Clifford S. Anderson

Cliff Anderson is a partner with the firm, co-chair of the employment law practice group, and a member of the litigation and appellate practice groups. He works with a diverse array of small and large businesses as well as individuals in the following areas:

• Employment litigation and advice
• Complex commercial and business litigation and advice
• Appeals
  
  

Cliff’s record of success in complex employment and commercial litigation reflects wins at every stage of the litigation process, including creative uses of alternative dispute resolution (including pre-discovery) to achieve early and favorable client outcomes.

Cliff has also been involved in many early stage motion victories that have resolved cases before the client has incurred substantial legal fees.  Many have resulted from bringing or defending against motions for temporary restraining orders and/or preliminary injunction motions.  Most often, such cases have involved issues regarding the enforceability of non-competition and non-solicitation provisions in employment agreements and/or claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and/or confidential and proprietary information. The court must decide whether to allow or prevent the employee subject to the employment restrictions from working and, if so, under what conditions. 

Cliff has also won numerous cases by bringing summary judgment motions following the close of discovery, achieving substantial savings for his clients by winning the case before trial.  Finally, he has been involved in multiple trial wins in complex litigated matters and has preserved those victories on appeal.

In employment-related matters, he represents both employers and employees. Cliff’s employment litigation practice has included the successful prosecution and defense of claims brought pursuant to federal civil rights statutes such as Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA”), claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary and confidential information including pursuant to the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, and claims pursuant to Minn. Stat. § et seq. that sets forth the key employment-related statutes under Minnesota law, as well as claims of retaliation, constructive discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, and intentional interference with contract, among others. In this area of his practice, Cliff has achieved numerous victories in both federal and state court for his corporate clients including pre-trial summary judgment motion dismissals in age, disability, and race discrimination cases.  With regards to individuals with employment claims that Cliff has represented, he has achieved numerous favorable settlements, usually at the early stages of litigation.

Cliff also counsels clients on all facets of employment law, including the hiring, discipline, and termination of employees.  As needs dictate, he drafts and reviews employment agreements, separation agreements, and provides guidance regarding compliance with the myriad federal and state statutes that impact the employer-employee relationship.

In complex business and commercial litigation, Cliff brings his expertise to cases involving a variety of contract, business tort, and statutory claims including those involving minority shareholder disputes.  Claims litigated have included myriad federal and state statutes, breach of contract, corporate raiding, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent representation, fraud, defamation, product disparagement, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, and other similar claims. He has also represented many corporate clients to enforce provisions of the federal Lanham Act and comparable state statutes. In two such lawsuits, Cliff’s clients achieved outstanding jury verdict victories with awards in excess of $4.5 million while the opposing party’s respective substantial claims were dismissed either pre-trial by summary judgment motion or following the jury’s verdict.

At the other extreme, Cliff has significant experience working with large defense teams including one that successfully defended a $1.3 billion suit principally alleging usurpation of corporate opportunity, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty, among other claims.