Attorney Profiles

Seymour J. Mansfield
Minneapolis, Minnesota

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

Mr. Mansfield is 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. He is licensed to practice in Minnesota and Illinois, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court and various federal districts and courts of appeal. Mr. Mansfield has been selected in a statewide survey of Minnesota lawyers as a "Super Lawyer" in the areas of Commercial Litigation; Employer - Individual; and Employment Law - Management by Twin Cities Business Monthly and Minnesota Law and Politics. He also frequently lectures and writes on business law and litigation-related topics.

Mr. Mansfield resides in southwest Minneapolis with Susan, his wife of over 33 years. He has two children, Alexis and Justin, and a foster son, Steven. He enjoys scuba diving, underwater photography, ping-pong, tennis and fitness training.

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:: Limited Liability Companies - The Best of Both Worlds, 7 Resource Reports, 1992; The IRS Wins a Battle But Not the War, 43 Footnote 9, 1993; "Defamation", Employment Law Handbook, 1994; "Defamation", Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1995; "Taking the Credit but None of the Blame: A Primer on Interest Limits for Businesses Extending Credit", Business Law Institute (MILE), 1996; "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; "Review of Significant ERISA Cases" (Chairman and Author), ERISA Litigation Institute (MILE), 1999; "Review of Significant ERISA Cases" (Chairman and Author), ERISA Litigation Institute (MILE), 2000; Seventeen Steps You Should Take to Protect Your Company's Trade Secrets (Co-Author), Mansfield Tanick & Cohen, P.A., 2000

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 & Thirft, et al. 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)

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:: ERISA Litigation Institute (Chairman, Speaker and Author), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), 1999; ERISA Litigation Institute (Chairman, Speaker and Author), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), 2000; "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

Professional Associations and Memberships:: American Bar Association, 2007 - Present; Advisory Panel; Fund for Legal Aid Society, 1998 - Present; Executive Committee; Possis Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ - POSS), 1998 - Present; Chairman, Executive Committee; Hennepin County Bar Association, 1997 - Present; Member, Board of Governors; Minnesota State Bar Association Foundation, 1997 - 1998; President; American Bar Association, 1997 - Present; House of Delegates; Network of Leading Lawyers, 1996 - 2005; Firm Representative; Minnesota State Bar Association Foundation, 1994 - Present; Board; National Employment Lawyers Association; Firm Representative; Lawyers Associated Worldwide; Firm Representative; Possis Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ - POSS), 1990 - Present; Member; Hennepin County Bar Association, 1988 - 1994; Member, Board of Governor; Possis Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ - POSS), 1984 - Present; Board of Directors; Fund for Legal Aid Society, 1982 - Present; Board of Directors

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:: Pro Bono Publico Award, 1994; "Leading Lawyer," Minnesota Guidebook of Leading Attorneys, 1994 - 1999

Fraternities/Sororities:: Alpha Epsilon Pi