Overview

Rhiannon Beckendorf’s legal knowledge and business judgment allow her to serve a variety of clients and anticipate their labor and employment needs. Her perspective as former in-house counsel for an international company helps her provide comprehensive and effective compliance and training solutions and transaction-related advice to employers of all sizes, including private companies, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.

Compliance and Transactional Experience

For clients involved in transactions, Rhiannon advises on the employment and labor issues at play when acquiring, selling or merging employing entities. Rhiannon also helps employers comply with the many federal and state requirements and trains company leaders and human resources personnel on best practices. She is knowledgeable on key workplace issues including employee hiring, discipline and discharge matters, accommodating qualified employees with disabilities, restrictive covenants and complying with wage and hour and leave laws. Rhiannon also assists clients in drafting employment contracts, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, employee policies, employee handbooks and separation agreements.

Litigation Experience

Rhiannon counsels clients through all aspects of the pre-litigation process, focusing on labor and employment law. In doing so she draws upon years of litigation experience, having successfully represented clients in state and federal district and appellate courts and with federal, state and municipal agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the United States Department of Labor.

In-House Experience

Before to joining the firm, Rhiannon served as corporate counsel for an international health and wellness company, where she provided legal advice to senior business leaders regarding all facets of the business, including employment matters, technology initiatives, privacy compliance, franchise and distribution, risk management, intellectual property and dispute resolution.

Prior to her in-house experience, Rhiannon was an associate attorney with a large employment and labor law firm, focusing primarily on employment litigation.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Minnesota

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Education

University of Minnesota Law School
J.D. Supervising Editor, Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology (2007)

Gustavus Adolphus College
B.A. in Psychology, cum laude with departmental honors (2003)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives

Firm Blog Contributions

  • LaborSphere – a resource providing coverage and insights on breaking cases, recently enacted legislation and a broad range of labor issues

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers

Civic Activities

  • Juliette’s Race (benefiting the Down Syndrome Foundation)
  • Southside Services — Board Member

Honors

  • Best Lawyers® — "Ones to Watch," Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2024-25
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2023
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2018-19