Joel Schroeder is a partner at Best & Flanagan and focuses his practice on labor and employment law and civil litigation, primarily defending employers in federal and state court litigation and advising employers on the patchwork of federal, state and local employment laws. He has represented Fortune 500 corporations, small businesses, individuals and a foreign government.

Courtroom and Trial Experience

Joel’s employment and civil litigation practice is extensive. Though many lawsuits can and should settle, Joel is not afraid to “go all the way” when the opposing party is unwilling to resolve the case on terms favorable to his client. Joel has won multiple dispositive motions, resulting in complete legal victories for his clients. When winning results can’t be secured on the papers, Joel is eager to try cases to a judge or jury. In recent years he has tried a trade-secret case in the Delaware Court of Chancery; a fraudulent misrepresentation and Equal Pay Act case in Minnesota federal court; a promissory-estoppel jury trial in Minnesota state court; and a race-discrimination contested hearing before the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights.

Joel has extensive experience prosecuting and defending non-compete and trade-secret cases across the country, both securing and defeating motions for TROs and preliminary injunctions.

Employment Counseling and Investigations

Joel’s litigation experience allows him to proactively advise clients before a lawsuit begins and work with clients to resolve workplace issues involving hiring and pay practices, disability accommodations, leaves, performance management and separations. Joel’s goal is to provide clients with peace of mind and a clear, go-forward strategy.

When a neutral third party is needed, Joel investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and other misconduct.

Local Counsel Services and Community Connections

With deep knowledge of local practice and procedure, Joel is frequently retained by national law firms to serve as local counsel for civil litigation matters venued in Minnesota.

Joel is active in the community and serves in leadership roles at the local and national level of the Federal Bar Association (FBA). He is a director of the Minnesota Chapter of the FBA and, along with U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, serves as co-vice president of monthly meetings for the Chapter. He is also a board member of the national Labor & Employment Section of the FBA. Joel is a longtime volunteer with the Tubman Pro Bono Safety Project, working with battered women and children to secure orders for protection in Hennepin County District Court.

Since 2011, Minnesota Law & Politics has recognized Joel as a “rising star” in employment litigation (defense side).

Prior to joining Best & Flanagan, Joel was a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels; an associate at Rider Bennett; and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Fluent in Spanish, Joel has lived abroad in Colombia and Spain. Raised in Bloomington, Joel lives in St. Louis Park with his wife and daughter.