Practice Areas

Cities

• City Attorney Services. RRM proudly provides City Attorney services to multiple municipalities across the state. Our law firm’s representation in this area includes rendering advice and legal opinions to city councils, and city staff regarding all areas of municipal law, including municipal powers and duties, planning and zoning, and land use. Our dedicated team of City Attorneys has extensive experience drafting, reviewing, interpreting, revising, and enforcing ordinances, city charters, and policies.
• Legal Representation. RRM lawyers are proud to represent cities of all sizes across the State of Minnesota. We have served our clients as legal counsel in litigation, arbitration hearings, veterans preference hearings, and charges and complaints of harassment and discrimination filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) as well as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). With a record of hundreds of positive outcomes for our clients, Minnesota cities can depend on our experience and skill.
• Contracts. We provide assistance in drafting, interpreting, and enforcing a wide variety of contracts for our clients, including construction contracts, transportation contracts, solar power purchase agreements, real estate purchase agreements and leases, development agreements, annexation agreements, franchise agreements, easement agreements, and lease purchase agreements. We also regularly advise clients on the bid law and draft a variety of labor and employment agreements.
• Property Law. RRM attorneys routinely advise municipal clients regarding matters involving real property. This includes property assessments and appeals, real estate transactions, construction and development issues including drafting development agreements, code enforcement issues, abatement of hazardous structures and other nuisances, eminent domain/condemnation, and annexation issues.
• Labor and Employment Law. Our attorneys have assisted clients in virtually every aspect of labor and employment law. We routinely assist our clients in drafting performance improvement plans (PIP), advise on the appropriate level of discipline, draft discipline, and termination letters, and represent counties during discipline meetings and due process and arbitration hearings. We have decades of experience serving as counsel during labor negotiations, including interest arbitrations, mediation, and first contracts. We frequently draft and review collective bargaining agreements (CBA) and memorandums of agreement (MOA), settlement agreements, personnel policies, and employee handbooks. We pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest legal developments in labor and employment issues, particularly as they relate to government employers. We regularly provide legal analysis on issues concerning the First Amendment and employee and government speech. Our attorneys are well-versed in the legal obligations of government employers from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and more. We regularly conduct third-party investigations for our city clients, investigating complaints of various subject matter including allegations of employee misconduct and performance concerns.
• Election Administration. RRM lawyers provide advice and guidance to cities on regular city council member elections, vacancy elections or appointments, special elections, mail elections, primary elections, and absentee balloting based on decades of experience. Our attorneys can advise your city regarding filling city council vacancies under state law and relevant charter provisions, preparing election resolutions, notices, and forms, and ensuring compliance with applicable deadlines for notices, publications, and mailings. Our attorneys can assist your city in avoiding impermissible advocacy in election materials, avoiding and defending litigation based on fair campaign practices statutes, and can guide your entity through many other complex and nuanced election administration issues.
• Investigations.  Our team of dedicated public sector attorneys has completed hundreds of investigations related to harassment, theft of time, data privacy violations, and other forms of workplace misconduct as well as environmental investigations. We can assist our municipal clients in the fact-finding process, analysis, employment actions following an investigation, or all of the above. Whether you are looking for a neutral investigator or general legal advice, we are ready and able to serve your needs. In addition to conducting thorough investigations, our experience ensures that city administrators and governing bodies have the information they need to navigate what comes after an investigation. RRM attorneys also regularly provide informative and engaging training sessions on conducting workplace investigations.
• Data Practices Compliance. Our attorneys provide advice regarding all areas of data privacy, including analyzing and responding to information requests under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We can assist in responding to data breaches, challenges to the accuracy and completeness of data, and development of policies.
• Council Governance. RRM attorneys provide outside advice and representation to city councils, as well as municipal boards and commissions, on a variety of issues, including conflicts of interest and ethics, employee relations, media relations, Minnesota Open Meeting Law (OML) requirements, department restructuring, governmental relations with other entities as well as state and federal agencies. Our lawyers serve as general civil and special counsel to city councils across the state and provide legal guidance, advice, and services in a myriad of areas.

