International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP announced that Michael Pignato, a Partner in the Firm’s Minneapolis office has been named a Lawyer of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer. The award recognizes Mr. Pignato’s work in leading the efforts of Election Protection, a project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a national nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated, among other goals, to promoting voting rights. Mr. Pignato, in coordination with Common Cause Minnesota and a dedicated team of colleagues, led the local Minnesota Election Protection effort during the 2012 election cycle, which included staffing the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline and mobilizing a field program in over 19 cities. Due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy on the northeast U.S., the Minnesota team supported Election Protection efforts in other states as well.