Michelle S. Grant
PEOPLE

Michelle S. Grant

Partner
grant.michelle@dorsey.com

Overview

WHEN COMPLICATED, HIGH-STAKES LITIGATION THREATENS THEIR BUSINESS GOALS, COMPANIES AND THEIR BOARDS RELY ON MICHELLE FOR STRATEGIC AND EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS.

As Co-Chair of the Minneapolis Trial Group, Michelle focuses on complex health care and securities litigation. Michelle has successfully represented corporate clients in dozens of class actions and other complex litigation in federal and state courts as well as arbitration throughout the United States.

Michelle has been recognized by Chambers USA as one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers,” listed in Best Lawyers in America, and recognized as a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation.

Education & Admissions

Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 2001), cum laude

University of Wisconsin (B.A., Political Science, Economics, 1998), with distinction

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Experience

Representative Litigation

  • Represented a claims administrator in two separate putative class actions brought by members challenging certain pharmacy benefits.  In one action, Michelle led the case team in filing a successful motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ state law and RICO claims and then later defeated class certification and won summary judgment on plaintiffs’ ERISA claims.  In the second action, Michelle led the team in filing a successful motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s ERISA and RICO claims. 
  • Represented health insurance company and over 250 self-funded employee benefit plans and employer sponsors in a mass action brought by a group of surgery centers challenging reimbursement rates and medical necessity determinations and in asserting counterclaims for fraud.
  • New York State Psychiatric Association v. UnitedHealth Group: Obtained dismissal of putative class action by medical association, providers and participants alleging violations of the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
  • In re Medtronic, Inc. Shareholder Litigation: Represented board in lawsuit seeking to enjoin Medtronic’s proposed acquisition of Covidien. Injunction denied and case dismissed.
  • Gottlieb v. Navarre Corp.: Represented board in lawsuit seeking to enjoin issuance of additional shares in order to acquire a business. Injunction denied and case dismissed.
  • In re St. Jude Medical, Inc. Securities Litigation: Represented medical device manufacturer in securities fraud class action. Summary judgment granted for defendants and all claims dismissed with prejudice.
  • In re Possis Medical, Inc. Securities Litigation: Represented medical device manufacturer in securities fraud class action. Obtained early dismissal on all claims that was affirmed by 8th Circuit.
  • In re UnitedHealth Group Incorporated PSLRA Litigation and Derivative Litigation: Counsel for defendants in federal class action and derivative cases alleging claims based on backdating of stock options.
  • State of Minnesota v. Medica Health Plans: Represented health insurer and its Board of Directors in regulatory litigation involving issues of board governance brought by the Minnesota Attorney General. The Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s decision granting the State affirmative relief, paving the way for a trial which resulted in dismissal of all claims.

News & Resources

Articles

Tort Reform: Is the World Flattening?
Law360 Asks Dorsey: Do Financial and Clinical Benefits Spring from the Collective Interaction of Hospitals?

News & Press Mentions

17 Dorsey Lawyers Recognized by Benchmark Litigation
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 30 Dorsey Lawyers and 10 Practices in Minneapolis
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
UnitedHealth Units Beat ERISA Drug Overcharge Claim
18 Dorsey Lawyers Recognized by Benchmark Litigation
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 17 Dorsey Lawyers
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 17 Dorsey Lawyers
Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Meet the two women overseeing Dorsey's litigation team
Dorsey Partner Michelle Grant Comments on Stacking Class Actions Ruling
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 16 Dorsey Lawyers
Benchmark Litigation Names Four Dorsey Lawyers to Under 40 Hot List
Super Lawyers Recognizes 36 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 17 Dorsey Lawyers
Benchmark Litigation Names 7 Dorsey Lawyers to Under 40 Hot List
Super Lawyers Recognizes 37 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Dorsey Hosts Project 5/165 Executive Leadership Development Workshop for In-House Counsel
Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Dorsey Partner Michelle Grant Elected to MWL Board
Dorsey’s Minneapolis Office Named - Complex Civil Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Minnesota
Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis

Events & Speaking Engagements

Fifth Annual DorsEdiscovery Forum

Select Presentations

  • “Death, Taxes and M&A Litigation: How to Prepare for the Inevitable,” Dorsey & Whitney LLP Corporate Counsel Symposium, CLE presentation (October 2012)
  • "Social Media in Civil Litigation," CLE presentation (November 19, 2010)
  • "Tort Reform: Is the World Flattening," Dorsey & Whitney LLP Corporate Counsel Symposium, CLE presentation (November 2008)
  • "Ask the Expert: E-Discovery," 4-part webinar for Electric Cooperative Bar association (2007)  

Industries & Practices

Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
Government Solutions & Investigations
  • Antitrust & Competition Law
  • Appellate
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Electronic Discovery
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • ERISA Litigation
  • Government Solutions & Investigations
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Healthcare Litigation
  • Mining
  • Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Children’s Law Center – Board of Directors
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers – former Director and Committee Chair
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Member

Accolades

Chambers USA 2023Chambers 2022Chambers USA 2021  Ranked in Chambers USA 2020  Ranked in Chambers USA 2019 Leading Individual

  • Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Litigation: General Commercial), 2019-2023
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2020-2021

     Benchmark Litigation Under 40 Hot List 2017

  • Recognized as a "Future Star" by Benchmark Litigation, 2021-2022
  • Recognized as one of Benchmark Litigation's Under 40 Hot List, 2016-2018
  • Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2006-2008, 2010-2017

North Star Lawyer

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2012 and 2018-2019
Michelle S. Grant