Lee A. Hutton III
by Dan Heilman
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Born: Jan. 31, 1976; San Antonio
Education: William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 2002; University of Minnesota, B.A., 1997
Employment: Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg, attorney, 2007-present; Johnson & Condon, attorney, 2002-07
Professional Associations: Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Minnesota State Bar Association, National Football League Players Association
Community Activities: Mentor, Minneapolis Urban League, Skills for Tomorrow Charter High School, University of Minnesota Goal Line Club, University of Minnesota “M” Club
Hobbies/Interests: Golf, reality TV
Family: Wife, Tanya; one daughter, one son
Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg, P.A.
Education: William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 2002; University of Minnesota, B.A., 1997
Employment: Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg, attorney, 2007-present; Johnson & Condon, attorney, 2002-07
Professional Associations: Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Minnesota State Bar Association, National Football League Players Association
Community Activities: Mentor, Minneapolis Urban League, Skills for Tomorrow Charter High School, University of Minnesota Goal Line Club, University of Minnesota “M” Club
Hobbies/Interests: Golf, reality TV
Family: Wife, Tanya; one daughter, one son
Lee A. Hutton III found out that the path to a legal career can start in unexpected places.
The son of a urologist and a registered nurse, Hutton first thought he would go into medicine. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota (which he attended on a football scholarship), he interned at a marketing communications firm.
While doing so, he helped a friend (former Up & Coming Attorney Christopher W. Fowlkes) study for the LSAT.
“I figured I might as well take the LSAT, as well,” Hutton recalls. “I don’t know if it was my destiny to become a lawyer, but the more involved I got in the legal arena, the more I enjoyed it.”
Hired by Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg last October, Hutton practices in a variety of areas, including construction law, professional malpractice, product liability, motor vehicle law and employment law. But the most natural fit is sports and entertainment law, where Hutton helps athletes with contract work, negotiating endorsement deals and other financial matters.
He says the disparate areas of his practice mesh more often than one might expect.
Hutton joined the firm with the idea that with his background and connections, he would be able to bolster the firm’s reputation in sports and entertainment law.
“We’re really gearing toward expanding the services we offer in the entertainment law section,” Hutton says. “One of the reasons I came to Lommen was to add sports to the mix and help the firm embrace that area as well. Over the next five to 10 years, I see myself and the firm adding a stronger litigation component to the sports- entertainment practice.”
Away from work, Hutton serves on the board of directors of the Minneapolis Urban League, as well as on the board of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. He says serving these organizations is an important way of uniting people from diverse backgrounds and helping them to gain new opportunities.
“Lee represents the next level of African-American professionals in the Twin Cities who are dedicated to both their profession and the greater good of people of color and the community at large,” says Minneapolis Urban League CEO Clarence Hightower.
Helping young people in the community stay on the right track is important, Hutton says, because character-related clauses in athlete contracts are becoming more prominent. He points out that the Michael Vick dogfighting case is a perfect example of a talented young man needlessly throwing his career away.
“Character clauses will be a big issue for years to come,” Hutton says. “Unfortunately, athletes and entertainers don’t always really understand the impact of what they do off the field or offstage. It’s our job to inform athletes that the contract they’re signing has big implications off the field.”
