Hanson, Sam

Current Employment Position(s)

; Business Litigation

Year Joined Organization: 2008

Lawyer Overview

Sam is a shareholder in the firm of Briggs and Morgan, Professional Association, and a member of the firm's board of directors. After serving on the Minnesota Court of Appeals for two years and the Minnesota Supreme Court for five years, he rejoined Briggs’ Business Litigation Section and Energy Law Group, and is a member of the firm's Appellate Practice Group. He is a former litigation section head and firm president. Sam practices principally in the areas of:

• Arbitration and mediation
• Complex civil litigation
• Appellate law
• Public utility regulation

Sam practiced law with Briggs and Morgan for 34 years before he was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2000. He has had extensive experience in both the state and federal courts in Minnesota, as well as courts in many other states in the region. He has worked closely with several major corporate clients, including telephone, gas and electric utilities; insurance companies; financial institutions; and multinational manufacturing and service corporations.

Sam is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and an advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2008, William Mitchell College of Law presented him with an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (LL.D) for his achievement and excellence in the profession. He has been selected as a Leading Minnesota Attorney and listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of appellate law and commercial litigation.

Sam has been active in professional and community activities and organizations, serving on several Supreme Court boards and advisory committees, the Court’s child protection initiative, and the Court’s planning committee for access to civil legal services; as chair of the state bar association’s Public Utility Section and Women and the Law Committee; and on the boards of several educational and service organizations, including the William Mitchell College of Law board of trustees and the board of directors for Global Volunteers and Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights.

Areas of Practice

• Business Litigation
• Appellate Representation
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Energy Litigation
• Energy Law

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Alternative Energy, Arbitration, Business & Commercial Law, Business Organizations, Class Actions, Cogeneration, Complex Litigation, Construction Contracts, Construction Law, Contracts, Copyrights, Electric Power, Employee Rights -- Employer, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Claims Court, Federal Trial Practice, Government Construction Contracts, Hydroelectricity, Intellectual Property Law, Limited Liability Companies, Litigation & Appeals, Mediation, Minerals & Mining, Non-profit & Tax-exempt Organizations, Nuclear Power, Oil & Gas, Patent Litigation, Patents, Public Utilities, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Trade Secrets, Trademarks, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, US Supreme Court

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1965

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Minnesota Supreme Court
• Co-Chair, Children’s Justice Initiative, Advisory Committee (2005-2007); Member, Legal Services State Planning Committee, Lawyers Trust Account Board and Legal Services Advisory Committee (2005-2007);
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Founder, Former Chair, Public Utilities Section (1994–Present); Co-Chair, Women and the Law Committee (1994–1997)
• National Conference of Bar Examiners
• Director (2001–Present); Secretary (2007)
• Minnesota Advocates For Human Rights
• Director; Member, Executive Committee (1999–Present)
• United States District Court, Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Committee (1995- 1998)
• William Mitchell College of Law Board of Trustees
• Director (1995–2004); Chair (2002–2004); Secretary (1998-2000); Vice Chair (2000–2002)
• Global Volunteers
• Co-Founder; Director (1983–Present)
• Crossroads Adoption Services
• Director (1984–2002)
• Rural Technology Partnership (Formerly Minnesota Family Farm Institute)
• Director (1987–1997)
• Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA)
• Director (1988–1996)
• Rural Ventures, Inc.
• Director (1981–1987)

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, 1965
  LL.B
  Honors: Cum Laude With Honors
• St. Olaf College, 1961
  B.A.
  Major: Economics, History

Published Works

• ALERT - New Notice Requirements Effective Sept. 1 Impact Route Permit Application Process, 2008

Address

2200 IDS Center
80 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Phones

612.977.8525 (Business Phone)

Faxes

612.977.8650 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.briggs.com/