Overview
Peggy Steif Abram is a trusted business advisor who strategizes and implements creative solutions to corporate law challenges. Peggy understands how both large legal matters and daily decisions affect clients’ business goals. She anticipates potential problems and crafts policies and procedures to mitigate risk. Peggy advises on corporate governance, SEC reporting, contracts, financing, compliance and risk management.
Outside General Counsel
Peggy provides general counsel services. From 2003 through 2016 she was corporate secretary to Hutchinson Technology Incorporated, a global technology manufacturer with disk drive components and medical device businesses. As general counsel, she was responsible for ongoing compliance, reporting and governance obligations, and major corporate transactions, as well as coordinating legal services in areas such as employment law, intellectual property, international business, real estate and litigation.Corporate Expertise
Peggy advises on:
- Ongoing reporting and compliance matters, including disclosure practices, preparation of proxy materials and periodic reports, and addressing obligations relating to Section 16 and Rule 144 compliance
- Corporate governance, including board and shareholder relations issues
- Private debt placements and other financing arrangements, including equipment leasing and sale-leaseback transactions
- Contract negotiations and ongoing business review and documentation
- Public equity and debt offerings
- Risk management and records management programs and compliance
- Employee compensation plans and arrangements
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Minnesota
Education
Harvard Law School
J.D. cum laude (1986)
University of Chicago
M.A. (1982)
Carleton College
B.A. summa cum laude, with distinction (1980)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- The Art of Self-Promotion: It's Not Bragging, It's Building Your Brand
National Association of Women Lawyers Annual Meeting, New York, July 2015 - Leadership Panel 2015
Twin Cities Women's Leadership Network Summit, March 2015
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
- Phyllis Wheatley Community Lawyering Project
Professional Associations
- National Association of Women Lawyers — Executive Board, 2014-17; Regional General Counsel Institute (Co-Chair, 2015); Nights of Giving Program (Chair, 2015-16); Annual Meeting and Mid-Year Meetings (Co-Chair, multiple committees, 2011-present)
- U.S. Law Firm Group, Corporate & Securities Committee, 2008-present
Civic Activities
- Guthrie Theater — Board of Directors, 2012-present; Executive Committee, 2014-present; Government Affairs Committee (Chair, 2014-present)
- LearningWorks at Blake — Advisory Board, 2009-14
- Breast Cancer Education Association of Minnesota — Board of Directors, 2009-present
- Stages Theatre Company — Board of Directors, 2000-12 (Board Secretary, 2000-12)
- Friends of Children Foundation — Counsel to the Board, 2000-07
Firm Leadership
- Faegre Baker Daniels Foundation — President
- Faegre Baker Daniels Sponsorship Steering Group — Chair
- Faegre Baker Daniels Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group, 2012-15
- Faegre Baker Daniels Women's Forum for Achievement — Leadership Council, 2012-present
Honors
- Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal — Women in Business Award, 2013