2022 Up & Coming Attorneys: Rachel L. Barrett

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Ciresi Conlin LLP In her six years of practice, Rachel Barrett has become a champion of people dealing with pain, suffering and loss. As a litigator with Ciresi Conlin LLP for the past couple of years, she has been a part of many major verdicts, such as when she second-chaired a trial in Minnesota federal court that resulted in a $111 million jury verdict for her client, a victim of medical malpractice.

But the road to her current role wasn’t exactly a straight one — starting with the decision to pursue a career in law.

“I kind of got talked into it,” Barrett said. “I have an aunt who’s a college professor, and she thought it would be a good choice.”

Before practicing, Barrett served as a judicial law clerk to then-Judge Margaret H. Chutich and Judge Diane B. Bratvold of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. After that, she got litigation experience as an assistant Hennepin County public defender.

That’s when Ciresi Conlin came calling.

“After I left criminal practice, my mentor Kathleen Flynn Peterson told me about an opening in her practice group,” Barrett said.

She hit the ground running, and she hasn’t slowed down. Last year Barrett and Ciresi Conlin partner Brandon Thompson represented Anju Thapa in his suit against St. Cloud Orthopedic Associates after surgery on his broken leg led to undiagnosed compartment syndrome. He had to endure more than a dozen surgeries and was left with permanent injuries. After a six-day trial in federal court, a jury found the orthopedic providers negligent and awarded Thapa more than $111 million for past and further damages.

“That was a big case,” said Barrett. “I was proud to be part of the team that secured such an unprecedented verdict.”

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