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Joel SchroederJoel Schroeder
Joel P. Schroeder
Attorney
60 South Sixth Street
Suite 2700
Minneapolis, MN 55402
P 612.843.5814
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I listen. I get to the heart of the matter. And I always try to score a win for our clients.

Joel Schroeder is a partner at Best & Flanagan, and focuses his practice on labor and employment law, and non-compete, trade-secret and other commercial litigation.  Since 2019, he has been named as a Minnesota "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation.  In 2018, he was selected to the list of the Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers.  In addition to his employment law compliance and litigation practice, Joel is retained by companies to conduct internal employment investigations when a neutral third party is needed.  He has represented Fortune 500 corporations, small businesses, executives and a foreign government.  

Experience

Courtroom Work and Trials

Joel’s litigation practice is extensive. Though many lawsuits can and should settle, Joel is eager to take a case to trial when the opposing party is unwilling to resolve the case on terms favorable to his client. Joel has won multiple dispositive motions and has tried cases to judge and jury. His trial experience has included:

  • A race-discrimination contested hearing before the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights;
  • A promissory-estoppel jury trial in Minnesota state court;
  • A fraudulent misrepresentation and Equal Pay Act trial in Minnesota federal court; and
  • A trade-secret, tortious interference, and computer fraud trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Joel has litigated a wide variety of commercial disputes, including shareholder disputes and cases involving allegations of violations of the False Claims Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, fraud, and other federal statutes.  Joel has extensive experience prosecuting and defending non-compete and trade-secret cases across the country, both securing and defeating motions for TROs and preliminary injunctions.

Employment Counseling and Investigations

Joel’s litigation experience allows him to proactively advise clients before a lawsuit begins.  He works with clients to resolve workplace issues involving hiring and pay practices, disability accommodations, leaves of absences, wage and hour compliance, restrictive covenants, performance management, and employment separations. Joel’s goal is to provide clients with peace of mind and a clear, go-forward strategy.

When a neutral third party is needed, Joel is retained by companies to investigate complaints of discrimination, harassment, fraud, and other misconduct.  As a Spanish speaker, Joel is one of a handful of investigators in the region who have the ability to interview Spanish-speaking witnesses in their native language.

Local Counsel Services and Community Connections

With deep knowledge of local practice and procedure, Joel is frequently retained by national law firms to serve as local counsel for civil litigation matters venued in Minnesota.

Joel is active in the community and has served in leadership roles at the local and national level of the Federal Bar Association (FBA). He currently is a director of the Minnesota Chapter of the FBA and serves as Co-Vice President of Special Events (and previously served as Co-Vice President of Membership, Legal Education and Monthly Meetings). Joel is a longtime volunteer with the Tubman Pro Bono Safety Project, working with battered women and children to secure orders for protection in Hennepin and Ramsey County District Court.

Before Best & Flanagan

Prior to joining Best & Flanagan in August 2016, Joel was a partner and associate at Faegre Baker Daniels, an associate at Rider Bennett, and a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. 

Related Practices
Education
University of St. Thomas School of Law, 2004, J.D., cum laude

Law Journal, Symposium Editor

Washington University in St. Louis, 2000, B.A., Political Science and Spanish, with honors
Admissions
State of Minnesota
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Language(s)
Firm News
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Professional Associations
  • Federal Bar Association, National Labor & Employment Law Section
    • Governing Board and Co-Chair of the Standing Committee on Legislation and Congressional Relations (2016-2018)
  • Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter
    • National Council Delegate (2021-2022);
    • Director and Co-Vice President of Membership (2018-2020);
    • Director and Co-Vice President of Legal Education (2017-2018);
    • Director and Co-Vice President of Monthly Meetings (2016-2017)
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
    • Labor & Employment Law Section, Governing Council Member (2022-2024)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Minnesota Management Attorneys’ Association, Member
  • Association of Workplace Investigators, Member
Community Associations
  • SocMed, Board Member
  • University of St. Thomas School of Law, Mentor Program
  • Washington University in St. Louis, Executive Co-Chair of 10 and 15-Year Reunions
  • Tubman Safety Project, Volunteer Attorney
Awards & Recognition
  • Honoree, Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2017-present
    • Employment Litigation – Defense
    • Minnesota Super Lawyers, Top 100 List, 2018 
  • Top Lawyers in Minnesota, Minnesota Monthly, 2022-present
    • Labor & Employment Law
  • Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star, 2019-2023
  • Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under Hot List, 2018
  • Benchmark Litigation, Future Star, 2017
  • Honoree, Minnesota Rising Stars, 2011-2016
    • Employment Litigation – Defense
After Hours

Although I’m from Minnesota, I’ve spent a lot of time in Spanish-speaking countries—including 9 months in Spain and 4 months in Colombia. Outside of the office, you will find me sneaking in a jog every now and then and keeping up with my two young daughters.  

Joel's Team
P 612.341.9733
P 612.349.5665
P 612.341.9735
P 612.349.5692