Attorney Biographies
Kris L. Maser
Kris L. Maser, shareholder and Elder Law Department chair for Maser, Amundson & Price, P.A. is a caretaker by nature. “I’ve been taking care of people since I was 16,” she says, adding that she helped her father through a 28 year battle with Parkinson’s disease and also assists her elderly mother in living as independently as possible.
She says it’s her caretaking trait that propelled her to work in elder law. “I started out as a teacher, but this was just a pull,” Maser says. Since co-founding the firm in 1984, she has served as a dedicated advocate for the elderly and their families, through assisting in estate planning, medical assistance planning, planning for incapacity, conservatorship and guardianship issues, and related issues pertaining to wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives.
Her dedication to clients and vigorous representation of their rights, has earned her prominent recognition. Maser has been named in statewide surveys to the Minnesota Super Lawyers list and ranked as one of the top Minnesota Women Super Lawyers by Minnesota Law and Politics and Mpls.St. Paul Magazine.
After decades of service to families, Maser says that her resolve for her work was strengthened even more when she was diagnosed with cancer. “The cancer made me realize that you can’t go through a long-term illness alone,” she says, adding that this perspective permeates her work on the job. “Nobody stands alone.”
To Maser, being connected to her clients in such a supportive way is the best part of her job. “The second best part is turning the terror into something that can be useful,” she says. In one touching case, Maser recalled that she helped a couple with their end of life planning and 17 years later, after they had passed away, the couple’s family members flew in town to thank her. “I’m not just an attorney to them,” she says.
Despite a switch to the legal profession, Maser has stayed connected to her roots in education. She has served as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law, Inver Hills Community College, North Memorial Medical Center, The North Women’s Center, and other community schools. She also participated in several continuing education seminars for attorneys, social workers, families, and others.
Maser, who is fluent in German, is also a frequent lecturer, both locally and nationally, on a variety of elder law matters. She co-authored of Minnesota Conservatorship Standards, adopted by the Minnesota Association of Guardianship and Conservatorship and in 1996, she received the Mary Alice Gooderl Award for outstanding service and active development of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s (MSBA’s) Elder Law Section.
Maser received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1982 and her undergraduate degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1976. She belongs to the state, county, and national bar associations, as well as the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Maser is also involved with a number of charitable and community organizations connected to guardianship and supporting those with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
In 2008, the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts recognized Maser as an Alumna of Notable Achievement. The college recognition saluted Maser as an early champion of elder law, who has “increased awareness of the issues surrounding legal services for the elderly” and is “widely admired for outstanding service to the community.”
When she’s not working, Maser is an avid skier and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, two dogs, and one cat.
Luther M. Amundson
Luther M. Amundson, managing shareholder of Maser, Amundson & Price, P.A., leads the firm’s Litigation Department. He is known in the legal community for his vigorous pursuit of his clients’ legal rights and his tenacious quest for fair compensation for those he represents.
A successful litigator, Amundson concentrates his practice in areas of elder law, including will contests, trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, wrongful death, probate law, and insurance issues.
Since 1995, Amundson has been named in statewide surveys to the Minnesota Super Lawyers list in Minnesota Law & Politics and Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.
Amundson says that he’s passionate about his work for the “older generation,” because of his inspiring clients. “One thing that makes me want to do this work is that their experiences are incredible,” he says, adding that he’s developed bonds with clients who bravely survived World War II and the Great Depression of the 1930s. “I love this generation,” he says.
But Amundson has also formed important connections with other clients as well, such as baby boomers trying to help their parents make care decisions and survivors of the Minneapolis I-35W bridge collapse in 2007. Amundson says that it’s gratifying to make a difference in peoples’ lives.
Amundson is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the Minnesota Association for Justice (MAJ), and the State and County Bar Associations. He served on the MAJ Board of Governors from 1996 to 2006.
A 1982 graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, Amundson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. He is licensed to practice in Minnesota State Court, Federal District Court, and is a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of practice.
When he’s not at work, Amundson enjoys spending time camping and hiking with his family, and loves photographing and spending time with his two sons. For 8 years, Luther has been a driving force behind the annual Parkinson Association of Minnesota golf tournament, which is the sole fundraiser for the Respite Care Grant Program.
