Overview

Jeff Justman is a legal strategist and advocate who represents clients in shareholder and securities litigation, appellate matters, and class actions in state and federal courts across the country. Jeff also manages an active pro bono practice, with a particular emphasis on protecting the right to vote and to participate in the political process.

Jeff's excellence in these areas has been recognized by his peers and clients: Minnesota Lawyer has recognized Jeff as a "Super Lawyer" in securities and corporate finance litigation, and Chambers USA has ranked Jeff as one of a dozen recognized industry leaders in appellate litigation in Minnesota.

Shareholder & Securities Litigation

Jeff defends public companies and their officers and directors in securities and shareholder litigation involving all types of alleged mismanagement, including issues arising from executive compensation, accounting restatements, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), data breaches, product recalls and other issues. Jeff has secured dismissals in a wide variety of shareholder and securities litigation, including in shareholder derivative lawsuits, lawsuits arising out of public company mergers, federal securities-fraud lawsuits, and stock-drop lawsuits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Appellate Litigation

Jeff has litigated cases in all stages of appeals, from interlocutory appeals in intermediate appellate courts to extraordinary writs at the Supreme Court of the United States. He focuses on litigation and advocacy before the Eighth Circuit and has briefed and argued numerous cases before that court. Jeff is a past president and director of the Eighth Circuit Bar Association, has been appointed by that court to argue appeals, and clerked for two Eighth Circuit judges: then-Chief Judge James B. Loken and Judge Diana E. Murphy.

Data Breach & Data Privacy Litigation

Jeff represents clients in data breach and data privacy litigation, including class-action litigation under federal privacy statutes such as the Video Privacy Protection Act, and shareholder derivative litigation arising from breaches. Jeff has also counseled clients facing data breaches on compliance with state data breach notification requirements.

Voting Rights

Jeff also manages an active pro bono practice, with a particular emphasis on protecting the right to vote and to participate in the political process. Jeff represents nonprofit entities such as state affiliates of the League of Women Voters and the NAACP, as well as individual voters, in pro bono lawsuits designed to make it safer, easier and fairer to vote. In 2019, Jeff was part of the pro bono team that won a victory in front of a three-judge district court in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan invalidating over 30 state and federal legislative districts as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. In 2020, Jeff was a member of the pro bono team that secured a consent decree making it easier for Minnesotans to vote by absentee ballot, without the requirement of a witness’s signature, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jeff is committed to protecting democracy by ensuring all voters’ access to the ballot box, and has partnered with individuals and corporations to defend the right to vote and participate in the political process.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Minnesota

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota

Clerkships

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Hon. Diana E. Murphy, 2010-2011
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Hon. James B. Loken, 2009-2010

Education

University of Minnesota Law School
J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Minnesota Law Review (symposium articles editor) (2009)

Carleton College
B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Senior Thesis with Distinction (2004)

Experience

Experience

Enservco Wins Motion to Dismiss in Securities Fraud Class Action

Experience

Faegre Drinker Team Secures Appellate Victory for LivaNova

Experience

Minneapolis Team Secures Over $27 Million for Cargill

Experience

Faegre Drinker Wins Summary Judgment for Trystar LLC

Experience

Pella Corporation Successfully Moves to Dismiss Claims in Dispute With Former Distributor

Experience

LivaNova Wins Reversal of $1.38M Jury Verdict on Appeal

Experience

Faegre Drinker Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of Bipartisan Group of Senators

Experience

AT&T Wins Appeal in Minnesota False Claims Act Litigation

Experience

Faegre Drinker Wins Appeal in Shareholder Litigation

Experience

ATF Agent Wins Appeal in Whistleblower Protection Act Claim

Experience

Target Prevails in ERISA Class Action

Experience

Financial Services Industry Company Wins Major Appellate Victory

Experience

Target Secures Favorable Result in Securities Litigation

Experience

Sixth Circuit Rules for Buffalo Wild Wings in Franchise Dispute

Experience

Eighth Circuit Enforces St. Paul Coverage Exclusion, Reversing District Court

Experience

Eighth Circuit Affirms Bluestem Brands' Arbitration Agreements

Experience

Boston Scientific Corporation Wins Unanimous Decision in Minnesota Supreme Court Non-Compete Case

Experience

Cargill Wins Case-Ending Appellate Victory

Experience

Bluestem Brands, Inc. Wins Appeal of Order Denying Motion to Compel Arbitration

Experience

Public Company Defeats Shareholder Litigation Over Buyout

Experience

Ethanol Distributor Wins Seventh Circuit Appeal

Experience

Cargill Wins Summary Judgment on Eve of Trial

Experience

Cirrus Aircraft Successfully Reverses $10M Jury Verdict

Experience

Favorable Supreme Court Decision for Client in Rare Writ of Mandamus Petition

Experience

Biotech Company Wins Breach-of-Contract and Conversion Action

Experience

Public Company Defeats Request To Enjoin Corporate Merger

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives

Firm Blog Contributions

  • Faegre Drinker on Products – a blog addressing all things product liability that covers legal issues and developments of interest to product manufacturers and their employers
  • Spotlight on Benefits – a blog offering practical insight on legal developments which impact benefit plans

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • Eighth Circuit Bar Association, 2010-present — Board Member, 2014-22; President, 2021
  • Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter — Board Member, 2014-present
  • Federal Practice Committee, District of Minnesota, 2014-17

Civic Activities

  • American Constitution Society, Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter — Board of Advisors, 2021-present 
  • Tubman Organization — Board Member, 2018-present
  • Mount Olivet Lutheran Church Senior Choir, 2006-present
  • Teach for America, 2004-06

Honors

  • Chambers USA — Minnesota, Litigation: Appellate, 2021-24
  • Chambers USA — Minnesota, Litigation: Appellate, “Up and Coming” Lawyer, 2019-20 
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020-23
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers — Rising Star, Securities & Corporate Finance Litigation, 2016-20
  • JD Supra — Readers' Choice Awards, 2017
  • Minnesota Lawyer — Attorneys of the Year, 2023, 2015
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2012-19
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Baker Benson Pro Bono Award, 2015, 2018, 2019 (twice)