Attorneys

Lewis A. Remele, Jr.

Shareholder
E-mail: lremele@bassford.com
Phone: 612.376.1601
Fax: 612.333.8829

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Lewis A. Remele, Jr. ("Lew") is a well-respected litigator who has served as the firm's chief executive officer. He is a magna cum laude Harvard graduate and received his J.D. cum laude from Creighton University.

Mr. Remele is regarded as one of the leading lawyers in Minnesota, and was selected Best Lawyer in Minnesota by Minnesota Law & Politics in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009. He was selected as the 2009 Minneapolis Bet-the-Company Litigator of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America. He is listed in Law and Leading Attorneys and Who's Who in American Law. Mr. Remele is recognized by the international research firm Chambers & Partners as a top business litigator. In addition, he was selected as an Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer.

Mr. Remele maintains a civil trial practice in both tort and commercial matters. He represents insurance companies in personal injury and coverage cases, and corporate clients in diverse commercial suits including employment, contracts, securities, and professional and fiduciary claims, including directors' and officers' liability, class actions, shareholder disputes, debtor/creditor, antitrust, products liability, and trusts and estate litigation.

Mr. Remele also performs mediations and arbitrations. He is regularly selected by litigants and the courts to serve in all types of civil litigation. He has served numerous times as a Special Master in both state and federal court. Mr. Remele is currently serving as a Special Master in the Baycol litigation which has been assigned by the Multi-District Panel to The Honorable Michael Davis. He is also serving as a Special Master to Hennepin County District Court Judge Tony Leung in the Soo Line Derailment litigation and as a Special Master in the Blue Cross v. Glaxo litigation venued in Ramsey County District Court.

Mr. Remele is past president of both the Minnesota State and Hennepin County Bar Associations; a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, the Academy of International Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates; and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Areas of Practice
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Antitrust Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Contracts
Employment Law
Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Health Care Law
Intellectual Property Litigation
Legal Malpractice
Personal Injury
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Securities Litigation
Telecommunications
Trust and Estates Litigation

Education
Creighton University School of Law
J.D., 1975
Honors: Cum Laude
Law Review: Member, Creighton Law Review

Harvard University
A.B., 1970
Honors: Magna Cum Laude

Bar Admissions
Minnesota, 1975
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1976
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1980
U.S. Supreme Court, 2004

Honors and Awards

Listed in 200 Minnesotans You Should Know, Twin Cities Business, 2010
Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2008
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Fellow, International Society of Barristers
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Best Lawyers in America, All Editions, 1991 - Present
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Minneapolis Bet-the-Company Litigator of the Year, 2009
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Legal Malpractice Law
Personal Injury Litigation
Law And Leading Attorneys, All Editions
Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates
Fellow and Life Member, American Bar Association
Who's Who in American Lawyers (Listed)
Top Business Litigator, Chambers and Partners (International)
Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics, MPLS.ST.PAUL Magazine and Twin Cities Business, 2000 - 2010
Top 100 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine, 2000 - 2010
Top 40 Business Litigation Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine, 2005 - 2009
Top 5 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine, 2000 and 2010
Ranked No. 1 Lawyer in State of Minnesota, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009

Professional Associations and Memberships
American Arbitration Association
Panel Member

Academy of Court Appointed Masters
Vice President and President-Elect, 2010 - Present

Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Legal Certification Review
Chair, 2006

American Bar Association
Member

Minnesota State Bar Association
President, 1995 - 1996
President-Elect, 1994 - 1995
Treasurer, 1993 - 1994
Secretary, 1992 - 1993
Member

Hennepin County Bar Association
President, 1989 - 1990
President-Elect, 1988 - 1989
Treasurer, 1987 - 1988
Secretary, 1986 - 1987
Member

