Ct. App. 2008)
- Boxall v. Boxall, 2007 WL 1893073 (Minn. Ct. App. 2007)
- Grossman v. Grossman, 2006 WL 1806409 (Minn. Ct. App 2006)
- McNamara-Ehlen v. Ehlen, 2005 WL 1669113 (Minn. Ct. App 2005)
- Gottsacker v. Gottsacker, 664 N.W.2d 848 (Minn 2003)
- Boxall v. Boxall, 2003 WL 21384865 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003)
- Levine v. Levine, 2001 WL 978851 (Minn. Ct. App. 2001)
Classes & Seminars Taught
- Lecturer: “AFCC Lunch and Learn: Remote Expedited Temporary Relief,” presented with Kevin McGrath, April 10, 2020
- Lecturer: “The Complete Family Lawyer: Answers to Questions about Property,” presented with Katie E. Merkel, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, January 27, 2020.
- Lecturer: “Advanced Family Law: Appellate Mediation,” Minnesota CLE, November 19, 2019
- “Financial Training for New Referees,” November 14, 2019
- “New Judge Training,” June 12, 2019
- Lecturer: “The Unique Development of Nonmarital Property Case Law and Tracing,”
- presented with Mitchel Hiley, Hennepin County Bar Association, January 28, 2019
- “New Judge Training,” April 17, 2019
- “New Judge Training,” January 16, 2019
- Lecturer: “Money to Burn: Hot Financial Topics,” Divorce Camp, Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, September 13, 2018
- “New Judge Training,” May 2, 2018
- Lecturer: “Keys to Drafting Effective Antenuptial Agreements,” presented with Lisa T. Spencer, Family Law Institute, March 27, 2018
- Lecturer: “The Antenuptial Statute: What is it Good For? Absolutely Nothing!” presented with Lisa T. Spencer of Henson & Efron, Divorce Camp, Minnesota Chapter-American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, October 5, 2017
- Lecturer: “Retirement and Cohabitation: How to Address Spousal Maintenance When Life Happens” presented with Joani C. Moberg, Divorce Camp, Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, October 5, 2017
- “New Judge Training,” January 10, 2017
- “New Judge Training,” December 5, 2016
- “New Judge Training,” September 13, 2016
- “New Judge Training,” June 3, 2016
- Lecturer: “Drafting Antenuptial Agreements,” presented with Kristy A.K. Rodd of Fredrikson & Byron, Family Law Institute, March 30, 2016
- Lecturer: “The Complete Family Lawyer: Answers to Questions about Property,” presented with Katie E. Merkel, Family Law Institute, March 29, 2016
- Lecturer: “Family Law Series: How and When to Use Antenuptial, Postnuptial and Cohabitation Agreements,” presented with James Vedder of Moss & Barnett, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education-November 2015
- Lecturer: “The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book-Property,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education-November 2015
- Co-Chair, “Divorce Camp 2015,” Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-September 2015
- “New Judges Training,” July 2015
- “New Judges Training,” March 2015
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Training,” presented with Kevin McGrath of McGrath Dispute Resolution and Dan O’Connell of Tuft, Lach & Jerabek, Ramsay, MN – February 6, 2015
- “New Judges Training,” January 15, 2015
- “New Judges Training,” November 17, 2014
- Lecturer: “When Spouses Divorce: Advanced Business Valuation Issues”, MNCPA Business Valuation Conference, November 3, 2014
- “Non-Marital Claims and Tracing,” presented with Thomas W. Harjes, Family Law Financial Deskbook-May 16, 2014
- Co-chair: “Divorce Camp 2014,” Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Sept. 2014
- Lecturer: “Training for Financial Early Neutral Evaluators,” presented with Susan C. Rhode of Moss & Barnett-Mankato, MN April and October 2013
- Co-chair: “Divorce Camp 2013,” Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Sept. 2013
- Lecturer: “Tax Issues in the Middle Class Divorce,” presented with Mitchell A. Hiley, Divorce Day Camp, Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-May 2013
- Co-Chair: “Divorce Day Camp 2012,” Minnesota Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-May 2012
- Lecturer: “Update on Nonmarital Claims and Tracing,” presented with Thomas W. Harjes, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education-May 2012
- Lecturer: “Spousal Maintenance: ‘Til Death Do Us Part?'” presented with Joani C. Moberg, Minnesota Judiciary 2012 Conference-May 2012
