Best & FlanaganBest & Flanagan
Thomas B. Heffelfinger has devoted most of his 34-year career to investigating, prosecuting and defending white collar criminal misconduct and violent crime. In addition, he has focused his career upon issues facing Native American communities.
Tom has served as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, as an Assistant United States Attorney in Minnesota and, on two separate occasions, as the Presidentially-appointed United States Attorney for the State of Minnesota. During Tom’s service as United States Attorney from 2001 to 2006, he also served as Chairman of the United States Department of Justice’s Native American Issues Subcommittee and was responsible for the development and implementation of a wide range of policies related to public safety in Indian Country.
During a private practice career of more than 15 years, Tom has specialized in the representation of individuals and organizations who have been the victims of white collar crime, accused of such crime or were seeking to prevent such crime within their organization. Tom’s private practice also includes the representation of tribal governments on public safety issues and of the regulatory branches of Native American tribes who are responsible for the background investigation of all gaming employees pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. He has been named a “Super Lawyer” by Minnesota Law & Politics; one of “200 Minnesotans You Should Know” by Twin Cities Business; and one of “Minnesota’s Best Lawyers” by Minnesota Monthly.
University of Minnesota, J.D., 1975
Stanford University, B.A., History, 1970
State of Minnesota
United States District Court, District of Minnesota
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Federal Claims
United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Forest County Potawatomi Community Tribal Court
White Earth Band of Chippewa Tribal Court
American, Minnesota, Hennepin County, Federal and Minnesota American Indian Bar Associations
National Association of Former United States Attorneys, 1993 - 2001; April 2006 - present
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1997-2001; November 2006 - present
Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota, Bemidji, Minnesota, Board of Directors member, 2006 - present
Metropolitan Council, Transportation Advisory Board Member, April 2010 - Present
Twin Cities Area Chapter, American Red Cross; Board Member, 1988 - 2001; 2006 - Present