Cozen & O'Connor issued the following announcement on Jan. 7.
Cozen O’Connor today welcomed Kari Berman — a Minnesota-based business litigator whose track record includes handling bet-the-company cases involving significant multi-state class action defense, contractual, environmental, ERISA, employment, and SEC-related disputes, as well as product liability and business tort claims — to its Commercial Litigation practice. A former shareholder and director at Briggs and Morgan, Berman joins the firm as a partner and will reside in its Minneapolis office.
Berman has been a strong presence in the Minneapolis legal community for many years and will help the firm continue to expand its business services in the Midwest by focusing on class action litigation (including arbitration and appellate proceedings), corporate legal affairs, and business litigation through all phases of the legal process. She will also play an active role in advising clients on cybersecurity law, a key initiative within the firm and Minnesota’s fast-growing technology sector.
Berman represents businesses operating in key global industries, including health care companies, medical device manufacturers, medical-care physician practices and medical infusion centers. Most recently she successfully defended a leading pharmaceutical company in a class action lawsuit involving multi-district litigation.
“As the head of an office that continues to expand, I’m excited to welcome one of the state’s most highly respected litigators to the firm,” says Thomas Wallrich, managing partner of Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis office. “With Minnesota’s business community fast becoming a major global player, Kari’s diverse background will serve our clients well.”
Prior to joining Briggs and Morgan in 2006, Berman served as president of a boutique law firm she founded, handling a variety of commercial matters — including shareholder, partnership and limited liability company ownership disputes; real property issues; franchise issues; business tort claims; and other related legal matters.
“I’ve always admired Cozen O’Connor. It’s a vibrant and growing firm that provides legal services of the highest caliber by lawyers who genuinely love what they do,” Berman says. “I also appreciate the firm’s commitment to inclusiveness and community. I’ve long served as a mentor to other women legal professionals and I’m looking forward to continuing that here.”
Berman is the second major commercial litigator to join Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis office in the past six months. In July 2018 the firm added Miguel Alexander Pozo, who brings to the Minneapolis office 20-plus years of experience litigating commercial and business disputes involving brand protection, trademark enforcement, and employment law. Named a “Top Latino Lawyer in the Country” by Latino Leaders Magazine, Pozo is a former deputy general counsel and head of U.S. litigation at Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA). His background includes guiding and representing business clients in a wide range of industries, including the luxury, retail/consumer goods, and automobile industries, among others.
A former fellow at the Hubert Humphrey Institute Policy Forum in public policy at the University of Minnesota, Berman is also an adjunct professor at the St. Thomas University School of Law, where she teaches appellate advocacy.
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty made Berman one of seven governor-appointed members of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, an appointment she held until 2011. In 2003, Gov. Pawlenty also appointed her a commissioner of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC); she was reappointed in 2005. In that role, Berman and her fellow commissioners were responsible for overseeing and managing the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as well as its six reliever airports. She currently sits on the board of directors of the Ronald McDonald House Upper Midwest.
Berman earned her J.D at Hamline University School of Law and her B.A. at Columbia University/Barnard College.
Original source can be found here.