Taopi Employment Lawyers

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...

Jerri Adams Belcher is a fearless and tenacious advocate for employees’ rights. She represents individuals who have experienced discrimination, retaliation, and harassment in the workplace. Prior to joining Wanta Thome PLC, Jerri litigated and tried employment, insurance, and construction-defect cases. During law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she developed her advocacy skills as a judicial intern for then Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Further, she completed externships at the Wisconsin Department of Justice in its Civil Litigation unit, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C. Jerri also served...

John retired from the United States Marine Corps as a Gunnery Sergeant after serving twenty-two years in various infantry, artillery and administrative capacities in numerous locations within the United States and around the world. John chaired the initiative to start Veterans Courts in Minnesota and has traveled the country assisting in setting them up. Additionally, John travels the country teaching law enforcement how to deal with veterans in crisis. John was a 2010 Attorney of the Year recipient.

For over thirty years Joni M. Thome has focused her practice working on behalf of employees who have been wrongfully terminated from their jobs due to discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation. Joni is a founding member of Wanta Thome PLC and was a founding partner of Baillon Thome Jozwiak and Wanta. Joni consistently obtains positive results for her clients through court awards and settlements and is well known for her advocacy and commitment to employee rights.

Barry O’Neil is a trial attorney, who is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota Bar Association. Mr. O’Neil’s practice involves the resolution of complex commercial disputes, professional liability claims, employment-related issues and insurance claims. A significant portion of Mr. O’Neil’s practice is in the area of professional liability defense with emphasis in legal malpractice. Mr. O’Neil is the practice group manager of the firm’s Trials and Litigation Practice Group, and he also heads Lommen Abdo’s entertainment litigation initiative. Mr. O’Neil has extensive experience in employment litigation including all types of employment discrimination claims, and he has additionally acted...

Nicholas DeMaris is passionate about protecting the rights of employees who have been discriminated against, retaliated against, or harassed in the workplace. During his time at the University of Iowa College of Law, Nicholas served as an Articles Editor on the Iowa Law Review and as a clinical law student in the Employment Law practice group representing workers in employment related disputes.

Drew McNeil is a Minnesota-based lawyer with the firm Bernick Lifson PA. Drew specializes in issues including commercial litigation, employee and labor law, real estate litigation, business transactions, landlord/tenant law, and real estate litigation. Drew received his J.D. from University of Minnesota School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude in 2012 and his B.S. from University of St. Thomas, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2009. During his time in law school, Drew served as managing editor of the Minnesota Law Review. Before joining Bernick Lifson, Drew clerked for the Federal Trade Commission’s Midwest Regional office in...

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...

See website

Universidad Catolica Andres Bello: Abogada 1999. Hamline University Law School: Master of Laws 2001. William Mitchell College of Law: Juris Doctor 2003. Licensed to practice in Venezuela, and before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the United States District Court. Fluent in Spanish and English Faculty at National American University: Paralegal Program Currently serving as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Diversity Committee.

Adam's work focuses on representation of labor organizations in Federal and State court, in administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, and in arbitrations of labor disputes. He also provides strategic advice to labor organizations in various non-litigation matters. In addition, Adam handles employment discrimination and wage issues. Before coming to the firm, Adam interned at the Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board.

Jack E. Pierce is a Minnesota-based lawyer with the firm Bernick Lifson. His areas of focus include business and real estate litigation. In addition to trial experience, he has argued cases before federal courts of appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court. Trials he has participated in have covered issues related to employment and shareholder disputes, construction defects, and real estate disagreements. In his work, Jack places an emphasis on advising clients on how to avoid litigation, as a means to avoid going to trial in court. In his free time, Jack enjoys volunteering at a local high school as a...