Byron Starns, Dan Scott Named "Attorneys of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer

02.08.2018

Stinson Leonard Street congratulates partners Byron Starns and Dan Scott on being named "Attorneys of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer newspaper.

Each year the paper honors the top attorneys throughout the state of Minnesota for their notable achievements. Scott and Starns were recognized as part of the White Bear Lake Legal Team, along with Katie Crosby Lehmann, Michael V. Ciresi, Heather McElroy and Richard B. Allyn.

In September 2017 a Ramsey County Judge ruled the state of Minnesota violated environmental law as well as the public trust in failing to protect White Bear Lake and its aquifer by allowing excessive pumping of a local aquifer without knowing whether it was sustainable. The judge further ordered the Department of Natural Resources to stop issuing any more well permits until it is decided drawdowns are sustainable. The decision will have broad implications for future water management in the state and suburban development.

Starns, Scott and their fellow honorees were recognized by Minnesota Lawyer at a ceremony Feb. 7, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis.

Starns and Scott are both litigators in the firm's Minneapolis office.

Starns' career body of work has spanned five decades—as a public, a pro bono, and a private practice lawyer. His environmental cases include the U.S. v. Reserve Mining Co. trial and appellate cases, historic preservation cases, environmental review and permitting cases, Superfund cases, defense of the constitutionality of environmental policy statutes, energy policy cases, and water resource protection cases. He has also led litigation teams for major matters involving a broad range of civil disputes before courts and state and federal agencies.

For more than two decades, Scott has protected the products, practices and competitive interests of clients in state and federal courtrooms throughout the Midwest. He has extensive experience spanning industry sectors, and has achieved significant success in high exposure and complex business disputes involving unfair competition, trade secrets, non-compete and restrictive covenants, shareholder and ownership battles, mass and toxic torts, class actions, consumer fraud, product liability, environmental and real estate disputes and contract claims. Scott also enjoys board and community leadership roles in higher education, professional sports and business advocacy.

"Throughout their careers Byron and Dan have performed exemplary work in high stakes cases like the White Bear Lake dispute. Clients turn to them when they need the best," said Mark Hinderks, Stinson's managing partner. "In addition to being respected attorneys, Byron and Dan are respected citizens in their communities for their pro bono work and leadership. They are ideal ambassadors for our firm and our profession and we congratulate them on their achievements."