Counties

• Legal Representation. RRM lawyers represent counties across the State of Minnesota. We have served our clients as legal counsel in arbitration hearings, Veterans Preference Act (VPA) hearings, data practices and open meeting law issues, administrative hearings, land use matters, charges and complaints of harassment and discrimination filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). With a record of hundreds of positive outcomes for our clients, Minnesota counties can depend on our experience and skill.
• Labor and Employment Law. Our attorneys are well-versed in virtually every aspect of labor and employment law. We routinely assist our clients in drafting performance improvement plans (PIP), advise on the appropriate level of discipline, draft discipline, and termination letters, and represent counties during discipline meetings and due process and arbitration hearings. We have decades of experience serving as counsel during labor negotiations, including interest arbitrations, mediation, and first contracts. We frequently draft and review collective bargaining agreements (CBA) and memorandums of agreement (MOA), settlement agreements, personnel policies, and employee handbooks. We pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest legal developments in labor and employment issues, particularly as they relate to government employers. We regularly provide legal analysis on issues concerning the First Amendment and employee and government speech. Our attorneys are well-versed in the legal obligations of government employers from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and more.
• Data Practices Compliance. Our attorneys provide advice regarding all areas of data privacy, including analyzing and responding to information requests under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We routinely assist in analyzing and responding to data breaches, challenges to the accuracy and completeness of data, and development of policies.
• Property Law. Our firm assists clients in construction contract drafting and disputes, AIA documents and revisions, planning and zoning matters, conveyances, and other land disputes.
• Contract Law. Our firm has a unique level of experience forming and representing Joint Powers Organizations (JPO) and drafting and revising Joint Powers Agreements (JPA) as well as bylaws. We routinely draft and interpret agreements of all kinds, including grants and contracts with vendors.
• Board Governance. RRM attorneys provide outside advice and representation to county boards on a variety of issues, including conflicts of interest, employee relations, media relations, Minnesota Open Meeting Law (OML) requirements, department restructuring, governmental relations with other entities as well as state and federal agencies. Our lawyers serve as general civil and special counsel to county boards across the state and provide legal guidance, advice, and services in a myriad of areas.
• Elected Officials. Our attorneys provide advice to elected officials regarding the duties and responsibilities of their offices in the event of questions, challenges or complaints, as well as representation and advice to the county board regarding its rights and responsibilities with respect to the salaries of elected officials, and salaries and budget appeals.

