Fridley Lawyers

DAVID REYES voted 2012 and 2011 "BEST LAWYER" in Edina, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka, Minnesota by the Reader's Choice Awards!! HAVE A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR and FBI AGENT ON YOUR SIDE! I am a criminal defense attorney with over twenty-eight years of criminal law experience. As a former FBI Agent and Federal and State prosecutor, my clients get strong representation from an experienced trial attorney. My background is truly unique. After graduating from law school, I became a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I worked in several states conducting a variety of criminal investigations. After my career as an...

Beth E. Bertelson is the founder of Bertelson Law Offices, P.A., located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Focusing her practice on labor and employment law, she represents employees in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and throughout Minnesota in litigation and pre-litigation negotiations in matters involving severance, employment and noncompete agreements, and related issues. Certified as a specialist in labor and employment law by the Minnesota State Bar Association, Ms. Bertelson also mediates employment disputes and has been designated as a "qualified neutral" under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice for the District Courts. She also assists clients in a...

Raoul Shah has spent his career seeking justice for those injured by the actions of others. Raoul brings significant trial and litigation experience and his tireless and measured work ethic to his clients. His collaborative and creative mindset, coupled with his extensive courtroom and legal writing experience, help clients achieve real, just, and meaningful results in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Raoul previously worked as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney. He first worked as an attorney within the child protection system, working collaboratively with many parties to advance the wellbeing of children in the child protection system. Raoul then served...

Attorney Allen L. Al-Zouhayli is a founding partner at RAM Law PLLC, located in Roseville, Minnesota. Allen practices criminal defense, firearms rights, family law, and defends licensed medical professionals against board investigations and discipline proceedings in the state of Minnesota. As a litigator, Allen has a trial history of not guilty verdicts from misdemeanors to aggravated felonies, by implementing creative strategies and tactics. Allen is a natural in the courtroom and has mastered the power of persuasion. Allen accredits his results due to his care for his clients and their outcomes. As the owner of a Christmas tree farm, Allen...

Rob Shainess is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on resolving real estate, construction, and business disputes. Rob’s clients range from individual property owners to national banks, and everyone in between. Rob is proud to have been named a Rising Star each year from 2012-2017 by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Before founding Capstone Law, Rob spent seven years as a real estate and construction litigator with one of Minnesota’s largest elite law firms. In 2011, Rob set out to start his own firm, believing that he could offer his clients better value if he shed the bloat associated with large firms.

Susanne Gad is a renowned advocate for vulnerable and marginalized groups. After a successful, decade-long career as an attorney for the United Nations, Susanne's sister decided to join forces with her sister Sarah and crusade for justice. Susanne is among the most sought-after immigration advocates in the country due to her exceptional track record of success when it comes to asylum status, identifying paths to citizenship, and appealing cases lost by other immigration and human rights attorneys. In fact, a large number of Susanne's immigration clients turned to her in order to fix mistakes caused by their previous immigration...

Carl Christensen founded Christensen Sampel PLLC. Previous to that he clerked for the Honorable Kenneth Sandvik in the Sixth Judicial District, Lake and Cook Counties and had a short stint as a prosecutor in outstate Minnesota. Carl's scholarship includes multiple presentations and publications on foreclosure, collection, and consumer law. As a student, Carl also contributed to various textbooks on intellectual property and domain name law. He acquired his extensive knowledge of intellectual property and domain name law while a student law clerk at the National Arbitration Forum, a ICANN-designated domain name dispute resolution provider. While in law school, Carl's...

The firm’s founder, Thomas R. Hurwitz has practiced law in multiple areas throughout his career. He is highly respected in the legal community for his work in numerous areas. He was chosen by his peers as a “Super Lawyer” – one of Minnesota’s Best Lawyers. Mr. Hurwitz is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Hennepin County Bar Association, and joined the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association in 1990. Mr. Hurwitz is listed in Who’s Who in Executives and Businesses and the National Registry of Who’s Who for his work as an attorney. Thomas Hurwitz has received numerous commendations...

Jeff practices in the areas of personal injury, police brutality, civil rights law, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, automobile and truck crashes, and premises liability. Jeff also has significant experience litigating and advising on non-compete issues, breaches of contract, tortious interference, and other related business matters. He was named a 2013 “Attorney of the Year” by Minnesota Lawyer for his work on a $3.075 Million Dollar police brutality wrongful death—one of the largest police brutality settlements in Minnesota History. Jeff was also part of a team of class counsel who obtained a $2 Million Dollar settlement for violations of the...

Nick Sperling has over a decade of experience in business litigation and transactions, nonprofit law, real estate litigation and transactions, and technology/IT law. Nick takes a pragmatic approach to legal representation and focuses on obtaining the best possible results for his clients.

