Justin D. Cummins
About Justin
Biography
I represent clients in a wide variety of labor & employment law, civil rights, and nonprofit law matters in Minnesota and across the Midwest. My work includes litigating client cases involving:
* Contract claims
* Whistleblower or other retaliation claims
* Pay claims
* Harassment claims
* False Claims Act or other fraud claims
* Leave claims
* Non-compete claims
* Fiduciary duty claims
* Mass layoff claims
* Unfair business practice claims
* Discrimination claims
* Benefits claims
* Constitutional claims
In addition to providing responsive, principled, and effective representation to clients regarding their claims, I develop the law in the public interest as amicus curiae counsel in high-profile cases.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
33%-40%
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Illinois for 6 years
State: Illinois
Acquired: 2019
No misconduct found
Licensed in Wisconsin for 6 years
State: Wisconsin
Acquired: 2019
No misconduct found
Licensed in Minnesota for 28 years
State: Minnesota
Acquired: 1997
No misconduct found
Location
Cummins & Cummins, LLP
920 Second Avenue South, Suite 1245, Minneapolis, MN, 55402
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Justin D. Cummins's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
19 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by anonymous | December 02, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor
Strategic advice got my out of my job in the best possible way
A friend recommended Justin to me when I told her about some difficulties I was having with my supervisor at work. I hired him to offer strategic advice as I navigated a toxic workplace environment over the course of two years. He did an excellent job of advising me on how to survive in my job as lon...
Posted by Ken | September 19, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor
Professional, strategic, calming, responsive
I engaged with Justin after getting his name as a referral from an attorney friend of mine. While my friend had a handful of names he "highly recommended" that we get in touch with Justin. I was recently dismissed from a company I had worked many years with and needed help with negotiations on a seve...
Posted by Lisa | August 04, 2015 | Employment & Labor
Highly recommend Justin Cummins
I engaged Justin Cummins to help me with an employment issue I experienced related to losing a relatively new position. Justin was incredibly professional and clearly had broad and deep expertise in employment law. In addition to his outstanding expertise, Justin has a number of qualities that sets h...
Justin D. Cummins's Lawyer Endorsements
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Experience
Honors
2025
Top 100 Attorneys, Super Lawyers Magazine
2023
Top 100, Super Lawyers Magazine
2022
Best Lawyers in America, U.S. News & World Report
2022
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2021
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2021
Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
2020
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2019
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2018
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2018
Lifetime Achievement, America's Top 100 Attorneys
2017
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2016
Top Attorney of North America, Who's Who - Top Professionals
2016
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2015
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2014
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2013
Karla R. Wahl Dedicated Advocacy Award, National Employment Lawyers Association -- Minnesota Chapter
2013
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2012
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2011
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2010
Top Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2009
Leadership Award, Minnesota State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section
2008
Top Young Lawyer, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
2007
Building Community Award, Aeon
2007
Top Young Attorneys, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine
2006
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2004
Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer
Work Experience
2013 - Present
Adjunct Associate Professor of Labor Law, University of Minnesota Law School
2012 - Present
Managing Partner, Cummins & Cummins, LLP
2003 - 2007
Adjunct Associate Professor of Civil Rights Law, University of Minnesota School of Law
2002 - 2012
Partner, Miller O'Brien Cummins, PLLP
2002 - 2007
Adjunct Associate Professor of Civil Rights Law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
1999 - 2002
Staff Attorney, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc.
1997 - 1999
Attorney, Shulman, Walcott & Shulman, PA
1996 - 1996
Law Clerk, La Asociación por los Derechos Civiles
1994 - 1997
Senior Researcher, Institute on Race & Poverty
1992 - 1993
Legal Intern, American Association for Justice
Associations
Past Eighth Circuit Board Officer
Member
Past Chair
Member
Member
Advisory Board Member (Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter)
Amicus Committee Member
Sample of Legal Cases
Reversed the lower courts to protect the privacy of public employee data
Affirmed the ruling that upheld paid sick leave rights
Entered judgment against the employer for contract violations
Reversed summary judgment for the employer regarding harassment claims
Affirmed judgment for the union regarding constitutional claims
Ruled for the plaintiff regarding the viability of whistleblower claims
Affirmed the ruling that plaintiff immigrant status is irrelevant to employment claims
Affirmed the ruling for the plaintiff regarding the viability of whistleblower claims
Affirmed summary judgment for the union and against the employer on preemption grounds
Reversed the lower courts regarding the viability of harassment claims
Denied the employer's motion to stay arbitration
Reversed judgment for the employer regarding civil rights claims
Reversed summary judgment for the employer regarding harassment claims
Dismissed the claims against the union on preemption grounds
Denied summary judgment for the housing provider regarding discrimination claims
Denied summary judgment for the employer regarding discrimination claims
