Joel Abrahamson is an experienced litigator representing businesses in employment law and traditional labor law matters. He has been recognized for excellence by his clients and his peers in the employment and labor law bar. Joel’s track record of success with judges and arbitrators across the region gives him an edge in the courtroom and in arbitrations, and his commitment to understanding his clients’ businesses and their goals has allowed him to become a trusted business advisor to large and small businesses alike. Joel’s ability to efficiently handle litigation and strategically manage risk through thoughtful and responsive counseling helps him develop and maintain strong client partnerships. Joel realizes that the business objectives, risk tolerance and public relations issues are unique in each case, and he partners with his clients to pursue and achieve the right result in each situation. With his versatility in being able to counsel clients on the full range of employment and traditional labor law issues and aggressively litigate when necessary, Joel is a first-choice selection by businesses throughout the region.

Joel has successfully defended clients in court and before government agencies across the Upper Midwest in employment lawsuits and charges based on alleged discrimination, retaliation, disability accommodation failure, breach of contract, defamation, promissory estoppel, and other statutory and common law claims. Joel has a record of success in prosecuting and defending claims involving non-competition agreements, trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition claims. Additionally, with his extensive traditional labor law background, Joel assists his clients in all phases of matters governed by the National Labor Relations Act, including advice in union organizing drives, collective bargaining, arbitrations and unfair labor practice proceedings.

Honors and Activities

• Recognized as one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of labor and employment by Chambers USA.
• Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers^®
• Included in Super Lawyers^® Corporate Counsel Edition
• Named a “Minnesota Top 40 Employment Lawyer,” by Law & Politics Magazine (2006)
• Rated AV^® Preeminent Peer Review by Martindale-Hubbell
• Past chair of the Leonard, Street and Deinard Recruiting Committee
• Serves as pro bono counsel for a Twin Cities homeless shelter
• Volunteers as a youth baseball coach

Recent Experience

• Obtained summary judgment dismissal of ADA and FMLA retaliation claims against Minnesota client with regional operations (Federal District Court, MN).
• Obtained temporary and permanent injunction against competitor of Minnesota-based client with Midwest operations in unfair competition lawsuit (Federal District Court, SD).
• Obtained arbitration award in favor of Minnesota client with national operations in labor arbitration involving allegation of unjust dismissal (Minneapolis, MN).
• Obtained summary judgment dismissal of ADA discrimination claim against Minnesota-based client with national operations (Federal District Court, Ohio).
• Obtained arbitration award in favor of international client in labor arbitration involving allegation of unjust dismissal (Bismarck, ND).
• Negotiated favorable settlement of unfair competition lawsuit commenced by Minnesota-based client with national operations against competitor and former employees.
• Counseled Minnesota-based client with national operations through company-wide reduction in force with no litigation.

Education

• J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1993
       American Bar Association Moot Court Outstanding Orator
• B.A., with highest honors, Economics, University of Northern Iowa, 1990
       Member, Omicron Delta Kappa
       University of Northern Iowa Presidential Scholar

Admissions

• State of Minnesota
• State of North Dakota
• State of South Dakota
• State of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
• U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit