New Partner Feature: Jennifer L. M. Jacobs

Lockridge Grindal Nauen is pleased to celebrate the elevation of Jennifer L. M. Jacobs to partner, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the firm and her dedication to clients in complex employment and business matters.

LGN Partner Rachel Kitze Collins shared her enthusiasm for Jennifer’s promotion:

“LGN is proud to welcome Jennifer to the partnership. As co-leader of LGN’s employment group, Jennifer has an exceptional ability to connect with clients, making them feel heard and valued from the very first interaction. Her skill in clearly and succinctly communicating complex legal advice ensures that clients fully understand their options and feel confident in their decisions. Jennifer is an invaluable member of the firm and a key reason for our continued success.”

Please join us in congratulating Jennifer on this well-earned achievement!

Jennifer L. M. Jacobs

More about Jennifer: She co-leads the firm’s employment group. She provides clear, nuanced advice to clients navigating the frequently changing landscape of employment laws and managing complex workforce issues, including disability, leave, termination, and wage and hour issues. Clients appreciate the insight and thoughtfulness Jennifer brings when conducting sensitive employment investigations. Jennifer represents clients in administrative charges and employment litigation in state and federal court on a wide range of claims including discrimination, non-competes, and breach of contract.

Jennifer’s practice also includes advising LGN’s corporate, nonprofit, and government clients on general business matters, and she has significant litigation experience in matters ranging from insurance fraud to constitutional challenges of licensing requirements to county-based health care purchasing.

Jennifer graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from the University of Minnesota Law School, where she served as Note and Comment Editor for the Minnesota Law Review. After law school, she clerked for the Honorable James B. Loken of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She also has taught appellate advocacy at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

LGN Supports Hennepin Healthcare Patients with Cold-Weather Donations

As the temperatures drop, LGN is proud to support the Hennepin Healthcare Foundation by donating more than 60 cold-weather items, including coats, scarves, hats, and mittens. These essential items will help keep Hennepin Healthcare patients and families in need warm this winter.

This initiative, led by the LGN DEI Committee, was part of our Martin Luther King Jr. Day service project. A big thank you to our team members who contributed to this effort! Your generosity makes a real difference.

To learn more about the impact of the Hennepin Healthcare Foundation and how you can help click below.

Hennepin Healthcare

LGN Partner David Asp Advances Public Service with Recent Appointments

We are proud to recognize LGN partner David Asp for his distinguished public service and recent accomplishments.

David recently completed his one-year term as Chair of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, a prestigious position to which he was appointed by Governor Walz. During his tenure, he led the Board through significant administrative rule-making and the implementation of new statutory changes. He continues to serve as a member of the Board.

In November 2024, David was appointed to the Nominations Committee by Congressman Tom Emmer and Minnesota’s Republican Congressional delegation. This committee plays a vital role in recommending candidates for U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal, and other federal appointments in Minnesota. Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice G. Barry Anderson chairs this committee.

Additionally, David has been reappointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Compensation Council by Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, marking his fourth appointment to this critical body. The Council evaluates and recommends compensation levels for judges and constitutional officers, further highlighting David’s commitment to serving the legal profession and the broader community.

Please join us in celebrating David’s notable contributions and his dedication to public service.

David Asp

LGN Welcomes Five Distinguished Attorneys to Partnership

We are proud to announce that five outstanding attorneys have been elevated to partner at our firm. Their dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence continue to strengthen our team and the service we provide to our clients. You can read more about each of these new partners below.

Jennifer Jacobs co-leads the firm’s employment group. She provides clear, nuanced advice to clients navigating the frequently changing landscape of employment laws and managing complex workforce issues, including disability, leave, termination, and wage and hour issues. Clients appreciate the insight and thoughtfulness Jennifer brings when conducting sensitive employment investigations. Jennifer represents clients in administrative charges and employment litigation in state and federal court on a wide range of claims including discrimination, non-competes, and breach of contract.

Jennifer’s practice also includes advising LGN’s corporate, nonprofit, and government clients on general business matters, and she has significant litigation experience in matters ranging from insurance fraud to constitutional challenges of licensing requirements to county-based health care purchasing.

READ MORE ABOUT JENNIFER HERE

Simeon Morbey practices in the firm’s antitrust and e-discovery groups. He is a 2010 graduate of the University of St Thomas School of Law, where he was elected Chairman of the Board of Advocates and was a Senior Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy. Before law school, Mr. Morbey worked as a high school English and Mathematics teacher in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. In 2021, Mr. Morbey won the prestigious American Antitrust Institute Award for Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement by a Young Lawyer for his work in In re Peanut Farmers Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 2:19-cv-00463 (E.D. Va.).

READ MORE ABOUT SIMEON HERE

Kyle Pozan has spent his career focusing his practice on antitrust class actions, complex business litigation, and other civil litigation matters. Kyle has considerable experience with written and oral fact discovery, having taken depositions in some of the nation’s largest class action cases, briefing class certification, and drafting and arguing dispositive motions. He is also well-versed in all areas of e-discovery and has used his experience in that field to leverage outstanding results for his clients.

Kyle currently serves as a member of The Sedona Conference, Working Group 1’s Drafting Team on eDiscovery Implications of the Internet of Things, and he was previously a member of The Sedona Conference, Working Group 1’s Brainstorming Group on Discovery and Preservation of Data from the Internet of Things (IoT). He also serves as Co-Chair of the Corporate Practice Committee for the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.

READ MORE ABOUT KYLE HERE

Steve Teti is the Lead Attorney in the Firm’s Boston office, and practices in the Firm’s Antitrust and E-Discovery groups. Steve has significant experience drafting and arguing dispositive motions, taking depositions, working on complex e-discovery matters, and leading massive discovery efforts.

