Attorney Intel is pleased to announce The Top 25 Attorneys of Minnesota for 2024. According to a 2023 CNBC study, Minnesota was ranked as one of the top five states in the country for business. Minnesota’s thriving corporate climate is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Target, 3M, Best Buy, and General Mills. As the state continues to attract notable enterprises seeking stability and growth, the need for trusted legal counsel has become paramount. Additionally, Minnesota’s prominent healthcare sector, led by the renowned Mayo Clinic, only emphasizes the critical role of legal professionals in the state. These attorneys excel at navigating legal regulations across sectors including insurance, technology, manufacturing, finance, and others.
Among this year’s awardees, we have Jim Goniea, General Counsel of Self Esteem Brands, parent company to Anytime Fitness, Waxing the City, The Bar Method, Basecamp Fitness, and Stronger U, who has decades of experience representing the most prominent brands in franchising. Next up, we recognize Angela Miles, Attorney of Progressive Insurance, which recently became the largest motor insurance carrier in the U.S. Lastly, we have Brandon Vaughn, Partner at Robins Kaplan, who is known for his skilled representation in high-profile personal injury and medical malpractice cases, as well as his advocacy for diversity in the legal profession.
Narrowing down this year’s selection was no easy task given the large number of accomplished attorneys in Minnesota. Each candidate possesses a wealth of experience and is dedicated to serving their clients and community with integrity. Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of The Top 25 Attorneys of Minnesota for 2024.
1. Amanda Kottke
Partner, Baker McKenzie
Amanda Kottke is a Partner at Baker McKenzie. She first joined the company in 2010 as an associate attorney. Baker McKenzie brings insight and deep experience to clients across more than 70 global offices. Its team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 lawyers and tax professionals, works alongside its clients to drive sustainable growth.
Kottke advises domestic and international enterprises from a wide range of industries on U.S. federal income tax issues, focusing on resolving complex tax disputes and international tax controversies. She writes and speaks frequently on international tax topics and has experience representing companies with a particular focus on the technology, software, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods sectors.
Kottke earned a J.D. in taxation from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), and an undergraduate degree in international studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2. Francois Ecclesiaste
Partner, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith
Francois Ecclesiaste is a Partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, a U.S. law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1979, the firm is a national, general practice law firm with 1,552 attorneys operating out of 55 offices in 32 states and Washington, DC.
Ecclesiaste represents clients in high-stakes intellectual property and business litigation matters, including cases involving patent, trademark, copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, antitrust, and breach of contract issues. He maintains a diverse client base including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, start-up companies, and individual inventors.
Earlier in his career, Ecclesiaste worked with Robins Kaplan LLP as an associate. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School with a J.D. and from Florida State University with an undergraduate degree in chemistry and biology.
3. Nancy Evert
General Counsel, HealthPartners
Nancy Evert is the General Counsel of HealthPartners, an integrated healthcare organization providing healthcare services and health plan financing and administration. The company was founded in 1957 as a cooperative and is the largest consumer-governed nonprofit healthcare organization in the nation serving more than 1.8 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide.
Evert joined the HealthPartners law department in 2005. She was the deputy general counsel of Care Group before becoming general counsel in 2019. She currently oversees the company’s law, risk, and sustainability activities. Evert started her legal practice in Washington D.C. where she worked for five years before returning to Minnesota to join the Allina Law Department. She came to HealthPartners from Dorsey & Whitney, LLP.
Before becoming a lawyer, Evert worked in New York City, leading a team of young adults in an AmeriCorps precursor program and serving as the planner in a community health center. Evert graduated from Columbia Law School with a J.D. of Law and from St. Olaf College with an undergraduate degree.
4. Angela Miles
Attorney, Progressive Insurance
Angela Miles is an Attorney of Progressive Insurance, an American insurance company. In late 2022, Progressive became the largest motor insurance carrier in the U.S. The company insures passenger vehicles, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, boats, PWC, and commercial vehicles. It also provides home, life, pet, and other insurance through select companies.