Mary Frances M. Price
Mary Frances M. Price is a shareholder with Maser, Amundson & Price, P.A., helping to lead the firm’s Elder Law Department. She helps families make difficult decisions and work through complicated financial, legal, and medical issues that arise when a family member is in a time of transition or when families are planning for the future.
Price has said that she chose a career in elder law because helping people inspires her and the work allows her to make a real difference in peoples’ lives. “I wanted to do something where I was going to have a lasting impact,” she says. Price works with families and individuals on a variety of different elder law issues, including planning for incapacity and disability, Medicaid planning, asset preservation, estate planning, and two new niche areas—veterans’ benefits and Life Care Planning.
While she has said that she always knew she’d be happy in a helping profession, Price knows that her drive to focus on elder law was driven by a personal connection. “I have seen family deal with memory loss, aging issues, and dealing with the elder law maze,” she said, adding that some of the complex legal processes can leave people frustrated. “I want to empower people.”
Prior to joining the firm, Price was in private practice and served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Judge Diane M. Hanson in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Before attending law school, she also worked as a sales engineer for several large corporations for eight years.
Price is an accredited attorney for veterans’ benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs and is a representative member of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association (LCPLFA). She is a board member and Committee Chairperson for Marketing and Outreach for LCPLFA, as well as an Advisory Board member for Business & Estate Advisers, and the Advisory Board of Ethics for North Ridge Masonic Homes. Price is also a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, the Cooperative Practice Network of Minnesota, Inc. and the Minneapolis Woman’s Club.
Price is a frequent speaker on an array of elder law issues, such as estate planning, asset protection, medical assistance planning, and veterans’ benefits. She has been a guest presenter for Mt. Olivet Day Services, University of MN Caregiver Conference, North Memorial Hospice and Home Health Care, Brookdale Senior Living Communities, Minnesota Veteran’s Home Family Council, Dakota County, Cargill, Best Buy, Park Nicollet, 7500 York Cooperative in Edina and others.
A graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, Price received her undergraduate degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section and is licensed to practice in Minnesota State Court.
When not at work, Price enjoys running and spending time with her family, which includes her husband, two daughters, and two dogs.
Allison J. Frasier
Allison J. Frasier is an associate attorney in Maser, Amundson & Price, P.A.’s Elder Law Department, and first joined the team in 2006 as a law clerk. She practices and counsels clients in the areas of elder law issues, such as Medicaid planning, veterans’ benefits, estate planning, asset preservation, planning for incapacity, guardianships and conservatorships, as well as probate matters.
Frasier received her law degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology, from Carleton College. She spent a semester of law school helping to provide legal services to seniors as a member of the Elder Law Practice Group, a section of the Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services at the University of St. Thomas. This experience ultimately led her to pursue a career in elder law.
Frasier enjoys being able to counsel clients through what can be very complicated and emotional issues. Through the experience in her own life of helping to care for a disabled family member, she can relate to many issues that her clients face on a personal level.
Frasier is an accredited attorney for veterans’ benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is also a member of the Minnesota Bar Association’s Elder Law Section, and of the Minnesota Association for Guardianship and Conservatorship (MAGiC). She is licensed to practice in Minnesota State Court and is a frequent speaker on elder law issues.
In her free time, Frasier is a busy mom of two children and enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, two cats and one dog. When not immersed in mom duties, she enjoys gardening and photography.
Joy E. S. Gullikson
Joy E. S. Gullikson is an associate attorney in Maser, Amundson & Price, P.A.’s Elder Law Department. She practices in the areas of elder law, probate, and estate planning, with an emphasis on medical assistance planning, trusts and family LLCs. Before joining Maser, Amundson & Price P.A., Gullikson worked in private practice. Prior to that, she was corporate counsel and director of external relations at a regional technology firm. Gullikson has also held various positions with the State of Minnesota and was a small business owner.
Gullikson made the career shift from corporate to elder law after caring for her father who had vascular dementia. “Having experienced the joys and frustrations of caring for someone with dementia, I have some understanding of the emotions and challenges that family members are facing.” Gullikson feels honored to be of service to families who are working through issues associated with the care of a loved one.
Gullikson received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. She received her M.B.A. from the University of Saint Thomas and her undergraduate degree from Acadia University in Nova Scotia.