Steve is a member of and contributor to the Complex Litigation E-Discovery Forum, which is a forum for plaintiffs-side complex litigation attorneys to discuss best practices for e-discovery. Steve is also a member of the American Bar Association Antitrust Section and the American Agricultural Law Association.

READ MORE ABOUT STEPHEN HERE

Arielle Strong Wagner practices primarily in the firm’s antitrust, generative AI, data breach, and tribal government representation groups, representing consumers, small businesses, and tribes in complex litigation throughout the United States. In her antitrust practice, Arielle focuses on plaintiffs-side class actions involving claims of price fixing, restraint of trade, monopolization, and attempted monopolization in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, technology, and retail products.

In her generative AI practice, Arielle represents creators who find their work replicated or utilized without consent. Arielle’s tribal government representation practice includes experience in the areas of Federal Indian Law, tribal sovereign immunity and environmental law and regulations.

READ MORE ABOUT ARIELLE HERE

These attorneys have demonstrated exceptional leadership, advocacy, and commitment to their clients and our firm. Please join us in celebrating their well-deserved achievement!

Abotsi-Kowu and Le Admitted to MN Federal Bar

Two new LGN associates, Consuela Abotsi-Kowu and Kira Le, were admitted last month to the U.S. District of Minnesota Federal Bar.

The Honorable Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz presided over their swearing-in ceremony, making it a memorable occasion for everyone present. LGN partners Joe Bourne and Kate Baxter-Kauf moved for their admission during this special event.

Congratulations to Consuela and Kira on this significant achievement! We look forward to the exceptional work they will continue to bring to our clients and our firm.

Minnesota Federal Bar

LGN Co-Hosts Next Generation Panel and Happy Hour

LGN was pleased to join Epiq in hosting an inspiring evening that brought together over 50 legal professionals for networking and thought-provoking conversations. This event was organized by LGN associates as a way to connect the up-and-coming generation of attorneys in the Twin Cities metro.

Our esteemed group of all-female panelists captivated the audience with powerful stories and practical strategies, drawing from their rich and varied career experiences. It was a night of meaningful connections and valuable insights for all who attended.

We hope to see you at our next event in June! If you would like to join the mailing list to learn about upcoming events, please send your name and email to marketing@locklaw.com.

Learn more: https://www.locklaw.com/lgn-next-generation/

Rachel Kitze Collins Selected as “Attorney of the Year” Honoree

We are pleased to announce that LGN partner Rachel Kitze Collins has been honored by Minnesota Lawyer magazine as an “Attorney of the Year” award recipient, along with Jess Braverman and Christy Hall of Gender Justice! The group is being recognized for their outstanding work in Anderson v. Aitkin Pharmacy & George Badeaux.  In this case, LGN and Gender Justice successfully achieved victory on behalf of their client, Andrea Anderson, at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which held as a matter of law that a pharmacist’s refusal to fill a prescription for emergency contraception is illegal sex discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Rachel Kitze Collins Attorney of the Year

Ms. Anderson sued Aitkin Pharmacy under the MHRA after the lead pharmacist, George Badeaux, refused to accommodate her prescription request.   She had received a valid prescription for Ella, an emergency contraceptive tablet, from her healthcare provider which Badeaux refused to fill, citing his beliefs.

The team tried the case before an Aitkin jury and appealed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  In a historic decision, the Court of Appeals entered judgment as a matter of law for Ms. Anderson, affirming that no reasonable jury could conclude other than that Ms. Anderson was discriminated against by the lead pharmacist.  It is the first ruling in the United States to find sex discrimination in the context of a pharmacist’s refusal to fill a prescription for emergency contraception.

Congratulations to Rachel and the team on a well-deserved award! All “Attorney of the Year” recipients will be celebrated at an awards ceremony in February.

LGN Foundation Celebrates a Year of Impact in 2024

As we reflect on 2024, we’re proud to highlight the local organizations the LGN Foundation supported this year, each nominated by an LGN employee. These groups make a tangible difference in the lives of so many across our region.

Here’s a look at the organizations we were honored to support:

Neighborhood House – Strengthening communities by providing food, housing, and education support to families.

Big Brothers Big Sisters – Creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the potential of young people.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid – Ensuring access to justice by providing free legal services to low-income individuals.

Page Foundation – Supporting youth of color through scholarships, mentoring, and leadership development.

Lift Garage – Providing affordable car repairs to keep individuals and families on the road to success.

Mac-V – Supporting veterans and their families as they transition to stable housing and employment.

Meals on Wheels Twin Cities – Delivering nutritious meals and companionship to homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities.

LGN Foundation Celebrates 2024

VEAP – Offering essential food, housing, and support services to those in need.

Urban Bird Collective – Fostering environmental justice and birdwatching opportunities for underrepresented communities.

RISE – Empowering people with disabilities and other barriers to employment through supportive services and advocacy.

Pfund Foundation – Advancing LGBTQ+ equity through grants and scholarships.

Wanton Injustice Legal Detail (WILD) – Protecting the rights of protesters and fostering legal advocacy for social justice.

Through these partnerships, the LGN Foundation continues its mission to strengthen our community and uplift those in need. We extend our deepest gratitude to these organizations for their dedication and to everyone who makes our support possible.

Happy Holidays 2024!

LGN SPONSORS MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION CONVENTION

LGN was pleased to sponsor the 83rd annual state convention of the Minnesota Farmers Union. The annual convention aims to bring the community together and focus on the future. Speakers included officials from the Farm Service Agency, the DOJ Antitrust Division, and many local elected leaders. LGN associate Eura Chang and government relations team member Amos Briggs were in attendance.

Minnesota Farmers Union

The Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Membership is open to everyone.

You can learn more about the Minnesota Farmers Union on their website: https://mfu.org/