Attorney Profiles

Seymour J. Mansfield
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Founder Officer Shareholder
phone	612-339-4295
fax	612-339-3161
email	Email Me

Seymour Mansfield, a founding shareholder of Mansfield Tanick & Cohen, P.A., has 40 years of diverse legal experience, and is licensed to practice in Minnesota and Illinois, the U.S. Supreme Court, various federal district and appeals courts. He was an honors graduate from DePaul University Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of DePaul Law Review. Prior to co-founding Mansfield & Tanick, P.A. in 1989, he was principal shareholder in Seymour Mansfield & Associates and before that, he was a legal aid lawyer in Illinois and Minnesota, culminating in his tenure as the Executive Director and Chief Counsel for Minnesota's largest program for civil legal aid to the poor and disadvantaged in Minneapolis and 22 counties. For the past two decades, Mr. Mansfield has been selected as a Minnesota "Super Lawyer" and among the Top 40 Super Lawyers in the area of Labor and Employment Law, and over the years, as a "Super Lawyer" and "Leading Lawyer" in the area of Commercial Litigation.

Mr. Mansfield now focuses on business and complex litigation, mediation, employment and employee benefits law, trade secrets and unfair business practices and international business transactions and disputes. He is the Firm's primary representative to Lawyers Associated Worldwide (LAW), a commercial association of over 105 independent commercial law firms located in 55 countries and 148 key cities, comprising over 3500 lawyers worldwide. He served on LAW's governing board from 2002 through 2008.

Mr. Mansfield frequently lectures and writes on business law and litigation-related topics.

Mr. Mansfield resides in southwest Minneapolis with Susan, his wife of over 40 years. He has three grown children, Alexis and Justin, and Steven, and enjoys scuba diving, underwater photography, ping-pong, tennis, biking and fitness training.

Charitable Leadership

Active in volunteering, pro bono legal services, philanthropy and other ways of giving back to the community, he was recognized as 2009 Honoree of The Fund for the Legal Aid Society (Fund) at its Law Day Testimonial Dinner for his life time achievements in supporting legal services and the pursuit of social and economic justice for the disadvantaged.

He and his wife, Susan, were honored at the 2007 World Premiere of the Basilica of St. Mary's Holocaust Memorial Oratorio.

Mr. Mansfield was a co-founder and serves on the Board and Executive Committee of The Fund; the Boards of Jewish Community Action and the Albert and Anne Mansfield Foundation. For more about Mr. Mansfield's community involvement, see http://www.mansfieldtanick.com/CM/Articles/Law-Day-Dinner.asp.

Areas of Practice:: 25% Complex and Class Action Litigation; 20% Commercial Litigation and Appeals; 20% Employment Law - Employee and Employer; 15% Business and Commercial Law; 10% Employee Benefits (ERISA); 10% Others

Litigation Percentage:: 70% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:: Minnesota, 1978; Illinois, 1969; U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1970; U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1978; U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1994; U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1995; U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1970; U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1984; U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1997; U.S. Supreme Court, 1975

Education:: DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1969
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: With Honors
Law Review: De Paul Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1969; University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 1966
B.S.
Major: Sociology

Published Works:: Around the World with Seymour: Legal News with an International Perspective, Mansfield Tanick & Cohen monthly column in eWatch, November 2007 to date; "Don't Mess Around with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act", Corporate Counsel Edition, March, 2009; Seventeen Steps You Should Take to Protect Your Company's Trade Secrets (Co-Author), Mansfield Tanick & Cohen, P.A., 2000; "Review of Significant ERISA Cases" (Chairman and Author), ERISA Litigation Institute (MILE), 2000; "Review of Significant ERISA Cases" (Chairman and Author), ERISA Litigation Institute (MILE), 1999; "Understanding the Nature and Protection of Trade Secrets and Their Interplay with Confidentiality Agreements, Noncompete Covenants, and Related Federal and State Laws", Successful Trade Secret and Enforcement Strategies, MILE, 1998; "Noncompetes and Trade Secrets: Protecting Personnel and Ideas in a High Tech Society", Third Annual Law and Technology Show, National Practice Institute, 1998; "Noncompetes and Trade Secrets: Protecting Personnel and Ideas in a High Tech Society", MILE, 1998; "View from the Plaintiffs' Bar: Is the Consumer Class Worth Bringing?: A Current Review of Common Creditor Errors", Financial Institution Law (MILE), 1998; "Taking the Credit but None of the Blame: A Primer on Interest Limits for Businesses Extending Credit", Business Law Institute (MILE), 1996; "Defamation", Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1995; "Defamation", Employment Law Handbook, 1994; The IRS Wins a Battle But Not the War, 43 Footnote 9, 1993; Limited Liability Companies - The Best of Both Worlds, 7 Resource Reports, 1992

