Joel Abrahamson focuses his practice in the areas of litigation, labor and employment law, representing clients in federal and state courts, administrative proceedings, arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution settings. He has extensive experience before state and federal judges throughout the region and has successfully handled numerous matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Minnesota Department of Labor, Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights, North Dakota Department of Labor and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Joel’s litigation experience includes successful representation of clients in matters involving Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, ERISA, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the Wisconsin Fair Employment Law, the North Dakota Human Rights Act, breach of contract, fraud, defamation, covenants not to compete, misappropriation of trade secrets, and various other statutory and tort claims under state and federal law.

In addition to representing businesses with non-unionized workforces, Joel litigates matters before the National Labor Relations Board and represents both large and small businesses with unionized work forces regarding traditional labor law issues. Joel’s practice involves representation of clients in collective bargaining and assistance in all phases of the grievance and arbitration process. Joel also spends a substantial amount of time in daily client counseling regarding employment law and traditional labor law issues with a special emphasis on maintaining positive employee relations practices.

Joel has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer® in Minnesota Law & Politics magazine, and he is rated AV® by Martindale-Hubbell.

Professional and Civic Activities

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member, Hennepin County Bar Association

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. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit