Attorneys / Jeffrey R. Mulder
Jeffrey R. Mulder
Shareholder | Board of Directors
Practice Groups
Agriculture Equipment, Business & Commercial, Business & Commercial Litigation, Catastrophic Injury / Wrongful, Construction & Real Estate, Financing & Real Estate Transactions, Fire / Explosion & Catastrophic Loss, General Corporate, Insurance Coverage, Local Counsel Services, Professional Liability, Property Damage, Real Estate Agents, Torts & Products Liability, Torts and Product
Biography
Jeffrey Mulder is a litigator whose practice focuses in commercial, insurance coverage and professional liability matters, with significant high stakes claims and class action experience.
Jeff represents corporations and professionals before trial and appellate courts, licensing boards, arbitration, and mediation venues. He has defended insurers in multiple actions seeking tens of millions of dollars in insurance claims and helped a technology company obtain an $800 million arbitration award. Jeff also has successfully defended real estate brokerages in antitrust cases and has represented lawyers on numerous issues, including malpractice claims, ethics complaints and sanctions motions.
Jeff has served as Co-Chair of Bassford Remele’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team, where he played a key role in developing and advancing firm-wide initiatives, while maintaining close collaboration with affinity groups, community organizations, and local bar associations. He also represented the firm as a member of Twin Cities Diversity in Practice. Committed to community engagement, Jeff participates in the Pro Se Project, providing support for individuals navigating the legal system without representation. In addition to his legal practice, Jeff is a member of Bassford Remele’s Board of Directors and recently served as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer.
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2008
- Journal of International Law, Articles Editor and staff member, 2006-2008
- Hamline University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2005
- Joe Hutton Memorial Scholarship, recipient
- Men’s Golf Team, Captain; Men’s Basketball Team
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Representative Cases
Over the course of his career, Jeff has litigated numerous high stakes cases in federal and state courts as well as arbitration proceedings.
- Part of trial and appellate team that obtained $630 million arbitration award for computer-device client in trade secret/unfair competition case and reversal of district court ruling limiting the amount of post-award interest. $806 million ultimately recovered for client; Seagate Technology, LLC v. Western Digital Corp., 854 N.W.2d 750 (Minn. 2014).
- Successfully represented owner of commercial property in enforcing statutory cancellation of purchase agreement in federal court, and successfully defended the decision on appeal.
- Obtained defense jury verdict for law firm in legal malpractice action.
- Obtained summary judgment dismissing legal malpractice claims for law firm, affirmed on appeal.
- Successfully defended real estate brokerage in antitrust matter.
- Represented policyholders, claimants, and insurers on numerous insurance coverage matters, including those involving CGL, umbrella, excess, D&O, and E&O insurance policies.
- Successfully represented a company in obtaining multi-million dollar payment of proceeds under a D&O policy. Represented plaintiffs and corporate defendants in shareholder disputes, including shareholder derivative actions.
- Obtained dismissal of antitrust claims asserted against real-estate brokerage; com, Inc. v. Regional Multiple Listing Serv. of Minn., Inc., 840 F. Supp. 2d 1174 (D. Minn. 2012).
Additional Representative Cases
- Successfully defended against motion seeking sanctions against counsel.
- Obtained summary judgment in action seeking insurance coverage for defense and indemnification of underlying copyright infringement action.
- Obtained dismissal of legal malpractice claims and affirmance on appeal.
- Obtained dismissal of legal malpractice claims, successfully defended against motion to re-open action, and obtained affirmance on appeal.
- Obtained dismissal in professional liability case against attorney.
- Represented amicus curiae and successfully supported real-estate brokerage in purported class action involving independent-contractor agents; Allen v. Burnet Realty, LLC, 801 N.W.2d 153 (Minn. 2011).
- Obtained partial summary judgment on unfair competition claims; Cenveo Corp. v. S. Graphic Sys., Inc., 784 F. Supp. 2d 1130 (D. Minn. 2011).
- Obtained dismissal in professional liability action against attorney.
- Served as counsel in disputing an insurance claim by a Fortune 500 company to recoup over $450 million that the company paid in settlement to reimburse its subscribers’ medical bills, which had allegedly been systematically underpaid by the company. The company’s claims for coverage arose out of several underlying claims, including class actions and a proceeding brought by the New York Attorney General. UnitedHealth Grp. Inc. v. Columbia Cas. Co., 836 F. Supp. 2d 912 (D. Minn. 2011).
- Obtained stay and ultimately a dismissal of claims for insurance coverage for underlying claims involving exposure to asbestos.
Publications
- Notes & Trends – Torts and Insurance, monthly column author, Bench and Bar, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2011-present
- Bad Faith and Wrongful Refusal to Settle: Liability in Excess of Policy Limits, co-author in part, Chapter 4 Update, Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook, Minnesota State Bar Association, 4th Ed., 2015; 5th Ed., 2017; 6th Ed., 2019; 7th Ed., 2021
- Contractual Indemnity and Additional Insured Endorsements in the Construction Context – Application of Existing Precedent or a Dramatic Departure?, author, Minnesota Defense, Vol. 34, Issue 3, Fall 2013
- Special Verdict Forms and Jury Instructions, co-author, Chapter 19 Update, Minnesota Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook, Minnesota State Bar Association, 4th Ed., 2009-2013
Seminars
- How to Win or Defend a Bad Faith Claim, co-presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Uninsured, Underinsured, No-Fault Insurance & Bodily Injury, March 19, 2024
- Real Estate Claims, co-presenter, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, July 24, 2018
- CGL Policy Occurrences, Exclusions and Exceptions – Complex Issues, co-presenter, National Business Institute Webinar, April 6, 2017
- Clarity in Award Writing, co-presenter, American Arbitration Association Webinar, August 23, 2016
- Construction Law Essentials for the Real Estate Professional, co-presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education August Real Estate Series, August 17, 2016
- The Effective Use of Experts for the Discovery Process, presenter, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Mid-Winter Conference, January 31, 2014
Bar Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Appellate Practice Section
- Civil Litigation Section
- Hennepin County Bar Association
Professional Associations
- DRI
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
- Editorial Committee, Co-Chair, 2019-present
- Insurance Law Committee
Civic Involvement
- Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, firm member representative
- Volunteer Lawyers Network
- Pro Se Project
Honors & Awards
- Up and Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2012
- Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2024-2025
- Minnesota Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2013-2022
- Top Lawyers list, Minnesota Monthly, Commercial Litigation, 2022; Professional Malpractice Law, 2023
