James L. "Jim" Volling

Laura serves as Chair of the Insurance Coverage practice group for the firm’s Minneapolis office. She focuses her practice on commercial insurance coverage -- especially environmental and construction defect claims and litigation, which she has handled throughout the United States in the state and federal trial and appeals courts. She has appeared in three state supreme courts and four different federal circuit courts of appeals. Her practice also includes insurance coverage disputes un...

Earl Cohen focuses his practice in the broad areas of estate, business, asset protection and business succession planning, and estate and trust administration. He assists his individual and business clients with the organization, operation and, when necessary, financial reorganization of their business and/or individual interests. Tapping over 40 years of legal experience, Earl regularly provides professional and business clients with asset protection strategies as part of their estate and bu...

Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Elizabeth Drotning, who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth Drotning is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Her clients, co–workers, and colleagues and competitors in the marketplace remark that Janel M. Dressen is a tenacious business litigator who will advocate tirelessly and creatively to resolve her client’s business disputes. Janel prides herself on being the most prepared person in the room, solving problems that lawyers and clients refer to as “the most challenging” and getting to know her clients and their businesses as much as they do. She loves to solve problems an...

Lenders and creditors seek Wyatt’s assistance in retail and commercial-lending disputes involving distressed loans, collateral recovery, lien priority, workouts, eviction, and mortgage foreclosure. Wyatt also regularly represents clients in construction disputes on claims of negligence, defect, delay, warranty, and breach of contract. His broad experience in real estate, lending, and construction law allows Wyatt to understand an entire project and find an efficient way to resolve each ...

Scott M. Rusert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Compliance Law and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Scott M., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas G. Wallrich is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Thomas G., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas J. Basting Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Thomas J., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve Plunkett concentrates his practice in health care and sexual misconduct defense, bringing nearly 30 years of experience to his role as litigator and counsel. Mr. Plunkett has defended health care and other clients in hundreds of cases involving bodily injury or the death of residents in group homes and assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. His health care team obtained a defense verdict in 2017 in a significant pressure wound injury case. Mr. Plunkett also represents corporatio...

Russ Ponessa is a trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience representing companies whose products or business practices are under attack. He has a wide ranging civil litigation practice with substantial experience in the areas of product and professional liability, toxic tort, construction, business and other commercial disputes, insurance coverage, and consumer claims. Mr. Ponessa has tried numerous cases to verdict and has handled a wide variety of single- and multiple-claim lawsuits in...