Patrick R. Martin

Patrick R. Martin

Minneapolis, MN recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC

317 Best Lawyers awards

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Biography

Pat Martin is an experienced employment lawyer. He has successfully defended employers by obtaining dismissals, summary judgments, defense verdicts, decertification, and other favorable results in lawsuits involving Title VII, the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), WARN, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Sarbanes-Oxley, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Minnesota Chapter 181, discrimination, harassment, and whistleblowing. Further, he defended and prosecuted several commercial, non-competition, and trade secret lawsuits. Although Pat focuses his practice on defending employers in the state and federal courts of Minnesota and Iowa, he also provides employment counseling, including on RIF and WARN issues. Pat is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Minnesota and Iowa, as well as the Eighth Circuit.

Pat has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in Employment Litigation for more than 10 years and as a “Top 40 Employment Super Lawyer” for Minnesota for several years. Further, he has repeatedly been named a "Top 100" Minnesota Super Lawyer for all practice areas, according to Twin Cities Business and Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine. Pat is also AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell and is listed in Chambers and Partners.

Pat frequently presents at employment law and human resources seminars, including on topics relating to social media, RIFs, and discrimination. He also regularly moderates judges’ panels concerning employment litigation.

Pat has served as the President for the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the second largest FBA chapter in the United States. With almost 900 members, the FBA Minnesota Chapter runs several award-winning programs that enhance the practice of law in federal courts. He also serves as a youth hockey coach for the Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association (2004-2015), and is the current Bantam AA Coach.

Before entering private practice, Pat clerked for the Honorable Thomas J. Kalitowski on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. While at the University of Minnesota Law School, Pat actively participated in Trial Practice, National Moot Court, Civil Clinic, and the American Indian Law Student Association. Before law school – while attending Mankato State (now Minnesota State Mankato) – Pat played college hockey on the 1991 Mavericks team that finished second in the NCAA tournament for Division II and III hockey, and the 1990 team that made it to the Final Four. His teammates voted him the “Best Hustle Award” winner for three of four years.

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC

317 Best Lawyers awards

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC logo

Overview

  • University of Minnesota, J.D., graduated 1995

  • Iowa, United States
  • Minnesota, United States

  • FBA Pro Se Project - Volunteer lawyer
  • Iowa State Bar Association - Member
  • Iowa, United States
  • Minnesota, United States
  • FBA Pro Se Project - Volunteer lawyer
  • Iowa State Bar Association - Member
  • University of Minnesota, J.D., graduated 1995

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Employment Law - Management
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Employment Law - Management, Minneapolis (2023)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Awards:
  • AV Preeminent Rating - Martindale-Hubbell
  • Chambers and Partners
  • Top 40 Employment Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyer for more than 10 years
  • Top 100 Lawyers in Minnesota - Super Lawyers (2015)

