Summary

Ann focuses her practice on employment law matters in the areas of:

  • Employment litigation.
  • Employment law counseling.
  • Employment law training.

Ann has 30 years of experience in employment law and litigation. She has handled cases in state and federal court and argued before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. She frequently assists employers in responding to discrimination charges brought before federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. She also conducts internal investigations for employers both prior to and after litigation begins.

Also as part of her practice, Ann advises clients on a variety of employment, governance and litigation issues. In this capacity, she has worked with an array of for profit and nonprofit clients, including large and medium-size corporations and private and charter schools, colleges, universities, community organizations, and social service providers. In advising colleges and universities, Ann has provided advice on a wide range of issues unique to higher education institutions – structural governance changes, Title IX, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, FERPA, tenure codes, students affairs, and internal investigations of sexual harassment.

Ann is a frequent lecturer at seminars for attorneys, human resource professionals and managers. She has spoken on a variety of topics related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), including managing employees with chronic disabilities or mental illness.

Ann has completed more than 30 hours of training in mediation. She has extensive experience in representing employers in mediation along with experience acting as a mediator for others.

While in law school, Ann was an articles editor of the Minnesota Law Review. She also clerked for the Hon. Harry H. MacLaughlin, U.S. District Court District of Minnesota.

Awards

  • Honoree, Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award, Ramsey County Bar Association (2014)

  • Honoree, David Graven Public Service Award, Minnesota State Bar Association (2005)

  • Fellow, The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

  • Honoree, University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award, University of Minnesota

  • Honoree, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment, Band 1

  • Honoree, Minnesota Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor: Employer (2003 – 2020)

  • Top 40 Employment Law Attorneys, Minnesota Super Lawyers

  • Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, Minnesota Super Lawyers

  • Top 100 Women Super Lawyers, Minnesota Super Lawyers

  • Honoree, Alumni Service Award, University of Minnesota

  • Honoree, 21st Century Leadership Award, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment (2011 – 2021)

  • Honoree, Leading Minnesota Attorney

  • Honoree, Leading American Attorney

  • Honoree, The Power 30: Mergers & Acquisitions, Minnesota Lawyer (2023)

Additional Information

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School (1981)

    cum laude

  • University of Minnesota,?M.A. (1976)
  • University of Iowa, B.A., with Highest Distinction (1970)

Admissions

  • State - Minnesota
  • Federal - 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - District of Minnesota

Notable Matters

  • Brought claim on behalf of former employer against former employee and employee’s new employer for breach of confidentiality agreement, breach of trade secret, and duty of loyalty.
  • Brought claims on behalf of employer against former employees for misappropriation of trade secrets, conversion, tortious interference with business and employment relationship, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract.
  • Defended employer in collective wage and hour lawsuit alleging over $20,000,000 in unpaid overtime by loan officers who claimed they were improperly classified as exempt employees, and should have been classified as nonexempt and paid overtime.
  • Conducted internal employment investigation for General Counsel of internal gender discrimination and sexual harassment complaint by employee against the employee’s supervisor.
  • Defended employer in lawsuit alleging age discrimination and interference with FMLA claim brought by a sales person who sold credit services but had performance issues and was terminated.
  • Represented board in negotiation of departure of president, including president’s separation agreement and consulting agreement; drafted board resolutions and minutes regarding same.
  • Represented CEO of large manufacturer in negotiating and drafting CEO’s final employment agreement with company. Agreement provided transition package along with other features.
  • Represented employer in responding to embezzlement by employee of over $1 million.
  • Represented senior executive in negotiating separation agreement with executive’s large corporate employer.
  • Represented educational entity in de-tenuring process and in federal court against age and disability discrimination claims.

Speeches and Publications

  • Co-Author, “Mental Health Conditions and Chemical Dependency,” in The ADA Handbook, 1st 2013, revised 2nd Ed. Expected in 2020, Minnesota State Bar Association CLE.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association

    Member

  • Federal Bar Association

    Member

  • Minnesota State Bar Association

    Member, Labor and Employment Law Section, Governing Council
    Member, Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist

  • Ramsey County Bar Association

    Member

  • National Association of College & University Attorneys (NACUA)

    Member

Community Involvement

  • Madeline Island Chamber Music

    Board Chair

  • Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

    Board Member

  • St. Paul Foundation

    Former Chair & Vice Chair
    Former Member, Board of Directors

  • Minnesota Community Foundation

    Former Chair
    Former Member, Board of Directors

  • University of Minnesota Alumni Association

    Former President
    Former National Board Member

  • St. John's University

    Former Board Chair,
    Former Board of Trustees Member

  • Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth

    Board Member, Former Board Chair

  • Campaign for Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

    Committee Member