Overview
Trial Experience
Chuck has been trying cases to judges, juries, and arbitrators for 25 years. Winning trials in commercial cases depends on simplifying complex subject matter and telling the client’s story in an understandable and persuasive way. Chuck enjoys translating the complex into plain English. And that has enabled him to win trial victories in a wide variety of commercial areas, most recently in successfully defending an eight-figure claim against the University of Minnesota and successfully defending a medical-device client in the first two bellwether trials in a federal multi-district litigation (MDL).
Appellate Advocacy
Chuck is one of Minnesota’s leading appellate specialists. He is one of only four lawyers to be rated a Band 1 appellate practitioner in Minnesota. He has been involved in nearly 100 appeals in state and federal appellate courts across the country and is known for his vibrant and straightforward writing and argument.
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Minnesota
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Clerkships
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Hon. Frank H. Easterbrook, 1990-1991
Education
University of Chicago Law School
J.D. with honors, Order of the Coif, Law Review (associate managing editor) (1990)
University of Minnesota
B.A. summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa (1987)
Experience
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February 2020 1 min readUniversity of Minnesota Successfully Defends Breach-of-Contract ClaimCommercial Disputes Litigation
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2020 2 min readCook Medical Litigates National MDL Involving IVC FilterMedical Devices & Products Health & Life Sciences Product Liability & Mass Torts Mass Tort Litigation & Settlement Strategies Product Liability Litigation
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June 2019 1 min readUniversity of Minnesota Wins Complete Dismissal of Lawsuit Filed by Former AthletesNonprofit Organizations Labor & Employment Corporate Litigation HR Compliance, Training & Transactions Employment Litigation
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2019 3 min readZimmer Biomet Defends World's Most Successful Knee Replacement System, Winning Three Consecutive Bellwether VictoriesMedical Devices & Products Health & Life Sciences Product Liability & Mass Torts Mass Tort Litigation & Settlement Strategies Product Liability Litigation
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2018 1 min readFlint Hills Resources Alaska, LLC v. Williams Alaska Petroleum, Inc., et al.Real Estate & Construction Product Liability & Mass Torts Environmental Compliance Litigation Class Actions
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June 2016 1 min readNavy SEAL Veteran's Widow Wins Eighth Circuit AppealLitigation Intellectual Property Trademark, Copyright, Advertising & Media Appellate
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1 min readFlint Hills Wins Jury Award of Business-Interruption Damages
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1 min readLeading Refining Company Wins Complete Defense Verdict
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1 min readWells Fargo Prevails in Dispute Over Bank Divestiture
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- The New Lawyer Experience
Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, 2018 - 5 Things to Know About Justice Gorsuch's First 30 Days on the Court
Law360, May 2017 - How to Win Your Next Civil Jury Trial
Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, 2000-02, 2004-06, 2008-10, 2014, 2015-17
Ohio CLE, Cleveland and Columbus, 2013 and 2014
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow of the International Society of Barristers
- Member of American Board of Trial Advocates
- Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- District of Minnesota Federal Practice Committee
- Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure
- Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, First Judicial District
- Minnesota State Bar Association — Court Rules & Administration Committee; Appellate Practice Section (Past Chair); Former Assembly Member; Former Member of Judiciary Committee; Former Member of Civil Jury Instruction Committee
Civic Activities
- St. Stephen’s Human Services, Minneapolis — Chairman of Board of Directors
Firm Leadership
- Faegre Baker Daniels Women's Forum for Achievement — Leadership Council, 2015-19
Honors
- Chambers USA — Minnesota, Litigation: Appellate, 2004-20
- Chambers USA — Minnesota, Litigation: General Commercial, 2004-20
- Best Lawyers®— Commercial Litigation, 2006-21; Appellate Practice, 2010-21; Bet-the-Company Litigation and Securities Litigation, 2011-21 (Minnesota Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2014-18); Environmental Litigation, 2011-14, 2016-21 (Minnesota Environmental Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2021)
- Minnesota Super Lawyers — Business Litigation, 2007-19
- American College of Trial Lawyers — Fellow, 2010-present
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) — Member, 2017-present
- International Society of Barristers (ISOB) — Fellow, 2015-present
- Acritas — Star Lawyer, 2019-20
- Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2016, 2018-19
- Benchmark: Litigation — Local Litigation Star, 2008, 2013, 2020; Appellate, Energy and Natural Resources, Securities, 2014, 2020