2023 Notable Women in Law

Meet TCB’s 25 Notable Women in Law, exemplary professionals who handle complex transactions and use their expertise to guide clients through a variety of obstacles. They also serve as mentors, do pro bono work for social and economic causes, and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive; it includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.

To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.

2023 Notable Women in Law

2023 Notable Logo

Rachel Barrett

Rachel Barrett

Associate, Ciresi Conlin
Rachel Barrett has dedicated her practice to advocating for people dealing with pain, suffering, and loss. At Minneapolis firm Ciresi Conlin, Barrett represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice lawsuits. Most recently,
Jennell Bilek

Jennell Bilek

Attorney and shareholder, Carlson Caspers
An accomplished litigator with a Pharm.D. and Ph.D. in pharmacy, Jennell Bilek handles complex civil litigation for Minneapolis-based law firm Carlson Caspers. She represents clients in patent litigations across the
Debbie Ellingboe

Debbie Ellingboe

Partner, Faegre Drinker
Debbie Ellingboe is a legal strategist and trial attorney who has represented clients in courts and before arbitration panels across the U.S. Sought after for key roles in high-stakes class
Courtney Ernston

Courtney Ernston

President, North Star Law Group
With a vision to make law better for both clients and attorneys, Courtney Ernston spearheaded a new firm, North Star Law Group in St. Paul. In the last nine months,
Christy Hall

Christy Hall

Senior staff attorney, Gender Justice
In her 12 years as a practicing attorney with Gender Justice, a St. Paul organization dedicated to gender equity, Christy Hall has had an impact on Minnesota civil rights, crafting
Jennifer Huang

Jennifer Huang

Managing principal, Fish & Richardson
In July, Jennifer Huang was named managing principal of Fish & Richardson’s Minneapolis office of more than 30 lawyers. She’s also a trusted patent advisor to some of the world’s
Laurie Huotari

Laurie Huotari

Managing partner, Stoel Rives
A respected corporate attorney at Stoel Rives, Laurie Huotari has two decades of experience guiding Minnesota companies and enterprises operating in the state. She represents agribusiness, renewable energy, life sciences,
Renee Kraft

Renee Kraft

Director counsel, trademark and copyright, Target Corp.
Renee Kraft is the head of the Target Corp. trademark group. She and her team have launched more than 40 new in-house brands for the Minneapolis-based retailer, including All In
Poonam Kumar

Poonam Kumar

Partner, DLA Piper
Poonam Kumar is a highly experienced lawyer who advises global clients on a wide variety of cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spinoffs, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings, as
Susan Markey

Susan Markey

Partner, Maslon
This year, Susan Markey took over as sole chair of Maslon’s Corporate & Securities Group, a key practice area for the Minneapolis firm. Hired as an associate in 2016, she
Shannon McDonough

Shannon McDonough

Shareholder, Fafinski Mark & Johnson
A renowned litigator, Shannon McDonough’s focus on unfair competition is a niche that has earned her national recognition. She also has an extensive HR and employment advising practice. She has
Sara Gullickson McGrane

Sara Gullickson McGrane

Shareholder, Felhaber Larson
An experienced litigator, Sara Gullickson McGrane has handled hundreds of matters in both the federal and state courts of many states, including Minnesota and North Dakota. She focuses her practice
Sarah Nelsen

Sarah Nelsen

Senior counsel, Hormel Foods Corp.
Sarah Nelsen leads a team responsible for Hormel Foods’ intellectual property, which includes more than 2,500 registrations in approximately 175 countries. A member of the Austin-based food company’s legal team
Emily Niles

Emily Niles

Partner, Robins Kaplan 
Emily Niles is a partner and trial lawyer at Robins Kaplan, a Minneapolis firm. She’s successfully represented clients in high-stakes intellectual property, technology, and business disputes. She has litigated cases
Andrea Nordaune

Andrea Nordaune

Senior vice president, chief legal officer, corporate secretary, Andersen Corp.
Hired as a senior attorney for Andersen Corporation in 2003, Andrea Nordaune was promoted to her current role in July while also overseeing the company’s code and regulatory affairs and
Laura Pfeiffer

Laura Pfeiffer

Shareholder, Winthrop & Weinstine
Laura Pfeiffer is an employment attorney who understands that there’s no such thing as “just business”—when an employment issue arises, it always feels personal to the employee involved. Pfeiffer leverages
Allison Plunkett

Allison Plunkett

Attorney and shareholder, Henson Efron
Allison Plunkett specializes in real estate and corporate transactions at Henson Efron, a Minneapolis firm. As part of her mergers and acquisitions practice, Plunkett negotiates purchase agreements with a keen
Julia Reiland

Julia Reiland

Partner, Lathrop GPM
As a partner with Lathrop GPM, Julia Reiland has been instrumental in supporting the Twin Cities Orthopedics executive leadership team and its physician owners through several major projects over the past