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Paul J. Lukas

No Company Is Too Big to Play Fair
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Paul J. Lukas
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About

For more than 33 years, Paul’s aggressive and creative litigation strategies have enabled him to successfully represent his clients. Paul's energy, charisma, and fondness for the practice of law, and those who practice it, have made him not only a nationally recognized litigator, but also a popular lecturer on employment, consumer, ERISA, and civil litigation strategies.  Among other honors, Paul has been recognized by his peers as one of the "Best Lawyers in America” and was elected to The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers as a fellow. Courageous and persistent, Paul is a committed advocate for employee rights.

Having tried over fifty cases, Paul is also a trial veteran with proven results. After beginning his career trying a wide variety of criminal cases, Paul focused his practice on employment, wage and hour, and ERISA litigation, obtaining favorable verdicts for employees in overtime and minimum wage, age, race, national origin, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, retaliation, whistleblower, breach of contract, minority shareholder, and breach of fiduciary duty cases.

Starting with the firm as a law clerk during law school, Paul has worked his entire career at Nichols Kaster.  Paul has played an instrumental role in guiding the firm from a small, four-lawyer firm to the well-funded 30+ lawyer national plaintiffs’ class action firm that it is today. Although Paul’s current role is co-leader of Nichols Kaster's ERISA Class Action Litigation Team, Paul is often found working on a wide variety of the firm’s most interesting class cases.

Education

  • J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, 1991
  • B.A., St. John's University, 1988

Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court
  • Minnesota Supreme Court
  • New York Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court – District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court – Northern District of Illinois
  • ?U.S. District Court – Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court – Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court – District of New Mexico
  • U.S. District Court – Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court – Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court – Western District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - North Dakota
  • U.S. District Court – Western District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court – Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court – Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court – Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Wisconsin

Memberships & Honors

  • Named to "Top Lawyers List," Minnesota Monthly 2022 - 2024
  • Named by National Trial Lawyers to Class Action Top 25 Trial Lawyer
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • American Arbitration Association Panel of Employment Arbitrators
  • Named to the Super Lawyers list, Minnesota Super Lawyers, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, and Twin Cities Business, 2013 - 2024
  • Named one of "The Best Lawyers in Minnesota", 2021
  • Named one of "The Best Lawyers in America", 2018 - 2025
  • Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers list, 2018 - 2024
  • Named one of the “Top 40 Employment Law Lawyers,” Minnesota Law and Politics
  • Named “Top Lawyer,” Mpls./St. Paul Magazine
  • Named in “Who’s Who in Employment Law,” Minnesota Law and Politics
  • Received Martindale Hubbell, A.V. rating
  • American Association for Justice Member
  • American Bar Association Member
  • Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee Member
  • Minnesota National Employment Lawyers Association Member
  • Minnesota State Bar Association Member
  • National Association of Consumer Advocates Member
  • National Employment Lawyers Association Member
  • New York State Bar Association Member
  • Best Lawyers - Lukas
    Best Lawyers - Lukas

