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 serves 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, along with U.S. Magistrate Judge Kate Menendez, serves as Co-Vice President of Legal Education. He is also a board member of the national Labor & Employment Section of the FBA. 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 County District Court.

Before Best & Flanagan

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