Hennepin County Bar Foundation
Board of Directors, 1986 - Present
Member

Hennepin County Legal Advice Clinics
Member, 1986 - Present

Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
Member

Defense Research Institute
Member

Legal Advice Clinics
Member, Board of Directors

Harvard and Radcliffe Club of Minnesota
Past President

Harvard Alumni Association
Regional Director, North Central States

Classes and Seminars

Legal Malpractice Update, The Litigator's Short Course, Minnesota State Bar Association, February 5, 2010; January 27, 2009; January 25, 2008; February 1, 2007; January 26, 2006
Saudi Judicial Exchange Program, The Honorable Michael Davis, November 4, 2008
Life and the Law: Handling the Stress of a Business Law Practice, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, October 29, 2008
Master Trial Lawyer Practice Series, Hennepin County Bar Association, Faculty Member, September 2008 - June 2009
Masters of the Courtroom, American College of Trial Lawyers, May 1, 2008
A Lawyer's Guide to Winning the Battle Against Stress, Hennepin County Bar Association, March 6, 2008
Ask the Mediators: Candid Advice on What Works and What Doesn't, Hennepin County Bar Association, September 27, 2007
The Art and Science of Serving as a Special Master in Federal and State Courts, American Bar Association, San Francisco, November 2, 2006
When Good Litigators Go Bad: PR Violations and Bias Pitfalls, (co-presenter with Robin Ann Williams), Hennepin County Bar Association, February 13, 2006
The Art and Science of Serving as a Special Master in Federal and State Courts, November 3-4, 2005, served on two panels and presented: Mediation and Settlement Roles for Masters
Probate Litigation, Hennepin County Bar Association, April 25, 2005
Ethics in Mediations: Morality versus Efficacy, Hamline University School of Law, January 28, 2005
Litigators Short Course: Ethics, Sanctions and Malpractice, an Update, January, 2005
ADR - Rights and Responsibilities, William Mitchell College of Law, November 2, 2004
Development of Minnesota Law in Federal Court, 30th Annual Federal Court Practice Seminar, Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, June 8, 2004
American Arbitration Association Training Seminar, American Arbitration Association, September 14 and 15, 2004
Effective Presentations at NASD Hearings, MILE, July 16, 2003
Development of Minnesota Law in Federal Court, 29th Annual Federal Court Practice Seminar, Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, June 12, 2003 (co-presenter with the Honorable Joan Ericksen)
Ethics, Sanctions and Malpractice: A PR Update for Litigators, Minnesota State Bar Association, January 28, 2003
Legal Malpractice Professional Responsibility Update, Minnesota State Bar Association, January 30, 2002
Alternative Dispute Resolution for Result Seekers, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, September 19, 2001
The Use of Experts in Minnesota State Courts, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, June 21, 2001
Ethics Seminar, Hennepin County Bar Association, May 17, 2001
PR for Litigators -- The Latest Cases Involving Ethics, Sanctions and Malpractice (A Review of Advisory Opinions, Cases and Rules Interpretations), Minnesota State Bar Association, January 31, 2001
Discussion About Mediator Approaches, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, November 10, 2000
Litigating the High Visibility Case, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, August 12, 1999
View from a Practicing Attorney (Ethical Considerations), Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, December 5, 1998 (co-presenter with Timothy Gephart)
Nuts and Bolts CLE, Hennepin County Bar Association and National Practice Institute, November 4, 1998
MLM Risk Management, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, June 11, 1998
Punitive Damages in Arbitration Update, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, May 15, 1998
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, December 4, 1997
Agricultural Ethics Issues, American Agricultural Law Association, October 18, 1997
Update on Malpractice Liability Case Law, Minnesota State Bar Association, July 23, 1997
Expert Witness Preparation -- Laying the Groundwork for Expert Testimony, Hennepin County Bar Association, July 14, 1997
Alternative Dispute Resolution to Achieve Maximum Results, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, December 18, 1996; November 20, 1996; November 16, 1995
Wrongful Death Action, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, December 13, 1991
Legal Malpractice Guide Avoidance, Mitigation, Defense, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, October 4, 1991
Law Firms: Lateral Hires, Break-ups and Mergers, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, April 10, 1991
Insurance Claims Practice, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, May 11, 1990
Wrongful Death 1987, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, December 11, 1987
Staying Current in Insurance, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, June 9, 1987
Client v. Lawyer, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, November 14, 1986
Beginning, Middle and End of a Personal Injury Case, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, September 18, 1986
Minnesota No-Fault, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, April 7, 1986
1985 Minnesota Liquor Liability Law, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, November 15, 1985
The No-Fault Act, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, October 2, 1985
The No-Fault Act: Settlements and Government Benefits, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, September 25, 1985

Representative Clients
Advance PCS
AGA Medical
ALAS
Allina Health System/Medica
American Arbitration Association
American National Can Company
ConAgra
Illinois Tool Works
International Court of Arbitration
Merck & Company
Metropolitan Council
Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company
National Arbitration Forum
TransUnion LLC
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
U.S. Trust

