You can thank Ted Grindal when you walk into a bar or restaurant and don’t have to breathe cigarette smoke: His lobbying work on behalf of ClearWay Minnesota helped pass the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2007. The difference between Grindal and his peers is that he is one of a rare breed of lobbyists with whom legislators actually enjoy working. Almost universally respected as a decent human being who does his homework and gets results, Grindal has ridden that reputation to lead the largest lobbying firm in the state, a powerhouse that represents Microsoft, eBay, and dozens of other top companies. A perennial SuperLawyer, Grindal’s specialties are health, Indian law, government relations and election law.