• K-12 Schools. Ratwik attorneys have decades of experience in all areas of school law. Our attorneys proudly serve as special and general counsel to K-12 schools across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Whether its legal advice or representation, we are prepared to work with you to issue spot and problem solve. From early childhood education to special and general education, we are here to answer your questions and guide you.
• Extracurricular and Non-academic Programs. Our attorneys have worked on legal issues pertaining to all facets of K-12 schools, including community programming services and extracurricular and non-academic activities. We are well-versed in coaching and student athlete issues, including the applicability of Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) policies. Whether you are seeking guidance on interactions with booster clubs and permissible fundraising or copyright and trademark compliance, we have it covered.
• Student Rights. There are a number of legal obligations and considerations that come into play when implementing school rules and disciplining students. Our attorneys are well-versed on the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act (PFDA) and the rights and obligations of schools administering these laws. We can assist on the day-to-day student discipline questions as well as assisting schools in expulsion/exclusion hearings or proceedings before the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on discipline matters, including ensuring that the procedures required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 are followed. We can advise schools as to the current law relative to the rights of students to free speech under the First Amendment, and off-campus misconduct and how these issues affect the discipline process. If your school is responding to transgender issues, a harassment or discrimination complaint under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), Title IX, or other complaints, before the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR), we can help.
• Special Education and Disability Law. RRM’s experienced lawyers work with schools on a variety of day-to-day special education issues, including Individuals with Disabilities Education Act compliance, special education student discipline procedures, preparation for the IEP process, special transportation, and staff training. Our attorneys are well-versed in Section 504 and ADA compliance as well. Our firm has decades of experience representing schools in discrimination claims under the ADA, Section 504, and state law. Our team works collaboratively with school staff to reduce the potential risk of costly due process hearings, state education agency complaints, or litigation. When a conflict does arise, our dedicated attorneys represent schools in special education matters in front of state departments of education, the federal Office for Civil Rights, and in litigation in state and federal courts. RRM has had successful outcomes for school clients in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
• Data Practices Compliance. Our attorneys provide advice regarding all areas of data privacy, including analyzing and responding to information requests under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) issues, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We can assist in safeguarding educational data and student records, personnel data, and other confidential information of the school, responding to data breaches, challenges to the accuracy and completeness of data, and development of policies. RRM attorneys frequently present on the topic of data privacy and have conducted hundreds of trainings for school staff.
• Legal Representation. RRM lawyers are proud to represent public and private schools across the region. We have served our clients as legal counsel in litigation, arbitration hearings, veterans preference hearings, and charges of harassment and discrimination filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) as well as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and special education complaints and requests for due process hearings filed with state education agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI), and the South Dakota Department of Education (SDDOE). With a record of hundreds of positive outcomes for our school clients, RRM attorneys bring the experience and skill you can depend on when a lawsuit or other complaint is raised.
• Labor and Employment Law. Our attorneys are experienced in virtually every aspect of labor and employment law and can handle all of your human resource needs. Our attorneys have decades of experience serving as counsel during labor negotiations and are well-versed in the obligations of the Public Employer Labor Relations Act (PELRA) and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). We routinely assist clients in drafting employee coaching documents, performance improvement plans (PIP), directives, notices of deficiencies (NOD), suspensions and other disciplinary and non-disciplinary/remediation actions, and represent them in grievances, arbitrations and other administrative hearings. We frequently draft and review contracts/collective bargaining agreements (CBA), settlement agreements, personnel policies, and employee handbooks. We pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest legal developments in labor and employment issues, particularly as they relate to school employers. We regularly provide legal analysis on issues concerning the First Amendment and employee and government speech. Our attorneys are well-versed in the legal obligations of government employers from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and more. We regularly conduct third-party investigations for our school clients, including allegations of employee misconduct and performance concerns, complaints to the Board of School Administrators (BOSA) and the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). Our lawyers have responded to hundreds of employee harassment and discrimination claims, whether they relate to race, nationality, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, or other protected class, on behalf of our clients. We also offer legal guidance as consultant, via training sessions, or as general counsel.
• Contracts. Our firm has you covered on all of your contractual needs. Whether you are seeking bids, proposals, or quotes under the Municipal Contracting Law, we can help you develop the appropriate bid/specification documents, negotiate with vendors, and draft the necessary contracts that comply with the competitive bid laws.
• Election Administration. School districts will benefit from sound legal advice and guidance regarding regular school board member elections, vacancy elections or appointments, special elections, levy referendums, bond elections, mail elections, primary elections, and absentee balloting. Our attorneys can advise your school district regarding filling school board vacancies under state law; ensuring compliance with applicable deadlines for notices, publications, and mailings; preparing election resolutions, notices, and forms; avoiding impermissible advocacy in election materials; avoiding and defending litigation based on fair campaign practices statutes; working with voter-advocacy groups on elections; and guiding your entity through many other complex and nuanced election administration issues. RRM attorneys also have experience providing advice and guidance to charter schools on school board member elections and vacancy elections or appointments. Our attorneys can advise your charter school regarding eligibility for school board members and procedures for filling school board vacancies and elections under state law, conflict of interest concerns, and relevant provisions of charter school bylaws or articles.
• School Board Governance and Representation. School boards are responsible for providing governance to public schools. Our lawyers serve as general and special counsel to school boards of public schools and charter schools and provide legal guidance and advice on a variety of issues, including employee relations, media relations, subcontracting, and governmental relations with state and federal agencies., and services in a myriad of areas. From drafting and reviewing board policies and procedures to analyzing potential conflicts of interest and ethics considerations to ensuring boards are complying with Open Meeting Law (OML) requirements.
• School Closures. Minnesota school districts must follow a statutory process for school closures and consolidations. Whether explaining the required procedural steps under section 123B.51, assisting with the necessary school board hearings, helping ensure that relevant information is in the school board’s record, advising regarding vendor agreements and bid law requirements, or responding to community or media comments, our attorneys guide school boards and school district administrators through every step of the school closure procedure. Our experienced attorneys also represent school districts in court when school closing decisions are appealed.
• Virtual Schools. As schools seek to offer more varied educational opportunities for their students and families, our attorneys have kept pace with everchanging technology, and the requirements schools must follow to implement distance learning, on-line learning, virtual instruction, e-learning, web-based learning, and other options. Whether your school is seeking to provide learning options on snow-days, and the legal and contractual issues these offerings raise, virtual alternative educational services for students unable to attend school or a more permanent on-line learning program, our attorneys can help.
• Charter Schools. Our attorneys are well-versed not only with the requirements of charter school law but how to practically apply these requirements in your charter school. We can assist in the formulation and filing of articles of incorporation, development of bylaws, election procedures for board members, conflict of interest issues, student and employee handbooks and policies, drafting and review of employment contracts, student and employee discipline and the application of other laws that apply to charter schools.

