Best Lawyers in America® Honors 6 LGN Attorneys in 2026 Edition

We are pleased to announce that six Lockridge Grindal Nauen attorneys have been included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence.

The LGN 2026 Best Lawyers in America are:

The LGN 2026 Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” in America are:

  • Kristie LaSalle – Antitrust Law, Litigation – Antitrust, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
  • Jacob Lanthier – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Real Estate
Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” in America recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

Learn more by visiting: https://www.bestlawyers.com/

LGN Sponsors MNABA Golf Tournament

Lockridge Grindal Nauen was proud to sponsor the Minnesota Native American Bar Association’s (MNABA) Annual Golf Tournament, held at The Meadows at Mystic Lake. This year’s event raised more than $16,000 to support Native American law students at Minnesota law schools, continuing an important tradition of fostering opportunity and representation in the legal profession.

A special congratulations to LGN Partner Arielle Wagner, who serves as co-chair of the Golf Tournament Committee and played a key role in organizing another successful event. LGN attorneys Dave Zoll and Laura Matson also got out on the course in support of the event. We are honored to support the next generation of Native American lawyers and the important work of MNABA.

MNABA

Heidi Silton Featured Speaker at HarrisMartin MDL Conference

Lockridge Grindal Nauen Partner Heidi Silton joined fellow antitrust expert Deborah Elman as a featured speaker at the HarrisMartin MDL Conference in Boise, Idaho last week.

Together, they led a session providing key insights into recent developments, trends, and strategic considerations shaping the antitrust landscape. The panel was part of a broader program focused on emerging issues in multidistrict litigation, drawing attorneys and legal professionals from across the country.

Congratulations to Heidi for continuing to be recognized as a thought leader in antitrust and complex litigation.

Heidi SIlton

LGN Hosts Labor Late Night

Lockridge Grindal Nauen was pleased to once again host “Labor Late Night” during the 79th Annual Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Convention last week. The event offered an opportunity for members of the labor community to connect, reflect on the past year, and celebrate their shared work and progress.

The evening was organized by members of LGN’s Government Relations team, including Dan Larson, Amos Briggs, and Jess Lindeen, along with LGN partner Karen Hanson Riebel. Thank you as well to our co-hosts Primacy Strategy Group for your partnership. We appreciate the strong turnout and look forward to continued collaboration with our labor partners across the state.

LGN’s Michael J.K.M. Kinane Will Co-Moderate Upcoming COSAL Panel

Please join Lockridge Grindal Nauen associate attorney Michael J.K.M. Kinane who will be co-moderating a panel hosted by the Committee to Support Antitrust Laws (COSAL) that will focus on a key development in class action litigation.

The panel, “Unpacking Federal Rule 16.1: Essentials for Class Action Litigators,” will take place virtually on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. as part of COSAL’s Lunchtime Insights series. It is sponsored by COSAL’s Rules Committee which is chaired by LGN partner Joe Bourne.

Michael will help guide a conversation with seasoned plaintiffs’ lawyers as they break down the key elements of Rule 16.1, explore its potential ripple effects, and share best practices for navigating these changes in the class action landscape.

For more details or to register, visit: https://www.cosal.org/events/cosal-lunchtime-insights-unpacking-federal-rule-161-essentials-for-class-action-litigators

COSAL Panel

Minnesota Monthly Recognizes Ten LGN Attorneys as Top Lawyers in MN

We’re proud to share that ten Lockridge Grindal Nauen attorneys have been named to Minnesota Monthly’s 2025 Top Lawyers list, recognized for their outstanding dedication to justice in the courtroom and in our communities.

Each year, Minnesota Monthly partners with Professional Research Services (PRS) to compile this prestigious list through a peer-nominated survey distributed to all attorneys across the state. Thousands of votes were cast, and inclusion reflects the respect and recognition of fellow legal professionals.

Please join us in congratulating LGN’s honored attorneys!

Antitrust Law

Karen Hanson Riebel

Environmental Law

David J. Zoll

Government Relations Practice

H. Theodore Grindal

Litigation – Antitrust

W. Joseph Bruckner

Brian D. Clark

Heidi M. Silton

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action

Kate M. Baxter-Kauf

Joseph C. Bourne

Yvonne M. Flaherty

Securities Regulation

Richard A. Lockridge

Top Lawyers

LGN Attends TCDIP Summer Alliance

We had a fun evening at Target Field as many from LGN attended the Summer Alliance hosted by Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (TCDIP). The event brought together attorneys, law students, affinity bars, and community partners to celebrate connection, community, and 20+ years of advancing equity in the legal profession.

Twelve LGN Attorneys Honored as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 

Lockridge Grindal Nauen is proud to announce that twelve of the firm’s attorneys were selected as 2025 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars honorees.

Kate Baxter-Kauf, Joe Bourne, Joe Bruckner, Brian Clark, Gregg Fishbein, Karen Hanson Riebel, Heidi Silton, and Dave Zoll have been named Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers recognizes the top 5% of outstanding lawyers in each state, who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, from more than 70 practice areas.

David Hahn, Rachel Kitze Collins, Arielle Wagner, and Derek Waller have been named Rising Stars. The Rising Stars recognition is given to the top 2.5% of up-and-coming attorneys in the state who are either 40 years or younger or have been practicing for 10 years or less.

The multi-phased selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations to select the exclusive honorees. Congratulations to all the honorees!

LGN Hosts Next Generation Happy Hour

We recently hosted our third successful Next Generation Happy Hour. Organized by LGN associate attorneys, this ongoing event series brings together the next generation of lawyers, law clerks, law students, and legal professionals from across the Twin Cities for a relaxed, stress-free evening of networking and community building.

We’re proud to support the upcoming legal community and to help foster meaningful connections that will shape the future. Thank you to everyone who joined us. If you would like to join the Next Generation event mailing list, please send your name to marketing@locklaw.com.

LGN and ACLU Gain Victory in St. Francis Book Ban Lawsuit

We are pleased to announce that Lockridge Grindal Nauen, serving as pro bono counsel with the ACLU of Minnesota, secured a victory in the St. Francis book-ban case.

Back in March, ACLU-MN and LGN sued the St. Francis Area School District on behalf of families fighting an unconstitutional policy that barred librarians and educators from selecting books and instead relied solely on a far‑right website, “Book Looks,” to ban books rated “3” or higher.

That policy required the removal of at least 46 books, including The Kite Runner, The Bluest Eye, and The Handmaid’s Tale.

On June 10, 2025, the school district agreed to a settlement that:

  • Returned all banned books to libraries and classrooms
  • Scrapped the “Book Looks”based policy
  • Adopted the Minnesota School Boards Association’s model review policy
  • Made it a three-year commitment
  • Instituted transparency procedures before any future removals

This legal victory safeguards students’ rights to diverse literature and reinforces the principle that book bans cannot be based on politics or viewpoint. Read more here: https://www.aclu-mn.org/en/news/stfrancis-books

Book Ban Lawsuit