Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
Winthrop and Weinstine is a full-service commercial law firm whose lawyers provide forward-thinking legal representation across a wide range of industries and practice areas.
Minnesota Lawyer//June 8, 2026//
Welcome to the third issue of In the Lead: Best Women-Led Law Firms.
Minnesota Lawyer has been honoring women in the legal world for years, most prominently with our Top Women in Law awards program, which honors Minnesota’s most impressive female lawyers.
With In the Lead, we decided to go broader and recognize Minnesota’s best law firms that are led by women.
Minnesota Lawyer’s editorial team asked readers for recommendations, reviewed prior news coverage and awards honorees, and other publicly available information about women-led law firms to curate this notable list.
To be eligible, a firm’s local office must be led by a woman and have demonstrated legal success and efforts to empower other women in and outside of the firm.
Hopefully you’ll agree that this list is filled with impressive law firms and leaders. Perhaps you’ll also find the firm that can do exactly what you’re looking for. Congratulations to all the honorees.
— Kendra Beneke, special sections editor
Winthrop and Weinstine is a full-service commercial law firm whose lawyers provide forward-thinking legal representation across a wide range of industries and practice areas.
Anthony Ostlund Louwagie Dressen & Boyland P.A. is a litigation and dispute resolution trial team, one of the largest in the Midwest focused solely on commercial litigation.
In its 80th year, Maslon LLP boasts 80 attorneys that practice in areas including litigation, corporate & securities law, restructuring and financial services, real estate, estate planning, and labor & employment.
Merchant & Gould has focused exclusively on intellectual property for over a century.
MADEL PA describes itself as a “litigation boutique focusing on complex, high-stakes legal matters, primarily in business litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and governmental and internal investigations.”
Norton Rose Fulbright is a global firm that “provides a full scope of legal services to the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions,” according to its website.
Ciresi Conlin LLP specializes in business litigation, mass tort and medical malpractice cases.
Established in 1897, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough is a “diversified law firm of more than 1,000 attorneys, policy advisors, and professionals,” with offices across the United States, according to its website.
Established in 2003, Gustafson Gluek’s main practice is in class action litigation, mainly in antitrust, consumer protection, and product liability.
Rogness & Field is a boutique law firm in Oakdale that practices family law, probate, and estate planning, and also offers mediation services.
Sapientia Law Group is not just a woman-led firm. It is the only women-owned and minority-owned law firm with 10-plus attorneys in Minnesota, according to the firm’s website.
Berens & Miller’s law practice is informed by attorneys’ experience in business.
As a leading IP law firm, Fish & Richardson helps innovators to make novel contributions to society by providing unmatched litigation, patent, and post-grant experience across venues and prosecution needs.
With 11 offices worldwide, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. is led by Melodie Rose, president and board member.
Ballard Spahr is a national law firm with 750 attorneys in 19 offices across the country.
Barnes & Thornburg operates 26 offices across the U.S. Its 850 lawyers serve clients nationwide.
With over 1,200 attorneys in 20 offices across the United States and world, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP assists clients with transactional, litigation, and regulatory challenges.
Employing about 100 attorneys in nine domestic offices and one in London, Zelle LLP focuses on insurance coverage, property and casualty claims, antitrust and unfair competition, construction law, and complex commercial disputes.
Nilan Johnson Lewis embraces diversity encompassing, “without limitation, race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, nationality, age, disability, and marital and family status,” according to the firm’s website.
Minneapolis-based Honsa Mara & Kanne is a boutique family law practice that is “focused on effective communication, practical problem solving, and listening.”
St. Paul-based Schromen Law uses a “holistic approach” in its practice.
Fafinski Mark & Johnson (FMJ) is a full-service commercial law firm serving businesses, organizations, and individuals across Minnesota and nationwide.
Established in 1976, Henson Efron is a Minneapolis-based law firm with 34 attorneys and 59 total personnel.
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