Gullikson is licensed to practice in Minnesota State Court and is a member of the Minnesota Bar Association’s Elder Law section. Gullikson serves on the boards of the Richfield Rotary Club and Threads Dance Project.
When not at work, Gullikson enjoys camping with her husband and teaching Scottish country dance. Her students perform regularly at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and her productions can be seen as part of the Minneapolis Fringe Festival.
Susan A. King
Susan (Susie) King, an associate at Maser, Amundson & Price, P.A. is in the Elder Law and Litigation Departments, assisting in guardianship/ conservatorship (both contested and non-contested), probate and estate litigation, and estate planning.
King says that her family—many of whom are lawyers— inspired her to explore a career in the legal profession and led her to a love of advocating for the vulnerable. “My father is a civil rights attorney and I grew up watching him fight for the underdog,” she says.
Providing legal assistance and making a personal connection to clients, King says, is the most rewarding part of her job. “You’re able to give clients hope and optimism in sometimes a dark situation,” she says.
King joined Maser, Amundson & Price P.A. in August 2009 as a law clerk. Prior to that, she also served as a law clerk at the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis and Parsinen Kaplan Rosberg + Gotleib (now Barnes & Thornburg LLP). In addition, King worked as a Street Law Volunteer for the Minnesota Justice Foundation, where she received the Foundation’s Achievement in Volunteer Public Service Award in 2009.
King received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in May 2009, graduating cum laude. As a law student, she competed in local and regional trial competitions, winning first place at the William Mitchell College of Law Trial Competition in 2009. King received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas. In her free time, King enjoys baking, watching the Kansas Jayhawks, and spending time with her husband and dog.
Isaac Tyroler
Maser, Amundson & Price, P.A. associate attorney Isaac Tyroler works in the Litigation Department, assisting in guardianship/conservatorship, will contests, trust administration claims, and significant personal injury claims.
Tyroler says he was drawn to a legal career because it enables him to help others. “There is nothing more important than providing a voice for those who aren’t typically spoken for,” said Tyroler. “As a judicial clerk, I saw the difficulties of navigating the legal system, especially for those unfamiliar with it. Making that process easier, especially for vulnerable adults, is paramount.”
Tyroler joined Maser, Amundson & Price P.A. as an associate attorney in the summer of 2011. Previously, he worked as a Judicial Law Clerk in Douglas County, MN and as a special assistant county attorney in the Chisago County Attorney’s Office.
Tyroler is a member of the Minnesota Bar Association. He received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, graduating cum laude in 2009. As a law student, he competed in local and regional moot court competitions, winning “Best Brief ” at the Rosalie Wahl Moot Court Competition in 2008. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Hamline University.
When not at the office, Tyroler enjoys playing basketball and volleyball, spending time with great friends, and attempting to beat his best Rubik’s cube time.
Joyce M. Konczyk
Joyce M. Konczyk, LSW, joined Maser, Amundson & Price P.A. in 2009. As their Life Care Coordinator, Joyce assists families in navigating the elder care maze. “Empowering elders and their loved ones to become more effective advocates is very gratifying.” Another concern dear to Joyce is the issue of legacy. “There is so much more than the estate and the money that we give and receive from generation to generation” that we need to have these important conversations with our families. Encouraging these conversations with loved ones about values and traditions is an important part of any future care plan for elders.
Joyce has been a passionate advocate and resource specialist for elders and their families for over 27 years. She spent 20 years as a social worker/case manager on on the in-patient geriatric psychiatry unit at Fairview Hospital, now University of MN Hospital at Fairview. She then opened a private geriatric care management practice, from which the firm recruited her.
Joyce’s committee work includes 5 years on the Steering Committee for the Memory Care Professionals, “sharing ideas, resource information and best practices since 2004. She has also served on the Joint Public Policy Committee for Minneapolis and St. Paul Area Senior Workers, the Eden Prairie Professionals in Aging Media Committee, the 34th and 35th Annual Fall Aging Conference Program Committee and the 2010 LCPLFA Annual Conference Program Committee.
When Joyce isn’t at work she can be found hiding out at home, knitting, baking, reading, gardening and communing with her adorable husband and cat.
To make an appointment or request more information, call: 952-925-4147.
Maser, Amundson & Price P.A. • 6601 Lyndale Avenue South • Suite 320 • Minneapolis, MN 55423