Robert R. Weinstine
I love cross-examination. When you’re 5’9, it’s about the only time you can commit mayhem.
Contact: P /612.604.6613E /[email protected]
Education
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1969
- Order of the Coif
- Board of Editors and Research Editor, Minnesota Law Review
University of Minnesota, B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1966
Bar Admissions
Minnesota, 1969
My Approach
I can’t think of anything I’d rather do in the practice of law than prepare and try a lawsuit before a jury. For a myriad of reasons, the true trial lawyer is a disappearing breed; there are far more litigators than trial lawyers and by that I mean those lawyers who prepare cases, but seldom, if ever, get the opportunity to try one.
Litigation is expensive and since the Great Recession many litigants do not want to face the enormous expense associated with preparing a lawsuit. E-discovery has only exacerbated this problem. In addition, arbitration, mediation and informal settlement discussions now result in over ninety percent of commercial litigation settling. No doubt, all of these issues have been a cause of the disappearing trial lawyer. It has been a distinct privilege for me to be able to spend the majority of my career as a trial lawyer at Winthrop & Weinstine. As a founder of the firm, I am extraordinarily proud of what we have built and the firm culture that we continue to strengthen every single day. There can be no better example of the success of our culture that in a firm of over 300 individuals, our average staff member has been with us for approximately 18 years.
I also am extraordinarily proud of the respect and trust that we have for one another and the bright legal minds we foster, and the way in which we practice law. When we first formed the firm, back in 1979, I was understandably anxious as to how it would all unfold. Since those first few weeks in 1979, however, I’ve never looked back; this has been and continues to be a dream career for me in a wonderful law firm.
A Groundbreaking Moment in My Career
Right out of law school, my first firm had a large mainframe and supercomputer company client, whose ownership believed that it was a business’ responsibility to help those less fortunate, and made a point of hiring convicted felons, unwed mothers, and others who, at that time, had a harder time finding work. The founder of this business set up a day school right next door to the manufacturing plant, and employed social workers to help the employees. He also set up a free legal clinic for the employees, that it was my responsibility to run. In addition to the joy of seeing the process work, it provided me with immediate and extensive trial experience at a very early point in my career. Picking juries and crafting my case for those twelve people, how to play to a judge, what kind of a witness I want, putting on the performance of the trial – all of those essential skills of winning a trial, I started laying the foundation there.
Practice Areas
Practicing Business & Commercial Litigation
My Experience
I represent my clients in trials of all types, including antitrust, securities, products liability, shareholder disputes and other commercial litigation. My favorite aspect of litigation, and where I excel, is in the courtroom, making a case for my client before the judge and jury, advocating on their behalf for the successful future of their company.
Representative Matters
- In Re Sugar Price Fixing Antitrust Litigation
- In Re Bulk Popcorn Antitrust Litigation, 792 F.Supp 650, 783 F. Supp. 1194
- In Re Flight Transportation Securities Litigation
- Marvin Lumber and Cedar Company v. Norton Company
- Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., et al. v. PPG Industries, Inc., 223 F.3d 873, 2001 WL 228427, 34 F. Supp.2d 738, 1998 WL 1056973
- Marvin Lumber & Cedar Company v. Apogee Enterprises, Inc.,W.S.A., Inc., d/b/a Viracon, Inc., Marcon Coating, Inc., and Viratec Thin Films, Inc.
- Susan Karrasch v. Continental Machines, Inc., et al.; Concord Boat Corp. v. Brunswick Corp., 1998 WL 1083645
- S. Bank Nat. Ass’n v. Angeion Corp., 615 N.W.2d 425
- Levin v. C.O.M.B. Co., 441 N.W.2d 801, 1988 WL 78626
- Control Data Corporation v. IBM
- D.G.-West, Inc.,W.D.G.-Hawaii, Inc.,W.D.G. & Co., Inc.,William D. Gray and Carmen Prill Gray v. Aveda Corporation, et al.
- Genmar Industries, Inc. v. Brunswick Corporation, et al.
- Concord Boat Corporation, et al. v. Brunswick Corporation
- KK Motors and Checkmate Boats, Inc. v. Brunswick Corporation
- American National Bank and Trust Company v. Lurie, Eiger, Besikof & Co.
- In the Matter of Piper Capital Management, Inc., et al., Piper Jaffray
- Derivative Action
Awards
The Best Lawyers in America©
Commercial Litigation, 1991-2019
Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2014-2019
Local Litigation Star
Benchmark Litigation, 2010-2020
Named one of the Best Litigators in Minnesota
National Law Journal, November 1999
Top 40 Business Litigation Attorneys
Minnesota Super Lawyers®
Recommended in Litigation: General Commercial
Chambers USA, 2008-2009, 2011, 2014-2018
Litigation Counsel of America
Fellow
Also experienced in
Antitrust
Financial Services Litigation
Securities Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Honors & Awards
Minnesota Super Lawyers®
(formerly Minnesota Law & Politics)
1991-2024
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor
2014
The Best Lawyers in America©
Commercial Litigation, 1991-2019
Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2014-2019
Local Litigation Star
Benchmark Litigation, 2010-2020
AV Preeminent
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, Peer review ratings
Named one of the top seven attorneys in Minnesota
Minnesota Lawyer, 2002
Named one of the Best Litigators in Minnesota
National Law Journal, November 1999
Listed in "Top 100"
Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, 2011-2017
Top 40 Business Litigation Attorneys
Minnesota Super Lawyers®
Law & Leading Attorneys
Minnesota Business Guidebook, 1994-2004
Top Rated
Chambers USA "Clients Guide"
Recommended in Litigation: General Commercial
Chambers USA, 2008-2009, 2011, 2014-2018
Leaders in Their Field
Chambers USA
Litigation Counsel of America
Fellow
Minnesota Icon
Finance & Commerce, 2018