Breaking the Ice: Former U.S. attorney leads Robins Kaplan group

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Robins Kaplan partner Brendan Johnson is working to build on the momentum of major trial victories as the new chair of the firm’s National Business Litigation Group.

Cases Johnson cited included a $1 billion jury verdict and interest award against BMO Harris Bank, after use of a bank account to launder nearly $74 billion from Tom Petters’ Ponzi scheme.

The litigation group’s 100-plus attorneys work in the firm’s seven offices. Johnson said he was looking forward to making sure younger lawyers have the skills and judgment to lead high-stakes litigation across the country.

Johnson joined Robins Kaplan in 2015 after serving as U.S. attorney in South Dakota, where he prosecuted more than 25 human trafficking cases, with three resulting in life sentences.

“Something that has benefited me as a U.S. attorney as well as being just a country trial lawyer is having the experience and relationships to try to find creative ways to solve problems,” Johnson said.

Johnson, the son of former U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson from South Dakota, splits time between Sioux Falls and Minneapolis.

Name: Brendan Johnson

Title: Partner, Robins Kaplan

Education: B.S., history, political science, and English, University of South Dakota; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: Ask me about my kids. We have four. The oldest two we adopted from Ethiopia when they were 8 and 10. And we have two biological boys as well.

Q: Why law school?

A: When I was 13, I realized I couldn’t hit a curveball and professional baseball wasn’t in the cards. I had long admired the Civil Rights Movement and how the law was used to make the playing field more equal. That’s what I decided I wanted to do with my career.

Q: Pet peeve?

A: Bullies. In the legal sense. Around the office. Bullies in a restaurant, who treat the waitstaff poorly. In any context, bullies.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: Trials. I’ve probably had 40 to 50 jury trials. It’s the one area of the law where I feel like I’m as good as anybody in the country. I love doing it. I love being in front of the jury.

Q: Most challenging?

A: Probably dealing with lawyers in large cities who underestimate those of us here in the Midwest. I deal with a lot of folks in New York and L.A. who think that’s where all the best lawyers are. That’s simply not the case.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: Watching my kids play sports.

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A: I’d take them to Phillips Avenue. Sioux Falls will always be home. It’s where my family is. What people don’t know about Sioux Falls is that it’s growing, it’s bustling. The nightlife is great. The restaurants are terrific. And it’s a wonderful place to raise a family. Walking through downtown Sioux Falls probably gives you the best taste of that.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: My former boss, Eric Holder, who was attorney general while I was United States Attorney. I respected his management style. He would set a direction. We understood his values and his principles. But he wasn’t micromanaging or interfering with our specific cases.

Q: Misconception that others have about your work?

A: Being a lawyer is boring. With my trial teams, we show up at the office every day, and it’s just incredible that we get paid to do what we’re doing. We love the people that we’re fighting for. I think being a lawyer is one of the greatest jobs a person could have.

Q: Favorite book, movie or TV show about lawyers?

A: My favorite book dealing with lawyers is “The Man to See,” about Edward Bennett Williams. Williams was one of the original fixers in the law. He didn’t focus all his time in one area; he could handle it all. I just finished the first season on Netflix of “The Lincoln Lawyer.” There’s a similarity there. He’s just modern-day fixer, as well as a bit of a redemption story.