Meagher + Geer, PLLP

We are proud to announce that Minnesota Lawyer has named Meagher + Geer attorney Alexander Tibor a 2024 Up & Coming Attorney! This recognition honors attorneys who distinguish themselves in their first ten years of practice through professional accomplishment, leadership, and service to the community and the legal profession. Congratulations, Zander!

We are excited to welcome Dillon Ellis to our Minneapolis office! Welcome to the team, Dillon!
Lean more: https://tinyurl.com/yhfs57ay

On August 26, The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Foundation presented a Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship award to Jurry Bajwah, a 3L student at Duquesne Thomas Kline Law School.

In attendance were Jurry Bajwah, the Awardee, 3L Student; Law School Dean April Barton; Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs Ella Kwisnek; Asst. Dean of Career Services Maria Comas; as well as, a number of students, along with from the FDCC Foundation: Ned Currie, for the FDCC Foundation Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship; Stacy Broman, Immediate Past President of the FDCC Foundation; Craig Marvinney, FDCC Chairman of the Board and Immediate Past President; Deb Varner, FDCC Foundation Past President; and John Fitts, FDCC Foundation Past President.

The FDCC Foundation Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship was created to honor the spouse of long time FDCC member, Edward J. Currie, Jr., a champion of diversity in the profession.

Stacy Broman is a partner in Meagher + Geer's Minneapolis office.

We are delighted to welcome attorney Sadiya Hashem to our Los Angeles office! Welcome to the team, Sadiya! Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/y8fbmycf

We are thrilled to welcome attorney Nikolas Thompson to our Phoenix office! Welcome to the team, Nik!
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/mwrffxwx

We are excited to announce that Chuck Spevacek has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as its 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Defendants in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

This is Chuck’s fifth time being designated “Lawyer of the Year,” having previously received the award in 2016 and 2021 in the same category (Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Defendants), and in the area of Insurance Law in 2014 and 2019.

Congratulations, Chuck!

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/n272wcyu

We are thrilled to announce that Best Lawyers has selected 25 of our attorneys in 14 practice areas for 2025, including two named Lawyer of the Year honorees and four named Ones to Watch! Congratulations to our honorees!
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/vmarunz2

We are proud to announce that we are renewing our commitment to Mansfield Certification for 2024–2025. We are excited to continue contributing to this vibrant community, now 365+ firms strong! With the structured support of Mansfield and the Diversity Lab team, we will continue working to ensure that opportunities for advancement are inclusive for everyone at Meagher + Geer. Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/5n6mx9y7

Jacalyn Chinander presented yesterday at the Minnesota CLE seminar, Hiring – How to Select and Assess Applicants Lawfully and Effectively. The interactive program provided a practical toolkit on what you need to know to remain compliant and anticipate areas of liability in the hiring process. If you were not able to attend yesterday, Minnesota CLE offers online replay sessions next month!

The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) hosted its Annual Meeting in Toronto last week. During the meeting our Partner Stacy Broman, who served as FDCC Foundation President 2023-2024, took to the stage to deliver the Foundation’s Report. Stacy has been active with FDCC since 2004 and was the recipient of its Diversity Award in 2020.

Congratulations to our Partner, Charles Spevacek, for being recognized as the Federated Challenge 2024 Honoree for his involvement with our long-time client Federated Insurance Company and its Federated Challenge®: Supporting Big Brothers and Big Sisters®.

Our firm is incredibly proud of Chuck and to have sponsored this record-breaking fundraising event since its inception in 2004.

Congratulations, Chuck!

We are excited to welcome Cameron Michelsen to our Minneapolis office as an associate in our insurance practice group! Welcome to the team, Cameron! Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/am4mbz85

Congratulations to Meagher + Geer Partner Tracy Kolb on successfully obtaining a defense verdict for her hospital client. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/yc8vsjxj

We are thrilled to share that 19 Meagher + Geer attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters in the 2024 issue of Minnesota Super Lawyers Magazine. Additionally, for the 4th consecutive year, Stacy Broman has been included in the “Top 50 Women” list.

