MINNEAPOLIS, MN  (November 4, 2008) – The law firm of Gray Plant Mooty is pleased to announce that five associates—Sitso Bediako, Catherine M. Bitzan, Jennifer R. Coates, Sandi L. De Boom and Jessica B. Johnson—have joined its Minneapolis office.

Sitso Bediako joins GPM as a member of the firm’s Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School, where he was the recipient of a Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL) Foundation Scholarship, and his B.A. in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University. Prior to joining GPM, Bediako completed a judicial externship with the Honorable Michael J. Davis, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota.

Catherine (Catie) Bitzan joins the firm as a member of its Health and Nonprofit Organizations group. She provides advice to a wide range of nonprofit organizations regarding formation, tax exemption issues, and general business matters. Catie also assists health care providers with various corporate and regulatory matters. She earned her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and completed coursework in international law at Uppsala University in Sweden. She earned her B.A. in Entrepreneurship, summa cum laude, from the University of St. Thomas and completed coursework in international economics, comparative politics, history and business law at the University of London, London School of Economics. 

Jennifer Coates joins GPM as a member of the firm’s Litigation practice group. Prior to joining GPM, Jennifer was an account executive at one of the world’s largest marketing agencies—Leo Burnett—where she helped launch the “Army of One” campaign. She received her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, her M.A. in American Civilization from Brown University and her B.A., cum laude, in Sociology and English from Amherst College.

Sandi De Boom joins the firm as a member of its Corporate & Business practice group, practicing in the areas of Entrepreneurial Services, M&A and Securities. Sandi holds a CPA certificate with the State of Minnesota and, prior to joining Gray Plant Mooty, worked as a Certified Public Accountant for over eight years. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law and her B.A., cum laude, in Business Administration-Accounting from Concordia College. 

Jessica Johnson joins GPM as a member of its Trust, Estate & Charitable Planning practice group. Jessica served as a law clerk at GPM during the summer of 2007 and, prior to law school, she worked as a financial planning specialist at a local wealth management firm. Jessica earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School and was the managing editor of the Minnesota Law Review. She earned her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota.