Minnesota

Firm overview

Blackwell Burke P.A. is a certified minority-owned litigation trial firm with a national practice and winning record of world-class results in high stakes litigation, MDLs, class actions, and multi-state matters. 

Notable Victories: 

• Secured summary judgment for Conagra in the first case to proceed through summary judgment and Daubert motions, pending in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Plaintiffs claim burn injuries resulting from alleged defects in aerosol cooking spray cans. 
• Secured pro bono Eighth Circuit reversal of an immigration judge’s decision denying an abused woman, Amreya Shefa, a deportation hearing, and later Board of Immigration Appeals’ affirmance. 
• Secured landmark victory for 3M Company in Federal Bair Hugge^rTM MDL securing dismissal of 5,000+ cases in one of the 10 largest MDLs in the U.S. 
• Resolved environmental contamination action brought by Minnesota Attorney General against 3M. The $850 million settlement was the largest environmental settlement in Minnesota, and third largest in U.S. history, ending 8 years of litigation over a former ingredient (fluorochemicals, or PFCs) that allegedly contaminated drinking water. 
• Secured complete victory for General Mills, Inc. in a putative nationwide class action over the alleged false advertising of the company’s Nature Valley snack bars. 
• Secured summary judgment victory for Medtronic, Inc., in the first of 44 cases pending in Minnesota state court. Court dismissed Plaintiff ’s claim that her Virtuoso implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was defectively manufactured and failed prematurely. 
• Won complete defense verdict in bench trial, securing $14,232,000 in termination payments, plus prejudgment interest for IBM. 

Firm Rankings and Recognition: 

• Benchmark Litigation Minneapolis Firm of the Year (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) 
• Benchmark Litigation Highly Recommended Firm (2014 – 2016) 
• 7 Benchmark Litigation Stars – Jerry Blackwell, Corey Gordon, Gerardo Alcazar, Mary Young, Benjamin Hulse, Deborah Lewis, and Jamal Faleel. Benchmark Litigation Future Stars – Emily Ambrose, Charmaine Harris, and Ted Hartman. 
• 2020 BTI Litigation Powerhouse. Previously received BTI Honor Roll in Class Action Litigation, BTI Legal Mover & Shaker, BTI Client Service A-Team, BTI Brand Elite Firm, BTI Client Service MVP, BTI Client Service All-Star 
• 2020 Chambers and Partners Ranked Firm. Leading Firm (2018 – 2019), Chambers Diversity Short List (2019) 
• 3M Supplier of the Year Award 
• General Mills Supplier Diversity Excellence in Service Award 
• Minnesota Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars 
• Hennepin County Legal Employer Diversity Award

Firm overview

Robins Kaplan LLP is among the nation’s premier trial law firms, with more than 225 attorneys in seven major cities. Our attorneys litigate, mediate, and arbitrate client disputes, always at-the-ready for an ultimate courtroom battle. When huge forces are at play, major money is at stake, or rights are being trampled, we help clients cut through complexity, get to the heart of the problem, and win what matters most.

We are clearly focused on business results for our clients. We achieve landmark triumphs and drive thousands of other cases to resolution before they ever hit the courtroom or the front page. From Big Tobacco to Kraft v. Starbucks, Bhopal, and the World Trade Center—we have changed law, business, and society for the better by redefining what’s possible.

Intellectual Property and Technology: Our Intellectual Property and Technology Litigation Group earned global recognition for its long history of extraordinary courtroom victories, IP asset monetization, and innovation defense. Some of the largest multinationals, most-innovative start-ups, and many individuals from virtually every industry and walk of life have chosen us to help settle disputes both in and out of the courtroom because of our clear focus on achieving business results for them. Our attorneys have had multiple IP enforcement efforts on behalf of plaintiffs where revenues in each exceeded $100 million, and we have also successfully defended hundreds of millions of dollars of technology and brand investment.

Antitrust and Trade Regulation: Our Antitrust and Trade Regulation Group is unique in that it is one of the few national practices to have obtained landmark successes on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigation and at trial, including in several of the most significant antitrust cases ever litigated. With nearly $10 billion in recoveries for antitrust plaintiffs in the past several years alone and a long history of successfully defending Fortune 100 companies in antitrust disputes, Robins Kaplan regularly ranks as one of the top firms in the United States for antitrust litigation.

Complex Business Litigation: Our business litigation attorneys bring best-of-class plaintiff and defense strategies to the table. At the core of our legal strategy is a track record for analyzing complex legal and business challenges and foreseeing their outcomes. We know that all litigation comes with inherent risk, and we partner with you to understand the immediate and long-term business needs, then craft a combined litigation and business strategy designed to meet your company’s best interests.

Insurance and Catastrophic Loss: At Robins Kaplan LLP, our insurance lawyers handle complex, high-exposure insurance, reinsurance, and recovery claim disputes. We have a nuanced understanding of the industry’s unique demands built on decades of insurance representations. Our record includes litigation successes for insurance industry clients in state and federal courts, arbitrations, reference and appraisals, and mediations. We also offer clients practical, results-focused guidance and advice. No matter the case size, the depth of our experience litigating and managing high-exposure, complex disputes drives our effectiveness on our clients’ behalf and results in the delivery of efficient, client-centered case management practices and procedures.

Updated Sep 2021

Firm overview

Who We Are: Founded in 1984 as an alternative to the traditional large law firm, Barack Ferrazzano aims to provide extraordinary service in a wide range of industries for each core practice area. Without the overhead of large, multi-national “BigLaw” firms, the Firm has the flexibility to serve its clients in a global capacity — when, where, and how they need it. The high levels of internal flexibility and extraordinary talent within Barack Ferrazzano allow its attorneys to craft unusually practical and economical solutions to match client challenges and needs. In doing so, the Firm successfully serves large multi-national corporations in all manner of complex, time-sensitive, and high-stakes transactions and matters.

Barack Ferrazzano’s business model is predicated upon having a deep understanding of its clients’ businesses and the development of long-lasting relationships, which yield great efficiencies. Its lawyer retention rate is extremely high, with very few attorneys or paralegals leaving to pursue legal careers at other law firms. As a result, Barack Ferrazzano is able to provide a consistent team of professionals, enhancing client relationships and allowing its attorneys to become increasingly cost-efficient in addressing clients’ legal needs. Barack Ferrazzano’s reputation is based on its people and the results they achieve.

International Work: Since its founding 35+ years ago, Barack Ferrazzano has been a strategic legal business partner to some of the most respected and iconic companies around the world.

Diversity & Inclusion: Barack Ferrazzano has a strong history of promoting diversity and inclusion within the Firm. The Firm actively recruits talented professionals and staff based on commitment to personal and professional excellence, and welcomes people of different backgrounds and perspectives. This commitment to diversity and fostering of a welcoming culture attracts the most qualified candidates and creates a rewarding and fulfilling environment for not just the Firm, but for clients as well.

Litigation: With 30+ attorneys, Barack Ferrazzano’s Litigation Group has been selected by some of the world’s most prominent companies for representation in their most significant lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the U.S. Seasoned partners and well-trained associates have managed thousands of disputes concerning:

• Bank Regulatory & Other Financial-Related Matters
• Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights
• Civil RICO & Conspiracy Actions
• Consumer Class Actions
• Contracts
• Data Privacy
• Director & Officer Matters
• Employment
• Insurance Coverage
• Intellectual Property
• Motor Vehicle Franchises
• Negligence & Product Liability
• Real Estate
• Securities & Derivative Securities
• Trade Secrets 

Barack Ferrazzano’s Litigation Group represents clients both forcefully and efficiently, always ready to try cases when necessary, and prepared to resolve early and economically when appropriate. Because the focus is providing clients with thoughtfully designed, cost-effective solutions to complex scenarios, the group is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution and strategic counseling.

Alternative Dispute Resolution: Litigation Group attorneys are experienced in a broad range of alternative dispute resolution techniques, including mediations, binding and non-binding arbitrations, mini-trials, and settlement trials with floors and caps. Many members of the group also serve as arbitrators and mediators.

Counseling: The Firm’s Litigation Group also has extensive experience in strategic counseling designed to minimize the likelihood of litigation or reduce the exposure to litigation when potential problems arise. Litigation Group attorneys are often involved in complex corporate and real estate disputes that benefit from the comprehensive experience of our corporate, real estate, and bankruptcy attorneys. Complex disputes are approached with strong interdisciplinary teams, assembled based on the skill and style required for each engagement. Results of this cross-functional approach have proven successful in resolving controversies ranging from dissenting shareholders’ rights disputes to take-over litigation.