Denied the employer's motion to compel discovery of plaintiff immigration status regarding employment claims
Education
1997
JD - Juris Doctor
1996
MA - Masters
1992
BA - Bachelor of Arts
N/A
N/A
Speaking Engagements
2025
The impact of key Supreme Court cases and other hot topics in employment law
2025
Presentation on the effective handling of reasonable accommodation matters as well as the developments in civil rights and employment law and related litigation strategy and tactics
2024
Presentation on developments in civil rights and employment law and related litigation strategy and tactics
2024
Most significant labor & employment law cases in the past decade
2024
Best practices for effective litigation of labor law claims
2024
Significant court decisions in employment and civil rights cases and related legal strategies and litigation tactics
2023
Developments in civil rights and employment law as well as the successful litigation of joint employment and employee misclassification cases
2022
Discrimination, retaliation, and harassment claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Minnesota Human Rights Act
2022
Legal, strategic, and practical significance of recent Supreme Court opinions for labor & employment law and civil rights going forward
2022
Developments in civil rights and employment law and related litigation strategy and tactics
2022
Best practices for successfully handling discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases while accounting for implicit bias
2021
Current employment rights and responsibilities under State law
2021
The latest developments in the litigation of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims
2021
Rights and responsibilities under employment law as compared to labor law
2021
Workplace protections and related employment and civil rights issues in the context of the ongoing pandemic
2021
The nature and extent of pay disparities as well as the policy and legal strategies for remedying all current and preventing any future disparities
2021
Best practices for successfully prosecuting whistleblower claims under Federal and State law and for pursuing other retaliation claims under labor, employment, and civil rights statutes
2021
Developments in civil rights and employment law and related litigation strategy and tactics
2020
Legal strategies and tactics concerning interest arbitration in the context of recent Supreme Court decisions
2020
Best practices for successfully prosecuting whistleblower claims under Federal and State law and for pursuing other retaliation claims under labor, employment, and civil rights statutes
2020
Federal Court developments in employment and civil rights law
2019
Workplace rights and responsibilities for employees under Federal and State law when using social media
2019
Developments in harassment, discrimination, and retaliation law
2019
Litigating employment and civil rights claims on behalf of immigrants
2019
Key cases under employment and civil rights law over the past year
2018
Representing immigrant employees in civil rights and employment cases
2018
Outlook for labor & employment law and litigation in light of recent Supreme Court decisions, judicial and enforcement agency appointments, and the mid-term elections
2018
Latest developments in employment and civil rights law as well as best practices under the ethical rules when prosecuting employment and civil rights cases.
2017
Presentation on workplace rights and responsibilities concerning social media usage
2017
Presentation on effectively prosecuting joint employment and employee misclassification cases
2017
Presentation on best practices for litigating retaliation claims in Federal and State court
2017
Presentation on effectively prosecuting joint employment and employee misclassification cases
2017
Effectively identifying and successfully prosecuting joint employment and employee misclassification claims
2017
Developments in social media and anti-retaliation law
2016
Presentation on effective legal strategies and litigation tactics for prosecuting employment and civil rights claims on behalf of immigrant employees
2016
Rights and responsibilities of whistleblowers and employees using social media
2016
Federal Court developments in employment and civil rights law
2016
Employee misclassification, joint employment, and other cutting-edge issues in employment and civil rights litigation
2015
Developments in Federal and State whistleblower law
2015
Legal strategy and litigation tactics in light of recent Supreme Court decisions regarding dispositive motions
2015
Advocacy and political leadership
2015
How best to litigate employee misclassification and joint employer cases
2015
Federal Court developments in employment and civil rights law
2014
Workplace rights, union organizing, and social media
2014
The best legal strategies and litigation tactics when representing low-wage and immigrant workers
2014
Investigating and litigating wage, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment cases
2014
Judicial control of Federal court litigation and sanctions
2014
The application of the National Labor Relations Act to all workplaces
2014
Effectively prosecuting employment and civil rights claims concerning immigrant plaintiffs
2014
Federal Court developments in employment and civil rights law
2014
The relationship between labor law and employment law enforcement activity
2014
Legal strategies and policy initiatives to address wage theft by employers
2013
Prosecuting retaliation claims in wage cases
2013
The implications of the recently enacted marriage-equality law for workplace rights
2013
Substantive and procedural issues involved in representing immigrants
2013
Labor and employment law issues arising on pubic and private construction projects
2013
The civil rights dimensions of using criminal background checks to screen potential employees
2013
The practical impact of the Congressional amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act
2013
The application of Constitutional and statutory provisions to employee use of social media
2013
The recent amendments to State employment laws and the related legal strategies for counsel
2013
Developments in Federal employment and civil rights law
2013
Overcoming scorched-earth litigation tactics of defendants in civil rights and employment cases
2013
The interaction between labor law and civil rights law
