Larry Espel founded the law firm with Cliff Greene in 1993. For years, our most sophisticated clients asked Larry to serve as lead counsel in their high-stakes, complex disputes.
Larry's well-reputed practice included federal and state litigation in Minnesota and throughout the country. It involved class actions and multi-district lawsuits, arbitration, and administrative proceedings to resolve commercial, environmental, construction, products liability, and telecommunications disputes.
Larry was an experienced mediator and arbitrator, and was a Certified Civil Trial Specialist for 30 years. He also published articles and lectures in the fields of contracts, construction law, environmental litigation, and products liability.
Larry retired from the practice of law in 2020.
Representative Experience
CLASS ACTIONS
- Sanders v. Ashland Inc. and Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC, (D. Minn.). Lead trial counsel for class action involving approximately 4,500 households in neighborhoods surrounding refinery and tank farm with allegations of personal injury and property damage and devaluation. Claims settled for nominal amounts on eve of trial
- In re Baxter Healthcare Corporation Gammagard® Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 95 1060 R (C.D. Calif.). Lead negotiator for class settlement in multi-district litigation with certified class of potentially thousands of recipients of immune globulin who have allegedly contracted hepatitis C.
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
- TomKat Ltd. Ptrp. v. Vukobratovich. Successful trial result following failed business arrangement having to do with gated vacation properties
- City of Wheaton EDA v. Bank of the West. Settlement achieving cancellation of loans issued without statutory authority
- Schaaf v. Residential Funding Corporation, et al, 517 F.3rd 544 (8th Cir. 2008). Defense of financial company and dismissal of class action by bond holder for insufficient loss causation
- Hardin County Savings Bank v. City of Brainerd, __ F.Supp. 2d __ (N.D. Iowa 2008) (No. 08-CV-38-LRR). Defense of City and dismissal of claims by bond holder for insufficient loss causation
- International Decision Systems v. GE Commercial Financial, File 27-CV-07-1767, Hennepin County. Defense of software customer on breach of contract claim and successful summary judgment order (Feb. 2008)
- Crest v. Deloitte & Touche. Successful defense of accountants at trial of claims involving alleged errors in financial statements; and recovery of attorney fees for defense; affirmed in unpublished decision by Minnesota Court of Appeals, (Sept. 25. 2007) (A06-1230, A07-478, A06-1231); cert denied
CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION
- City of LaCrescent v. Yaggy Colby. Prosecution of indemnity claim against designed following multi-million loss. Settlement for amount in excess of policy limits
- Foster Wheeler v. University of Minnesota. Represented owner in litigation involving breach of $100,000,000 design build construction contract and 25-year steam supply management agreement. Case settled on eve of trial after successful motions for pretrial summary judgment
- Casino Entertainment Corporation v. Cuningham Hamilton Quiter Architects. (Arbitration). Successfully defended architect in a three-week arbitration against claims for $7,000,000 arising out of costs over owner’s budget
ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency v. ASIG, (Agency investigation). Successful defense of company and dismissal of notice of violation triggered by surveillance videos
- Soo Line v. Ashland, (D. Minn.). Defense of chemical company in litigation relating to former tenancy on edge of large railroad property for site involving soil and ground water contamination; assistance in negotiating participation in voluntary remediation program
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency v. Koch Petroleum Group, (Agency investigation). Represented company in investigation prompted by whistle-blowers and successfully negotiated comprehensive, multi-media settlement agreement
- United States v. Millennium Inorganic Chemicals, Inc., et al. Represented company with two large facilities in multiple mediations, arbitrations, lawsuits and settlements involving adjoining properties, indemnity issues, successor owners, response actions, joint interim and permanent funding agreements, natural resource damage allegations and many other issues in one of the oldest superfund sites in the nation in Ohio, involving multiple neighboring industries on a stream that empties into a river and eventually Lake Erie
Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- State Bar of Minnesota
Professional & Community Affiliations
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Past Chair, Finance Committee, Board of Directors
Thought Leadership
PUBLICATIONS
- Pretrial Preparation, Federal District of Minnesota Civil Practice Deskbook (February 2014)
- Chair, How to Litigate a Case in Minnesota State Court, Minnesota CLE (updated, October 2013)
