Saint Paul Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

Melvin R. Welch was born and raised in a small farm town in Minnesota. Following graduation, Melvin attended college at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, before joining the United States Navy in 1996. As a sailor, Melvin learned Russian and served aboard submarines. During his time in service, Melvin finished college and then worked as a translator in the NATO peacekeeping mission to Kosovo, translating for the United States Army and the Russian 13th Tactical Group in Kamenica, Kosovo.

Melvin R. Welch attended the University of Minnesota Law School and graduated in 2007. Melvin's first employ was with...

Christopher W. Boline practices business and commercial law, civil litigation, appellate work, real estate law, consumer law matters, personal injury, USDA appeals, and administrative law. Christopher received his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. During law school, Christopher served as a certified student attorney in a Hennepin County suburban court, was an extern with a Hennepin County District Court judge, and received recognition from the Minnesota Justice Foundation for his time devoted to public service. He began working for Dudley and Smith, P.A. as a clerk during law school. Christopher graduated...

John C. Lillie, III practices in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation within Minnesota and the surrounding region. John deals with a wide range of criminal matters, including petty misdemeanor traffic citations, gross misdemeanor DWI allegations and serious felony cases. John also focuses on handling a variety of civil cases, with an emphasis placed on those cases which must be tried. He is very aware of the fact that not all cases will be tried, but he prepares every case as if it will be with incredible attention to detail and leaving no stone unturned in...

Jeff has been a lawyer for 34 years, practicing family law exclusively for 28 years. For the first six years of his career he was a staff attorney at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He has handled hundreds of cases and has the experience dealing with substantial marital estates in the millions and has tried and litigated many cases, including lengthy custody matters. He is also a trained mediator and ADR neutral on the Minnesota State Roster and is a FENE and SENE neutral in Ramsey County, Anoka County, Washington County, Scott County, Carver County, Pine County, Chisago County, Isanti...

Dan Koewler is a defense attorney who focuses on DWI defense, in the state, appellate, and even federal courts. He is a well-known author, presenter, and blogger regarding issues and hot topics in the realm of DWI defense, and is particularly known for raising scientific challenges to DWI tests on behalf of his clients.

Thomas Tuft, a native of the East Side of Saint Paul, is a shareholder at Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O'Connell, PLLC practicing in all areas of family law, including complex divorce, child support, paternity, and child custody. He is a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral, a Social Early Neutral Evaluator (SENE) and a Financial Early Neutral Evaluator (FENE). He has been named among the list of Minnesota SuperLawyers® since 2002 and has been named one of the Top 40 Family Law SuperLawyers in Minnesota since 2004. He has been named to the list of Top 100 Superlawyers in Minnesota each year...

Nick practices exclusively criminal defense with a focus in DUI / DWI, assault, and drug charges. Nick is a dedicated and passionate attorney that wants to fight for the best results possible in any criminal case. He understands that no one-size-fits-all approach will work for everyone. His representation is tailored to the individual needs and goals of each client. If the state has charged you with a crime, a good Minnesota criminal defense lawyer is essential. The state has an extraordinary amount of resources at their disposal. Simply put, you cannot fight them alone. In addition to practicing criminal...

I provide aggressive DWI/DUI defense for my clients so they can get back on the road ASAP. My clients get detailed guidance and experienced representation for their DWI criminal charges, license revocations, and more.

Sarah Gad is a founding partner of Gad & Gad Law Offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which specializes in criminal defense, wrongful convictions, and immigration advocacy. Sarah is known nationally for her commitment to fighting for justice — and seeing justice prevail in courtrooms across the country. Before relocating to her home state of Minnesota, Sarah worked for celebrity attorney Kathleen Zellner in Chicago. She played a pivotal role in several high-profile cases, including Mario Casciaro's exoneration and Steven Avery's appeal from the Netflix series Making a Murderer. In 2019. Sarah also represented Lil Durk's brother in a drug-related matter and...

