Minnesota Lawyer Names Faegre Drinker Partners to 2024 “POWER 30 Business Litigation” List

The Minnesota Lawyer named late business litigation practice group leader Debbie Ellingboe and business litigation partners Aaron Van Oort, Michael Cockson and Randy Kahnke as 2024 “POWER 30: Business Litigation” honorees. The recognition focuses on those whose mere presence on a case signifies the stakes, who have influenced the direction of the law, whose leadership in the community is pervasive and whose respect within the bar is undeniable.

Minnesota Lawyer honored Ellingboe with a profile that highlighted how she was remembered by friends and colleagues as a brilliant lawyer, how she cared deeply for her colleagues, and was generous with her support and advice. The publication included an admirable quote from Judge James Rosenbaum, “Debbie Ellingboe was an outstanding young woman and a superb lawyer. She coupled her extraordinary intellect with an utterly charming and cheerful disposition. Unsurprisingly, Faegre (in all its iterations) designated her its head of business litigation. Few, however, suspected she could both race, drive stick shift Porsches, and be honored as a State Fair Blue Ribbon baking champion. It was an honor and great privilege to know her and call her a friend.” Read Debbie’s profile here.

In Kahnke’s profile, he discussed the challenges of business litigation, which tend to be anticipating problems and managing risk. Kahnke explained that getting ahead of whatever is on the horizon is key in providing a systematic way of solving disputes and guiding future ones. Read Randy’s profile.

Van Oort’s profile shares his skills as a legal strategist, class action litigator, and appellate lawyer, highlighting his cases with UnitedHealthcare and Anywhere Real Estate, Inc. Van Oort shared that “to be a legal strategist means that while a trial is prepared for and conducted to prevail, it is also prepared and conducted to win on appeal.” Read Aaron’s profile here.

Minnesota Lawyer highlighted Cockson’s practice and dedication to pro bono work in his profile. Cockson devotes his pro bono time to landlord tenant and housing issues, which have become extremely important since the eviction moratorium during the height of the pandemic. His practice also includes class actions, mergers and acquisitions and post M&A issues. Read Michael’s profile here.

To select honorees, the publication interviewed respected attorneys and other leaders around the state, reviewed outcomes of myriad significant cases handled by these and other attorneys and consulted its archives to highlight people whose achievements and influence are recognized as powerful business litigators in Minnesota.

Read the full “POWER 30: Business Litigation” list to learn more (the full article is available for Minnesota Lawyer subscribers).