Previously, Miles was a senior associate attorney at Joel H. Schwartz, P.C., and before that an associate attorney at Mulvey & Sneider, PC. Earlier in her career, she worked with Joel H. Schwartz, PC as an associate attorney. Miles earned a J.D. in law from Northeastern School of Law and an undergraduate degree in political science, history, and legal studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
5. Kerry Jung
General Counsel, Workplace Division, Transamerica
Kerry Jung is the General Counsel, Workplace Division of Transamerica, an American holding company for various life insurance companies and investment firms operating primarily in the United States. The company offers life and supplemental health insurance, investments, and retirement services.
Jung leads a geographically dispersed team of attorneys and paraprofessionals and manages a seven-figure budget. Before joining Transamerica, Jung was a vice president for assistant general counsel and corporate secretary at National Life Group, and before that a lead attorney at CUNA Mutual Group. Earlier in her career, she worked with Rude Ware LLSC as an associate. Jung graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School with a J.D. and from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with an undergraduate degree in economics.
6. Phil Martin
Partner, Fox Rothschild
Phil Martin is a Partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, an American law firm founded in Philadelphia in 1907 by Edwin Fox and Jerome J. Rothschild. In 2016, Fox Rothschild merged with the Minneapolis law firm Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly.
Martin is an accomplished attorney and CPA with over 25 years of legal and business experience. He started his career in 1993 as a senior financial analyst at MoneyGram International. From there, he went on to Fiserv Health, before eventually rising to director at Innovative Blood Resources, his most recent position prior to joining Fox Rothschild. Martin graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law with a J.D. and from the University of Notre Dame with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
7. David Yung
Partner, Barnes & Thornburg
David Yung is a Partner at Barnes & Thornburg, a national, full-service law firm representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to entrepreneurial growth companies. It provides services in more than 50 areas, including litigation, labor and employment, global services, healthcare, environmental, business, real estate, and more.
Yung concentrates his practice on a wide range of transactions involving the acquisition, development, financing, construction, leasing, management, and sale of real estate. He represents clients who develop and own retail, office, industrial, and single- and multi-family residential real estate.
Previously, Yung was a vice president and general counsel at Tollefson Development, Inc., and before that a secretary and associate general counsel at CSM Corporation. Earlier in his career, he worked with Mackall Crounse & Moore PLC as an associate attorney. Yung earned a J.D. in law and an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Iowa.
8. Briar Andresen
General Counsel, North Memorial Health
Briar Andresen is the General Counsel of North Memorial Health, a system of 25 specialty and primary care clinics, urgent and emergency care offerings, medical transportation services, and two hospitals.
Andresen has 27 years of experience, beginning her career in 1997. Before joining North Memorial Health, Andresen was an attorney at Fredrikson & Byron. Andrese graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School with a J.D. and from Drake University with an undergraduate degree in English and political science.
9. Stephanie Sarantopoulos
Attorney, Littler
Stephanie Sarantopoulos is the Program Director of the Littler onDemand Program. Littler is an employment and labor law practice representing management in all aspects of employment and labor law. Its onDemand platform provides fast and affordable advice and counsel related to everyday workplace issues. Littler has been litigating, mediating, and negotiating some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts for over 80 years.
Sarantopoulos focuses on the program’s goals and initiatives by providing oversight for the advice and counsel work managed on the Littler onDemand platform. She ensures successful client implementation and client relations, as well as hiring, training, and supervising the team.
Before joining the Littler onDemand team, Sarantopoulos represented clients in employment litigation and provided advice and counsel on all aspects of employment and human resource matters. She received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Providence College.
10. Jennell Shannon
Attorney, Jackson Lewis
Jennell Shannon is the Attorney of Jackson Lewis, a national firm focused on labor and employment law. The firm helps employers develop proactive strategies, strong policies, and business-oriented solutions to cultivate high-functioning workforces.
