Renee Christensen
Top rated Workers' Compensation attorney in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Christensen Law Office, PC
Practice areas: Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury, Social Security Disability; view more
Licensed in South Dakota since: 1994
Education: The University of South Dakota School of Law
Call today:
605-206-5872
Christensen Law Office, PC
431 N Phillips AvenueSuite 300
Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Visit website
Attorney Renee H. Christensen is the founder and owner of Christensen Law Office, PC, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Nationally recognized as one of the top trial advocates in the country, Ms. Christensen has more than 30 years of legal experience, and she provides exceptional representation and support to clients throughout Sioux Falls, Yankton, Watertown, Brookings and the surrounding areas who have legal needs involving any of the following:
· Workers' compensation
· Social Security Disability
· Personal injury
· Nursing home abuse
The daughter of immigrants, Ms. Christensen learned the value of hard work and determination from her parents, and she employs these virtues in her practice every single day to deliver the highest level of advocacy possible to those she serves. Fully understanding the struggles her clients are dealing with regarding their injuries and inability to work, she fights hard to help them obtain the finances they need to cover their medical bills, lost wages and other expenses.
Honored for her outstanding professionalism and service, Ms. Christensen has earned an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell along with many other accolades and endorsements from her peers. Perhaps more importantly, she has received numerous testimonials and referrals from her satisfied clients, and she finds great reward in being able to assist so many during their most dire times of need.
A leader in her legal community, Ms. Christensen is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, the South Dakota Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Association.
A 1990 graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Ms. Christensen obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1993. She is licensed to practice in Minnesota as well as South Dakota. Outside her legal practice, she also serves as president of Kids’ Chance of South Dakota's board of directors.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Workers' Compensation: Claimant, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Social Security DisabilityFocus areas
Motor Vehicle Accidents
- 40% Workers' Compensation: Claimant
- 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 30% Social Security Disability
First Admitted: 1994, South Dakota
Professional Webpage: https://www.siouxfallslaw.com/attorney/christensen-renee-h/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Board Member of the South Dakota Bar Foundation, the charitable organization which helps provide grant money to organizations which provide free legal services to those in need. , 2022
- Member, American Bar Association, 1993
- Member, American Association of Justice, 1993
- Member, South Dakota Trial Lawyers, 1993
- Member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, 1999
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2015
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Confidential settlement of seven figures for permanently disabled occupant in a motor vehicle accident with facial scars., 2022
- Workers compensation settlement $300,000, 2025
- Settlement of both an insurance bad faith case and the workers compensation injury for $1,120,000, 2025
- South Dakota Supreme Court win for injured worker, 2025
- Workers Compensation settlement $275,000, 2025
- $500,000 settlement for negligent cremation, 2025
- Successful appeal to the South Dakota Supreme Court which resulted in a complete win for our client who was permanently disabled due to a work injury. Seven figure settlement for man who was permanently disabled in a UTV crash caused by a person falling asleep while driving. Over 50 Fully Favorable Social Security Disability Hearing results. , 2023
- Won Workers Compensation Hearing for man disabled due to a work injury causing him blindness, 2022
- Settlement for in excess of 7 figures brain injured client 2020 Total settlement of personal injury cases in 2021 in seven figure gross Favorable Department of Labor decision resulting in confidential settlement over 6 figures with lifetime benefits awarded 100's of Fully favorable Social Security Disability Hearings 12-18 settlements a year for permanently and totally disabled workers compensation Claimants, 2020
- November 15, 2021 Supreme Court SD decision resulting in lifetime permanent and total disability benefits for worker who lost a leg in work place accident valued almost gross 7 figures , 2021
- Confidential 7 figure settlement personal wrongful death case, 2017
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Fellow American Board of Workers Compensation Attorneys, 2019
- Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, 2015
Pro bono / Community Service
- volunteer mentor with the Sioux Falls School District, 2022
- Lead attorney in an educational Mock Trial for new law students, 2025
- American Board of Trial Advocates, 2018
- Board of Governors South Dakota Trial Lawyers, 2023
- Fellow American Board of Worker Compensation Lawyers, 2019
- Volunteer hospice companion and hospital assistant, 2022
- Hospice volunteer Ava's House, Sioux Falls , 2019
- Repeatedly taught Sunday School and Confirmation students at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, 2015
- Sioux Falls School District Mentor volunteer, 2021
- President, South Dakota Board of Directors for Kids’ Chance of South Dakota
- Board member South Dakota NAMI
Educational Background
- I have a bachelors degree in Political Science from Eastern Illinois University with honors in 1990. I have a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of South Dakota in 1993., 1987-1990
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- For the third year I was selected to be a faculty teacher of the NITA and ABOTA trial college at the University of South Dakota School of Law., Teaching, Faculty, NITA and ABOTA, South Dakota Trial Lawyers And Bar Organization, 2022
- Speaker on issues relating to Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare programs., Speaker, Yankton Area National Association Of Mental Illness, South Dakota Chapter Multiple Sclerosis, Community Outreach Sioux Falls, State SD Nami
Other Outstanding Achievements
- $470,000 jury verdict in a direct action against the insurance company for failing to pay benefits to their insured, 2024
- Win for injured worker in the South Dakota Supreme Court, 2025
Honors
- Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2015
- Fellow, American College of Workers Compensation Lawyers, 2019
Industry Groups
- AAJ
- ABA
- ABA Foundation
- NOSSCR
- SD Bar Foundation
- South Dakota Bar Association
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
Office location for Renee Christensen
431 N Phillips Avenue
Suite 300
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: 605-206-5872
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2014, 2021 - 2025