Category: Top Stories

Posted January 26, 2016

Nilan Johnson Lewis’ Board of Directors Now Predominantly Female

With the election of two shareholders to the board of directors, the leadership team at Nilan Johnson Lewis is now majority female. The Minneapolis-based law firm elected shareholders Susan Kratz and Christy Mennen to join fellow shareholders Sheila Kerwin, founder Brian Johnson, and current president Stephen Warch to serve on the board.

Posted January 21, 2016

Supreme Court: ERISA Plan’s Equitable Lien Cannot Be Enforced Against Plan Participant’s Separate Assets

In an 8 to 1 decision, the Supreme Court held that a subrogation lien set forth in the benefit plan cannot be enforced in equity under section 502(a)(3) of ERISA against a plan participant's separate assets—those funds that exist outside a specified fund.

Posted January 1, 2016

Nilan Johnson Lewis Announces Its 2016 Board of Directors

Nilan Johnson Lewis is pleased to announce its 2016 board of directors. Newly elected shareholders Susan Kratz and Christy Mennen join fellow shareholders Sheila Kerwin, founder Brian Johnson, and current president Stephen Warch. The election of Kratz and Mennen makes the board of directors majority female.

Posted December 18, 2015

EEOC’s Attack on Severance Agreements Rejected by U.S. Court of Appeals

In a result that will likely be viewed as an important victory for employers, the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the EEOC’s landmark lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy Inc.

Posted December 10, 2015 with Tags FLSA, DOL, Overtime

Overwhelming Response Forces US DOL to Change Release Date for Revisions to FLSA Overtime Rules

The DOL recently revealed that it received three times as many comments as expected to the proposed changes.

Posted December 2, 2015

Labor Department Proposes ERISA Rule Changes

Nilan Johnson Lewis attorney Bill Hittler consults with organizations on ERISA and employee benefits matters and is available to provide interpretation on the possible changes. He says that, if enacted, these modifications will require administrators to modify their procedures to provide for additional disclosures and to ensure that all decisions are based on a full and fair review of the relevant information in the claim file.

Posted October 28, 2015

Major Changes in Store for Classifying Worker Overtime Status

Nilan Johnson Lewis labor and employment attorney Joe Schmitt analyzes President Obama’s push for expanding overtime rules, and explains the impact on businesses and employees. Overview The United States Department of Labor is set to announce significant changes to the “exempt” classification …

Posted September 28, 2015

Illusory Promises May Derail Your Non-Competes

Katie Connolly authored an article on illusory promises in non-competes for the Corporate Compliance Insights website.

Posted July 6, 2015

Nilan Johnson Lewis Attorney Awarded Highest Law Honor

Nilan Johnson Lewis law firm announces that Joe Schmitt has been elected as a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. The College recognizes the leading lawyers nationwide in the practice of labor and employment law.

Posted July 1, 2015

Nilan Johnson Lewis Successfully Defends Client Evenflo Against Class Action Claims

Nilan Johnson Lewis attorneys Amanda Cialkowski, Matthew Murphy, Cortney Sylvester and John Wackman have successfully defended their client Evenflo Company, Inc., in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

Posted June 26, 2015

Nilan Johnson Lewis Proud to Support Supreme Court’s Decision for Marriage Equality

"This is an important decision for the country," said Stephen Warch, president of Nilan Johnson Lewis. "It affirms the principles of fundamental fairness and equality that are embedded in the Constitution."

Posted June 4, 2015

Nilan Johnson Lewis Welcomes Attorney Zachary Crain

Crain brings nearly a decade of law firm and in-house experience representing corporate and individual clients in complex business and real estate transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, and commercial disputes.

Posted April 24, 2015

Nilan Johnson Lewis Named A 2015 Go-To Law Firm® for Fortune 500 Companies

Nilan Johnson Lewis has been recognized as a 2015 “Go-To Law Firm®” for Fortune 500 companies by Corporate Counsel magazine. The firm was recognized for its work on behalf of notable, large companies, including: Best Buy, Citigroup, Con-way, Ford, Merck, MetLife, Target, United Parcel Service, US Foods, and Wells Fargo.

Posted April 20, 2015

Nilan Johnson Lewis Recognized by Law360 as a Top Law Firm for Female Attorneys

Nilan Johnson Lewis is proud to be ranked highly (16th) on Law360’s inaugural list of the 100 best U.S. law firms for female attorneys. The firm is also recognized as a Law360 Ceiling Smasher, a ranking that highlights 25 firms that have made significant strides toward gender equality by hiring or promoting a large percentage of female shareholders. Nilan Johnson Lewis is ranked sixth on that list, and the highest of any firm in Minnesota, with 39 percent of its shareholders being women.

Posted January 13, 2015

Nilan Johnson Lewis Elects New President

Nilan Johnson Lewis PA is pleased to announce that Stephen Warch has been elected president of the law firm, effective January 1, 2015.

Posted October 28, 2014

Nilan Johnson Lewis Awarded Two “Your Honor” Awards by the Legal Marketing Association

Minneapolis law firm Nilan Johnson Lewis announces that it was awarded two first place honors, for excellence in advertising and for online interactive marketing tools, by the Minnesota chapter of the Legal Marketing Association at its annual “Your Honor Awards” …

Posted September 18, 2014

Minnesota Supreme Court Allows Hospitals to Rely on Guardian Decision

Yesterday, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a decision that has been eagerly awaited by hospitals and others in Minnesota.  The court ruled in In re the Guardianship of Jeffers J. Tschumy, Ward that a guardian has the power to consent …

Posted September 10, 2014

Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Law on Allocation of Liability

The Minnesota Supreme Court today issued its long-awaited opinion in the case of Staab v. Diocese of St. Cloud. The Court’s decision resolves an important ambiguity in the interpretation of Minnesota Statute 604.02, the law which governs division of liability …

Posted July 21, 2014

Nilan Johnson Lewis Welcomes Brandie Morgenroth to its Product Liability Group

Minneapolis, Minn. (July 21, 2014) – Minneapolis law firm Nilan Johnson Lewis PA announces the addition of associate attorney Brandie Morgenroth to its product liability group where she will focus on product liability/mass tort and commercial litigation. Prior to joining …

Posted July 15, 2014

Heidi Neff Elected Chair for MSBA Business Law Section

Nilan Johnson Lewis attorney and shareholder Heidi Neff was recently elected Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s (MSBA) Business Law Section. The Section focuses on business, professional and nonprofit corporate legislation and practice, and includes attorneys with legal practices …