Representative Cases:: Florida State Board of Admin. v. Green Tree Fin. Corp., 270 F.3d 645 (United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit 2001); Fogie v. THORN Americas, Inc., 190 F.3d 889 (8th Cir. 1999); Midwest Machinery v. Northwest Airlines, 167 F.3d 439 (8th Cir. 1999); Beverly Woo v. Deluxe Checks Corp., 144 F.3d 1157 (8th Cir. 1998); Fogie v. THORN Americas, Inc., 95 F.3d 645 (8th Cir. 1996); In Re Unisys Corp. Retiree Benefits ERISA Litig., MDL Docket 969 (E.D.Pa.); In Re Unisys Corp. Retiree Benefits ERISA Litig., WL 284079 (E.D.Pa. 1994); In Re Unisys Corp. Retiree Benefits ERISA Litig., 886 F.Supp. 445 (E.d. Pa. aff'd 1995); In Re Unisys Corp. Retiree Benefits ERISA Litig., 57 F.3d 1255 (3rd Cir. 1995); In Re Unisys Corp. Retiree Benefits ERISA Litig., 189 F.R.D. 149 (E.D.Pa. 1999); Miller v. Colortyme, 518 NW2d 544 (Minn. Supp. 1994); Hawkins v. Thorp Credit & Thrift and ITT Financial Services, 441 N.W.2d 470 (Minn. 1989); Anastasia v. Eastgate Hotel, 527 F.2d 150 (7th Cir. 1975); Brown v. Lynn, 385 F.Supp. 986 (N.D. Ill. 1974); Chicago Housing Tenants Organization v. Chicago Housing Authority, 512 F.2d 19 (7th Cir. 1975); Harlib v. Lynn, 511 F.2d 51 (7th Cir. 1975); Estrada v. Hills, 401 F. Supp. 429 (N.D. Ill. 1975); Metropolitan Area Housing Alliance v. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, 69 F.R.D. 633 (N.D. Ill. 1976); Collins v. Viceroy Hotel, 338 F. Supp. 390 (N.D. Ill. 1972); Bruck v. Cincotta, 56 Ill. App. 3d 260, 371 N.E.2d 874 (1st Dist. 1977); Lopez v. Fitzgerald, 53 Ill. App. 3d 164, 368 N.E.2d 356 (1st Dist. 1977); Payne v. Coates-Miller, Inc., 52 Ill. App.3d 164, 367 N.E.2d 370 (1st Dist. 1977); Richardson v. Wilson, 46 Ill. App.2d 622, 361 N.E.2d 110 (1st Dist. 1977); South Austin Realty Ass'n v. Sombright, 47 Ill. App.3d 89, 361 N.E.2d 795 (1st Dist. 1977); Stribling v. CHA, 34 Ill. App. 3d 551, 340 N.E.2d 47 (1st Dist. 1975); Carter, et al. v. Gallagher, et al., No. 4-70-Civ-399 (D. Minn. 1980); Starks v. Rent-A-Center, 95 Fed. 3d 645 (8th Cir. 1996); Burney, et al. v. Thorn America, Inc., Civ. No. 94-C-1162 (E.D. Wis.); Burney, et al. v. Thorn America, Inc., 97 CV-1596 (Racine Co., Wis.); Hawkins and Hohn v. Thorp Credit & Thrift, d/b/a ITT Financial

Representative Clients:: Possis Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ-POSS), Medical Devices; GME Consultants, Ltd., Geological & Environmental Engineers; R&S Company, General Service Agent for Airlines in Middle East; Rapid ChangeTechnologies, Management Consultants; J. Knutson & Assoc., Computer Systems for Construction Industry; Amundson Marketing & Assoc., Marketing and Advertising; Superior Industries, Manufacturer, Heavy Equipment Manufacturer; Security Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company; Relco Corp., Distributor, High Perf. Auto. Accessories; Koch Industries, Oil Refiner & Natural Gas Producer; Nichols * Dezehall Communications Management Group, Ltd.