Attorney Jacob Rhein represents people who have been harmed by the negligence, dishonesty, or incompetence of lawyers and other fiduciaries. He also represents individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries, including in slip and fall and auto accident cases. Rhein has a reputation among his peers for novel legal argument and fierce loyalty to his clients. These abilities are best demonstrated in his results as a “second lawyer.” Rhein frequently spots issues in the law that other lawyers have missed, and is able to craft these issues into effective advocacy at trial, in post-judgment proceedings, and on appeal. Rhein's main...

Aaron R. Gott focuses on challenges to government conduct, business and competition litigation, and appeals.

Minneapolis defense attorney Andrew C. Wilson won his first jury trial before graduating from law school. After his first year of practice, his name was cemented in Minnesota Supreme Court case law, and within five he’d been to the Eighth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, won jury trials, won bench trials, won appeals, and had significant victories throughout Minnesota at the district courts. Wilson has dedicated his career to practicing criminal defense law and representing individuals accused to have committed crimes.

Experienced trial attorney and criminal litigator;

Frequent guest lecturer on criminal matters at colleges, universities, and law schools throughout...

I'm a shareholder with DeWitt Law Firm practicing in the areas of real estate and business. I have assisted local and international banks and retailers, national restaurant operators and other businesses, community associations, property managers and owners, title insurers, general contractors and construction trades, creditors, landlords, and parties to insurance coverage disputes. I also work with community associations and their property managers in all kinds of transactions and disputes. I have successfully tried and arbitrated cases and handled insurance appraisals in state and federal courts, as well as appeals. I have also been selected to serve as mediator involving issues...

John grew up in Bloomington, MN and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1985. He attended Mankato State University on a football scholarship before attending Indiana University School of Law and receiving his JD with honors in 1992. He moved his office to Burnsville, MN in 1994 and has remained in the same location for over 20 years. At Burns Law Office our practice is limited to family law matters such as divorce/separation, child custody, child support, father's rights, alimony/spousal maintenance, prenuptials and related matters. John is one of the most respected and experienced attorneys in...

Rimas Law Firm was founded and is led by attorney Vytas Rimas. Mr. Rimas is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer whose track record of success in complex civil litigation dates back more than 30 years. His litigation experience includes extensive dispositive motion practice, ediscovery and expert practice. In every matter, Mr. Rimas works closely with clients to develop strategies and deliver solutions that have been tailored to meet the specific needs of each. Based in Minneapolis, Rimas Law Firm strives to provide high quality, cost effective legal services to both U.S. and international clients who have concerns...

Bryan R. Battina represents businesses and individuals in commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and employment law matters. Bryan, a seasoned litigator and trial attorney, brings passion, tenacity and hard earned wisdom to his advocacy for clients. He is results driven and seeks to efficiently and effectively resolve disputes for his clients. After graduating from William Mitchell College of Law, Bryan worked as an associate in-house counsel with the Beltmann Group Incorporated before becoming a sole practitioner to pursue his passion for trial work. Bryan co-founded Bock & Battina, LLP and later founded Battina Law, PLLC before joining Trepanier MacGillis...

I am a Minnesota employment law attorney (V. John Ella) practicing in the areas of employment defense, executive law, non-compete and trade secret litigation, breach of duty of loyalty litigation, tortious interference, executive compensation, stock options, defamation, employment contracts, employment agreements, handbooks, drug testing law, privacy law, commission claims, fraud, sexual harassment claims, employment and housing discrimination, ERISA benefits litigation, public accommodations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law, wage and hour compliance, whistleblower and Sarbanes-Oxley claims, professional licensing issues, appeals, manufacturer sales representative contracts, and closely-held corporation and partnership disputes. I am also...

Coley Grostyan is a criminal defense attorney committed to providing high quality, cost effective, and result oriented representation to his clients. Mr. Grostyan prides himself on working passionately and tirelessly for his clients to ensure the best possible outcome is attained. Coley Grostyan practices in the area of criminal defense and represents clients facing a variety of criminal charges such as DWI or DUI, serious felonies, drug charges, theft, assault, appeals, homicide, and more. Coley Grostyan's assertive and passionate approach to the practice of law has successfully resolved a variety of criminal cases for his clients. In addition to vigorously defending...

