Attorneys / Lewis A. Remele
Lewis A. Remele
Senior Counsel
Practice Groups
Business & Commercial, Business & Commercial Litigation, Class Actions, Complex Litigation, Intellectual Property, Lawyers Professional Liability, Professional Liability, Torts and Product
Biography
Lewis Remele is regarded as one of the leading lawyers in Minnesota, and was the top vote-getter in the annual Minnesota Super Lawyers list in 2001-2005, 2008-2009, 2011-2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He was named the 2026 Minneapolis Mediation Lawyer of the Year, 2019 Minneapolis Arbitration Lawyer of the Year, 2009 and 2013 Minneapolis Bet-the-Company Litigator of the Year, and 2012 Legal Malpractice Law–Defendants Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America. He is listed in Law and Leading Attorneys and Who’s Who in American Law. Lewis Remele is recognized by the international research firm Chambers & Partners as a top business litigator. In addition, he is included in the Minnesota Lawyer Circle of Excellence for being selected as an Attorney of the Year in 2007, 2011 and 2017, and was recently named a Minnesota ICON for his ability to lead and succeed in courtrooms and conference rooms.
Lewis Remele is a highly accomplished trial lawyer who for more than four decades has successfully tried, mediated, and arbitrated high-stakes matters and argued appeals in conference rooms and courtrooms across the nation. He is regularly sought out by businesses of all sizes, courts, and other organizations to resolve extremely complex disputes. Recently, he was court-appointed co-lead counsel in a consolidated multidistrict litigation, representing more than 70,000 plaintiffs in a high-profile international trade disruption. During his career he has represented insurance companies in personal injury and coverage cases; corporate clients in diverse commercial suits including employment, contracts, securities, professional and fiduciary claims, directors’ and officers’ liability, class actions, shareholder disputes, debtor/creditor, antitrust; and has represented clients in products liability matters, and trusts and estates litigation. Numerous times Lew has been appointed a Special Master in both state and federal courts, as settlement master, and as a master to assist the court in discovery and related issues.
Lewis Remele is past president of both the Minnesota State and Hennepin County Bar Associations and the Academy of Court Appointed Special Masters. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, and the Academy of International Trial Lawyers. He also is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Education
- Creighton University, J.D., cum laude, 1975
- Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1970
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- Minnesota
Judicial Clerkships
U.S. District Court, The Honorable Miles W. Lord, Law Clerk, 1975-1977
Representative Cases
- Obtained one of the largest arbitration awards in Minnesota history–approximately $800 million including pre- and post-judgment interest–in a matter involving a claim of theft of trade secrets; Seagate Tech. v. Western Digital Corp., 854 N.W.2d 750 (Minn. 2014).
- Represented approximately 70,000 individual upper Midwest farmers as co-lead counsel in claims that Syngenta negligently marketed Viptera corn seed causing an international trade disruption.
- Defended a number of Graco distributors who were sued for violations of the Anti-trust Act; Insulate SB, Inc. v. Advanced Finishing Sys., 797 F.3d 538 (8th Cir. 2015).
- Successfully defended a global consumer credit reporting agency in an anti-trust, trademark infringement case before U.S. District Court Minnesota jury. Plan sought several hundred million dollars in damages against the credit reporting agency and other co-defendants.
- Defended law firm in action venued in Arizona. Plaintiff alleged negligence in connection with a real estate transaction which occurred in Las Vegas.
- Represented former chief executive officer of company in employment claim and obtained verdict for client in excess of $50 million.
- Represented privately held company in major shareholder suit which concluded with company being sold to global medical-device company for approximately $350 million.
- Arbitration representing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier against Qwest for access pursuant to the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. Award for client of approximately $1.3 million; New Access Commc’ns, LLC v. Qwest Corp., 368 F. Supp. 2d 952 (D. Minn. 2005).
- Defended law firm for negligence claims arising from firm’s representation of local pension fund; Janssen, 704 N.W.2d 759 (Minn. 2005).
- Defended a national credit insurer, favorably resolving a nationwide consumer class action involving hundreds of thousands of claims.
Seminars
- Clarity in Award Writing, presenter, American Arbitration Association, August 23, 2016
- New Developments in Ethics and Professional Responsibility, presenter, Minnesota State Bar Association The Litigator’s Annual Short Course, February 2, 2016; January 27, 2015; February 28, 2014; and February 1, 2013
- The Impact of the New Rule on Proportionality in Civil Litigation, presenter, Minnesota State Bar Association New Minnesota Civil Rules: Significant Changes: What They Are and How to Handle Them Seminar, April 10, 2013
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility Matters That Affect Litigators, presenter, Minnesota State Bar Association The Litigator’s Annual Short Course, February 3, 2012
Professional Achievements
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Past Fellow
- American Bar Association, Life Member
- American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- College of Commercial Arbitrators, Fellow
- International Society of Barristers, Fellow
Bar Associations
- American Bar Association, past member
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- President, 1995-1996
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- President, 1989-1990
Professional Associations
- Academy of Court Appointed Special Masters, Fellow
- President, 2011-2012
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- American Arbitration Association, Panel Member
- Litigation Counsel of America, Member
Civic Involvement
- Prodeo Academy, Board Member
- Ed Allies, Board Member
- Pillsbury United Communities, Past Board Member
- Harvard Club of Minnesota, Past President
Honors & Awards
- Minnesota ICON, Minnesota Lawyer, 2018
- Leading Commercial Litigator, Chambers and Partners, 2003-present
- “(Real) Power 50,” Minnesota Business Magazine, 2017
- Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year, Global Law Experts, 2013
- Attorney of the Year, Syngenta Legal Team, Minnesota Lawyer, 2017
- Attorney of the Year, Circle of Excellence, Minnesota Lawyer, 2007, 2011 and 2017
- “200 Minnesotans You Should Know,” Twin Cities Business, 2010
- The Best Lawyers in America©, 1991-present
- “Minneapolis Mediation Lawyer of the Year,” 2026
- “Minneapolis Arbitration Lawyer of the Year,” 2019
- “Minneapolis Bet-the-Company Litigator of the Year,” 2009 and 2013
- “Minneapolis Trusts and Estates Litigator of the Year,” 2014
- “Minneapolis Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants Lawyer of the Year,” 2012
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Labor & Employment Litigation
- Legal Malpractice Law
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Trusts and Estates Litigation
- Law & Leading Attorneys, all editions
- Top Lawyers list, Minnesota Monthly, Legal Malpractice Law 2022-2023; Professional Malpractice Law, 2024
- Minnesota Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2000-present
- Top 100 list, Super Lawyers, 2000-2006 and 2008-present
- Top 40 Business Litigation list, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2005-2009
- Top 5 list, Super Lawyers, 2000-2005 and 2008-present
- Top Vote-Getter in the State of Minnesota, Super Lawyers, 2001-2005, 2008-2009, 2011-2014, 2016, 2018-2024
- Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®
