Breaking the Ice: Helping retired NFL players pursue concussion claims

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Michael Laird, a partner in Zimmerman Reed’s Minneapolis office, continues representing retired NFL players and helping them win awards based on the league’s $1 billion settlement of concussion claims.

“These claims are heavily scrutinized in terms of the medical evaluations and medical records to make sure the players fit the criteria, so it can often be a very intensive process,” Laird said.

The firm worked with counsel across the country on the uncapped settlement, which went into effect in 2017 and is to last for 65 years.

That longevity makes the settlement a great benefit for the players, Laird said.

Laird focuses on complex class actions and multidistrict litigation in areas including sports law and data breach and privacy. He certified a nationwide class of financial institutions seeking to recover losses from a data breach involving Sonic restaurants.

Name: Michael Laird

Title: Partner, Zimmerman Reed’s Minneapolis office

Education: B.S., biology and political science, University of Wisconsin, Madison; J.D., University of Minnesota Law School

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: I’m pretty approachable. Just come up and say hi. I’m always happy to meet new people and talk.

Q: Why law school?

A: It was a gut feeling. I was focused mainly on biology, working in a neuroscience lab in my undergrad. I got into politics and thought maybe I would like law school and went there almost on a whim. In my first year, I thought I had made a huge mistake. But I’m very glad that I stuck with it.

Q: What are you reading?

A: I keep it pretty light for reading or listening. I’m reading “World War Z,” a zombie apocalyptic-type book, which is very good and very entertaining.

Q: Pet peeve?

A: When I’m on the road driving a car and other people are driving badly.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: I love the challenge. These are very large cases, class actions, MDLs. They’re very complex, very challenging. We’re often going up against some of the best defense firms in the country. It takes a lot of creativity, a lot of work to succeed in these cases. Probably more importantly, though, is we have an opportunity to make a big difference in a lot of people’s lives. We’ve done that in the NFL concussion cases, the data breach cases and others. It feels really good to give clients good news when we get a good result.

Q: Most challenging?

A: As bad as it sounds, losing. When you put all this work into these cases, you want to succeed. You have a view of how it should go and that’s thrown to the side, because ultimately, there’s usually a judge or jury that decides the issue. If they don’t share the same view as you, there’s nothing you can do about that. It’s hard to not have the final say.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: Hanging out with my family. I have a wife, a 3-year-old daughter, and we have a baby due in February. I’d say woodworking is my favorite activity. But I’m not very good at it yet.

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A: I grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin. I’d probably take someone down College Avenue, where there’s quite a few fun places to go to.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: Elizabeth Prolegar, the U.S. solicitor general. She’s one of the best oral arguers I’ve ever heard. She’s at the Supreme Court arguing on behalf of the government, often facing a court that doesn’t share her view on a lot of issues. But her ability to navigate that and be effective and compelling is impressive. I wish I could argue half as well as she does.

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

A: A Netflix series called “The Lincoln Lawyer.” I love shows that paint lawyers’ lives as so glamorous and exciting when most of the time you’re sitting at a desk. It’s a really good show.