Kirk M. Anderson is the founder of Anderson Law Firm, PLLC, and focuses his practice primarily in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury, and appeals. Mr. Anderson has successfully defended criminal charges ranging from petty misdemeanors to felony level offenses in Minnesota, Wisconsin and United States District Court. He has litigated hundreds of civil disputes, and participated in more than 50 appeals.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Anderson was a television reporter at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, MN, and Sports Director of KVSC-FM in St. Cloud, MN, where he was also the play-by-play announcer for the St. Cloud State University...

Jennifer L. Thompson is a Minnesota child protection attorney whose passion is to provide Family-Centered Advocacy for Every Season of Your Lifetime.SM Some seasons of life are full of joy – like adopting the children of your spouse or those who’ve been in foster care. Others are more stormy – especially when social services gets involved with your own children. Whether your children have been removed from your home, you or your facility are under investigation by social services, or you are seeking to intervene in the child protection case of someone you care about, JLT’s effective, empathetic experience will help...

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...

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...

Zorislav Leyderman moved the U.S. from Ukraine (former Soviet Union) when he was 11 and grew up in St. Paul. He obtained his B.A. degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied politics and the American criminal justice system. After college, Zorislav continued his education at the William Mitchell College of Law, where he obtained his J.D. and graduated with honors. While in law school, Zorislav Leyderman worked for the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP) Clinic and the William Mitchell Law Clinic, representing low-income people and Minnesota prisoners in both criminal and civil cases. Zorislav also worked for...

I have assisted in various matters including, but not limited to: - Receivership and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Reorganizations - Out-of-Court Loan "Workout" Negotiations - Bankruptcy Preference Actions - Administrative Arbitrations and Federal Appellate matters - Real Estate Acquisitions, Sales, Development, and Leasing matters - Drafting and Negotiating Agreements: Supply Agreements, Service Agreements, Software Agreements, Recruiting Agreements, Printing Agreements, Confidentiality and Non-disclosure Agreements, and other business contracts - Merger and Acquisition matters ranging in size from $2MM to $150MM - Trial and Pre-trial Litigation matters - Creating Checklists for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance - Organizational Documents, Amendments, and Agreements for Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Partnerships

Justin Duffy is a skilled criminal defense attorney and trial lawyer with The Law Office of John J. Leunig who represents clients in both state and federal court in Minnesota. Mr. Duffy's zealous advocacy on behalf of his clients has resulted in victory at trial, complete dismissals prior to trial, and victory on appeal. He defends clients charged with all levels and types of crimes, including, but not limited to, DWI, assault, theft, drug possession, criminal sexual conduct, prostitution, criminal vehicular homicide, murder, and white collar crimes. For more information on The Law Office of John J. Leunig and Mr....

I have practiced appellate law for 21 years. I have appeared before the Minnesota Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

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Erik Hansen is the managing partner at Burns and Hansen, focusing on complex civil litigation, appeals, and business transactions. Erik has over twenty years of experience litigating multi-million dollar, high-stakes complex civil litigation cases in state and federal court in Minnesota and across the country. Erik has successfully argued cases at every level of state court in Minnesota, as well as in multiple federal jurisdictions, both at the district and appellate court levels. Erik has received national awards and recognition for his advocacy on behalf of clients. Erik is an established voice in the Minnesota appellate practice community. He brings a broad...

Matthew Schaap is a shareholder at Dougherty Molenda and serves on the firm's board of directors. He focuses on personal and business litigation, offering clients seasoned guidance in and out of the courtroom. Starting his career as a Judicial Law Clerk to Judge Elizabeth Hayden in Minnesota, Matthew supported judicial decision-making with crucial research and writing. He gained valuable experience assisting in jury trials across criminal and civil contexts, observing winning trial techniques firsthand. Joining Dougherty Molenda in 2004 post-clerkship, Matthew dedicated his practice to litigation and trial advocacy. He aims to be a zealous advocate, ensuring thorough research on all pertinent...