Leslie L. Lienemann
Top rated Employment Litigation attorney in St. Paul, Minnesota
Culberth & Lienemann, LLP
Practice areas: Employment Litigation, Civil Rights; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 1992
Education: Hamline University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2000 - 2004, 2008, 2011 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 1998 Call today:
651-290-9300
Culberth & Lienemann, LLP
1050 UBS Plaza444 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55101 Visit website
Details
Attorney Leslie L. Lienemann is a partner with the Culberth & Lienemann, LLP, law firm in St. Paul, Minnesota. A highly rated attorney with over 32 years of legal experience, Ms. Lienemann serves a diverse range of clients throughout the Twin Cities region and across the state who have experienced violation of their employment rights.
Handling all aspects of employment law, Ms. Lienemann has represented hundreds of employees in cases involving workplace discrimination and harassment, wage and hour disputes, retaliation and wrongful termination, contract violations, defamation and other legal violations. Her strong work ethic and extensive knowledge of employment law enable her to deliver the most effective solutions efficiently, and she has received numerous awards and honors for her professionalism and service.
In 2012, 2016 and 2022, Minnesota Lawyer voted her Attorney of the Year, and in 2012, the National Center for Lesbian Rights bestowed upon her the Community Partner Award. She is also the recipient of the Karla Wahl Dedicated Advocacy Award from the Minnesota National Employment Lawyers Association.
A 1989 graduate of Hamline University, Ms. Lienemann earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 1992 from Hamline University School of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law). The State of Minnesota admitted her to practice that same year and she is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Active in her legal community, Ms. Lienemann currently serves as President of the Employee Lawyers Association of the Upper Midwest, and is past President of both the Eighth Circuit National Employment Lawyers Association and the Minnesota National Employment Lawyers Association. Ms. Lienemann has authored or co-authored more than a dozen amicus curiae briefs in state and federal appellate courts on important employment questions. She also volunteers her time and services to various legal aid nonprofits throughout her area, and she routinely conducts lectures and writes extensively on topics related to employee rights.
Practice areas
Employment Litigation: Plaintiff, Civil RightsFocus areas
Discrimination, Employment Discrimination, Retaliation, Wrongful Termination
- 90% Employment Litigation: Plaintiff
- 10% Civil Rights
First Admitted: 1992, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: https://www.clslawyers.com/attorney/leslie-l-lienemann/
- Minnesota Chapter National Employment Lawyers Association, Board Member, 2002-2009
- President, Eighth Circuit Chapter of National Employment Lawyers' Association, 2008-2010
- President, Employee Lawyers Association of the Upper Midwest, 2013- present.
- Minnesota NELA Amicus Committee Member, 2002-2013
- Federal District Court, District of Minnesota 1993
- United States Supreme Court 2007
- President, Minnesota Chapter-National Employment Lawyers Association, 2003-2004, 2005-2006
- Minnesota Bar, October 23, 1992
- Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals 1996
- Won grant of affirmative summary judgment in favor of plaintiff on claims of sexual harassment against County and Sheriff, and claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress against Sheriff. , 2021
- Negotiated settlement of $300,000 on behalf of a public employee for claims brought under the Minnesota Whistleblower Act. , 2022
- Won a jury verdict of $1.1M on behalf of a female employee against a County and County Sheriff for sexual harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress., 2022
- Trial award in favor of the plainitff in a case invovling claims of sexual orientation discrimination, retaliation and breach of fiduciary duties, with an award to the Plaintiff of back pay, front pay and emotional anguish damages of $3.5M, and attorney fee award of $1.4M., 2016
- Minnesota Aids Project, Volunteer Attorney
- National Center for Lesbian Rights Community Partner Award, 2012, Community Partner Award, National Center for Lesbian Rights, 2012
- Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer Magazine, 2022
- Minnesota Law and Politics “Rising Star in Minnesota Law” 1998
- Minnesota Law and Politics “Super Lawyer”
- Hamline University Outstanding Student Leader Award, 1989, Outstanding Student Leader Award, Hamline University, 1989
- Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2016, Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer Magazine, 2016
- Minnesota NELA “Karla R. Wahl Dedicated Advocacy Award” 2008
- Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2012
- Hamline University, B.A. in History, 1989
- Regional conference presentation of "Tips and tricks from around the 8th Circuit to take the best legal expansion of state law to use in your state.", Panel Presentation, Expand Your Universe--State Claims, 8th Circuit NELA Conference, 2024
- State and Federal Update, Minnesota NELA, September 2011
- Panel discussion of recent sex harassment cases across the country., Presenter, Sex Harassment – The Newest Cases & Developments, Including the #Me Too Act, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, 2022, 2022
- Panel discussion on changing state law through legislative advocacy., Presenter, Changing the Landscape With State Legislatures, NELA 8th Circuit Conference, 2022, 2022
- Presenting law and practice tips on litigating joint employment and employment misclassification claims. , Presenter, Successfully Litigating Joint Employment and Employee Misclassification Claims, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute 2023, 2023
- Presentation of 2023 Minnesota legislation impacting the practice of employment law. , Presenter, Whew! What a Session! 2023 Legislative Changes Impacting Employment Practitioners ELA-UM member meeting June 2, 2023, Plaintiff's Employment Bar, 2022
- Updating Your ADA Litigation Strategies in Light of the New Law, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute 2010
- Defeating Dispositive Motions In Light of Iqbal and Gross, NELA 8th Circuit Conference, 2010
- Winning Key Discovery Battles, 2009 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute
- Tough RIF Issues—An Advanced Discussion, 36th Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute, November 2009
- Tough—and Recurring—Litigation Issues, 35th Labor & Employment Law Institute, November 2008
- Implicit Bias and Title VII, NELA 8th Circuit Conference, 2008
- A.D.A. or R.I.P? – Breathing Life Into An ADA Claim, NELA 8th Circuit Conference, 2006
- Supplemental State Claims, NELA 8th Circuit Conference, 2004
- Employment Law Update, State and Federal, ELA Upper Midwest, January 2015
- Breaking Free of McDonnell Douglas, NELA 8th Circuit Conference, 2014
- What is "Sex" Discrimination under Title VII? The Current Landscape in the Courts and at the EEOC, The 42d Annual Labor & Employment Law Institute, November 2015
- The Arbitration Trap: Avoiding and/or Attaining Success in Forced Arbitration, moderator, NELA 8th Circuit Conference, 2012
- The Promise of the Minnesota Human Rights Act Denied: Krueger v. Zeman Construction Company, William Mitchell Journal of Law & Practice, April 15, 2011
- Extricating Title VII from the Quagmire of McDonnell Douglas: The Plain Language Solution, Hennepin Lawyer, March 2014
- New Minnesota Employment Laws: Whistles, Boxes, Checks and Wedding Bells, Employment Law Institute November 22, 2013
- Implicit Bias and Title VII: Plaintiff’s Perspective, Ramsey County Bar Association, June 2011
- Eighth Circuit NELA Past President
- National NELA Member
- Past President MN-NELA
- President Employee Lawyers Association Of The Upper Midwest
Office location for Leslie L. Lienemann
1050 UBS Plaza
444 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-290-9300
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2000 - 2004, 2008, 2011 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 1998
