ABOUT
Deer Hill Legal and Mediation
DHLM is a corporate business law firm focused on providing business advice, in addition to arbitration and mediation services. Through ADR, part-time, fractional or hourly general counsel services, our law firm provides business-focused solutions to you and your clients. Our professionals have extensive experience, with expertise in fields including bankruptcy, creditor-debtor, business, manufacturing, commercial, food and agricultural supply chain, regulatory and sustainability concerns, products liability, complex litigation, construction, employment, general civil disputes, insurance, professional liability and malpractice, real estate, landlord/tenant, securities, and shareholder matters.
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We excel in understanding your unique business drivers and complexities. With our team's background in business, entrepreneurship, and multiple General Counsel roles, we are adept at crafting solutions that address critical concerns such as key supplier relationships, SEC and other regulatory compliance, financial considerations, and more.
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We are available to mediate globally and to arbitrate in Minnesota.
Our Team
Amanda Athayde, Founder & Principal Mediator, Arbitrator (Rule 114 Qualified Neutral)
Amanda is an experienced business attorney with nearly two decades of experience in large law firms and in-house positions. She is the Founder of Deer Hill Legal and Mediation and specializes in providing innovative solutions to complex business disputes. Her breadth of corporate, real estate, and M&A knowledge makes her an invaluable partner to her business clients. Amanda has worked for several prominent companies, including Taft (formerly Briggs & Morgan), Cargill, and Polaris, and has served as General Counsel for three public and private companies: Regis Corporation, Loram Maintenance, and LiveWire EV (a Harley-Davidson spinoff). She holds a J.D. and an MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota, as well as a BA from American University in Washington, D.C. She is licensed to practice law in MN and is also a licensed real estate broker in MN.
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Ms. Athayde has a reputation as a creative problem solver, a voice of truth, and a caring and thoughtful listener.
Jennifer Henderson
Mediator and Counsel (Rule 114 Qualified Neutral)
Jennifer Henderson joins Deer Hill Legal and Mediation after a uniquely diverse career that includes experience in law, business and manufacturing. After 9 years of law firm experience, working primarily in real estate and litigation, Ms. Henderson went to work for Cargill, a food and agriculture conglomerate and the world’s largest privately held company. She held multiple roles at Cargill, including in Law as Business Unit General Counsel – first in the Protein business and then in Global Animal Nutrition - then in Commercial as Managing Director of Cargill Animal Nutrition, and finally in Manufacturing as Director of Global Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory, handling critical regulatory matters from the US and Canada, to Singapore, Turkey, Brazil and India. Most recently, Ms. Henderson has been a General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, working in private and public companies, including start-ups. Ms. Henderson’s breadth of experience across business and manufacturing generally, and her depth of knowledge in the food and agricultural supply chain specifically, provides a foundation that is unique and that allows for a well-informed and practical approach to dispute resolution. MN licensed.
Lori J. Marco
Mediator and Counsel
​Lori Marco joins Deer Hill Legal and Mediation after a twenty year career at Hormel Foods Corporation, where she was recruited from the large law firm, Taft (formerly Briggs and Morgan). After seven years of increasing responsibility, including antitrust, intellectual property, environmental law and food law, Lori was promoted to the executive leadership team as Senior Vice President of External Affairs & General Counsel. Her broad responsibilities included leading the regulatory affairs, legislative affairs, corporate communications & sustainability teams, in addition to leading all legal affairs for the company. Lori's deep understanding of business, especially in the food and agriculture space, and risk management make her an excellent resource for managing the legal, regulatory, external relations and practical needs of businesses. Lori holds a J.D. and a B.A. in biology from the University of Minnesota. She is licensed to practice in MN and IA, and is also a registered patent attorney.
Please note that individual mediators may be engaged through Deer Hill Legal and Mediation ("DHLM") or directly through that mediator, depending on the current relationship with DHLM.