2024 LGN Summer Associate Program

Lockridge Grindal Nauen is dedicated to the advancement of law students and we had the pleasure of welcoming three outstanding law clerks to our firm this summer. Emily Bingham, Jems Guirguis, and Lydia Peterson have worked closely with LGN attorneys over the past few months on several LGN cases. Their talents have shown brightly, and we have no doubt they will all have impressive law careers. We wish them nothing but success as they continue their legal journeys.

LGN Summer Associate Program

You can read more about each of these exceptional students and the LGN summer associate program by clicking below.

Jennifer Jacobs Featured Speaker at Employment Law Institute

LGN Associate, Jennifer L. M. Jacobs, presented a live seminar webcast at the recent 2024 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute. The presentation was titled: “Pay Equity Lawsuits and Emerging Trends – Essentials for Litigators and Advisors.” Along with her co-presenter, David E. Schlesinger from Nichols Kaster PLLP, they discussed updates on important developments in pay equity law – including state law trends across the country, federal law updates, and significant recent court rulings in the cutting-edge area.

Jennifer L. M. Jacobs

Baxter-Kauf, Teti, and LaSalle Featured Speakers at MDL Conference Hosted By HarrisMartin

LGN attorneys Kate M. Baxter-Kauf, Steve J. Teti, and Kristie A. LaSalle were featured speakers at the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Conference hosted by HarrisMartin this week. The event was held at the Westin Portland Harborview in Portland, Maine.

The conference is a premier event that gathers legal experts to discuss the latest developments in multidistrict litigation. As leaders in their field, Kate, Steve, and Kristie brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to their panels.

Baxter-Kauf Teti LaSalle

Kate and Steve were on a panel titled “Increase in Fraudulent Claims in Class Action and Mass Tort” along with Cameron Azari from Epiq. The panel was moderated by Lauren McGeever from Epiq. Kristie was on a panel titled “MultiPlan Health Insurance Provider Litigation – MDL 3121” along with Warren T. Burns from Burns Charest and Michael Srodoski from Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP.

LGN Attends TCDIP and WILD Summer Alliance Event

The annual summer alliance celebration hosted by Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (TCDIP) and Wanton Injustice Legal Detail (WILD) drew a homerun turnout last week. This celebration is open to the entire legal community in the Twin Cities each year and brings together TCDIP 1L Clerks, law students, summer associates, attorneys, members of the judiciary, and everyone dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This year, the event was held at CHS Field and included baseball-themed networking opportunities. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet affinity bar leaders and learn about their work within our legal community.

TCDIP

In attendance from LGN were Kate Baxter-Kauf, Toni Konkoly, and Steve Owen (pictured) along with summer law clerk Jems Guirguis. LGN attorneys actively support TCDIP throughout the year, including Arielle Wagner, who sits on the Board of Directors as the Assistant Treasurer, and Steve Owen who is LGN’s Emerging Leaders Group (ELG) Representative.

You can learn more about TCDIP and its upcoming events by clicking below.

LGN Hosts Labor Late Night at Minnesota Building Trades Convention

LGN was excited to host the “Labor Late Night” networking event at the 78th Annual Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Convention last week. It was a night of celebration as the labor community came together to connect and reflect on the past year.

Members of the LGN Government Relations team including Dan Larson, Amos Briggs, and Jess Lindeen along with LGN Partner Karen Hanson Riebel organized and executed the successful evening. Labor Late Night was co-hosted by Primacy Strategy Group and featured live music by Papa Roof and the Soul Villains.

LGN Team Appointed to Leadership in Two National Antitrust Litigations

The LGN team led by Heidi Silton has been named to leadership positions in two national antitrust litigations. Working with Heidi on both cases are Jessica N. Servais and Joe Bourne. Their combined contributions achieved leadership appointments that underscore the dedication and diligent work LGN’s antitrust team continually exhibits. You can read more about each of these cases below.

Antitrust

The LGN team was named interim Co-Lead Counsel for the indirect purchaser plaintiffs in the Concrete and Cement Additives Antitrust Litigation in the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs allege that the world’s largest manufacturers of concrete and cement additives conspired to fix prices, causing them to pay too much for the defendants’ concrete and cement additives. International government enforcers, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission, are also investigating the industry.

In addition, Heidi was named to the interim Direct Purchaser Plaintiff Steering Committee in the Passenger Vehicle Replacement Tires Antitrust Litigation in the Northern District of Ohio, a case in which Jessica and Joe are both actively involved. The plaintiffs allege that the world’s largest tire manufacturers conspired to fix the prices of replacement tires for passenger vehicles. International government enforcers, including the European Commission, are also investigating the industry.

13 LGN Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Honorees

Lockridge Grindal Nauen is proud to announce that thirteen of the firm’s attorneys were selected as 2024 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars honorees.

Super Lawyers

Kate Baxter-Kauf, Joe Bourne, Joe Bruckner, Brian Clark, Gregg Fishbein, Yvonne Flaherty, Rebecca Peterson, Karen Hanson Riebel, Rob Shelquist, 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.

Rachel Kitze Collins and Arielle Wagner 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.

LGN Sponsors 2nd Annual WithAll ForeAll Golf Tournament

LGN was proud to sponsor the 2nd Annual WithAll ForeAll Golf Tournament last month at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. All proceeds from the fundraiser went directly to WithAll to support their mission of creating a cultural shift focusing on health and well-being instead of weight and appearance so all can feel good in their bodies and at peace with food. The money raised will help the organization provide resources and education to parents, teachers, coaches, and health providers along with recovery support grants to those in treatment for an eating disorder.

WithAll ForeAll Golf Tournament
Photo Credit: David Paul Schmidt 

We are honored to be a partner in this important work. LGN associate Derek Waller was recently elected to serve as WithAll’s board chair and he attended the event with colleagues from LGN’s health law practice, including David Asp, Jennifer Jacobs, and David Hahn.

Wagner Featured Speaker at FBA Federal Practice Seminar

LGN Associate Arielle Wagner was a featured speaker on a panel titled “Parting Waters and Changing Tides: Caselaw Updates in Water Law for the Federal Practitioner” for the 2024 FBA Federal Practice Seminar. The panel also featured Jeremy Greenhouse. She gave a caselaw update on recent Supreme Court opinions that overlap in Water Law and Federal Indian Law.

You can see a copy of the presentation by visiting Arielle’s bio by clicking HERE.

Federal Indian Law and Water Law

Rebecca Peterson Named to Food Law Advisory Board at Mitchell Hamline Law School

LGN partner Rebecca Peterson recently joined the Food Law Advisory Board at Mitchell Hamline Law School. This prestigious board is an assembly of lawyers and business professionals who volunteer their time to the Health Law Institute to help support and expand the mission of the Food Law Center. The Board gives recommendations, feedback, information, and provides valuable materials to help create new courses, events for current students and lawyers interested in food law, and much more.

Food Law Rebecca Peterson

Rebecca will no doubt be a valued member of the board with her extensive experience and focus on consumer protection, product liability, and food regulation cases and accompanying regulatory issues. She also has acted as lead counsel for several impactful cases on behalf of consumers in both state and federal courts.

The Mitchell Hamline Food Law Center fosters and promotes the awareness, discussion, and study of food law and regulation as it relates to the production, manufacture, and consumption of food. It trains lawyers and other legal specialists in food law and provides a forum for the discussion of food law-related public policy issues.

You can learn more about the Food Law Center by clicking below.