2012
Efficient use of e-discovery in litigation
2012
Labor law for employment attorneys
2012
Litigating age-discrimination claims in the wake of the new rules promulgated by the EEOC
2012
Developments in harassment law and related best practices pre- and post-suit
2012
Legal strategies and litigation tactics in disability discrimination cases as well as the basics in union organizing
2012
How to avoid arbitration of employment claims and, when not possible, how to arbitrate employment claims successfully
2012
Effectively handling grievance arbitrations
2011
Prosecuting disability claims under Federal and State employment and housing statutes
2011
Proposed Constitutional amendment concerning labor rights
2011
Legal protections from sex harassment and other workplace abuses
2011
Advanced legal and strategic topics concerning retaliation under Federal and State law
2011
Application of Iqbal in Federal and State courts
2011
Legal developments and litigation tactics regarding pleading standards, e-discovery, successor liabilility, social-networking media, and the use of expert witnesses
2011
Developments in labor law, legislation, and litigation
2010
Labor rights as human rights
2010
Developments in sex harassment law for EEOC and MDHR staff
2010
The intersection of ERISA requirements and ADA protections
2010
The most cutting-edge legal developments and strategies for litigators in employment and civil rights cases
2010
Effectively defeating dispositive motions under the Supreme Court’s recent rulings in Iqbal and Gross as well as creative strategies for prosecuting employment and civil rights claims under State law
2009
Using the international human rights regime for more effective advocacy on behalf of employees in the United States
2009
Domestic implementation of international human rights law
2009
Using State law to prosecute civil rights claims effectively
2009
Enforcing human rights and civil rights laws on behalf of immigrants
2009
Prosecuting employment and civil rights claims at the intersection of immigration law
2009
Legal and tactical signficance of recent United States Supreme Court rulings for labor and employment practitioners
2009
Enforcement of prevailing-wage laws
2009
Litigation of disability discrimination claims under the Congressional amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act
2009
Civil rights and immigration law issues
2008
Successfully litigating retaliation claims in light of recent Supreme Court decisions
2008
Effective legal strategy and litigation tactics in representing immigrants in civil rights and employment cases
2008
National origin, race, and religion discrimination and harassment issues in the workplace
2008
How best to manage an employment law practice
2008
Legal and practical implications of recent Supreme Court decisions
2008
Legal and ethical barriers to obtaining effective releases of employment claims
2008
Efficiently using electronic discovery and other litigation tactics
2008
Effectively representing immigrant workers at the intersection of immigration and employment law
2008
The interaction between labor law and employment law in protecting union and non-union employees
2008
Employment and civil rights implications of changes in immigration-enforcement policies and practices
2007
Using international human rights law to address housing discrimination and affordable housing shortages
2007
Recent retaliation caselaw and related analysis
2007
Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims in a post-9/11 world
2007
Developments in immigration and employment law
2007
Cutting-edge legal issues in electronic discovery
2007
Hot topics in employment law and litigation
2007
Discoverability of medical records and the availability of independent medical examinations in employment and civil rights cases
2007
Litigation of human trafficking and other cutting-edge issues pertaining to immigrant workers
2006
Developments in the Supreme Court’s retaliation jurisprudence
2006
The relevance of civil rights and wage-and-hour laws in labor organizing campaigns
2006
Labor-law liability in both union and non-union workplaces
2006
Legislative reforms for addressing the procedural and substantive deficiencies of ERISA
2006
Legal strategies for using international human rights law to address workplace abuses in the United States
2006
Comparative rights of immigrants under civil rights and labor statutes
2006
Cutting-edge issues in ERISA litigation
2006
Housing discrimination and impediments to affordable housing access
2005
Ethical issues underlying impact litigation pursued on behalf of individual civil rights claimants
2005
Theoretical and practical implications of globalization and the expansion of the human rights regime
2005
Legal strategies to maximize damages awards in employment cases
2005
Hot topics at the interface of immigration law and employment law
2005
Intersection of labor, employment, and immigration law
2005
Hot topics in employment law and litigation
2005
Fair housing jurisprudence and tactics for successfully prosecuting housing discrimination cases
2004
Cutting-edge legal issues in civil rights litigation
2004
How to use international human rights doctrine in Federal courts to prosecute labor and civil rights violations occurring in the United States
2004
Legal framework for promoting equality in the United States
2004
Civil rights and hate speech
2004
Employment discrimination law
2003
Legal developments and successful litigation tactics in the fair housing area
2003
Effective legal strategies after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Desert Palace v. Costa
2003
Effective responses to the “direct threat” defense in disability-discrimination cases
2003
Impediments to equal housing opportunities
2003
The ethics of hate-speech regulation
2003
The conflict between the Constitutional principles of liberty and equality
2002
Discriminatory dimensions of the affordable housing crisis
2002
Regional planning and legal duties concerning the provision of affordable housing
2002
Rights and responsibilities under anti-discrimination laws
2002
Civil rights and ethics in the United States
1999
Civil rights issues in the workplace
1998
School segregation and educational inadequacy
Publications
2024
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1998
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1996
Languages
English
Spanish