Pat is an experienced employment defense lawyer and one of the founding shareholders of the Minneapolis office. He has successfully defended employers by obtaining dismissals, summary judgments, defense verdicts, decertification, and other favorable results in lawsuits involving Title VII, the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), WARN, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Minnesota Ch. 181, discrimination, harassment, and whistleblowing. Further, he has defended and prosecuted several non-competition and trade secret lawsuits. Although Pat focuses on defending employers in Minnesota and Iowa courts, he also provides employment counseling, including on RIF and WARN issues. Pat is admitted in the state and federal courts of Minnesota and Iowa, as well as the Eighth Circuit.
Pat has repeatedly been named a “Top 100” Minnesota Super Lawyer for all practice areas, according to Twin Cities Business and Mpls. – St. Paul Magazine. Pat has similarly been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in Employment Litigation for over 15 years and as a “Top 40 Employment Super Lawyer” for Minnesota for several years. Further, Pat is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in Chambers and Partners, and recognized in Best Lawyers of America. For the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers, Pat has been named a “Lawyer of the Year” for Employment Law – Management. This “Lawyer of the Year” award goes to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geography (i.e., only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location).
After graduating cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School (1995), Pat clerked for Judge Kalitowski on the Minnesota Court of Appeals (1995-1996). Pat later served as President for the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (2011-2012), the second largest FBA chapter in the United States. With almost 900 members, the FBA Minnesota Chapter runs several award-winning programs that enhance the practice of law in federal courts. Pat coached youth hockey for the Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association (2004-2021).
Pat played college hockey from 1987-1991 at Mankato State (now a top D1 team known as the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks), including on the 1991 Mavericks team that finished second in the NCAA for Division II and III hockey and on the 1990 Mavericks team that advanced to the Final Four. His college hockey teammates voted him the “Best Hustle Award” winner for three out of four years.
