Our Office
John M. Mulligan and Norman P. Bjornnes, Jr. founded the firm in November of 1982 at the same time they acquired the building at 401 Groveland Avenue. Mulligan and Bjornnes met as classmates in the University of Minnesota Law School Class of 1976. Each worked for a downtown firm after law school. Seeking their own independent practice, they began sharing office space in a downtown location. They moved into the firm’s current building at 401 Groveland Avenue before remodeling was complete and spent the first few months operating with the noisy sounds of a construction crew in the background.
The firm’s first clients were active in real estate and construction. The firm’s areas of practice grew in the early years to include many types of business clients as well as the areas of estate planning and probate for individual clients. The firm’s philosophy was, and continues to be, to develop long-term positive relationships with clients and to recruit and retain excellent support staff members. The firm prided itself on not only its professional abilities in a number of areas, but also its skills in client service and maintaining loyal client relationships.
Mulligan & Bjornnes considers itself fortunate in being able to provide consistent and continuous service and legal counsel for our clients for the last forty years. The current partners, along with the veteran support staff, look forward to carrying on the firm’s philosophy and quality of service.
Ireys Mansion History
Original Construction & Family Life
The house at 401 Groveland Ave. was constructed between 1908- 1910 for Charles and Florence Ireys. The architect was William Kenyon, who designed the home in an eclectic mixture of Tudor and Georgian Revival styles at a cost of $12,000.
The Ireys raised four children over the years, two of which were born in the upstairs master bedroom. Servants used the winding back staircase to reach their living quarters on the third floor and to access the kitchen and butler’s pantry.
Florence Ireys maintained the home for 60 years before transferring it to the American Red Cross. She died in California at the age of 94 in 1974.
1982 Renovation to M&B Law Firm
Mulligan & Bjornnes acquired the property from the Red Cross in 1982 for its new office space. Every effort was made to preserve and restore the most important interior and exterior features. The Cuban hardwood on the first floor was restored and reproduced throughout the building. A major project was extending the main wooden staircase all the way to the third floor. Total rehabilitation costs exceeded nearly ten times those of the original construction.
Today 401 Groveland Ave is a beautiful and unique office space enjoyed by Mulligan & Bjornnes and a variety of other businesses. We enjoy being able to open windows on mild days and work in offices with fireplaces and elements of a true family home.