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Overview
JACK HELPS EMPLOYERS SOLVE AND AVOID PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE.
Jack is an employment adviser and litigator in Dorsey’s Labor & Employment group, where he provides business leaders and human resource professionals with practical guidance through difficult compliance, managerial, and workforce decisions. Jack also advises management on union and labor-law issues. His advice to clients is informed and strengthened by his own professional experience as a manager, as he served as a newsroom leader and editor during his first career as a journalist – and so knows first-hand the challenges and rewards of effectively hiring, training, and managing employees. Jack works to resolve potential problems and disputes on terms that work best for his clients so they can focus on the needs of their business – and when matters can’t be resolved, is a creative and effective litigator who has represented clients in state and federal courts and private arbitrations across the country.
Education & Admissions
University of Minnesota Law School (J.D., 2010), magna cum laude; ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law; founding Editor-in-Chief, ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law
University of St. Thomas (B.A., 1993), cum laude
Admissions
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
Clerkships
- Minnesota Supreme Court, Justice G. Barry Anderson, 2010-2011
Experience
Representative Work
- Served on-site, in-house assignments with two different Fortune 500 clients – a utility company and a medical-device manufacturer – advising business and human resources leaders on a wide range of compliance and management issues.
- Counsels clients on range of workplace issues, including disability accommodation in hiring and employment, effectively managing medical and disability leaves, drafting and implementing effective policies and procedures, properly structuring independent contractor relationships, and resolving employment disputes before they develop litigation.
- Negotiate and draft employment and separation agreements for C-suite leaders and other key employees.
- Argued before the Minnesota Supreme Court on behalf of city housing and redevelopment authority and won reversal of court of appeals decision that had blocked $85 million redevelopment project in Minneapolis suburb.
- Served as second chair on trial team that won jury verdict rejecting trade-secret claims against client and awarding significant damages and attorneys’ fees on client’s counterclaim.
- Was a political reporter in Washington, D.C., for The Associated Press and a local news team leader for the Saint Paul Pioneer Press before entering law school.
News & Resources
Articles
December 05, 2023
March 2, 2023
February 2, 2023
November 8, 2021
December 23, 2020
September 12, 2019
June 29, 2018
September 20, 2017
September 5, 2017
It’s Final: The DOL Issues Final Rule Providing Paid Sick Leave For Employees of Federal Contractors
September 30, 2016
September 1, 2016
August 1, 2016
July 13, 2016
May 18, 2016
February 4, 2016
News & Press Mentions
August 15, 2024
January 14, 2022
November 16, 2018
Events & Speaking Engagements
August 15, 2024
August 3, 2023
August 18, 2022
June 23, 2022
November 11, 2021
May 20, 2021
April 15, 2021
April 22, 2020
April 11, 2019
May 7, 2018
May 3, 2018
NLRB ‘Wish List’ – A Solution Looking for Problems
May 18, 2016
Labor and Employment 2016 Conference
March 3, 2016
"Human Resources – Critical Issues and Best Practices," Great Plains, Midwest, Rocky Mountain Indian Gaming Conference & Tradeshow
May 22, 2012
Legal Writings
- Jack Sullivan, Article: Pooled Special-Needs Trusts: An Exception that Should be the Rule to Protect Adults with Developmental Disabilities, 27 LAW & INEQ. 441 (2009)
Industries & Practices
Banking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceDevelopment & Infrastructure
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceHealthcare & Life Sciences
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Class Action Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Development & Infrastructure
- Electric Power
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Indian & Alaska Native
- Labor & Employment
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- President of the Board of Directors, Minnesota Justice Foundation (a non-profit corporation that promotes pro bono opportunities for law students and fundraises to support clerkships at public interest agencies serving low-income individuals)
- Member, Leadership Council, ThreeSixty Journalism (a nonprofit outreach program of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas that uses the principles of strong writing and reporting to help diverse Minnesota high school students enhance their writing skills, college readiness and community connection)
- Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota Law School Employment Law Clinic
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
- Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
Accolades
- Named "Minneapolis Ones to Watch" in Labor and Employment Law – Management / Litigation – Labor and Employment by Best Lawyers®, 2022-2025
- Contributed more than 100 Challenge pro bono hours, 2021
- Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2020
- Named 2018 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer
- Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2014-2020
- MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2015-2018, 2020, and 2022-2023
