Ann Rainhart, an attorney who has worked for six law firms, has joined the Minneapolis-based Fredrikson firm as chief operating officer.

Rainhart, who held a firmwide role as Taft’s chief strategy officer, will be part of Fredrikson’s senior management team.

“Her leadership experience and deep understanding of legal operations and client service will benefit our firm as we continue to strengthen our position as a leading firm in the region and beyond,” said John Koneck, firm president and board member, in a Wednesday release announcing Rainhart’s selection.

In her new role, Rainhart will have executive responsibility for Fredrikson’s finance, IT, marketing, human resources, and practice management personnel. She’ll act in an ex-officio capacity on Fredrikson’s board of directors and its executive committee.

Rainhart started her new job Monday. She joins the Fredrikson firm as it prepares to move to new offices in downtown Minneapolis and as it has enjoyed substantial growth.

Fredrikson has leased about 178,000 square feet of space in RBC Plaza at 60 South Sixth St. The firm’s longtime offices have been at 200 South Sixth St. On Wednesday, Fredrikson spokeswoman Kelly Griffith said that the firm plans to open in its new space on June 12.

“Preparations for the Minneapolis office move are well underway,” Griffith said. “Fredrikson has a multi-functional team across operations focused on finalizing the new space and implementing the move. Ann will be involved in this effort as we move it across the finish line.”

In becoming part of Fredrikson’s leadership, Rainhart now works for the largest legal office in Minneapolis. The firm has 281 attorneys based in Minneapolis and Fredrikson employs more than 350 attorneys firmwide.

Rainhart, who earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, previously served as chief operating officer of Briggs and Morgan. That firm merged into Taft in early 2020.

“We have a very entrepreneurial culture,” Rainhart said of Taft in a 2020 TCB interview. “We don’t have a lot of specific rules for people. We want to create an environment where people get to do their best work.”

It appears that Rainhart shares a common vision with Koneck, who’s been Fredrikson’s president for 17 years.

In a separate TCB interview in 2020, Koneck emphasized the importance of building and maintaining respectful relationships with clients, co-workers, and community members.

“Our lawyers are entrepreneurial,” Koneck said. “We are really collaborative, we work together, we rely on each other, and we support each other. Every law firm will say that. All I can say is we really do it.”

In 2005, Fredrikson employed 181 attorneys, so at 350-plus attorneys in 2023 it has doubled in size in less than two decades.

“I am thrilled to be joining the leadership team at Fredrikson, and to be a part of a firm with such a dynamic and collaborative culture,” Rainhart said in Wednesday’s release.

A longtime Twin Cities resident, Rainhart serves on the executive committee and board of directors of the Guthrie Theater.