Representative Cases

Pang Nhia Thao v. Central States Health & Life Company of Omaha, No. A09-0204, 2009 WL 3255883 (Minn. Ct. App. Oct. 13, 2009).
Thelen v. City of Elba, No. 08-1150, 2009 WL 2208161 (D. Minn. July 22, 2009).
Laurie & Laurie, P.A. v. BondPro Corp., No. A08-1154, 2009 WL 1374889 (Minn. Ct. App. May 19, 2009).
Consumer Data Industry Association v. Lori Swanson in her official capacity as Attorney General of the State of Minnesota, No. 07-CV-3376, 2007 WL 2219389 (D. Minn. July 30, 2007).
Berman v. Maslon, Edelman, Borman & Brand, LLP, No. A06-351, 2006 WL 3734278 (Minn. Ct. App. Dec. 19, 2006).
Professional Fiduciary, Inc. v. Silverman, 713 N.W.2d 67 (Minn. Ct. App. 2006).
Afremo v. Amplatz, 2006 WL 44341 (Minn. App. Jan. 10, 2006).
Bach v. ConAgra, Inc., 2005 WL 3417283 (D. Minn. Dec. 13, 2005).
Janssen v. Best and Flanagan, LLP, 704 N.W.2d 759 (Minn. 2005).
In re Canadian Import Antitrust Litigation, 385 F. Supp. 2d 930 (D. Minn. 2005).
New Access Communications, LLC v. Qwest Corp., 378 F. Supp. 2d 1135 (D. Minn. 2005).
New Access Communications, LLC v. Qwest Corp., 368 F. Supp. 2d 952 (D. Minn. 2005).
Northern States Power Co. v. Federal Transit Admin., 2005 WL 435248 (D. Minn. Feb. 23, 2005).
Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc. v. Ernst and Young, LLP, 395 F.3d 851 (8th Cir. 2005).
Midwestern Machinery Co., Inc. v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 392 F.3d 265 (8th Cir. 2004).
M.W. Johnson Construction, Inc. v. Western Nat. Mutual Ins. Co., 2004 WL 2283495 (Minn. App. Oct. 12, 2004).
Catholic Order of Foresters v. U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Inc., 337 F. Supp. 2d 1148 (N.D. Iowa 2004).
Northern States Power Co. v. Minnesota Metropolitan Council, 684 N.W.2d 485 (Minn. 2004).
Mason ex rel. Mason v. Minnesota State High School League, 2004 WL 1630968 (D. Minn. July 15, 2004).
Honan v. County of Cottonwood, Minn., 2004 WL 878418 (8th Cir. Apr. 26, 2004).
Cole v. Holland Neway Intern., Inc., 2004 WL 503751 (Minn. App. Mar. 16, 2004).
Northern States Power Co. v. Federal Transit Admin., 358 F.3d 1050 (8th Cir. 2004).
Davenport v. Farmers Ins. Group, 378 F.3d 839 (8th Cir. 2004).
Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc. v. Ernst and Young, LLP, 293 F. Supp. 2d 1003 (D. Minn. 2003).
United HealthCare Ins. Co. v. AdvancePCS, 2003 WL 22316555 (D. Minn. Oct. 6, 2003).
Parr v. Gonzales, 669 N.W.2d 401 (Minn. App. 2003).
Northern States Power Co. v. Minnesota Metropolitan Council, 667 N.W.2d 501 (Minn. App. 2003).
U.S. v. Diageo, Inc., 2003 WL 21254778 (D. Minn. April 29, 2003).
Diebold v. Nelson Oyen and Torvik, P.L.L.P., 2003 WL 282430 (Minn. App. Feb. 11, 2003).
Midwestern Machinery v. Northwest Airlines, 2003 WL 262414 (D. Minn. Feb. 5, 2003).
First State Bank v. McNally, 2002 WL 31749164 (Minn. App. Dec. 10, 2002).
Tisdell v. ValAdCo, 2002 WL 31368336 (Minn. App. Oct. 16, 2002).
Northern States Power Co. v. Federal Transit Admin., 2002 WL 31026530 (D. Minn. Sep. 10, 2002).
STAR Centers, Inc. v. Faegre and Benson, L.L.P., 644 N.W.2d 72 (Minn. 2002).
Stockberger v. Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, 2001 WL 1640109 (D. Minn., July 18, 2001).
Hamilton v. Stageberg, 2001 WL 267477 (Minn. App. March 20, 2001).
Group Health Plan, Inc. v. Philip Morris, Inc., 621 N.W.2d 2 (Minn. 2001).
ConAgra, Inc. v. Seeland, 2000 WL 1468200 (Minn. App. Oct. 3, 2000).
In re Minnesota Vitamin Antitrust Litigation, 606 N.W.2d 446 (Minn. 2000).
Rasmussen v. Sauer, 597 N.W.2d 328 (Minn. App. 1999).
Furrow v. Corwin, 1999 WL 391599 (Minn. App. June 15, 1999).
C.J. Duffey Paper Co. v. Reger, 588 N.W.2d 519 (Minn. App. 1999).
Arbitration between Fredrikson and Byron, P.A. v. Piper Jaffray, Inc., 1999 WL 43523 (Minn. App. Feb. 2, 1999).
Hunter, Keith Industries, Inc. v. Piper Capital Management, Inc., 575 N.W.2d 850 (Minn. App. 1998).
Hellman v. Hertogs, 1998 WL 8461 (Minn. App. Jan. 13, 1998).
BRW, Inc. v. Harstad, 1997 WL 370404 (Minn. App. July 8, 1997).
Wagener v. McDonald, 509 N.W.2d 199 (Minn. App. 1993).
Share Health Plan, Inc. v. Marcotte, 495 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. App. 1993).
Lecy v. Sage Co., 460 N.W.2d 102 (Minn. App. 1990).

Previous Employment

Rider, Bennett, Egan and Arundel, Associate/Partner, 1978 - 1988
Simonson and Bartsh, 1977 - 1978
Law Clerk, United States District Court, The Honorable Miles W. Lord, 1975 - 1977

Community Work
Volunteer Attorney, Legal Advice Clinics
Director, Pillsbury Neighborhood Services, 1997 - Present
Trustee, William Mitchell College of Law, 2001 - Present
Co-Regional Director, Harvard Alumni Association, 2003 - Present

Lewis A. Remele, Jr.

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