Ellen Brinkman is a first-chair trial attorney and is the Co-Managing Partner of the Minneapolis office. She has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal courts, spanning all areas of employment law, shareholder disputes, commercial litigation and business disputes, restrictive covenant disputes, education-related claims, and professional liability. Ellen’s clients range from small businesses in all industries to Fortune 500 companies. Ellen is fiercely competitive and hard-working; she wins trials through her ability to connect with juries and out-prepare the other side. She also approaches each case practically, finding business-oriented efficient resolutions when a settlement makes the most sense. Ellen views her role as part zealous advocate, part risk manager, and part strategic team player.
- Defense verdict in two-week age discrimination and retaliation jury trial against Fortune 100 bank; jury awarded $0 in response to $12M request by Plaintiff.
- Defense verdict in disability discrimination and retaliation bench trial; panel of three judges awarded $1 in damages in response to $10M request by Plaintiff.
- Directed verdict and dismissal granted by court after two-week jury trial in case involving non-compete, breach of contract, and wage claims; complete dismissal in response to multi-million dollar demand by Plaintiff.
- First and second chair trial attorney experience and significant wins in several jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and statutory issues, shareholder, breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and related claims.
- Hired as lead counsel to take over high-profile six-plaintiff federal court race discrimination case involving local school district that generated national news attention; obtained successful resolution of all claims.
- Summary judgment granted in case involving Title IX, breach of contract, and negligence claims by college student against major University; affirmed by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Summary Judgment granted in case involving age discrimination and retaliation claims by employee against Fortune 100 bank; affirmed by 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Summary judgment granted in case involving sex discrimination and retaliation claims by employee against local Minnesota bank; affirmed by 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Summary judgment granted in case involving breach of contract and non-compete claims by employee against home products retailer; affirmed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
- Summary judgment granted in case involving disability discrimination and retaliation claims by employee against major national airline; including use of direct threat defense.
- Summary judgment granted in case involving sexual harassment claims by employee against nationwide food retailer.
- Summary judgment granted in case involving negligence and invasion of privacy claims by tenant against non-profit housing organization.
- Defended hundreds of lawsuits in state and federal courts in Minnesota, North Dakota, and elsewhere, involving all types of employment, business, education, contract, restrictive covenant, professional liability, and other types of claims.
- Defended hundreds of charges of discrimination and other types of administrative complaints before local, state, and federal agencies on all types of employment-related claims, including managing defense through investigation and conciliation processes.
- Independent investigator and day-to-day counselor regarding employment policies, responses to complaints, whistleblower allegations, reductions-in-force, company restructuring, and other employment and business-related issues.
Media
- Featured, Fostering a Culture of Inclusion From Coast to Coast,” Attorney at Law Magazine, Minnesota Edition, Vol. 11, No. 11, November 2022
Admissions
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Memberships
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 2006
- B.A., cum laude, St. Olaf College, 2001
Honors
- The Legal500 Elite, Rated Tier 1 for Commercial Disputes in Minneapolis 2026
- Recognized as Featured Employment Law Attorney in Minnesota Lawyer 2021 Edition: THE POWER 30
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©
– Distinction in Employment Law, 2022 - Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star – Midwest
- Super Lawyers® distinction in Employment & Labor and Business Litigation, 2021-2022
- Super Lawyers® “Rising Star” distinction in Employment & Labor and Business Litigation, 2011-2019