LGN Attends COSAL Leadership & Diversity Summit

LGN partner Heidi Silton and associates Eura Chang, Kira Le, and Consuela Abotsi-Kowu were honored to attend the 3rd Annual Committee to Support Antitrust Laws (COSAL) Leadership & Diversity Summit in Philadelphia. It was a day filled with networking and learning featuring various panels, including a panel titled: “Allies: How to Find One and How to Be One,” moderated by Heidi Silton.

COSAL

The COSAL Diversity Summit invites leaders and emerging leaders of the plaintiffs’ antitrust bar to work together to enhance antitrust enforcement by amplifying the voices and power of attorneys from diverse backgrounds in the profession. The Summit provides an opportunity for historically underrepresented antitrust attorneys to further develop best practices and strategies in enforcement, to discuss current challenges in the practice and to identify solutions in an intimate, collaborative environment. 

Invitations are limited to women, attorneys of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented members of the plaintiffs’ antitrust bar.

Heidi Silton to Receive 2024 Hollis Salzman Memorial Leadership Award

The American Antitrust Institute (AAI) and the Committee to Support Antitrust Laws (COSAL) recently announced LGN partner Heidi M. Silton as the 2024 recipient of Hollis Salzman Memorial Leadership Award. Heidi will be honored at AAI’s Awards Night on October 30, 2024, in Washington, DC.

AAI and COSAL created the Hollis Salzman Memorial Leadership Award in 2021 to honor the life of Hollis Salzman, a friend, colleague, and incomparable member of the antitrust community. One of the nation’s leading antitrust attorneys, Ms. Salzman spent more than 25 years litigating some of the world’s largest cases and recovered over $2 billion in settlements for victims of antitrust cartel and unfair competition practices.

She was a champion of gender equality and diversity in her profession, embracing her role as a mentor and role model to other female attorneys, and helping to inspire them to shine on their own merit. “Women can succeed and lead blockbuster investigations, even in a male-dominated field, without losing their identity or acting in a way that is not true to themselves,” Ms. Salzman noted. Her tireless dedication to advocating on behalf of women included an extensive pro bono practice representing indigent women and victims of domestic violence.

Heidi Silton

About Award Recipient Heidi Silton:

Heidi is a seasoned litigator with more than 25 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes complex civil litigation. She is known as consistently positive and courteous in dealing with co-counsel, opposing counsel, and the Courts, even while pressing her clients’ best interests. She is a vigorous defender of the need for antitrust enforcement by the civil justice system and also devoted to training the next generation of antitrust lawyers and ensuring that the bar is ever more prepared, diverse, and knowledgeable. She stands out as a leader in the antitrust bar and possesses many of the characteristics of Hollis Salzman: honest, tough, mentor, friend.

Heidi is an active member of both the AAI Advisory Board and COSAL. For AAI, she has served on AAI’s Antitrust Enforcement Awards Judging Committee since 2017 when it was chaired by Hollis Salzman. She has been committee chair or co-chair since 2020. For COSAL, Heidi has served in numerous leadership positions, including as President in 2021, and was instrumental in creating the Hollis Salzman Memorial Leadership Award. She was on the leadership team that established COSAL’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and she presided over the first annual COSAL Leadership and Diversity Summit.   

Heidi is also a past chair of and current council member emeritus of the Minnesota State Bar Association Antitrust Law Section.

Heidi has led LGN’s Business Development Committee, the Hiring Committee and the Summer Associate Program and has been active in the firm’s efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She currently sits on the firm’s executive committee. She mentors lawyers inside and outside her firm to support diversity in the bar. She regularly encouraged new law clerks and associates, including from underrepresented groups, to work with her on writing projects that allow them to get published and start making their mark professionally.  More than that, she works with an open door and a welcoming smile that encourages everyone at LGN to do their best work and strive to both lead and learn.

LGN Attends Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association Gala

We were proud to support the annual gala of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA) yesterday. The theme of this year’s MNAPABA Gala was “Leadership, Law, Legacy.” The keynote speaker was Don Liu, the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer for Target and fellow MNAPABA member. LGN associates Eura Chang, Arielle Wagner, and Michael Kinane were in attendance.

Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association

MNAPABA is a community of Minnesota Asian Pacific American and Asian lawyers that supports one another, celebrates each other’s accomplishments, creates opportunities for dialogue on issues of importance to APAs, and highlights APA issues to the legal community at large. The group welcomes people of all diverse backgrounds and experiences and offers individuals professional support and opportunities for growth and mentorship while being the voice of the APA legal community. MNAPABA (formerly NAPABA-MN) is an affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

LGN Hosts MN Urban Debate League Team

Lockridge Grindal Nauen was pleased to welcome the St. Paul Central High School debate team for their beginning of the year preparations and captains’ practices. The Central debate team is a part of the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL), an organization that LGN has long supported and championed. LGN partner Gregg Fishbein is a founding member of the Advisory Board, and LGN partner Kate Baxter-Kauf (pictured) currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board and volunteers at Central. 

You can find out more about the MNUDL, a program of Augsburg University, and sign up to volunteer by clicking below.

Minnesota Urban Debate League

Baxter-Kauf, Kitze Collins, Wagner, and Waller Recognized as North Star Lawyers

North Star Lawyers

We are thrilled to announce that LGN attorneys Kate Baxter-Kauf, Rachel Kitze Collins, Arielle Wagner, and Derek Waller have been recognized as 2024 North Star Lawyers. LGN attorneys have been recognized as Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) North Star Lawyers (for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services) since the North Star Lawyer program began in 2013.

Lockridge Grindal Nauen attorneys, paralegals, and staff dedicate hundreds of hours per year toward pro bono legal representation and volunteer activities coordinated by a committee of partners and associates. We are committed to helping those who otherwise could not afford counsel achieve justice.

We asked each of our North Star Lawyers why pro-bono work is important to them. You can see their responses below.

Kate Baxter-Kauf
Kate Baxter-Kauf, Chair of the Pro Bono Committee and Pro Bono Partner

“Pro Bono work is an integral part of my practice.  It allows me to do meaningful work and help people who might not otherwise have access to the court system navigate their cases while gaining expertise in different areas of the law.  I appreciate the responsibility of making sure that my clients are heard and respected and that I can make sure that they know they have an advocate through what is often the worst experience of their lives.  And the opportunities for mentorship of associates and skill building are immense.”

Rachel Kitze Collins
Rachel Kitze Collins, Partner

“I love having pro bono work as part of my practice because it gives me an opportunity to advocate for issues and clients that I’m passionate about, that don’t fit squarely within my billable practice.  When I was a newer lawyer in particular, doing pro bono work also gave me the opportunity to practice new skills and taught me how to manage a case and client.”

Arielle S. Wagner
Arielle S. Wagner, Associate

“Pro bono work is a way for me to use my skills to support those who might not otherwise find access to justice. It’s incredibly rewarding to resolve an issue and know that we’ve made a meaningful difference in someone’s life!”

Derek C. Waller
Derek C. Waller, Associate

“The legal system can be complex and overwhelming, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to use my training and experience to help clients navigate the system. I believe lawyers have a responsibility to use their knowledge to help meet the high need for legal services, and I’m proud that LGN has prioritizes and supports pro bono work!”

You can learn more about LGN’s Pro Bono work HERE. More information about the North Star Lawyers program is available HERE. Congratulations to all recognized attorneys!

North Star Lawyers

5 LGN Attorneys Honored in 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

We are pleased to announce that 5 Lockridge Grindal Nauen attorneys have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence.

“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions,” said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. “It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel.”

Best Lawyers in America

A special congratulations to LGN Partner Yvonne Flaherty who was recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs in Minneapolis. This is the second time Yvonne has earned this distinction.

We would like to congratulate all of the LGN lawyers named to 2025 The Best Lawyers in America list:

We would also like to congratulate Kristie LaSalle, based in our Boston office, for being named a Ones to Watch honoree. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Kristie was recognized for her work in both the Antitrust Law, Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs categories.

You can learn more by clicking below.

LGN Led Softball Team “Class Act” Wins HCBA Softball Championship

It was an exciting evening at Bryn Mawr Meadows Park in Minneapolis last week as the Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA) summer softball league championship games took place. After winning the semifinal game against team Taft, the championship matchup was between LGN led team “Class Act” and the team from Berger Montague with Class Act coming out on top as Champions! LGN associate, Aaron Hove, manages the team with many others from LGN in the player rotation and cheering on the sidelines. Congratulations to all involved on a fantastic season!

Hennepin County Bar Association Class Act Softball Team

LGN Congratulates Tim Walz as Kamala Harris Running Mate Selection

TIm Walz

We extend a heartfelt congratulations to Tim Walz on being selected as the vice-presidential candidate alongside presidential nominee Kamala Harris today. As a friend and valued client of Lockridge Grindal Nauen, we have witnessed firsthand Tim’s passion for making a positive impact on our communities and our nation. His leadership has brought about meaningful change to the state of Minnesota and we are excited to see what he brings to the national stage.

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