is an attorney with the law firm of Nilan Johnson Lewis PA in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a veteran litigator who helps corporate clients avoid and defend high-profile national claims in employment, product liability, and commercial litigation matters. Ms. Ward-Reichard also spends time providing local trial counsel services. Licensed in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, she routinely supports attorneys, cases and clients in all three states. In addition to her client and trial work, Ms. Ward-Reichard serves as knowledge management and information research counsel for the firm. This internal-facing role utilizes her extensive skills in knowledge management, technology, factual and legal research, and eDiscovery, bringing efficiency, speed and cost-savings to what's often the most expensive part of litigation. She earned her B.A. degree from Concordia College and her J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

is the owner of HighRoad Partners in Fargo, North Dakota. She a licensed attorney, experienced in labor and employment matters, as well as corporate governance and contracts. Ms. Kommer previously served as North Dakota's Labor Commissioner and Commerce Commissioner, which provided a close-up view of the challenges and triumphs of small business owners. Prior to her public service, she spent more than 20 years in the private sector, serving in executive human resource, legal and operational leadership roles in a variety of industries including financial services, manufacturing, heavy construction, energy and health insurance. Ms. Kommer earned her J.D. degree from the University of North Dakota practices law in North Dakota and Minnesota. She is also a passionate advocate for child welfare, as a foster and adoptive parent. Ms. Kommer founded the North Dakota Heart Gallery, a non-profit promoting the need for adoptive families for North Dakota children.

is an attorney with Polsinelli. She helps employers of all sizes and in a variety of industries stay compliant with ever-changing federal and state employment laws, including those regarding wage and hour, equal employment opportunity, leaves and restrictive covenants. Ms. Tichenor partners with employers to develop policies and procedures, and provide day-to-day guidance tailored to the unique needs of each employer, its workforce and workplace culture. She also drafts agreements, including employment agreements, bonus agreements, and separation agreements to help protect employers and reduce the risk of a dispute with an employee. Ms. Tichenor further supports employers during transactions by conducting due diligence to help spot potential pitfalls and take steps to ensure a smooth employment transition post-closing. She strives to help employers avoid litigation and other disputes, but if disputes arise, she represents employers through the dispute process. Ms. Tichenor has successfully represented organizations of all sizes before state and federal courts and administrative agencies and has assisted employers in obtaining favorable decisions before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. She earned her J.D. degree at Washington and Lee University and is admitted to practice in Colorado, North Dakota, and Florida. Ms. Tichenor has been named 'Ones to Watch' through Best Lawyers in America for her employment law management practice.

is a shareholder with Ohnstad Twichell, P.C., practicing in the West Fargo, North Dakota office. Her practice focuses on municipal law, municipal bond law, bankruptcy/financial restructuring, water law, and employment law. Ms. Schmidt earned her J.D. degree at University of North Dakota School of Law and her undergraduate degree in criminal justice and fraud examination at Bemidji State University. She is admitted to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota. Ms. Schmidt is involved with several professional organizations including the Cass County Bar Association, National Association of Bond Lawyers, American Bankruptcy Institute, and Consumer Protection Committee of the State Bar Association of North Dakota. She has been recognized for her legal practice and included in the Great Plains Rising Stars list of North Dakota in 2019.

is a partner with Leech Tishman in Washington, D.C. His practice focuses on representing clients in a wide range of employee benefit matters, including executive and deferred compensation arrangements and complex employee benefit litigation. Mr. McNeil is a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and is considered one of the country's most foremost authorities on executive and deferred compensation. He regularly advises clients on tax-qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) and 547 plans, nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, equity arrangements, split-dollar life insurance arrangements, COLI, and other forms of executive compensation. Mr. McNeil counsels clients on all aspects of tax-qualified executive and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and arrangements for taxable and tax-exempt employers, employee benefit issues in mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary responsibility, and prohibited transaction issues. He has experience in practicing before the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in examinations, correction programs, and ruling requests. Mr. McNeil has also served as an expert in federal hearings and investigations. He has been listed for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for his employee benefits practice (2006-2025) and ERISA litigation (2011-2025). Mr. McNeil is the author of more than 45 books, including editions of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans and 401(k) Plans: A Comprehensive Guide. He earned his J.D. degree at Drake University Law School and his LL.M. degree at Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. McNeil is admitted to practice in Washington, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Appeals (Eighth Circuit and District of Columbia).

is a partner with Dorsey & Whitney LLP in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He leads Dorsey's firm-wide Labor and Employment practice group with a diverse practice encompassing a wide range of employment and labor issues. As an advisor, Mr. Sullivan counsels C-suite executives, owners of closely held and small businesses, human resources leaders, and in-house lawyers on complex questions including medical and disability accommodation and leave issues; non-competition, non-solicitation, and trade-secret obligations; responding to unionization efforts and managing union relationships; and assessing high-risk hiring, discipline, and termination decisions. As a litigator, he prosecutes and defends actions to protect clients' trade secrets and ensure compliance with their contract rights in non-competition and non-solicitation matters. Mr. Sullivan also defends against alleged violations of state and federal employment laws and represents employers during investigations and proceedings brought by or before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, and other federal and state agencies. He earned his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, at University of Minnesota Law School. Mr. Sullivan is admitted to practice in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. He has been listed for inclusion in Best Lawyers' "Minneapolis Ones to Watch" for his labor and employment management and litigation practices (2022-2025).

is Commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights. His practice focuses on labor and employment law and regulatory compliance. Mr. Greenberg has prior experience as a legal and policy advisor for North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. He earned his J.D. degree at University of North Dakota and his B.S. degree at University of Minnesota Crookston. Mr. Greenberg is admitted to practice in North Dakota.