Congratulations to each of our remarkable attorneys! Read more: https://tinyurl.com/v4u5duzr

Minnesota Super Lawyers:
Mark Bloomquist, Nicole Brand, Stacy Broman (Top 50 Women), Rodger Hagen, Laura Hanson, Bill Hart, John Hughes, Tony Krall, Brad Lindeman, Heather Neubauer, Elizabeth Poeschl, Tim Schupp, Greg Simpson, Chuck Spevacek, Debra Weiss, and Leatha Wolter.

Minnesota Rising Stars:
Kate Baker, Besse McDonald, and Alexander Tibor

Meagher + Geer wishes everyone a safe and happy 4th of July!

Ryan Paukert recently published, The Design Defect in Products Liability Laws: Over-Exposure of Non-Manufacturer Designers, in Minnesota Defense. This article discusses how these statutes could prove problematic for non-manufacturer designers and offers a few ways in which their potential tort exposure may be reduced. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2dcjfmrp

Earlier today, Katie Barton and Ethan Groothuis were admitted to the US District Court for the District of Minnesota. Congratulations to Katie and Ethan (shown with Heather Neubauer who moved for their admission) on this achievement!

We are thrilled to welcome attorney John Miles to our Minneapolis office! John joins our anti-fraud and extra contractual litigation, insurance coverage, commercial litigation, construction, and products liability practice groups. Welcome to the team, John!
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/58fw2d79

We are excited to welcome attorney Kobie Layne to our Minneapolis office! Kobie joins our anti-fraud and extra contractual litigation, insurance coverage, construction, and products liability practice groups. Welcome to the team, Kobie! Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2ffdd8cd

We are thrilled to welcome law student Fred Rong to the firm! Fred joins our Minneapolis office by way of the Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (TDCIP) 1L Clerkship Program. Welcome to the team, Fred!

We are proud to announce Chuck Spevacek, Bill Hart, and Mike Hutchens (posthumously awarded) have been recognized in the Chambers USA 2024 guide. This final recognition of the immense skill and talent of our too-soon departed Partner and dear friend Mike Hutchens is a fitting capstone to a stellar career. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2x6w96k9

It is our pleasure to announce that Charles Spevacek has been ranked and recognized in the latest edition of Who’s Who Legal: Insurance & Reinsurance. Congratulations, Chuck!
Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/bdcryb7w

It is with deep sadness that we share the loss of Michael “Mike” Hutchens, esteemed longtime colleague and friend, who passed away on May 26, 2024. https://tinyurl.com/InMemoriamMichaelHutchens

Congratulations to partner Tracy Kolb for being selected once again to the Great Plains Super Lawyers list! Well done, Tracy!

It’s great to see our very own Katie Barton at her swearing-in ceremony with the Honorable Nelson Peralta who administered the oath for admission! Congratulations on your admissions to the Montana and Nebraska state bars, Katie!

Proud to share that Katie Barton and Ethan Groothuis have been admitted to the Illinois State Bar. Congratulations, Katie and Ethan!

Celebrating our dedicated and extraordinarily talented administrative professionals this week. Happy Administrative Professionals Week!

Congratulations to our three partners Wyatt Bailey, Tom Crouch, and Kurt Zitzer who were selected by their peers for inclusion in Southwest Super Lawyers 2024 edition! A special congratulations to Kurt Zitzer for once again being recognized in the Top 50 Southwest Super Lawyers list.

Our very own Makayla Miks was sworn into the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. Congratulations Makayla, well done!

Trial lawyers, Joseph Simmer and Besse McDonald, successfully defended a western Minnesota hospital and its providers against allegations that a patient’s death was the result of a delayed diagnosis. After a six-day trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict finding the providers were not negligent in their care and treatment of the patient.

Congratulations to Joe and Besse on a job well done!