Columbia Heights Lawyers

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.

Todd Gardner began his professional life as a middle school teacher but opted to go to law school in his mid-twenties. During his time in law school, he clerked in the contracts department at Wells Fargo during the merger with Norwest Bank, clerked for five judges in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Workers' Compensation Division and interned with a Hennepin County District Court judge. Following law school, he began working in a Minneapolis small firm representing injured workers and injured persons and later experienced representing insurance companies with a medium-sized law firm in St. Paul. In 2002, he...

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...

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...

Gordon Conn practices primarily in bankruptcy and business litigation, and is board-certified in business bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification. He was counsel of record for Petitioners in Norwest Bank Worthington v. Ahlers, 485 U.S. 197 (1988), and argued and won that case in the United States Supreme Court. In bankruptcy matters, he represents secured creditors, committees, trustees, and unsecured creditors, and has acted as liquidating agent. In business litigation, he has represented clients in a wide variety of cases, including securities, trade regulation, transportation, insurance, banking, and commercial transactions. Gordon is an honors graduate of the...

I practiced criminal law in California for 16 years and continue to practice criminal law in both the State and Federal Courts in Minnesota. I was honored as an attorney of the year from the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association in 2002. I have handled and tried cases to juries in everything from petty theft, DWI, and minor drug cases to very serious robberies, burglaries and homicides. I have won numerous cases and most recently won a felony sexual assault appeal and then won the jury retrial in the case in Washington County Minnesota in 2010. I...

"I’m Josh Johnson. I provide first-rate Minnesota legal representation at reasonable rates. I have extensive experience in the 12 counties in and around the Twin Cities Metro area, and have represented hundreds of clients in criminal defense, personal injury and bankruptcy cases. If you have been injured in an auto accident, charged with a crime, or need advice about debt or bankruptcy, call me - initial consultations are always free. I received my Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and my bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I am admitted to the Minnesota Bar...

Daniel S. Schleck’s varied career has involved many areas of transactional law including environmental law and policy; renewable energy projects; commercial real estate development; financing and corporate matters; municipal and land use law; and eminent domain proceedings. More specifically, Mr. Schleck has experience in structuring complex transactions and financing packages for all aspects of property development. He has successfully secured significant public grant funds including TIF, PACE and TBRA funds for clients that choose to redevelop contaminated property—using these funds in creative and successful financing structures. As a former city attorney for Mendota Heights, Minnesota, Dan’s unique...

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...

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...

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...

PUT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS TO REST WITH THE NEWBOLT LAW FIRM! For over two decades providing high quality, responsive and affordable Family Law (Divorce, Custody, Parenting Time, Post-Decree Matters, etc.); U.S. Immigration Law; Wills, Trusts & Probate; Business and Employment Law representation, among others. Also providing in-court representation, Mediation & Arbitration services. Please contact the Newbolt Law Firm today to schedule an initial consultation to discuss your legal needs and goals and become aware of your legal rights, options & solutions. Attorney Bradley Newbolt can be reached directly by E-Mail at: BradN@Lawyer.com or by Phone at: #(763) 427-5858.

Luke J Blahnik is the founder of Law Firm of Luke J Blahnik. Mr. Blahnik was born in the city of Rochester, Minnesota and graduated from Caledonia High School, in Caledonia, Minnesota. In 1998 he received his Bachelor of Science in History from Winona State University, in Winona, Minnesota. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Hamline University School of Law in 2001 and was admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota in 2002. From 2001 through 2004 Mr. Blahnik was a Judicial Law Clerk for the Koochiching County Courthouse, where he...

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...

Mike is an experienced workers comp, injury, insurance, and disability attorney who believes his clients deserve a tireless advocate to secure the benefits they deserve. He has recovered millions of dollars in unpaid and denied benefits for his clients. Mike is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, where he specialized in injury law, insurance law, employment law, and employee benefits law. Since graduating, Mike has pursued his client’s disability benefits in hundreds of federal ERISA lawsuits against insurers like Cigna, MetLife, Lincoln, Aetna, Guardian, Standard, Reliance, and Hartford. In addition to fighting for long and short term disability benefits,...

Michelle Gibbons practices exclusively on behalf of employees who have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other unlawful treatment in the workplace. While in law school, Michelle honed her legal skills as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Mitchell Hamline Law Review. She also worked as a Judicial Law Clerk in Ramsey County district court and completed over 150 hours of volunteer work through the Minnesota Justice Foundation’s Law School Public Service Program.

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...

Frances E. Baillon is a recognized advocate for those who have been treated unfairly by the illegal practices of employers. A founding partner of Baillon Thome Jozwiak & Wanta LLP, Frances litigates and tries employment cases in state and federal court involving sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation. She has also successfully argued cases before the Minnesota state and federal district courts, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Frances has consistently been named to the lists of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars by her peers and has made the lists...

Erin Conway Johnsen is a Minneapolis-based attorney with the firm Garner & Ginsburg, PA. She specializes in franchise law, helping franchisees and dealers resolve their disputes. Her work includes reviewing franchise agreements, negotiating agreement alterations, helping franchisees get out of agreements, drafting franchise agreement addenda, and more. Erin graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2012. During here time at the U of M, she served as an editor for the Minnesota Law Review. She received her B.A. from Duke University, where she made the Dean's List.

I believe that family is at the core of our communities. In that respect my practice of family law and contracts emphasizes respect for the family, protection for children and fair & balanced treatment of individuals. Without sacrificing zealous client advocacy I strive to find solutions that benefit clients from the start with limited expense. We are a community of immigrants and are stronger because of it. I believe our immigration laws should work for us not against us and my office endeavors to find ways to make immigration laws most effective for our clients. I have extensive...

Minnesota State and Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Minnesota Attorney, Jennifer Speas is a graduate of Drake Law School, where she focused her studies on State and Federal criminal defense. Ms. Speas has been nominated Super Lawyer by Law & Politics Magazine, and has been featured in Who's Who in Criminal Defense. She is a member of the Amdahl Inn of Court and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. For 15 years, Jennifer Speas has committed herself to defending individuals being charged with crimes. Her intelligence in the courtroom and her dedication to her clients and her practice has earned her respect from...

See website

Jeffrey Dean is one of the most reputable defense attorneys in Minnesota. In his 17 years of practice he has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and of judges because of his determination to seek justice and his high case win rate. Other attorneys seek Jeff Dean's help in evaluating their client's cases. Jeff has saved many people from being convicted in cases ranging from DWI/DUI and drug charges to assault and even murder. Jeff Dean has handled hundreds of cases but he has always made it a point to treat each one as his number one priority....

I have been representing individuals with their contacts with the legal system for over 47 years. I try to help my clients make informed decisions so that they have the information necessary to make their decisions based upon the best information available. No lawyer should make decisions for the client but enable the client to start the decision making process from the beginning and not become dependent on the attorney but know how to make future decisions in these areas without stress with a new found strength.

Dan brings to Christensen Law Office PLLC a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from working in legal and non-legal roles in the financial services industry. Dan has worked with firms in the insurance, financial planning, accounting and consulting, mortgage, and non-profit financial counseling fields. Dan is admitted to practice law in Minnesota and in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Dan’s experiences range from working with companies on complex business transactions to working with individuals who are at risk of losing their home. Dan enjoys being able to draw from this background when advising...