In her current role, Shannon represents clients from Fortune 500 companies and professional sports teams to small businesses and start-ups, working collaboratively with companies to address and solve personnel and employment concerns. She provides advice and counsel regarding employment matters, including employee handbooks and policies, employment contracts and agreements, and business organization and operations matters.
Shannon first got her start in 2012 as a proposal coordinator and executive assistant at RCLCO. From there, she went on to the City of Minneapolis Attorney's Office, before eventually rising to attorney at law at Ballard Spahr LLP, her most recent position prior to joining Jackson Lewis. Shannon graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School with a J.D. in law and from the University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in political science and government.
11. Brandon Vaughn
Partner, Robins Kaplan
Brandon Vaughn is Partner at Robins Kaplan LLP, a national law firm known for its trial litigation practice, particularly in the intellectual property, complex business litigation, and mass tort arenas. Vaughn is known for both his skilled representation in high-profile personal injury and medical malpractice cases, as well as his leadership and advocacy for diversity in the law profession.
Vaughn served as the president of the Hennepin County Bar Association from 2020-2021, which is the second-largest bar association in the State of Minnesota. He also served as the chair of Robin Kaplan’s recruiting/hiring committee and was co-chair of the firm’s diversity committee from 2017-2019. Vaughn graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School with a J.D. and from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with an undergraduate degree in English and political science.
12. Kirsten Schubert
Partner, Dorsey & Whitney
Kirsten Schubert is a Partner in the Trial Group of the Minneapolis office at Dorsey & Whitney, an American law firm with over 500 lawyers located in 21 offices in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The firm's headquarters is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it was founded.
Schubert represents a broad array of corporate and individual clients in all aspects of complex commercial litigation, focusing primarily on securities, financial services, and healthcare litigation. She was recently elected to serve as the representative for Dorsey's newer partners on Dorsey's governing board and previously served as recruiting chair and hiring partner for the firm.
In her leadership roles, Schubert has focused on recruiting and retaining highly skilled lawyers who bring a diverse set of backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences to the firm. Schubert earned a J.D. in law from the University of Michigan Law School and an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
13. Isaac Roang
Partner, Quarles & Brady
Isaac Roange is a Partner at Quarles & Brady, a multidisciplinary AmLaw 200 legal services provider with approximately 550 attorneys practicing at the top of the profession across the country. He provides business-aware advice on complex real estate transactions to clients ranging from publicly traded companies with national portfolios of owned and leased real estate to closely held companies with unique real estate needs.
Before joining Quarles & Brady, Roang was a law clerk at University Legal Services (Protection and Advocacy). He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with a J.D. in law and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an undergraduate degree in music performance.
14. Jim Goniea
General Counsel, Self Esteem Brands
Jim Goniea is General Counsel of Self Esteem Brands, parent company to Anytime Fitness, Waxing the City, The Bar Method, Basecamp Fitness, and Stronger U. Self Esteem Brands is the world’s largest fitness franchise with over 5,000 franchise locations that are locally operated across 32 countries. Goniea leads the legal team that helps the company and its brands navigate a wide range of domestic and international franchise and corporate laws.
Goniea joined Self Esteem Brands in 2017 and has been practicing franchise law for more than three decades, largely in private practice representing some of the most prominent brands in franchising. He served as general counsel for American Driveline Systems, Inc. from 2006 to 2012. He also served on the governing committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and is a member of Franchise Times Magazine’s “Legal Eagle Hall of Fame.” Goniea received a J.D. from Rutgers Law School and a B.F.A. with honors from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
15. Aimee Dayhoff
Partner, Winthrop & Weinstine
Aimee Dayhoff is a Partner at Winthrop & Weinstine, a full-service, entrepreneurial, commercial law firm founded by six attorneys in 1979. Dayhoff represents a wide range of companies from large publicly held corporations to small family-owned businesses in industries such as craft wineries and distilleries, financial institutions, insurance companies, manufacturing and transportation companies, and more. She also represents businesses in defending against employment lawsuits.
