Rebecca J. Kanninen
Partner
612-596-4066
rjkanninen@locklaw.com

Practices:
Federal Relations
State Government Relations
Political Law
Government Representation
North Dakota Government Relations
Education:
William Mitchell College of Law, 2011
Bar Admissions:
2013, Minnesota
Court Admissions:
Minnesota
Overview
Rebecca J. Kanninen is a partner at Lockridge Grindal Nauen and leads the firm’s state and federal government relations teams. With more than 20 years of government relations experience at the firm, she is known at the Minnesota State Capitol, and state Capitols throughout the Midwest as a leader and bipartisan political strategist who is well-respected for her thoughtful approach to positively position the firm’s clients for success.
As partner at LGN and Senior Vice President of Primary Strategy Group (PSG) the firm’s Midwest public affairs and lobbying subsidiary, she advises some of the Midwest’s largest corporations and trade associations on reputation management, political profile, government relations services, and public affairs campaigns. Ms. Kanninen manages her practice area’s business development plans and strategies to provide comprehensive services to clients. Her government relations work focuses on the areas of energy, telecommunications, technology, insurance, general business, labor management, and election law, and has translated into many successful policy initiatives on behalf of the firm’s clients. Her legal practice focuses on campaign finance and election law.
Ms. Kanninen’s work in leading the federal relations practice focuses on business development and strategic planning for the firm’s multi-state clients and public sector clients as they engage with members of the Minnesota congressional delegation and beyond to build support for infrastructure, economic development, and housing policy funding initiatives.
Prior to joining LGN in 1999, she gained considerable knowledge of the legislative process and participants working as committee staff in the Minnesota State Senate and the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Ms. Kanninen was named one of the top 50 Women in Business by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal in 2014. She currently serves on the board of directors for the St. Paul-based Neighborhood House, is a trustee on the board of Boys and Girls Club of America – Midwest, and is a long-time member of the Minnesota Government Relations Council and the Public Affairs Council. She is active in supporting the Minnesota’s art community and mentoring young professionals interested in government affairs as part of the William Mitchell College of Law mentor-mentee program.
She received a B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, and was admitted to practice law in Minnesota in 2013.
News
16 LGN Attorneys recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, including two of the state’s Top 100 MN Super Lawyers and three of the Top 50 MN Women Super Lawyers
Lockridge Grindal Nauen is proud to announce that sixteen of the firm’s attorneys were selected as 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers [...]
MANAGING CRISIS AND COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES IN THE ERA OF COVID-19
During this unprecedented time in our country and state, businesses, non-profits, and units of government are experiencing extraordinary challenges [...]
FEDERAL RESERVE ANNOUNCES MUNICIPAL LIQUIDITY FACILITY PROGRAM
On Thursday, April 9, the Federal Reserve took actions to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support [...]
LGN’s Rebecca Kanninen and Emily Tranter speak at Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association ETI Expo
LGN was proud to be a Chief Presenting Sponsor of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association’s Executive Training Institute & [...]
LGN collects more than 200 pounds of food and $3,330 in cash donations for Neighborhood House food drive
LGN partners, attorneys, and staff raised more than $3,000 to support Neighborhood House’s annual food drive this spring. This effort, [...]
Lockridge Grindal Nauen a strong presence at Minnesota Chiefs’ conference
Lockridge Grindal Nauen was a proud sponsor of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association’s (MCPA) Executive Training Institute & Law [...]