Special Education and Disability Law. RRM’s experienced lawyers work with schools on a variety of day-to-day special education issues, including compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), special education student discipline procedures, preparation for the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process, special transportation, and staff training. Our attorneys are well-versed in Section 504 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance as well. Our firm has decades of experience representing schools in discrimination claims under the ADA, Section 504, and state law. Our team works collaboratively with school staff to reduce the potential risk of costly due process hearings, state education agency complaints, or litigation. When a conflict does arise, our dedicated attorneys represent schools in special education matters in front of state departments of education, the federal Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and in litigation in state and federal courts. RRM has had successful outcomes for school clients in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Our special education lawyers frequently present to the Minnesota Association of Special Education Administrators (MASE), as well as school district administrators and staff, on pressing special education issues.

Labor and Employment Law. Our attorneys have assisted clients in virtually every aspect of labor and employment law. Our attorneys have decades of experience serving as counsel during labor negotiations. We frequently draft and review contracts, settlement agreements, personnel policies, and employee handbooks. We pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest legal developments in labor and employment issues, particularly as they relate to employers. We regularly provide legal analysis on issues concerning the First Amendment and employee and government speech. Our attorneys are well-versed in the legal obligations of government employers from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, and more. We regularly conduct third-party investigations for our clients, investigating complaints of various subject matter including allegations of employee misconduct and performance concerns. Our attorneys can provide legal guidance in the areas of employee rights, benefits, discipline, coaching, and training. We can assist in drafting a comprehensive and legally sound notice of discipline, performance improvement plan (PIP), letter of directives, or letter of expectations. Our attorneys are frequent presenters on topics pertaining to employment and labor law and can provide training to your staff regarding a myriad of topics including discrimination and harassment, data practices, and more.

Investigation Services. Our team of dedicated public sector attorneys has completed hundreds of investigations, including investigations related to harassment, discrimination, theft of time, misuse of public funds, data privacy violations, and other forms of workplace misconduct. In addition to investigating workplace misconduct allegations, our experienced investigators regularly investigate allegations made by students and their families in the school setting, including, but not limited to, allegations of bullying, Title IX violations, and other forms of harassment and discrimination. We can assist our clients in the fact-finding process, analysis, employment actions following an investigation or all of the above. Whether you are looking for a seasoned neutral investigator or general legal advice, we are ready and able to serve your needs. In addition to conducting thorough investigations, our experience ensures that our clients have the information they need to navigate what comes after an investigation. We also regularly provide informative and engaging training sessions regarding conducting investigations in the employment context and in school settings.

Civil Litigation. RRM has earned a reputation of zealous advocacy for its representation of government entities, including school districts, cities and counties, as well as nonprofits and other businesses. Our team is well-versed in representing the government in all types of claims and in obtaining dismissal of cases brought against governmental entities based upon state and federal immunities. Our attorneys have broad experience in trial and appellate courts and before federal, state, and local administrative and regulatory agencies. Our lawyers are frequently involved in complex legal actions involving many parties and have significant e-discovery experience, managing cases involving hundreds of thousands of electronic and hard-copy documents. With an impressive record of success, our attorneys have successfully litigated hundreds of cases and are on the approved list as insurance defense counsel for most insurers. Our firm has the ability to achieve optimal outcomes both quickly and cost-effectively. We have resolved potentially large-scale litigation at the motion to dismiss or summary judgment stage and obtained advantageous early settlements. We have represented clients successfully in numerous alternative dispute resolution (ADR) settings such as mediation and settlement conferences. We also have a strong record of successfully representing clients through trial, when necessary.

