Eleanor Michelle Drake
also known as E. Michelle Drake, Michelle Drake
About Eleanor
Biography
E. Michelle Drake is a skilled trial lawyer dedicated to advancing her clients' interests.
As a graduate of both Harvard Law School and Oxford University who learned to practice law by trying high stakes criminal cases, Michelle possesses a rare combination of elite academic pedigree and real world trial skills.
Michelle started her career working as a public defender in Atlanta, Georgia. During that time, Michelle was lead counsel in hundreds of felony criminal cases. She tried many cases, including five murder cases, to verdict. After working as a public defender for several years, Michelle founded her own law firm and expanded her practice to include civil cases. In 2007, Michelle moved back to her home state of Minnesota and decided to join Nichols Kaster.
Michelle has represented thousands of employees and consumers, in both individual and class cases. Her efforts have resulted in her clients recovering millions of dollars.
Michelle has never lost her desire to spend her career fighting for the rights of individuals. Whether her clients are misclassified employees or consumers who have been treated unfairly by their bank, Michelle is happiest fighting on the side of the underdog. She is a fierce and fearless litigator and always puts her clients' interests first.
Michelle's dry wit and straightforward speaking style have made her a valued member of the local and national community of consumer and employee rights litigators. She has spoken at numerous continuing legal education seminars. Michelle’s opinions have been published in the National Law Journal, and her cases were named as "Lawsuits of the Year" by Minnesota Law & Politics in both 2008 and 2009. Michelle has been named to the Rising Stars list by Minnesota Super Lawyers. Michelle leads the firm’s Consumer Class Action Team, which helps originate individual and class action cases directed at achieving justice for consumers. In particular, Michelle is currently lead counsel on several cases involving Fair Credit Reporting Act violations.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
25%-40%
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Minnesota for 18 years
State: Minnesota
Acquired: 2007
No misconduct found
Licensed in Georgia for 24 years
State: Georgia
Acquired: 2001
No misconduct found
Location
Berger & Montague, P.C.
100 South Fifth Street, Suite 1900, Minneapolis, MN, 55402
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Eleanor Michelle Drake's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
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Eleanor Michelle Drake's Lawyer Endorsements
"Ms Drake is a top consumer protection attorney, Super Lawyer status tells me she is in the top 5% of all attorneys in her state and her class action Credit Rights case Bingollu v One Source shows that her and her team know very well what they are doing and how to do it when it comes to getting consumers good relief for bad acts. If you are in MN and have a problem related to your rights as a consumer, especially when it comes to Credit Rights, I heartily recommend her to you."
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Experience
Honors
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer
2015
Top 50 Women Attorneys in Minnesota, Super Lawyer
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2013
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine
2012
Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine
2011
Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine
2001
Thurgood Marshall Defender Award, Committee for Public Counsel Services
Work Experience
2016 - Present
Shareholder, Berger & Montague, P.C.
2011 - 2016
Partner, Nichols Kaster, LLP
Associations
2015 - Present
National Association of Consumer AdvocatesBoard Member
2010 - Present
Federal Practice Committee, U.S. District Court of MinnesotaAppointed Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Volunteer Attorney
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
2013 - 2014
Minnesota State Bar Association Consumer Litigation SectionAt-Large Council Member
Education
2001
J.D.
1998
MS - Master of Science
1996
B.A.
Speaking Engagements
2014
Employment Law 360
2013
The Misclassification Mess-What Do You Do If You Have Misclassified Workers as Exempt?”
2013
5 Developments in E-Discovery
2013
Beyond the Headlines – What Every Lawyer Should Know About the U.S. Supreme Court’s Big New Decisions
2013
The Complete Lawyer: Quick Answers to Questions about Consumer Law
2013
Precertification Discovery Strategies including Issues of Standing & Certification
2013
Housing Finance – Consumer Financial Services
2012
Federal Court 101
2012
Employment Law Series: Ethics Issues for Employment Law Lawyers
2012
Employment Rights & Criminal Backgrounds in the Context of the FCRA and Title VII
2011
Litigation and the Federal Rules. What Every Paralegal Should Know
2011
Real World Ethics Issues and Answers for the Employment Lawyer
2011
The Complete Lawyer: Consumer Law 101
2011
Dukes v. Wal-Mart: the View from the Plaintiff’s Bar.
2010
Strategic Discovery Practice
2010
Maintaining Privilege and Confidentiality
2010
Recent Trends in FLSA Collective Actions Panel
2010
How to Practice in Federal Court: Complaints, Answers, and Service of Process
2010
Impact of Twombly and Iqbal on the Pleading Standard
2010
Real-World Ethics, Issues, and Answers for the Employment Lawyer
2009
Recent wave of tip pooling cases
2009
Strategic Discovery: How to Fight Discovery Abuses and Win Discovery Disputes
2008
Who is the Boss? Joint employers, successor employers, and integrated enterprises
2006
Litigating Capital Cases Under Georgia's New Discovery Statues
2005
Responding to Changes in Georgia's Criminal Discovery Statutes
Languages
English