Founded on November 17, 2017, on the explicit proposition that legal professionals can be happy and healthy while practicing law — a premise that most law firms do not state as a founding principle — Trautmann Martin Law organized itself around core values of Courage, Compassion, Integrity, and Value from its first day.
Overview
Trautmann Martin Law PLLC is a Minneapolis-based law firm founded by Simon Trautmann Cordova and Graham Martin, both graduates of the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Since its founding in 2017, the firm has grown from a two-partner startup into a multi-attorney practice with offices in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Mankato (Minnesota), and Denver (Colorado). Its practice spans business counseling, estate planning, employment law, real estate, nonprofit law, litigation, tax services, and lobbying and legislative advocacy.
The firm’s client range is correspondingly broad: individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations across the Twin Cities metro area and beyond. That breadth reflects a deliberate choice to serve the legal needs of the communities around it rather than specialize in a single practice area.
Simon Trautmann Cordova served as a Richfield City Council Member from 2018 through 2024 — an elected public office held simultaneously with his law practice, reflecting a civic engagement that goes beyond bar membership and charitable board service. Graham Martin has provided more than 50 hours of pro bono legal services annually since 2014 and chairs the Board of the Nova Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. Those personal commitments by both founding partners signal something about the firm’s orientation toward community that is consistent with its stated founding proposition.
The firm’s estate planning practice includes specialized service to terminally ill and actively dying clients — a deliberate extension of the practice into one of the most humanly demanding intersections of law and medicine.
Practice Areas
Business Law and Counseling. The firm advises businesses on formation (LLCs, corporations, partnerships), contracts, shareholder agreements, commercial and residential leases, loan documentation, and trademark registration. Simon Trautmann Cordova presents regularly for Startup Twin Cities, reflecting particular engagement with early-stage companies and entrepreneurs.
Estate Planning and Probate. The firm handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, as well as probate administration and trust administration. Graham Martin has developed specialized experience serving terminally ill and actively dying clients — a legally and emotionally demanding practice that requires both technical competence and personal capacity to work with clients in the most difficult circumstances of their lives.
Employment and Education Law. Paula Forbes serves as of counsel concentrating on employment and education law. The firm handles employment matters for both employers and employees and education law issues for educational institutions and individuals.
Real Estate. The firm handles commercial and residential real estate transactions, leasing, and related documentation.
Nonprofit Law. The firm advises nonprofit organizations on formation, governance, compliance, contracts, and related matters.
Litigation. Jennifer Moore serves as Senior Associate and Litigation Manager, handling civil litigation and family law matters. Christopher Paul handles bankruptcy, trusts and estates, and civil litigation.
Tax Services. Josiah Lindstrom focuses on business, tax, and transactions. The firm provides tax services alongside its business and estate planning practices.
Lobbying and Legislative Advocacy. The firm offers lobbying and legislative advocacy services — a practice area that reflects Simon Trautmann Cordova’s elected government experience on the Richfield City Council and his engagement with the political process at the local and state level.
Immigration. Salma Ahmadyar and Brenda Pfahnl handle immigration matters and business transactions. Brenda Pfahnl serves as of counsel for immigration law and business transactions.
Attorney Profiles
Simon Trautmann Cordova is a founding partner. He earned his B.A. from North Central University, Magna Cum Laude (2003) and his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law (2008). He served as a Richfield City Council Member from 2018 through 2024. He holds board positions with the Richfield Foundation and the North Central University Alumni Board and presents regularly for Startup Twin Cities. He is admitted to the Minnesota bar (2008) and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota (2010). He is a member of the Hennepin County Bar Association.
Graham Martin is a founding partner and managing attorney. He earned his B.A. in Music and Philosophy from St. Olaf College (2001), his M.A. in Philosophy from Boston University (2004), and his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law (2007). He has provided more than 50 hours of pro bono legal services annually since 2014 and chairs the Board of the Nova Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. He has specialized experience serving terminally ill and actively dying estate planning clients. He is admitted to the Minnesota bar (2007) and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota (2009).
Josiah Lindstrom is a partner and Transactional Manager, focusing on business, tax, and transactional matters. He is admitted to the Minnesota bar.
Jennifer Moore is a Senior Associate and Litigation Manager, focusing on litigation and family law. She is admitted to the Minnesota bar.
Christopher Paul is a Senior Associate focusing on bankruptcy, trusts and estates, and civil litigation. He is admitted to the Minnesota bar.
Paula Forbes serves as Of Counsel concentrating on employment and education law. She is admitted to the Minnesota bar.
Salma Ahmadyar is an Associate focusing on immigration and business law. She is admitted to the Minnesota bar.
Brenda Pfahnl serves as Of Counsel focusing on immigration law and business transactions. She is admitted to the Minnesota bar.
Location and Service Area
Minneapolis: 619 S 10th St, Suite 201, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Phone: (612) 644-3837. Website: https://trautlaw.com/
The firm also maintains offices in St. Paul (370 Wabasha Street North, Suite 857), Mankato, Minnesota, and Denver, Colorado. It serves clients throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area and surrounding regions, with the Denver office extending reach into Colorado.
Consultation details are not specified in publicly available materials.
Client Focus
Trautmann Martin Law serves individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The Startup Twin Cities presentations by Simon Trautmann Cordova reflect particular orientation toward entrepreneurs and new ventures. The estate planning practice’s extension to terminally ill clients reflects a willingness to engage where legal services are most urgently needed and least commonly available.
The lobbying and legislative advocacy practice serves clients who need representation before the Minnesota Legislature or engagement with the regulatory process — a capability that connects directly to Trautmann Cordova’s hands-on government experience.
The immigration practice, through Ahmadyar and Pfahnl, serves individuals and businesses navigating immigration matters, adding a capability that complements the firm’s business law work for companies with international employees or founders.
FAQ
When was the firm founded and why does the founding date matter?
Trautmann Martin Law was founded on November 17, 2017. The firm articulates its founding proposition explicitly: that legal professionals can be happy and healthy while practicing law. This is not typical law firm marketing language — it reflects a deliberate attempt to build a firm culture around the attorneys as well as the clients they serve.
Does the firm have offices outside the Twin Cities?
Yes. The firm operates from Minneapolis, St. Paul, Mankato (Minnesota), and Denver (Colorado). The multi-office structure allows it to serve clients in greater Minnesota and in Colorado.
What is specialized about the estate planning work for terminally ill clients?
Serving clients who are terminally ill or actively dying requires both legal and personal capabilities that general estate planning practice does not always develop. Time-sensitive document execution, capacity assessment, coordination with medical and hospice providers, and the ability to work with clients and families under extreme emotional pressure all demand experience that Graham Martin has developed deliberately over the course of his practice.
Does the firm handle lobbying and legislative work?
Yes. Lobbying and legislative advocacy is a named practice area. Simon Trautmann Cordova’s six-year tenure on the Richfield City Council gives the firm firsthand knowledge of how local government and legislative processes operate.
What pro bono commitment does the firm have?
Graham Martin has provided more than 50 hours of pro bono legal services annually since 2014. That consistent multi-year commitment to free legal services is part of the firm’s documented practice record.
Closing
A firm that launched with a stated philosophy about how attorneys should practice — and that has grown to four offices and eight attorneys in seven years while maintaining civic engagement through an elected council member, a pro bono champion, and a jazz orchestra board chair — demonstrates that its founding proposition was more than a framing exercise.