Dayhoff first got her start in 1997 as an executive assistant at the American Enterprise Institute. She graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law with a J.D. and from Indiana University Bloomington with an undergraduate degree in political science.
16. Brian Pollack
Partner, DeWitt Law Firm
Brian Pollack is a Partner at DeWitt Law Firm, a law firm that is known for its work in several areas, including intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, health care, real estate, and more. Pollack is a skilled attorney with an understanding of patent prosecution and patent litigation. He is known for his ability to provide legal representation to clients in diverse industries.
Previously, Pollack was a shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine and before that an officer and vice president at Crawford Maunu PLLC. Earlier in his career, he worked with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a research engineer and research assistant. Pollack earned a J.D. in law from Boston College Law School and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Manhattan College.
Brian Pollack's Insight
“I have delivered valuable outcomes for my clients by exercising persistent resourcefulness. Resourcefulness means challenging yourself to seek out creative approaches,” says Pollack. “Persistence requires that you keep trying until you find an answer. The legal field is intensely competitive, and only by applying this approach are you ever likely to win.”
17. Dan Millea
Partner, Zelle
Dan Millea is a Partner at Zelle, a national litigation and dispute resolution law firm with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, London, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. It represents clients in challenging insurance-related disputes, antitrust claims, and other complex litigation in venues across the United States and around the world.
Millea’s practice is focused on property insurance, liability insurance, reinsurance, and financial services litigation. He has worked with a number of the world's largest insurers defending coverage actions related to major claims involving property damage, construction/builder’s risk issues, business interruption, contingent time element, and bad faith claims. Additionally, he’s dealt with claims and litigation arising from catastrophic events, including the 9/11 terrorist attack, multiple U.S. Hurricanes, the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the 2011 Thailand Flood, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law.
18. Loni Morrow
General Counsel, EFS Advisors
Loni Morrow is the General Counsel of EFS Advisors®, a financial planning service that specializes in helping teachers and educators with their pension, social security, and investment management. The company started as a family business that has grown into a full-service wealth management firm.
Morrow first got her start in 2004 as a research assistant at the University of Arizona. From there, she went on to 3M ESPE, before eventually rising to partner and associate at Knobbe Martens, her most recent position before joining EFS Advisors. Morrow graduated from Duke University School of Law with a J.D. in law and from the University of Arizona with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
Loni Morrow's Insight
“I have loved working in the legal field as it has allowed me to help others pursue their hopes and dreams. The opportunities to explore different industries (from securities to fashion) in different contexts (as a lawyer and an engineer), have shaped me into an adept problem solver regardless of the rarity of the issue,” says Morrow. “I look forward to continuing helping others in any way that I can.”
19. Sam Lockner
Partner, Carlson Caspers
Sam Lockner is a Partner at Carlson Caspers, an intellectual property law firm founded in 2003 and based in Minneapolis. The firm’s attorneys serve sophisticated clients from individuals to Fortune 500 companies.
Lockner represents technology-focused clients primarily in the life science, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, bio-agricultural, food, medical device, and molecular diagnostic industries. His practice focuses on intellectual property and technology-driven commercial disputes and transactions. He advises clients on regulatory matters, including safe harbor issues, biosimilar and interchangeability strategies, and opportunities under the BPCIA and the Hatch-Waxman Act.
Lockner is active in the legal community and performs pro bono work, including for the Children’s Law Center and the Great North Innocence Project. He was part of two teams of attorneys that freed two wrongfully convicted individuals through the Great North Innocence Project. He earned a bachelor’s degree in genetics, cell biology, and development from the University of Minnesota and a law degree from Boston University School of Law.
20. Andrew Lee
Attorney and Partner, Stinson
Andrew Lee is an Attorney and Partner at Stinson, a law firm that collaborates with clients ranging from individuals and privately held enterprises to national companies and international public corporations.
