Chambers USA Ranks Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. First for Litigation in Minnesota
Jun 2006
Minneapolis (June 2006) – Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. is pleased to announce the firm has again been ranked first as a leading firm in Minnesota for the category ‘Litigation: General Commercial’ in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers 2006.
Additionally, firm chairman Michael V. Ciresi and partner Ronald J. Schutz shared the number one ranking as top Litigation: IP practitioners in the state. Mr. Ciresi was also recognized in first place as a top Litigation: General Commercial attorney in the state and Martin R. Lueck shared second place in this category.
According to Chambers USA’s profile about the firm:
"With support from offices across the country, more than 100 attorneys in Minneapolis work on commercial litigation for clients ranging from Estée Lauder to the Government of India. Although the firm has developed a particular reputation for IP, it has a broad practice that includes bankruptcy, antitrust and product liability. The team is best known for plaintiff work, peers noting how its litigators "like to be on the attack." Clients praised the team's "terrific trial lawyers," who not only stand up well in court but "also write well." Customer service is as much a strength as the quality of representation. "Unusually responsive for a litigation firm," it "doesn't overstaff matters" and permits "no wild goose chases."
The Guide notes the following about the attorneys:
The "formidable" Michael Ciresi has a national reputation as "the paragon of trial lawyers." He is established in both general and IP litigation and his client list includes giants such as Pitney Bowes and Estée Lauder. He successfully defended TriStrata in a $26 million patent dispute against cosmetics goliath Mary Kay in federal court in Delaware. In court, Ciresi exhibits "a toughness and charm that plays well with juries;" he can "quickly capitalize on the other side's mistakes." Despite his top-flight reputation, clients note that he "works hard" and "doesn't just glide in at the last minute."
"Hard-charging" Ron Schutz chairs the firm's IP department. He drew the attention of peers with his victories for St. Clair IP Consultants in wide-ranging patent litigation against several major electronics multinationals.
Martin Lueck is also "a very gifted trial lawyer." He combines a strong reputation for IP with substantial experience of antitrust and other commercial litigation. His clients include such giants as Unocal, and he recently prevailed in a major patent dispute between GE and GM. He is praised for his work both before and in trial, clients regarding him "a skilled cross-examiner." Like Ciresi, Lueck "thinks on his feet" and, with perhaps a hint of envy, peers remarked that "juries like him."
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