- Pretrial Preparation, Minnesota Deskbook on Civil Trial Practice (March 2014)
- Causation and Experts in Toxic Tort Cases — The Tension between Science and Law, Expert Witnesses, ABA Litigation Section (1991)
- Knowledge of Intermediary as a Defense in Duty to Warn Cases, Products Liability Reporter, Vol. 17, No. 42, 1029 (1989)
- Liability and Loss Allocation for Economic Losses in Construction Litigation,13 William Mitchell L. Rev. 81 (1987)
TEACHING AND LECTURING
- Presenter – Pre-Trial Preparations, Federal Practice Seminar, Minnesota CLE (February 25-26, 2014)
- Chair, How to Litigate a Case in Minnesota State Court, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (October 2, 2013)
- Hot Topics in Attorney-Client Privilege for In-House Counsel, Minnesota CLE (February 16, 2011)
- Chair, How to Litigate a Case in Minnesota State Court, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (March 3, 2011)
Recognition
- Selected to Super Lawyers list, Minnesota Super Lawyers (2003-2020)
- Named Local Litigation Star - Minnesota, Benchmark Litigation, The Guide to America's Leading Firms and Attorneys (2010-2018)
- Winner of The Hennepin County Pro Bono Publico Award For Excellence By An Attorney in the Private Sector (2015)
- Recognized as Minnesota State Bar Association North Star Lawyer for Pro Service (2012-2015)
- Selected to list of the "Top 40 Business Litigation Super Lawyers," Minnesota Journal of Law and Politics (2009)
- Distinguished Service Award, Children's Law Center (2006)
News
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Award: Super Lawyers Recognizes 20 Greene Espel Attorneys
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2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists Include 18 Greene Espel Attorneys
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Benchmark Litigation Recognizes Greene Espel and Five of its Lawyers
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Greene Espel Lawyers Receive Recognition in 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
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Greene Espel and Three of Its Attorneys Receive 2018 Awards from Benchmark Litigation
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Super Lawyers Recognizes Thirteen Greene Espel Lawyers in 2017
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Benchmark Litigation Recognizes Greene Espel
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Super Lawyers 2016 Recognizes Sixteen Greene Espel Attorneys
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Seven Greene Espel Attorneys named North Star Lawyers for pro bono services in 2015
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Super Lawyers 2015 recognizes fifteen Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Seven Greene Espel attorneys named North Star Lawyers for pro bono service
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Benchmark Litigation 2015 recommends Greene Espel
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Espel honored for pro bono work by HCBA
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Super Lawyers 2014 recognizes twelve Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Espel shares Children's Law Center experiences
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Seven Greene Espel attorneys named North Star Lawyers for pro bono service
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Benchmark Litigation ranks Greene Espel among top six litigation firms in Minnesota
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Super Lawyers 2013 recognizes eleven Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Four Greene Espel attorneys named North Star Lawyers for pro bono service
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Super Lawyers 2012 recognizes ten Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Super Lawyers recognizes ten Greene Espel attorneys for honors
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Espel chairs Minnesota CLE seminar
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Espel, Gassman-Pines present at Minnesota CLE
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Benchmark Litigation ranks Greene Espel among top five litigation firms in Minnesota
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Super Lawyers recognizes Baker, Bazis, Espel, Greene, and Luger
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Bazis, Espel, and Luger recognized as business litigation super lawyers
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Former Justice Blatz, 3M, and Greene Espel honored by Children's Law Center
Practice Areas
- Accountant Liability
- Business Litigation
- Construction and Design
- Environmental
- Pro Bono
- Products Liability
Education
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif; Editor, Minnesota Law Review
B.A., Augustana College, cum laude
Experience
Popham, Haik, Schnobrich & Kaufman, Ltd., Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chair of Litigation Department; Executive Committee
Law Clerk, United States District Court, District of Minnesota, The Honorable Earl R. Larson