Minnesota Employment Lawyers

John is the founder of the Minneapolis employment and civil rights litigation firm of John A. Klassen, P.A. He received law degrees from the University of British Columbia (1992) and Seattle University (1993). Since 1994, John has practiced exclusively in the areas of employment and civil rights law. He has represented employees and victims of civil rights violations throughout the United States, in the areas of harassment and discrimination law, False Claims Act/Qui Tam claims, whistleblower law, wage and hour disputes, class action claims, employment contract disputes, and sexual abuse. Employees consult with him on a regular...

Drew McNeil is a Minnesota-based lawyer with the firm Bernick Lifson PA. Drew specializes in issues including commercial litigation, employee and labor law, real estate litigation, business transactions, landlord/tenant law, and real estate litigation. Drew received his J.D. from University of Minnesota School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude in 2012 and his B.S. from University of St. Thomas, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2009. During his time in law school, Drew served as managing editor of the Minnesota Law Review. Before joining Bernick Lifson, Drew clerked for the Federal Trade Commission’s Midwest Regional office in...

Nicholas DeMaris is passionate about protecting the rights of employees who have been discriminated against, retaliated against, or harassed in the workplace. During his time at the University of Iowa College of Law, Nicholas served as an Articles Editor on the Iowa Law Review and as a clinical law student in the Employment Law practice group representing workers in employment related disputes.

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Universidad Catolica Andres Bello: Abogada 1999. Hamline University Law School: Master of Laws 2001. William Mitchell College of Law: Juris Doctor 2003. Licensed to practice in Venezuela, and before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the United States District Court. Fluent in Spanish and English Faculty at National American University: Paralegal Program Currently serving as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Diversity Committee.

Cody Blades is an experienced trial lawyer and litigator with Parker Daniels Kibort, LLC, helping businesses and individuals navigate complex legal disputes.  Cody is focused on achieving the best results for her clients, whether that be through negotiation, litigation, or trial.  Cody's experience is multi-faceted.  She has extensive experience in Minnesota's state and federal courts, as well as courts across the country.  She has represented individuals against employees in wrongful termination, retaliation, non-competition, and non-solicitation cases; defended businesses against claims by employees alleging wage theft, wrongful termination, and discrimination; fought for the rights of minority shareholders in shareholder disputes and defended...

In 2012 and 2015, Minnesota Super Lawyers recognized Matt as a “Rising Star,” which is an honor that less than three percent of Minnesota’s young attorneys earn. In 2014, the National Trial Lawyers recognized Matt as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer for his exemplary leadership, reputation, influence, stature and profile as civil trial lawyer.

Jack E. Pierce is a Minnesota-based lawyer with the firm Bernick Lifson. His areas of focus include business and real estate litigation. In addition to trial experience, he has argued cases before federal courts of appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court. Trials he has participated in have covered issues related to employment and shareholder disputes, construction defects, and real estate disagreements. In his work, Jack places an emphasis on advising clients on how to avoid litigation, as a means to avoid going to trial in court. In his free time, Jack enjoys volunteering at a local high school as a...