Bassford Remele is pleased to announce that Nicholas Prola, Andrew James, Beth LaCanne and Jessica Kometz have been elected shareholders.

Nicholas Prola is an experienced litigator who focuses his practice on consumer finance defense. He is dedicated to defending financial entities, law firms, healthcare providers, and other organizations against consumer financial protection claims. Nicholas also advises organizations on privacy and data security issues and defends related regulatory and class action claims.

Nicholas acts as outside general counsel to entities in the ARM space, providing guidance on compliance with state and federal regulations, policies and procedures, contracting, vendor management, employment issues, and litigation. He is also involved in advocating for the ARM industry at the state legislature, drafting many of the more recent legislation passed in Colorado under Colorado’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Nicholas recently served as a board member for the ACA of Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico’s Executive Committee. He is licensed in Colorado and Illinois.

Andrew James is an accomplished trial lawyer and litigator who has won cases big and small from coast to coast. Drew harnesses substantial courtroom and litigation experience, as well as experience as in-house counsel, to resolve his clients’ thorniest issues. He also proactively advises clients to avoid disputes altogether.

Drew passionately represents his clients in all varieties of civil and business litigation, employment (both litigation and advice and counsel), education, and civil rights matters in federal and state courts nationwide. Drew’s clients include individuals, non-profit organizations, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. Drew has tried and won cases to juries and judges, and his knack for identifying winning issues has resulted in many conclusive victories via motion practice without need for trial.

Beth LaCanne is a skilled litigator with a strong focus on labor and employment law and professional liability. She represents employers and professionals in complex litigation and provides strategic counsel on a wide range of workplace and licensure issues.

Beth regularly defends employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage theft, drug-and-alcohol testing, and wage-and-hour violations brought under local, state, and federal laws. She also represents businesses in matters involving public accommodation discrimination, helping clients address allegations related to access and services. In addition, Beth counsels businesses on day-to-day employment matters, including accommodation requests, employee discipline, employee handbooks, and terminations, helping clients navigate sensitive workplace challenges while minimizing legal risk.

Beth is actively involved in the legal community. She serves as the Vice-President of the Hennepin County Bar Foundation Board of Directors and is an appointed member of the Commission on Judicial Selection for Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District.

Jessica Kometz is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on all matters relating to trust, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and the like. Jessica routinely works with beneficiaries, trustees, personal representatives, family members with elderly loved ones, and other fiduciaries to resolve intra-family conflicts, to take action to protect their loved ones, and to ensure that their interests are protected. Additionally, Jessica assists both individual and corporate fiduciaries with the administration of trusts and estates.

Jessica also focuses her practice on commercial and real estate litigation. Jessica has significant experience in representing both commercial and residential landlords in eviction court and routinely advises landlords on day-to-day issues relating to various types of tenancies. Jessica also assists landlords in recovering unpaid rent and damages for breach of contract. Jessica’s experience is not limited, however, to the real estate industry. Jessica has experience representing individuals and companies in deceptive trade practices litigation, general business disputes, defamation actions, etc.

Bassford Remele proudly serves as local and national counsel for many major corporations and Fortune 500 Companies and is a go-to litigation firm representing local, national, and international clients in state and federal courts across the region. The firm provides comprehensive counsel and representation in litigation and dispute resolution, family law, and corporate matters, ensuring prompt and effective service for its clients.

Established in 1882, Bassford Remele is proud to be the oldest top-25 law firm based in Minnesota.

Bassford Remele | January 1, 2026