MINNEAPOLIS (May 10, 2011)—Four Leonard, Street and Deinard attorneys have earned Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist designations from the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA).

Wade S. Davis, Daniel Oberdorfer, Richard W. Pins and Ellen G. Sampson each completed an approval process that included peer reviews, experience documentation and a specialty examination. This MSBA certification, which was granted for a six-year period, is approved by the Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification and signals that these certified attorneys have demonstrated superior knowledge, skill and integrity in their field of practice.

"We are proud of our colleagues for being among the elite few—less than 3% of all attorneys—in Minnesota to achieve an MSBA certification, which is a testament to their extensive experience and dedication to the practice of their discipline," said Lowell Stortz, firm president.

Wade S. Davis is a shareholder in the firm's Mankato, Minnesota, office, where he focuses his practice on resolving employment and business disputes. He regularly represents and advises clients on employment matters, including claims involving compensation disputes, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, breach of contract, covenants not to compete, discrimination, whistle-blowing, defamation, and misappropriation of trade secrets. He has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers®–Rising Stars.

Daniel Oberdorfer, a shareholder in the employment litigation and counseling practice group, focuses on counseling and litigating complex employment disputes. Oberdorfer co-chairs the firm's e-discovery practice group and frequently prosecutes and defends cases involving non-competition agreements, trade secrets and fiduciary duties. He has defended numerous employers against claims of sexual harassment, age discrimination, gender, race and religious discrimination, defamation and breach of contract. A former journalist with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he is the co-author of a book on employment law published by Thomson West. Oberdorfer was recognized in 2007 as Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer.

Richard W. Pins, a shareholder in the labor and employment practice groups, splits his practice equally between the labor and employment disciplines, and has appeared before numerous state and federal judges and administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He also has considerable commercial litigation experience and has been regularly selected for inclusion in both Super Lawyers® and Top 40 Employment Super Lawyers®.

Ellen G. Sampson, a shareholder in the employment litigation and counseling practice group, regularly advises public and private sector employers on issues arising under federal and state laws as well as under common law. She also has litigated contract, tort and statutory employment law claims at both the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts. Sampson is a qualified neutral under Minnesota Rule 114 and frequently mediates employment law disputes. She has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers® list, as well as named among the Top 100 Women Lawyers and the Top 40 Employment Super Lawyers®. She has also been named among The Best Lawyers in America in the area of labor and employment, and as one of America's Leading Business Lawyers by Chambers USA.