Christopher T. Ruska
Associate
Practice Groups
Appellate Advocacy, Commercial and Catastrophic Loss Litigation, Construction Litigation, Employment CounselingOverview
Chris is an experienced litigator with a focus on employment law, business disputes, and appellate advocacy. He has extensive experience advising and resolving restrictive covenant and trade secret matters, as well as defending employers against individual and class-based employment lawsuits, administrative charges, and demands. He also counsels businesses on labor law compliance and strategy, helping them navigate complex workforce and union-organizing issues.
Beyond employment matters, Chris is a skilled appellate advocate, drafting persuasive briefs, developing trial strategies, and crafting winning arguments for businesses in federal and state courts of appeal. His ability to analyze and present complex legal issues is bolstered by his background as a law clerk to three judges at the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, where he managed his own docket and gained insight into judicial decision-making.
When he’s not being a lawyer, Chris acts as a “judge” — refereeing NCAA Division I soccer games throughout the country.
Education & Admissions
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Section
- Appellate Law Practice Section
- Wisconsin Bar Association
- Eighth Circuit Bar Association
Professional & Civic
Clerkships
- Wisconsin Court of Appeals – Honorable Lisa Stark, Honorable Tom Hruz, and Honorable Mark Seidl, 2018-2020
Community Involvement
- The Advocates for Human Rights, pro bono attorney
Key Practice Experience
- Restrictive covenant and trade secret litigation
- Employment litigation
- Labor management relations
- Discrimination defense
- Appellate advocacy
- Business litigation
Key Industry Experience
- Retail
- Financial
- Banking
- Tech
Representative Matters
- J. Swanson & Co. v. Rejuvenating Nutrition Coaching (D. Minn.) – Obtained sanctions against opposing counsel for multiple violations of protective order based on counsel’s use and disclosure of document after he was made aware of Defendants’ claim that document was privileged.
- Mitchell v. Target (Minn. Ct. App.) – Obtained affirmance of summary judgment applying federal honest belief doctrine to reprisal claim under Minnesota Human Rights Act.
- BTM Global Consulting v. Centium Consulting (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Obtained summary judgment on misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of non-compete, breach of confidentiality, and related tortious interference claims in dispute between NetSuite implementation companies.
- J. Swanson & Co. v. Ighodaro Consulting (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Defeated motion for temporary injunction on sale-of-business non-compete claim, then obtained summary judgment on breach of asset purchase agreement and violation of non-compete and non-solicit.
- ImageTrend, Inc. v. Locality Media, Inc. (D. Minn.) – Obtained dismissal of trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference, and corporate defamation claims in dispute between computer software companies
- Boston Scientific v. Shockwave Medical (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Defeated motion for temporary restraining order, and subsequent motion for temporary injunction following expedited discovery, in medical device industry case involving field clinical specialist employees.
- IWCO v. Nahan (D. Minn) – Defeated motion for temporary restraining order in trade secrets dispute between direct marketing competitors.
- Duncan LLC v. Allied Valve, Inc. (D. Minn) – Defeated motion for temporary restraining order in breach of confidentiality and trade secrets dispute.
Accolades
Publications
- “Crash Course for In-House Counsel: Updates from the Minnesota Legislature,” Minnesota CLE, November 2024
- “The Expansion of Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST),” Minnesota Beverage Association, December 13, 2023
- “Crash Course for In-House Counsel: Updates from the Minnesota Legislature,” Minnesota CLE, September 20, 2023
- “Minnesota Welcomes Recreational Marijuana & Bans Non-Competes: An Employment Law Perspective,” American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota, August 23, 2023
- “Is It Time to Scale Back Non-Compete Agreements?” Human Resources Director, August 15, 2022
- “The Changing Face of the Non-Compete Agreement,” Benefits Pro, August 1, 2022
Seminars
- “Navigating the Maze: Recent Trends and Strategies in Enforcing Restrictive Covenants Across State Lines,” CLE Webinar, ALFA International, December 13, 2023
- “Lessons Learned from an Almost Trade Secrets Trial,” ALFA Labor & Employment Seminar, September 19, 2023
- “Banning Noncompetes,” Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, July 5, 2023