Manufactured Home Parks. As attorneys with decades of combined experience representing manufactured home parks in Minnesota, we have the knowledge necessary to assist our clients in all areas of landlord-tenant law specific to their individual needs. Whether you need assistance commencing a legal action, defending against an action brought by tenants or renters, or getting fast and accurate answers to the day-to-day legal questions that can arise, we can deliver. Our law firm has extensive experience handling eviction actions as well as drafting, revising, and enforcing lease agreements. We have assisted manufactured home parks with land acquisitions, park closings, enforcement of park rules and regulations, the sheriff’s sale process, building code issues, contractual issues, and zoning issues. We are experienced litigators that can represent your interests in state and local code enforcement actions, as well as general litigation concerning ownership interest in parks. We have also served as defense counsel in class action lawsuits brought by renters.

• Nonprofit-Specific Legal Services. RRM lawyers can assist your nonprofit organization with forming your nonprofit by drafting, creating, or revising articles of incorporation, bylaws, resolutions, and policies. We have assisted numerous organizations in establishing 501(c)(3) tax exemption designation and complying with other tax, compliance, fundraising, and reporting obligations. Our attorneys can help guide your nonprofit through mergers, consolidations, and dissolutions, as well as creating subsidiary organizations, and ensuring compliance with government regulations. When faced with public crisis events, we can assist nonprofits in managing public relations and creating public statements. RRM lawyers can also advise your nonprofit regarding contracts, leases, real estate and property issues, joint entity agreements, and all of the operating issues your nonprofit faces.
• Employment Law. Our attorneys have decades of experience dealing with virtually every facet of employment law that applies to private employers, including drafting carefully crafted personnel policies and employment contracts, advising clients regarding hiring and firing obligations, dealing with employee performance issues through coaching, performance improvement plans (PIP), and disciplinary actions, drafting employment-related agreements, advising our clients as to their legal obligations under state and federal disability, leave, and wage laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Our lawyers have responded to hundreds of harassment and discrimination claims on behalf of our clients. We offer legal guidance as a consultant, via training sessions, or as general counsel, however we can best assist in managing your human resources needs.
• We also provide neutral third-party investigative services with an experienced eye for identifying issues. We understand that nonprofits face unique challenges, which require individually tailored solutions. We can partner with you to create practical and customized plans that meet your organization’s needs.

Government Data Practices. Our attorneys provide advice regarding all areas of data privacy, including analyzing and responding to information requests under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) issues, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We can assist in safeguarding sensitive data, such as personnel data and other confidential information, responding to data breaches and challenges to the accuracy and completeness of data, and developing policies. RRM attorneys frequently present on the topic of data privacy and have conducted hundreds of trainings for staff.

Insurance Defense Counsel. RRM is well-versed in representing governmental entities, such as schools, counties and cities, nonprofits, and businesses in all types of claims.  Our firm achieves optimal outcomes both quickly and cost-effectively. We have resolved potentially large-scale litigation at the motion to dismiss or summary judgment stage and obtained advantageous early settlements. We also have a strong record of successfully representing clients through trial, when necessary. As a result, RRM is on the approved list as insurance defense counsel for most insurers, we provide defense to government entities that are self-insured and to intergovernmental trusts that pool resources to provide coverage to its members.

Our success in representing governmental entities, as well as nonprofits and other businesses, speaks for itself. Our firm frequently obtains dismissal of cases brought against governmental entities based upon state and federal immunities. Our attorneys have broad experience in trial and appellate courts and before federal, state, and local administrative and regulatory agencies. Our lawyers are frequently involved in complex legal actions involving many parties and have significant e-discovery experience, managing cases involving hundreds of thousands of electronic and hard-copy documents. With an impressive record of success, our attorneys have successfully litigated hundreds of cases.