Road leads attorney back to Austin

Business savvy Paul Egtvedt has worked with some of Minnesota's top attorneys from Fortune 500 companies and has his own office in the IDS Tower in Minneapolis, but when his entrepreneurial spirit and heart called him back to his hometown, he listened.
Born and raised in Austin, Egtvedt worked for various large law firms in Minneapolis before opening his own law firm there in 2003. He recently decided to leave the big city behind and return to his original home to open a firm on Main Street.
His office, on the top floor of the 111 building, is distinctively Egtvedt-sharp and professional, yet unpretentious.
The graduate of Cornell University said he chose to return to Austin so he could be closer to his family and to marry and settle down with his fiancee, Heather Wittstruck, who teaches at Southgate Elementary School. He also believes his experience working on complex issues for large businesses will be beneficial in a smaller community like Austin.
"There's just a level of familiarity and comfort in dealing with a community this size," said Egtvedt. "I like that you have an identity here. I like that there is a very active and vibrant business community here. You get to feel more like a part of (the clients') families. I'm very excited to be back."
Egtvedt practices in several areas of law, including employment, labor law, business and corporate law, personal injury, criminal defense and land use. He said he most enjoys working on employment issues because he's intrigued by human behavior.
"It's the least technical but the most complicated area because you are dealing so much with people," he said. "You're dealing with their moods, their state of mind and how people view the world and interact. It's just fascinating."
Egtvedt said his work is driven by people's emotions.
"I want to feel it, that they are angry or hurt of defensive or defenseless, and then aside from that, communicate back to them, 'Here is what the law can do for you,'" said Egvedt.
Egvedt said he enjoys being his own boss and called it a "happy happenstance" that his road led back to Austin.
"This is just something I've always wanted to do," said Egtvedt.
Being his own boss also benefits clients, said Egtvedt.
"They know exactly who's doing the work and making the decisions," he said. "They are getting the level of work and treatment they deserve."
Egtvedt recently became a member the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and said he plans to eventually close his Minneapolis office to focus exclusively on his Austin clients.

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