After 15 years of experience working as a prosecutor, I've made the switch to criminal defense because I want to use my skills to help people. I've handled tens of thousands of criminal cases of every kind, and I truly believe I have the skills to help people and make a difference. My goal is to craft a unique and personalized approach to defending every case. Every case and every client are different, with different circumstances, and they should be treated that way.

We are a team that cares about our clients. We handle Probate and Trust Administration, we draft Wills & Trusts, we create Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney. Our focus is on you, helping you protect your family, and everything you love and have worked for. Wills, Trust, Health Care Directive, Powers of Attorney. We protect your assets, including your Pets. We also manage Probates and Estate Administration. Rebecca speaks on Estate Planning to a variety of local and national groups, and is is also a national speaker in the area of Equine Law.

Jim Lindell (University of Minnesota, 1977) is a litigator focused on personal injury cases, including product liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, liquor liability and workers' compensation. He is a certified civil trial specialist and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He is past dean of the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota. Lindell feels his broad work experience prior to law school, including construction, firefighting, teaching, and service in the U.S. Army, allows him to relate well to his clients of highly varied backgrounds. He practices in Wisconsin as well as Minnesota and is a qualified arbitrator and mediator.

Barry O’Neil is a trial attorney, who is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota Bar Association. Mr. O’Neil’s practice involves the resolution of complex commercial disputes, professional liability claims, employment-related issues and insurance claims. A significant portion of Mr. O’Neil’s practice is in the area of professional liability defense with emphasis in legal malpractice. Mr. O’Neil is the practice group manager of the firm’s Trials and Litigation Practice Group, and he also heads Lommen Abdo’s entertainment litigation initiative. Mr. O’Neil has extensive experience in employment litigation including all types of employment discrimination claims, and he has additionally acted...

Ms. Kugler practices exclusively in the area of family law. Karen works toward equitable settlements, but is skilled in trial advocacy. Karen discusses the risks and expense of litigation with her clients. She is a knowledgeable, empathetic, and assertive legal advocate and handles all family law issues: spousal maintenance, child support, property division, and custody at the trial and appellate levels. Karen is past Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) Family Law Section and is a past Co-Chair of the RCBA Family Law Section. She is a frequent writer and speaker regarding family law, co-authoring the Child Support...

Jerri Adams Belcher is a fearless and tenacious advocate for employees’ rights. She represents individuals who have experienced discrimination, retaliation, and harassment in the workplace. Prior to joining Engelmeier & Umanah, P.A. Jerri litigated and tried employment, insurance, and construction-defect cases. During law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she developed her advocacy skills as a judicial intern for then Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Further, she completed externships at the Wisconsin Department of Justice in its Civil Litigation unit, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C. Jerri also...

Bart Torvik is a skilled personal injury and foodborne illness attorney, with years of experience in litigation. After graduating at the top of his class from the University of Minnesota Law School, he clerked for Judge James M. Rosenbaum, the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Following this position, Bart worked at a large Minnesota firm where he handled every aspect of litigation, from initial consultations to jury trials. In 2010, Bart moved to Evanston, Illinois after his wife Laura became a Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. In...

Bankruptcy and Consumer Rights Attorney

Kate is an associate attorney at Keegan Law Office. Kate discovered her passion for criminal defense through personal experiences and finds fulfillment in assisting clients navigate the criminal process. Prior to joining Keegan Law Office, Kate worked as an associate attorney at a Twin Cities law firm. There, she worked with clients facing a variety of state and federal criminal charges, including criminal sexual conduct, assault, murder, and drug offenses. Kate has prepared and helped conduct jury trials, which have resulted in an acquittal of Domestic Assault by Strangulation and a hung jury in a First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct...

Chantell Bergquist is an associate attorney at Burns and Hansen and focuses on family law and civil litigation. At a young age, Chantell knew that she wanted to become an attorney because she saw the need for empathic attorneys, not the robotic kind of attorneys people generally picture. Before graduating from Bemidji State University, Chantell was already attending Mitchell Hamline School of Law so she could take the fast track into practicing family law. Chantell is also a published author in Mitchell Hamline's Law Review. She is thoughtful and meticulous, leaving no stone unturned as she maneuvers through the case toward...

Barton C. Gernander is a partner at Burns & Hansen, P.A., who practices in the areas of civil and commercial litigation, with a focus in construction and real estate issues. In addition to representing business clients involved in standard and complex litigation in both state and federal courts, he serves emerging and mid-size companies in a general counsel capacity - assisting clients on achieving business solutions while minimizing exposure to liability. Gernander is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts in Minnesota, the United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of...

I'm a trial lawyer. I'm grateful for the opportunity to fight for justice on behalf of individuals going through hard times against some of the largest corporations in the country.

