Jonathan P. Norrie
Partner
Practice Groups
Commercial and Catastrophic Loss Litigation, Employment Counseling, Investigations & LitigationOverview
Jonathan is a Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified labor and employment law specialist.
For almost 18 years, employers have trusted Jonathan to handle their most important matters. He is routinely called upon to help guide discipline and discharge processes, evaluate leave and accommodation requests, conduct or supervise sensitive workplace investigations, respond to concerns of discrimination and harassment, manage performance issues, negotiate executive employment agreements, draft policies and procedures, and conduct overall employee training. Jonathan also regularly advises both employers and executives on issues relating to the enforcement of noncompete agreements and other restrictive covenants.
Jonathan’s employment practice has earned him broad recognition among the Minnesota legal community. He is an invited member of the Minnesota Management Attorneys Association and one of the initial members of the Minnesota circle of the Association of Workplace Investigators. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America for employment litigation (2021-2023), Rising Stars and Super Lawyers (2008-2010, 2012-2022), and Minnesota Monthly Top Lawyers: Employment Benefits Litigation (2022). Other lawyers in Minnesota frequently utilize Jonathan’s skills as a mediator to help resolve their own employment disputes. As a qualified Rule 114 neutral, Jonathan has successfully resolved a broad range of employment law claims. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights also regularly uses Jonathan to mediate and resolve charges of discrimination
Jonathan has successfully litigated employment-related claims in state and federal courts and private arbitration, and has obtained dozens of “no probable cause” determinations and dismissals from state and federal enforcement agencies. He has prevailed in jury trials involving noncompete agreements, fiduciary duties, discrimination and retaliation, and breach of contract.
Jonathan also has significant experience defending schools, churches, and non-profit organizations in difficult sexual abuse litigation. His work in the non-profit sector also involves representing colleges and universities in Title IX and student misconduct litigation.
Education & Admissions
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2005
- Wagner Labor and Employment Moot Court, Director, 2004-2005
- Saint Olaf College, B.A., cum laude, Phi Alpha Theta, 1998
- Presidential Scholar
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Certifications
- Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist
- Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice
Professional & Civic
Bar Associations
- American Bar Association
- Labor & Employment Section
- Federal Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Labor & Employment Section
- Hennepin County Bar Association
Professional Associations
- Minnesota Management Attorneys Association
- Association of Workplace Investigators
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
- ELCA Attorneys Association
Civic Involvement
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southeastern Minnesota Synod, Synod Attorney, 2013-present
- Volunteer Lawyers Network
Accolades
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation-Labor and Employment, 2021-present
- Top Lawyers list, Minnesota Monthly, Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits, 2022
- Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2012-present
- Minnesota Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2008-2010
Publications
- The Family and Medical Leave Act, 2017 Second Edition, contributing author, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association
- The Family and Medical Leave Act, 2015 Cumulative Supplement, contributing author, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association
- Report of the Subcommittee on the Family and Medical Leave Act, contributing author, materials presented at the ABA 2013 and 2014 Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee Midwinter Meetings
Seminars
Frequent presenter on various employment issues including harassment prevention, FMLA compliance, conducting employment investigations, and employee discipline and discharge.
- You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: Workplace Investigations Gone Awry, presenter, Association of Workplace Investigators, Minneapolis Learning Circle, July 22, 2020
- Minnesota Employment Law Issues: Tips and Trends, presenter, Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association, Annual Conference, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., May 20, 2019
- Trauma-Informed Investigations, presenter, Association of Workplace Investigators, Minneapolis Learning Circle, May 16, 2019
- Employment Laws Made Simple, presenter, National Business Institute, December 3 and April 8, 2014
- Management Liability Insight: Keep Your Company out of the Courtroom, presenter, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., January 29, 2014
- Employment Laws Made Simple, presenter, National Business Institute, September 5, 2013
- The Top Five Employment Law Issues Facing Your Business, presenter, Minnesota Funeral Directors Association Annual Convention, May 15, 2012
- Employment Laws Made Simple, presenter, National Business Institute, March 15, 2012 Ethics, the National Business Institute Insurance Subrogation Fundamentals Seminar, May 21, 2009
