Katherine L. MacKinnon's Profile Image

Katherine L. MacKinnon

Phone: (952) 915-9215
Fax: (952) 915-9217
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Pronouns: she/her

Kate MacKinnon thrives on telling a client’s story with passion. She devotes her practice to representing people in employee benefit disputes (commonly called ERISA claims) and civil appeals in state and federal court. Kate graduated summa cum laude from Carleton College and cum laude from Northwestern University Law School in 1982 and 1985, respectively. She wrote for the Northwestern University Law Review and competed on the school’s national moot court team to a second-place national finish. Kate taught legal writing and appellate advocacy at the University of Minnesota Law School for seven years. She has practiced since 1985.

Admitted to Practice

  • Minnesota (1985)
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota (1990)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (1990)

Awards and Acknowledgements

  • 2016 Cancer Legal Line Volunteer Attorney of the Year
  • 2014 Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year
  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated™ by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association (2013 - present)
  • 100% Club member, Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • Named to the Minnesota Super Lawyers list (1998, 2000 - present)

Education

  • Northwestern University, School of Law, J.D., cum laude (1985)
  • Carleton College, B.A., summa cum laude, with distinction in English (1982)
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Affiliations

  • Minnesota Women Lawyers (2018 - present)
  • University of St. Thomas, School of Law Mentorship Program
    Mentor (2001 - present)
  • Appellate Practice Section, Minnesota State Bar Association (2000 - present)
  • Hennepin County Bar Foundation (1999 - 2011)
  • Hennepin County Bench and Bar Committee (1997 - 2000)
  • University of MN Law School
    Adjunct Instructor (1996 - 2003)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association (1985 - present)
  • Minnesota State Bar Association (1985 - present)

Reported Cases

  • Stover v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 2017 WL 4277144 (D. Minn. 9/25/17)
  • McGillivray v. Wells Fargo & Co. Salary Continuation Pay Plan, 2017 WL 3037557 (D. Minn. 7/18/17)
  • Larson v. Northwestern Mut. Life Ins. Co., 855 N.W.2d 293 (Minn. 2014)
  • Lanpher v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 50 F. Supp. 3d 1122 (D. Minn. 2014)
  • White v. City of Elk River, 840 N.W.2d 43 (Minn. 2013)
  • Gordon v. Nw. Airlines, Inc. Long-Term Disability Income Plan, 606 F. Supp. 2d 1017 (D. Minn. 2009)
  • Doe v. Department of Veterans Affairs, 519 F.3d 456 (8th Cir. 2008)
  • Jenkins v. American Express Financial Corp., 721 N.W.2d 286 (Minn. 2006)
  • Alliant Techsystems, Inc. v. Marks, 465 F.3d 864 (8th Cir. 2006)
  • Abram v. Cargill, Inc., 395 F.3d 882 (8th Cir. 2005)
  • Hayes v. Kmart, Corp., 665 N.W.2d 550 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003)
  • Wolfe v. 3M Short-Term Disability Plan, 176 F. Supp. 2d 911 (D. Minn. 2001)
  • Webb v. AE&E, 617 N.W.2d 67 (Minn. 2000)

Community Leadership

  • Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society, Board of Directors
    Former Board Member
  • MacPhail School of Music, Board of Directors
    Board Member (1994 - 2000)
  • St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church
    Church choir member (1985 - present)