Blackwell Burke P.A. has been ranked as “Highly Recommended” in the 2016 Edition of Benchmark Litigation, one of just eight Minnesota firms to receive that recognition. Firm Founder and CEO Jerry Blackwell, partners Corey Gordon, Peter Goss, Benjamin Hulse, and special counsel Mike Hatch have all been named Minnesota Litigation Stars. Partner Mary Young was named a Minnesota Future Star.
“Highly Recommended” firms are those consistently acknowledged by clients and competitors and held as dominant in their particular jurisdiction during Benchmark Litigation’s six-month research process. Blackwell Burke also was ranked “Highly Recommended” in the 2015 Edition of Benchmark Litigation. The “Litigation Star” designation is based on clients and peers recommending these attorneys as “reputable and effective litigators” during Benchmark Litigation’s independent interviews.
Jerry W. Blackwell is an accomplished trial lawyer. He serves as national counsel and national trial counsel for major corporations, having represented them in federal and state courts in 47 states and internationally. His practice areas include class action defense, commercial litigation, food industry defense, labor and employment, products liability, and toxic tort litigation. Mr. Blackwell has received numerous honors, including: The National Law Journal’s “Counsel to Counsel” recognition; BTI Client Service All-Star and three times as a Client Service MVP; inclusion in the 21st and 22nd Editions of The Best Lawyers in America; being named Minnesota Attorney of the Year; receiving the Minnesota Minority Business Owner of the Year Award; Minnesota Equal Justice Award; and the Kappa Alpha Psi Distinguished Citizen Award. Since 2002, he has consistently been honored on the Minnesota list of Super Lawyers®. In 2011, Governor Mark Dayton appointed Mr. Blackwell to serve as an at-large member of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection. He is also a founder of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers.
Corey L. Gordon is an experienced trial lawyer whose practice includes toxic and environmental torts, products liability class action defense, as well as commercial litigation, appeals, and other complex litigation. Mr. Gordon is a frequent speaker at national CLE programs particularly addressed to the food industry. His recent presentations have addressed food flavorings litigation, junk science, and successful approaches to Daubert motions and jury trials.
Peter J. Goss focuses his national practice on pharmaceutical and medical device product liability litigation and toxic torts. He has represented major pharmaceutical, medical technology, and chemical firms in hundreds of cases. He has been named a “Life Sciences Star” by LMG Life Sciences, “Leading Lawyer” for product liability, listed in the 21st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© for Products Liability Defense and Mass Torts Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants, and recognized by The Legal 500 for mass tort defense. Mr. Goss also received the Burton Award for Legal Achievement.
Benjamin W. Hulse represents Fortune 500 and other corporate clients in class actions and commercial litigation in federal and state courts across the country. In recent years, he has served as trial counsel in a high-profile technology contract dispute and as lead defense counsel in environmental and consumer product marketing class actions. He frequently presents on legal issues related to the food and beverage industry.
Mike Hatch served as Minnesota Attorney General from 1999 to 2007. He represents clients in complex litigation, regulatory compliance, insurance, healthcare, and unfair competition matters. Mr. Hatch also counsels and advises clients on government and internal investigations. From 1983 to 1990, he served as Minnesota Commerce Commissioner, the primary regulator of the insurance and financial industries in Minnesota.
Mary S. Young focuses her practice on defending complex matters across a broad range of substantive legal areas, including consumer fraud class actions, wage and hour class actions, product liability, and commercial disputes. Ms. Young is also national coordinating counsel for a Fortune 500 company coordinating the defense of its product and premises liability claims arising in state and federal courts nationwide. She has been recognized on the Minnesota Super Lawyers®-Rising Star list and is the founder and first president of the Minnesota Mother Attorneys Association, a legal organization committed to the career excellence of mother attorneys in the legal profession.
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For information about Blackwell Burke P.A., please contact Kandy Branch at 612-343-3235.