Kelly C. Engebretson

• Successfully represented a client in a dispute with a sibling co-owner of a family cabin in northern Minnesota. When they could not agree on ownership decisions, we pursued a court-ordered partition requiring the sibling to sell their interest. After a two-day bench trial with favorable input from third-party referees and appraisers, we secured sole ownership for our client.
• Successfully represented a client with a cabin in northern Minnesota in a boundary dispute with a neighbor who refused to respect the legal property line. When our client brought a trespass action, the neighbor claimed they had a right to part of the property since they had been using it over time (adverse possession). After a two-day bench trial, we obtained a favorable verdict that protected our client’s property and stopped the trespassing.
• Represented a national manufacturing company whose former licensee was misusing its trademarks and patented materials. We filed suit and successfully obtained a federal court preliminary injunction to immediately stop the unauthorized use and protect the company’s intellectual property.
• Represented a client who co-owned a high-profile business and discovered the other co-owner was harassing staff. We successfully obtained a state court restraining order (TRO) preventing the co-owner from visiting the business or contacting employees.
• Successfully represented a large national company who had entered into a confidentiality agreement with a potential partner on a new product design. When the partner used the design without our client’s consent, we obtained a favorable pre-litigation settlement protecting our client’s rights.

• After successfully recruiting more than half of another company’s workforce, client was sued for $8 million for the theft of trade secrets, including employee disloyalty, breach of non-solicitation agreement, and aiding and abetting. After a three-week jury trial in North Dakota federal court, the jury returned a verdict in favor of our client on all counts.
• Client purchased a business condominium unit with a leaky roof. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to settle the claim, a bench trial was held. The judge returned a verdict in favor of our client, finding that the business condominium owner had intentionally misrepresented the condition of the roof to our client prior to sale.
• Drafted an amicus brief to the Minnesota Court of Appeals on behalf of a trade association client and received an opinion favorable to the trade association’s position.   
• Represented a telecommunications company that exited the wireless business and terminated its fixed wireless service. The withdrawal of service was substantially more complicated than terminating wireless service, and significant advocacy was necessary at the Federal Communications Commission and the state regulatory commission.

Clerkships

• Honorable Margaret H. Chutich, Minnesota Court of Appeals

Education

William Mitchell College of Law, J.D.; summa cum laude; executive editor, William Mitchell Law Review; CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Employment Law; third-best oralist at the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition

Cornell University, B.S.

Admissions

• Minnesota
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Honors & Recognitions

Minnesota Rising Stars (2020-present)

News

Publications

Professional Associations

• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Minnesota Women Lawyers
• Minnesota Telecom Alliance

Community Involvement

• Moss & Barnett solicitor and captain of the associates campaign, Legal Aid Society – One Hour of Sharing
• Member, U.S. Women’s National Bandy Team