Stephen Michael Foertsch

Stephen Foertsch is a criminal defense attorney at Bruno Law.  Stephen has quickly become a well-known criminal defense attorney throughout Minnesota, known for his thorough and thoughtful defense of his clients and his personable presence in front of a jury.  He has deftly and effectively defended all levels of charges, from complex financial crimes and highly publicized murder charges, to annoying traffic tickets.  Stephen prides himself on working hard for his clients, finding holes in government cases that are invisible to others while empathizing with his client’s situation.  

“I enjoy being, and I try hard to be, that person, who is there for you—on your team—when it feels dire, when you’re in a corner and you need someone to help you through a difficult, potentially life-changing situation,” says Stephen.  “I feel for my clients, and that helps me fight for them.  Most of my clients are normal people, like me, who are accused of something, maybe for the first time.  If it’s the first or the fifteenth time, whenever you face criminal charges and the full force of the State or Federal government, it can be incredibly daunting and intimidating.  We work hard, through our team of lawyers—who are some of the best there are—our forensic experts, and our relationships, to shift the balance of power back in our client’s favor.”  He says, “Our team is second to none.”  Stephen credits his success to, “Sammi and Brooks, parents who taught me to work hard, and the mentoring of amazing judges and lawyers who propped me up on their shoulders.”    

Stephen joined Bruno Law after over three years as the lead the criminal defense attorney for a reputable Minnesota law firm.  Prior to that, Stephen clerked for the Honorable William H. Koch in Hennepin County.  He has taught continuing legal education classes on jury selection, he has a monthly column in the Bench and Bar Magazing, and he has been published in the Hennepin Lawyer magazine.  Stephen is active in organizations, such as the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Warren Burger Inn of Court, Minnesota State Bar Association, and the Stearns County Bar Association, as well as his local Rotary and BNI. 

Stephen graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, where he was awarded the William H. Thompson Award for Professionalism and was selected to compete nationally in moot court and mock trial competitions.  Stephen clerked full-time throughout law school and still graduated early.  He says, “I also managed to get Sammi to date me, which was a monumental feat on its own.”  Prior to law school, Stephen graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he was a captain of the football team.  

In his free time, Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife, Samantha, their son, Brooks, and their dog, Penny Sue.