After law school, I joined the Marine Corps and served as a judge advocate. There's no better training ground for a trial lawyer - I tried over 100 felony and misdemeanor cases. I'm proud of the results I got, including one of the first successful defenses of a Marine discriminated against based on sexual orientation. I deployed to Iraq in a nation building capacity to work with...

Legal Experience—Solving Complex Business Problems Ms. Lockner is a partner in the firm's business litigation department who works with business leaders facing legal disputes that cause financial exposure and other risks to their business. Using her extensive litigation and trial experience, Ms. Lockner offers strategic legal guidance on how to use litigation—either defensively or affirmatively—to meet their business objectives. As a trial attorney, she has the skills and expertise to wield the threat of trial as a sword, but understands and appreciates her clients’ need to use it only as weapon of last resort. Ultimately, Ms. Lockner’s goal is to further...

Matt is a knowledgeable attorney practicing in the area of family law. Matt blends empathy, practicality, diligence, and respect to advocate for outcomes that serve clients in the long term and defuse tension among families of all types. Matt favors a creative, collaborative, and results-focused practice style and is keenly aware that every case requires its own unique approach. Matt has worked as an attorney editor at Thomson Reuters, as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Richelle M. Wahi in Dakota County. In addition to judicial duties, Matt assisted...

Charles Clas gained considerable experience in criminal law before he even graduated from law school. He participated in the Misdemeanor Prosecution Clinic at the University of Minnesota School of Law, and served as an instructor and member of the Civil Rights National Moot Court team. Charles also worked as a law clerk at Caplan & Tamburino Law Firm, P.A. before joining the firm as a full time attorney in 2014. Charles has successfully tried many criminal cases for the firm, such as marijuana possession, DWI, felony expungement, and 3rd degree assault. If you need experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense you...

Throughout his legal career, Luke Smith has practiced primarily in the area of workers’ compensation. Luke has in the past represented employees, employers, and insurance carriers in all stages of litigation. He now is focused on representing employees in workers’ compensation matters. Luke Smith worked at a law firm that practiced employee-side workers’ compensation throughout law school. He graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2016, summa cum laude (highest honors). Luke received several awards for academic performance in law school, participated in law review, and participated in moot court. He represented injured workers in workers’ compensation litigation following law...

Robert Kouba takes pride in working hard for his clients and delivering successful results. Prior to joining the firm, Robert worked as a criminal defense attorney in Minneapolis, developing his trial advocacy and litigation skills. While in law school, Robert was a member and coach of the Phi Alpha Delta Mock Trial Team, competing nationally, where he gained litigation skills that he continues to use today to serve his clients. Robert is able to put that knowledge and experience to work now for the firm's business, real estate, and consumer litigation clients. He approaches his client's situations with a down-to-earth...

HOW I HELP I support employees separating from employment under less than ideal circumstances, provide guidance to business owners experiencing messy business divorces or other legal challenges, and support small employers by providing on-demand employment advice. MY EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE I am an experienced trial lawyer--having conducted multiple trials before both state and federal juries. I am also an experienced litigator, negotiator, and advisor with extensive experience in Minnesota's state and federal courts, as well as courts across the country. I have represented both businesses and individuals in wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, non-competition, and non-solicitation cases; fought on behalf of companies...

My education in the law happened at Yale, but before that I graduated from the University of Kansas and a high school in eastern North Dakota, in a class of twenty-five seniors. The variety of that experience has been replicated in my legal work, in which I have represented small- and medium-sized business owners, individuals, and corporate clients in the banking and pharmaceutical industries. Whether the client needs to show the fair valuation of a business, the meaning of a law or regulation, fraud, or the terms of a contract, I bring a careful, intentional approach that seeks to identify the...

Christopher D. Jozwiak is a skilled litigator who has won striking victories on behalf of his clients in a diverse range of employment issues. He is a founding partner of Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP and has been recognized as a Rising Star since 2011 and a Super Lawyer since 2014 and was named to the Best Lawyers in America 2018 list for his work in employment law. Chris works tirelessly for his clients in cases involving whistleblower retaliation, sexual harassment, wage and hour violations, reprisal, discrimination, and wrongful termination. He also represents employees and consumers in national class...

David Tanabe is an attorney in the business litigation group with Messerli Kramer, where he focuses on all aspects of bankruptcy law, business restructuring, and insolvency. His clients include financial institutions, lenders, receivers, asset purchasers, trade creditors, and businesses. He also works closely with transactional attorneys on an array of matters, including sales of assets, financing, real-estate purchases and sales, commercial leasing, and workouts. As a ten-year veteran of the NHL, David understands the importance of teamwork and the power of operating efficiently and cohesively. Whether learning the game from Hall-of-Famers as a 19-year-old first-round draft pick or learning the law...