Daniel Olson is a commercial and employment litigator with a record of successfully trying, arbitrating, and mediating a variety of disputes. He represents clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to non-profit organizations to individuals.

Dan has a track-record of securing favorable resolutions toward the early stages of litigation. He has won several jury trials when settlement was not feasible. And he has achieved both affirmances and reversals from state and federal appellate courts when district court results have been challenged on appeal. Dan also regularly counsels and trains employers and other lawyers on a variety of employment matters, including discrimination and harassment laws, leave and accommodation issues, and non-competes and restrictive covenants. He currently teaches employment law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Dan has been named to the Minnesota Super Lawyers list and The Best Lawyers in America for his proficient work across the full spectrum litigation. In addition, he serves as Co-Chair of Bassford Remele's Employment Group and he is a member of Bassford's Board of Directors. Dan also volunteers as a board member of Walker|West, a non-profit music academy in St. Paul.

Education

• University of St. Thomas School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2008
  • Dean’s List
  • Dean’s Award for Ethical Leadership and Corporate Practice
  • Dean’s Award for Legal Services Clinic
  • Mission Award for Scholarly Engagement and Societal Reform Research Assistant
• University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business, M.B.A., 2008
  • Department of Management, Research Assistant
• University of St. Thomas, B.A., cum laude, 2004

Bar Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin

Judicial Clerkships:

• Minnesota Court of Appeals, The Honorable Renee Worke, Judicial Law Clerk, 2009-2012
• Minnesota First Judicial District, The Honorable Martha Simonett, Judicial Law Clerk, 2008-2009

Bar Associations

• The Association of the Bar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Appellate Section
  • Labor and Employment Law Section
• State Bar of Wisconsin
• Hennepin County Bar Association

Professional Associations

• Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association

Civic Involvement

• University of St. Thomas School of Law
  • Adjunct Professor; Employment Law, 2019-present; Moot Court, 2009-2014
  • Mentor, 2017-2019
    
  • Alumni Board, 2011-2012
• Walker|West, Board of Directors, 2023-present
• Volunteer Lawyers Network, Conciliation Court Clinic, 2012-2018

Honors & Awards

• Top Lawyers list, Minnesota Monthly, Labor and Employment Law, 2025
• The Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, 2025
  
• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2022 and 2024; Labor and Employment Litigation, and Personal Injury Litigation, 2022-2024
• Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2022-present
• Minnesota Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2014-2021
• Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of St. Thomas School of Law, 2010

The Work Week with Bassford Remele

• Expect the NLRB to Steer in a Pro-Employer Direction, author, January 13, 2025
• Supreme Court Hears Two Pivotal Employment Law Cases, author, October 7, 2024
  
• Worker Classification: The New DOL Final Rule, Current State Law, and Proposed Changed to Minnesota's Construction Classification Law, co-author, March 18, 2024
• 2024 Minnesota Legislative Update on Employment Laws, co-author, March 4, 2024
• The NLRB Continues its Trend of Reversing Precedent and Expanding Employee and Union Rights, author, September 5, 2023
• The New Regulations for Cannabis in the Workplace, co-author, August 7, 2023
• Preparing Your Workplace for Legalized Marijuana, author, July 17, 2023
• Proposed Paid-Leave Legislation Makes Headlines, author, March 27, 2023

• Litigation Operations 101: Enhancing the Management of Litigation, panelist, LegalOps 2024 Running Legal Like a Business, September 4, 2024
• Age Discrimination Litigation Defense - Strategic Considerations from Initial Charges to Courtroom Battles, presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education 2024 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 20, 2024
• Remote Work and The Impact of COVID-19 – Re-Assessing and Implementing Telecommuting Policies and Practices, presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education 2021 Midwest Legal Conference on Privacy & Data Security, February 10, 2021
• Remote Work and The Impact of COVID-19 – Re-Assessing and Implementing Telecommuting Policies and Practices, presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education 2020 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, September 15, 2020
  
• Employment Discrimination Claims From Start to Finish, presenter, National Business Institute, August 1, 2017
• Advanced Employment Discrimination Claims, presenter, National Business Institute, April 3, 2017
• Employment Laws Made Simple, presenter, National Business Institute, December 15, 2016
• Employment Agreements From Start to Finish: Drafting and Evaluating Non-Competes, presenter, National Business Institute, April 4, 2016
• A Comprehensive Overview of Hiring and Firing Law, presenter, National Business Institute, November 11, 2015
• Management Liability Insight: Keep Your Company out of the Courtroom, presenter, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., January 29, 2014
• Overview of HIPAA, Medical Records Law Seminar, presenter, Lorman Education Services, March 26, 2013 (Minneapolis, MN); January 29, 2013 (St. Cloud, MN)
• Brief Writing for New Attorneys, presenter, American Bar Association Law Student Division Eighth Circuit Meeting, February 16, 2013