Lee has over 30 years of experience advancing his clients’ business interests in the areas of asset acquisition, finance, management, and disposition, as well as structuring and managing related businesses. He focuses on commercial and consumer financial assets, including secondary market transactions, real estate, and asset management.
Previously, Lee was a chair and attorney of the real estate department at Leonard, Street, and Deinard. Earlier in his career, he worked with White & Case as an attorney. Lee earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Minnesota.
21. Liz Dunshee
Partner, Fredrikson & Byron
Liz Dunshee is a Partner at Fredrikson & Byron, a law firm where “law and business meet.” Over the years, it has grown into an international firm of over 350 attorneys in over 30 practice areas. Dunshee’s current role focuses on advising public and pre-public companies on a full range of securities law compliance and corporate governance matters.
Additionally, Dunshee is a Senior Editor at CCRcorp, a publication that provides practical guidance to lawyers and other advisors who work with public and large private companies. Dunshee graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with an undergraduate degree in quantitative economics and from the University of Iowa College of Law with a J.D.
22. Aditya Bharadwaj
General Counsel, Great Place to Work Institute
Aditya Bharadwaj is the General Counsel of Great Place to Work Institute, an institute of consulting that studies work environments by collecting and analyzing information. Since 1992, it has surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used its findings to define what makes a great workplace. Bharadwaj is responsible for all aspects of the legal function including providing strategic guidance on privacy, regulatory, commercial, intellectual property, and employment matters.
Bharadwaj first got his start in 2011 as an attorney at Zimmerman Reed. From there, he went on to Bluestem Brands, before eventually rising to general counsel at Ascentis Human Capital Management Software, his most recent position prior to joining Great Place to Work Institute. Bharadwaj graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School with a J.D. and from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with an undergraduate degree in economics.
23. Tong Wu
Partner, Merchant & Gould
Tong Wu is a Partner at Merchant & Gould, an intellectual property law firm focusing on patent, trademark, and copyright law, licensing agreements, trade secret litigation, and other areas. Its intellectual property lawyers represent individual inventors, regional businesses, international corporations, and Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States and around the globe.
Wu advises U.S. and international clients on intellectual property law, with an emphasis on patent portfolio planning and procurement, infringement and validity assessment, and technology transfer. He also has extensive experience in intellectual property rights dispute resolution.
Previously, Wu was an associate at Arnold White & Durkee. Earlier in his career, he worked with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. as a science advisor. Wu earned a J.D. in law from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, a Ph.D. and master’s degree in materials science from Cornell University, and a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
24. Margo Brownell
Partner, Maslon
Margo Brownell is a Partner at Maslon, a firm that provides strategic legal counsel to the business community in Minnesota and nationwide. From general corporate guidance to bet-the-company litigation, Maslon is dedicated to excellence in the practice of law, helping clients achieve their goals and giving back to the broader community through pro bono service and other efforts.
Brownell co-chairs Maslon’s policyholder-only coverage practice, where she represents top-tier corporate clients, as well as individuals, religious institutions, and nonprofit organizations. She is often retained by Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Brownell graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a J.D.
25. Kylie Kaminski
Attorney, Hellmuth & Johnson
Kylie Kaminski is the Attorney of Hellmuth & Johnson, a law firm focused on transactional law, litigation, and appeals. It represents clients ranging from individuals and emerging start-ups to multinational Fortune 500 companies. Founded in 1994, Hellmuth & Johnson has become one of Minnesota’s fastest-growing law firms.
Kaminski represents a broad range of clients including established and emerging business entities with acquisition and corporate law needs. She handles a variety of corporate and business matters including, entity formation, joint ventures, purchase, and sales of businesses.
Kaminski first got her start in 2016 as a law clerk at the Law Offices of Nicholas A. Furia, PLLC., her most recent position prior to joining Hellmuth & Johnson. Kaminski graduated from the University of St. Thomas School of Law with a J.D. and from the University of San Diego with an undergraduate degree in communications and marketing.
