Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Frank Jossi//September 26, 2024//

Alana Bassin, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Alana Bassin, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Frank Jossi//September 26, 2024//

Listen to this article

Minneapolis Office Managing Partner Alana Bassin spent two decades as an attorney with few female mentors early in her career.

The Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP partner leads the Minneapolis office, where she hopes her role will inspire other women to pursue management positions to reach gender parity someday.

The firm has more than 1,000 employees in offices across the country and handles a wide range of litigation, from corporate, banking and intellectual property to governmental relations and labor employment. 

Bassin has created a workplace where attorneys have the flexibility to raise a family and deal with other obligations by using parental leave policies. Developing an office environment that permits employees time to manage life’s challenges has been a focus of Bassin’s for years and a topic she has addressed and written about many times.

Serving on the executive and compensation committees, she has assisted in developing parental leave, diversity and inclusion policies, mentorship, and best practices development. 

Bassin doubled the size of the Minneapolis office, with women representing around half the staff’s attorneys.

Nilan Johnson Lewis PA

When Nilan Johnson Lewis PA chose its first woman president — Heidi Christianson — in 2019, a major commitment toward ownership by women took shape.

Merchant & Gould P.C.

Heather J. Kliebenstein is managing director of the intellectual property law firm of Merchant & Gould P.C., where half the leadership positions are held by women.

Ballard Spahr

Over 139 years in business, Ballard Spahr has earned a reputation as the place to go for clients looking for help in matters of litigation, transactions and regulatory compliance.

Maslon LLP

For 68 years, Maslon LLP has provided strategic legal counsel to the business community in Minnesota.

Ciresi Conlin LLP

Two of Ciresi Conlin LLP’s three founders were women: Jan Conlin and Katie Crosby Lehmann.

Sapientia Law Group, PLLC

Sapientia Law Group carries the distinction of being one of the few minority-and-women-owned firms in the Midwest.

Roe Law Group

In three decades of law practice, Jessica Roe has earned a reputation as a savvy negotiator, skilled at helping clients prevent employment issues from arising, or helping resolve them quickly and efficiently, in or out of court.

Henson Efron

In January 2020, Lisa Spencer became a trailblazer at the 48-year-old Henson & Efron law firm, when she was named its first woman president.

Cozen O’Connor

Recognizing that it needed to have more women in leadership roles, law firm Cozen O’Connor started its Women’s Initiative program to bring programming, networking and connection to the women lawyers in the firm.

Faegre Drinker

For the global law firm Faegre Drinker, equity and inclusion is a given.

MADEL PA

Jennifer Maria de la Luz Robbins, managing partner of MADEL PA, was named 2023 Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer along with her partner, Chris Madel.

Honsa Mara & Kanne

In more than 30 years as a law firm owner and entrepreneur, Anne Honsa has made empowering female attorneys to build successful legal careers one of her priorities.

Winthrop & Weinstine

Tammera R. Diehm, the first female president of Winthrop & Weinstine, says the dual role of firm president and practicing attorney has a lot of crossover characteristics.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Established in 2009, the Minneapolis office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP has been recognized multiple times for its efforts in diversity, inclusivity and overall support for its employees.

Gustafson Gluek PLLC

Karla M. Gluek was a decade out of law school in 2003 and still working at her first firm when her colleague Daniel Gustafson asked her if she wanted to start a new firm.

Stoel Rives LLP

Sarah Johnson Phillips has truly risen through the ranks at Stoel Rives LLP, a leading corporate and litigation law firm recognized for its work in project finance and the energy and natural resources industries.

Greene Espel PLLP

Over the past decade, two-thirds of Greene Espel’s newly elevated partners — eight of 12 — have been women.

Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.

In 2007, Heidi Carpenter and Shannon McDonough, attorneys at the Fafinski Mark & Johnson commercial law firm, launched FMJ Women Uncorked, a series of events to help women attorneys connect with and support each other and other women in business.

Berens Miller

Berens Miller might not be the biggest, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t among the best.

Fredrikson & Byron P.A.

Leadership of Fredrikson & Byron P.A. is distinguished for how many top positions are occupied by women, among them is President Melodie Rose, COO Ann Rainhart, General Counsel Lousene Hoppe, and Board Members Loan Huynh, Christina Brusven and Leigh-Erin Irons.

Fish & Richardson P.C.

Fish & Richardson is a global IP law firm with 14 offices in the United States, Germany, and China.

Top News

See All Top News

Legal calendar

Click here to see upcoming Minnesota events

Expert Testimony

See All Expert Testimony