Additional Information

  • Experience
  • Larson v. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (D. Minn. 2014) (summary judgment granted in age discrimination case for insurance brokerage and Rule 12 dismissal of paramour favoritism sex discrimination claims)
    • Baker v. Life Time Fitness (D. Minn. 2014) (summary judgment granted in race discrimination case for national fitness center company concerning tennis pros)
      • Glaser v. GKN (N.D. Iowa 2014) (summary judgment granted in Title VII retaliation case for international production company where plant manager reported inappropriate comments made by area manager and was fired 11 days later; court held that "reporting of a single, profane phrase, without context, does not constitute protected activity" under Title VII)
        • Allied Sales Drivers Local No. 289 and Teamsters Local No. 120 v. Sara Lee (D. Minn. 2013, 8th Circuit 2014) (summary judgment granted (affirmed on appeal by Eighth Circuit) for a large, national bakery and food services company in an outsourcing breach of contract case against the Teamsters, which involved a $1.5 million pension claim and 161 pleadings on file)
          • Coker v. Parker Hannifin (N.D. Iowa 2014 (N.D. Iowa 2014) (summary judgment granted in race discrimination case for manufacturer)
            • Savage-Sipe v. Wells Fargo (D. Minn. 2011) (summary judgment for a national bank in an employment lawsuit alleging significant breach of contract and Minn. Stat. §181.13 damages)
    • Other Court Admissions
    • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa
      • Part 2
      • Larson v. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (D. Minn. 2014) (summary judgment granted in age discrimination case for insurance brokerage and Rule 12 dismissal of paramour favoritism sex discrimination claims)
        • Baker v. Life Time Fitness (D. Minn. 2014) (summary judgment granted in race discrimination case for national fitness center company concerning tennis pros)
          • Glaser v. GKN (N.D. Iowa 2014) (summary judgment granted in Title VII retaliation case for international production company where plant manager reported inappropriate comments made by area manager and was fired 11 days later; court held that "reporting of a single, profane phrase, without context, does not constitute protected activity" under Title VII)
            • Allied Sales Drivers Local No. 289 and Teamsters Local No. 120 v. Sara Lee (D. Minn. 2013, 8th Circuit 2014) (summary judgment granted (affirmed on appeal by Eighth Circuit) for a large, national bakery and food services company in an outsourcing breach of contract case against the Teamsters, which involved a $1.5 million pension claim and 161 pleadings on file)
              • Coker v. Parker Hannifin (N.D. Iowa 2014 (N.D. Iowa 2014) (summary judgment granted in race discrimination case for manufacturer)
                • Savage-Sipe v. Wells Fargo (D. Minn. 2011) (summary judgment for a national bank in an employment lawsuit alleging significant breach of contract and Minn. Stat. §181.13 damages)
        • Part 3
        • Williams v. TA Operating LLC (S.D. Iowa 2012) (summary judgment for a national rest stop company in a case alleging FMLA, public policy, contract, and other claims)
          • Sharp v. Moore Wallace North America, Inc. (S.D. Iowa 2012) (summary judgment for an international manufacturer in a case alleging public policy and other claims)
            • O’Neal v. Niscayah, Inc. (D. Minn. 2011) (summary judgment in 181.13 lawsuit in a case alleging commission violations against an international security company; District of Minnesota extended Lee v. Fresenius to apply to commissions in addition to paid time off (PTO))
              • Denial of injunction in the District of Minnesota for a large food services company in a case against the Teamsters
                • Decision in favor of investment advisor in a class action case that there is no right to a jury trial under WARN
                  • Decision in favor of national bank that plaintiff's Facebook and other social media posts are discoverable
                    • Dismissal of Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblowing matter in the financial services industry before the U.S. Department of Labor
          • Part 4
          • Dismissal of virtually all of a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblowing matter for a high tech company before the U.S. Department of Labor
            • Aggressive defense of a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblowing appeal for a large food distributor, which led to voluntary dismissals by both claimants
              • Denial of TRO in the District of Minnesota involving a non-compete arising from the sale of a medical supply business
                • Granting of an injunction in the District of Minnesota in a commercial dispute
                  • Defense verdict in a District of Minnesota age discrimination trial in the funeral services industry
                    • Reversal of a bankruptcy court case and lifting stay to proceed with commercial arbitration
                      • Convinced jury to grant extremely limited award in damages-only trial involving significant facial lacerations and scars
                        • Defense verdict in the District of Minnesota in civil fraud case
            • Part 5
            • Decertifying ADEA age discrimination representative action in the District of Minnesota
              • Responding to Department of Labor audit of an employer’s wage and hour practices under the FLSA, which included convincing DOL investigator that most employees at auto repair company were exempt
                • Dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction in a multi-million dollar municipal bond case
                  • Defense judgment in a five-week disability discrimination, reasonable accommodation, and retaliation trial in the financial services industry (affirmed on appeal)
                    • Summary judgment granted and affirmed in a commercial banking matter involving RICO and other claims
                      • Successfully opposed a state agency’s assessment of more than one million dollars relating to the transfer of an unemployment compensation experience rating due to alleged successorship
                        • Employment law advising for several companies, including nationwide employment law advising for large liquid egg producer, airline services company, auto and auto finance company, and fitness and lifestyle company
                          • Several other summary judgments, trials, and appeals involving employment and commercial matters in state and federal courts

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