my case, and getting ready for the upcoming
weekend tournaments. I loved arguing my
position and strategizing with my partner
and teammates. That continued into college
when I became the Mandan High School
debate coach. It was fun to collaborate with
students on the debate topic and assist them
with finding persuasive ways to argue their
positions. There are many parallels between
debate and practicing law.
What type of law do you practice?
I primarily practice commercial litigation,
including contract disputes, shareholder
claims, securities fraud litigation,
construction claims, and trust litigation.
I also defend employers in employment
litigation cases before agencies and in court.
Less frequently, I represent clients in family
law, guardianship, and conservatorship
actions.
New SBAND President
Aubrey Fiebelkorn-Zuger:
Sustaining SBAND for the
next generation of lawyers
Can you tell me about your background
and family? I primarily grew up in
Watertown, S.D. My parents were incredibly
hard workers, sacrificing much to provide their
five children with opportunities and great
experiences. I am the first college graduate in
my family, which would not have been possible
without the support I received from my parents
and siblings.
I am married to Peter Zuger, an attorney at
the Serkland Law Firm. Unlike me, practicing
law runs deep in his family: his father, brother,
uncles, cousins, grandfather, and great-
grandfather have all been attorneys. When
we met in college, Peter was pursuing a social
studies (non-teaching) degree. I was incredulous
and questioned the wisdom of pursuing a
degree which would not immediately translate
into a career. When I asked what he would
do with that degree, he (a senior in college
at the time) responded that he would either
be a bartender on a Caribbean island or go
4
THE GAVEL
to law school. A legal career won out,
and we moved to Grand Forks to attend
the University of North Dakota (UND)
School of Law. We are both so proud of the
education we received there and have enjoyed
staying involved with the law school’s trial
and moot court programs.
What has drawn you to be involved in
SBAND? How have you stayed active
in SBAND? When I graduated law school,
I clerked at the North Dakota Supreme
Court and then the Eighth Circuit Court
of Appeals. The Supreme Court justices
brought each of their law clerks to the Big
Muddy Bar Association meetings, as well as
the State Bar’s annual meeting. The Court
made clear the importance of being involved
in our professional associations and the
benefits that come from being active in one’s
profession. I became involved in the Young
Lawyer’s Section, helping to organize CLEs
and various events. In 2011, I became the
We have three children. Our oldest, Aidan
(11), keeps us busy with basketball games,
golf tournaments, and fishing. Our daughter,
Ellie (9), likes art, theater, gymnastics, and
basketball. Our youngest, Andrew (4), tries
hard to keep up with his older brother and
sister, and his energy, curiosity, and outgoing
personality bring us a great amount of joy.
What inspired you to pursue a career
in law? Watertown High School had (and
has) an amazing debate program. I benefitted
greatly from that program and spent my
afternoons and evenings in the debate
classroom researching arguments, preparing
Fiebelkorn-Zuger and her husband,
Peter Zuger.