- Lecturer: “The Danger of the ‘Double Dip’,” presented with Thomas W. Harjes, Family Law Institute-March 2012
- Lecturer: “How to Draft an Antenuptial Agreement,” presented with Cameron R. Seybolt, Webcast, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education-February 2012
- Lecturer: “Estate Planning Strategies: Planning and Drafting to Succeed: Antenuptial Agreements,” presented with Cameron R. Seybolt, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education-October 2011
- Lecturer: “Mastering Spousal Maintenance Modification,” Highlights of the 2011 Family Law Institute-August 2011
- Lecturer: “Antenuptial Agreement Documents Made Easy,” presented with Edward L. Winer, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education-June 2011
- Lecturer: “Refresher Training for Financial Early Neutral Evaluators,” presented with Tanja K. Manrique, former Presiding Judge of Hennepin County Family Court, and Kevin J. McGrath, former Lead Referee, Hennepin County Family Court, Family Law Institute-March 2011
- Lecturer: “Spousal Maintenance Modification,” presented with Joani C. Moberg, Family Law Institute-March 2011
- Lecturer: “Trial Tips for Family Law Practitioners,” presented with Kevin McGrath, former Lead Referee, Hennepin County Family Court, Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law Section—January 2011
- Lecturer: “Bankruptcy/Insolvent Estates/Marital Liens,” presented with The Honorable Robert J. Kressel, Family Law for the Minnesota Judiciary—June 2010
- Lecturer: “The Family Law Financial Deskbook: Nonmarital Claims and Tracing,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—May 2010
- Lecturer: “What Happens to Spousal Maintenance When an Obligor Retires,” 2010 Family Law Institute—March 2010
- Lecturer: “2010 Nonmarital Case Law Update,” 2010 Family Law Institute—March 2010
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Training,” Alexandria, Minn.—February 2010
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation,” Chaska, Minn.—November 2009
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Training,” Washington County District Court—June 2009
- Lecturer: “The Presumption of Joint Physical Custody Study Report,” Annual Family Law Institute—March 2009
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation,” Grand Rapids, Minn.—January 2009
- New Judges Training, January, March, and June, 2009
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation,” Hennepin County Bar Association ADR Section—October 2008
- Lecturer: “Nonmarital Claims and Tracing,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—September 2008
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Training,” Anoka, Minn.—September 2008
- Lecturer: “The Family Law Financial Deskbook & Seminar: Nonmarital Claims and Tracing,” Minnesota Continuing Legal
Education—May 2008 - Lecturer: “Basics of Property Division,” Annual Family Law Institute—April 2008
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Training,” Denver, Colo.—January 2008
- Lecturer: “Documents Made Easy—The Antenuptial Agreement,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—November 2007
- Lecturer: “Financial Early Neutral Evaluation Training,” Duluth, Minn.—September 2007
- Lecturer: “Basics of Property Division,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—August 2007
- Lecturer: “Family Law By the Numbers,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—June 2007
- Lecturer: “Defending the Antenuptial Agreement,” Annual Family Law Institute—March 2007
- Lecturer: “Basics of Property Division,” Annual Family Law Institute—March 2007
- Lecturer: “Basics of Property Division,” Annual Family Law Institute—2006
- Lecturer: “Calculating Income for Employed and Self-Employed,” Annual Family Law Institute—2006
- Lecturer: “Property Division in Divorce Cases,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—2005
- Lecturer: “The Antenuptial Agreement Made Easy,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—2005
- Lecturer: “Nonmarital Property Update,” Annual Family Law Institute—2004
- Lecturer: “Nonmarital Property Update,” Annual Family Law Institute—2003
- Lecturer: “How to Obtain Attorney’s Fees; Proving Financial Need & Bad Conduct When Requesting Attorney’s Fees,” Minnesota Institute of Legal Education—2001
- Lecturer: “The Antenuptial Agreement Annotated Document Series,” Minnesota Continuing Legal Education—2001