Classes/Seminars Taught:: Presenter, Developments in Employment Law in China, U.S. China Business Connections, 2009; Chairman and Presenter, A Roadmap for Business Success in China: Legal Practical & Cultural Pointers & Pitfalls, 2008; Presenter, Doing Business in the UK and EU, "Comparative Legality of European Trade and Noncompete Restrictions", 2007; Presenter, Trends in Executive Law, AdvisorNet Financial's Advanced Planning Study Group, 2007; "Insights into the Plaintiff's Case with a Panel of Leading Plaintiffs' Attorneys", Dorsey & Whitney Seminar, 2007; Presenter,Lee Hecht Harrison's Trends in Executive Compensation & Employment Contract", 2003 - 2009; "Ethical Aspects of Attorneys Representing Multiple Parties", Minnesota CLE, 2005, 2007; Lee Hecht Harrison's "Executive Productivity Group Presentation", 2002; ERISA Litigation Institute (Chairman, Speaker and Author), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), 2000; ERISA Litigation Institute (Chairman, Speaker and Author), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), 1999; "Noncompetes and Trade Secrets: Protecting Personnel and Ideas in a High-Tech Society" (Speaker and Author) 3rd Annual Law & Technology Show, Nat'l. Prac. Institute, 1998; "View From the Plaintiffs' Bar: Is the Consumer Class Worth Bringing? A Current Review of Common Creditor Errors" (Speaker and Author), Financial Institution Law, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1998; "Taking the Credit, but None of the Liability--Avoiding Pitfalls in Extending Credit to Customers" (Speaker and Author), Minnesota CLE, Business Law Institute, 1996; "Speaking the Truth About Defamation," Representing Empoyees in Litigation, Lecturer, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association CLE, 1996; "Crafting Employment and Severance Contracts", MILE, 1996; "How to Help Your Client When the I-Team Comes Calling - Media Crisis Management for CPSS" (Speaker and Author), Minnesota CPA Society MEGA Conference, 1995; "Litigation Update" Buying-Selling-Merging (Speaker and Author), 1995; "Litigation Update" (Speaker and Author), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1995; Co-Sponsor, "Crisis IQ: An Integrated Approach to Media Crisis Management" (Speaker and Author), National Press Club, Washington, D.C., 1994

Honors and Awards:: The Fund for the Legal Aid Society, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009; Honored for the Leadership in Catholic-Jewish Interfaith Activities,World Premier,St. Mary's Basillica's Oratorio,"To be Certain of the Dawn", 2007; HCBA Pro Bono Publico Award, 1994; Named Top 40 in practice of Employment Law, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2009; Super Lawyer, Minnesota, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2001 - Present; The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, 1990 - Present; Who's Who in Employment Law, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2006 - 2009; Who's Who in Business Litigation, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2007 - 2009; Leading Minnesota Attorney, 1994 - 2003

Professional Associations and Memberships:: American Bar Association, 1969 - Present; Member; American Bar Association, 2007 - Present; Advisory Panel; American Bar Association, 2000 - 2006; House of Delegates; Network of Leading Lawyers, 1996 - 2005; Firm Representative; Minnesota State Bar Association, 1979 - Present; Member; Minnesota State Bar Association, 1999 - 2004; Board; Hennepin County Bar Association, 1979 - Present; Member; Hennepin County Bar Association, 1994 - 2004; Board; Lawyers Associated Worldwide, 1997 - Present; Lawyers Associated Worldwide, 2002 - 2008; Executive Committee, Gov. Board; Hennepin County Bar Association Foundation, 1997 - 1998; Board; Hennepin County Bar Association Foundation, 1998; President; National Employment Lawyers Association, 1989 - Present; Member; Fund for Legal Aid Society, 1982 - Present; Board; Fund for Legal Aid Society, 1998 - Present; Executive Committee; Jewish Community Action of Minnesota, 2008 - Present; Board; Possis Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ - POSS), 1998 - 2008; Board; Possis Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ - POSS), 2005 - 2008; Chairman, Executive Committee; American Jewish Committee, Minnesota Chapter, 1994 - 1998; Board

Past Employment Positions:: Seymour J. Mansfield & Associates, Owner and Principal, 1981 - 1989; William Mitchell College of Law, Adjunct Instructor, 1982 - 1988; The Fund for the Legal Aid Society, Executive Director and President, 1981 - 1982; Central Minnesota Legal Services, Executive Director, 1978 - 1981; Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, Supervising Attorney, 1973 - 1978; Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, Staff Counsel, 1969 - 1970; Northwestern University Legal Assistance Clinic, Staff Counsel, 1969 - 1970

Pro Bono Activities:: "Leading Lawyer," Minnesota Guidebook of Leading Attorneys, 1994 - 1999

Fraternities/Sororities:: Alpha Epsilon Pi

Birth Information:: March 30, 1945, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America