On February 15, 2023, outstanding individuals and teams were honored for their exemplary legal work by Minnesota Lawyer. The annual Attorneys of the Year event recognizes efforts in procuring a successful result in an important case or business transaction, leadership in professional associations, participating in newsworthy events in the legal community, performing significant public services or excellence in providing in-house legal services.

The 2022 Attorneys of the Year Awards were presented at an in-person celebration held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis.

Among the legal teams recognized as Attorneys of the Year were Justin Perl, Steve Schmidt, Justin Page and Eren Sutherland of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid; along with Peter J. McElligott and Steven M. Pincus of Anthony Ostlund Louwagie Dressen & Boylan PA; and Laura Farley of Nichols Kaster, PLLP for their work on Murphy et al. v. Harpstead, 16-cv-2623 (DWF/BRT).

After almost 6 years of litigation, the team reached a settlement agreement in the federal class action lawsuit, which requires DHS to take a variety of specific steps to improve access and opportunities for people with disabilities who want to live in their own homes or apartments. Read Settlement Reached in Disability Rights Class Action Lawsuit for more about the case.

Rana Alexander of StandPoint, and Katie Barrett Wiik of Saul Ewing LLP, were honored for their work on In re Hope Coalition before the Minnesota Supreme Court. In the appeal, the high Court ruled that communications between sexual assault counselors and their clients are protected by state law. The ruling is a major victory for advocacy groups in Minnesota, reversing a district court decision that allowed a court review of a victim’s private communications with a sexual assault advocacy counselor in a criminal case. Read Standpoint Wins Minnesota Supreme Court Appeal to Protect Victims' Privacy for more about the case.