Presentations & Publications

  • “Creative Strategies to Maximize Damages” Co-presenter, NELA Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, 2019.
  • “The Growing Employer Risk - ERISA Liability for Employer-Sponsored 401K, Pensions and Other ERISA Plans.” Co-presenter, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN, 2019.
  • “Minimizing and Maximizing Damages.” Speaker, 52nd Annual Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference, Seattle, WA, 2019.
  • "The New Lawyer Experience; Everything But the Kitchen Sink? Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, MN, 2019.
  • “Trying a Wage and Hour Case: Strategies and Views from the Jurors’ Eyes.” Panelist, American Bar Association 12th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference, San Francisco, CA, 2018.
  • "The New Lawyer Experience; Everything But the Kitchen Sink? Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018.
  • “Trial Strategies in Wage and Hour Cases,” Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2017.
  • “Five Things That Really Matter in FLSA Litigation,” Speaker, Minnesota CLE, St. Paul, MN, 2017.
  • "Five Things That Really Matter in FLSA Litigation," Speaker, PBI, Philadelphia, PA, 2017.
  • “DOL Final Rule on FLSA Exemptions", Speaker, American Bar Association, 2016.
  • "New FLSA Overtime Eligibility Rules." Co-Chair and Speaker, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, MN, 2016.
  • "The New Lawyer Experience; Everything But the Kitchen Sink? Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016.
  • “The Pros and Cons of Arbitration in Employment Cases.” PBI’s 22nd Annual Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2016.
  • "Arbitration Issues and Strategies for Plaintiffs' Class Action Lawyers." Speaker, NELA Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA, 2016.
  • "Best Practices for Obtaining Discovery from Businesses and Organizations." Speaker, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, MN, 2016.
  • "What is Compensable Time in the Modern Age?" Speaker, PBI's 22nd Annual Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2016.
  • "The 10 Most Important FLSA Cases This Year--And What They Mean to Both Plaintiffs and Defense." Speaker, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN, 2016.
  • Panelist for “View from the Plaintiff's Bar: The Newest and Most Innovative Wage Claims Being Brought.” American Conference Institute's 11th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Miami, Florida, 2015.
  • ?“Views From the Plaintiff's Bar.” Panelist, ACI's 24th Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions Summit, New York, NY, 2015.
  • “Arbitration: If You Can’t Avoid It, Win It!” Speaker, National NELA Convention, Atlanta, GA, 2015.
  • “FLSA-Emerging Trends, Cases and Analysis in 2015. ” Moderator, Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN, 2015.
  • “Views From The Plaintiff’s Bar.” American Conference Institute’s 23rd Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions Summit (Miami, Florida, 2015).
  • “Arbitration Process and Strategies and How to Successfully Arbitrate Your Case.” National Employment Lawyers Association's 2015 Spring Seminar, Washington, DC, 2015.
  • Moderator for "FLSA- Emerging Trends, Cases and Analysis". Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, Minneapolis, MN 2014.
  • Panelist for ”Views from The Plaintiff’s Bar: Adapting Your Strategies to New and Innovative Techniques and Tactics.” American Conference Institute’s 22nd National Conference on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Los Angeles, CA, 2014.
  • “The New Lawyer Experience: Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2014.
  • “Wage & Hour and EPLI: Assessing How the Market Has Responded to Coverage Needs and Best Practices for Mitigating Exposure to Claims.” American Conference Institute’s 20th National Conference on Employment Practices Liability Insurance, New York City, New York, 2014.
  • Panelist for ”Views from The Plaintiff’s Bar: Adapting Your Strategies to New and Innovative Techniques and Tactics.” American Conference Institute’s 20th National Conference on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Miami, Florida, 2014.
  • Moderator for ”Judges Panel.“ American Conference Institute’s 20th National Conference on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Miami, Florida, 2014.
  • Panelist for ”To Arbitrate or Not to Arbitrate? Good Question!” Practicing Law Institute Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance Challenges 2014, New York City, New York, 2014.
  • Panelist for ”Class Communications and Settlement that Judges Will Tolerate.” ABA, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, Miami, Florida, 2014.
  • Panelist for ”Wage and Hour Litigation.” Maine State Bar Association, 13th Annual Employment Law Update, Freeport, Maine, 2014.
  • Panelist for “Views from The Plaintiff's Bar.” ACI 21st National Conference on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, New York, New York, 2014.
  • Panelist for " Best Practices for Reclassifying Employees" and "Hot Topics in Wage and Hour". Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 3rd Annual Wage & Hour Symposium, Philadelphia, PA 2013.
  • Panelist for “2013 FLSA Case Update,” and “Trying the FLSA Case.” Moderator for “FLSA – Conditional Certification and Judicial Notice.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2013.
  • “Using Arbitration Agreements to Your Tactical Advantage.” Ohio Association for Justice - Trial Tactics & Advanced Wage & Hour Conference, Steamboat Springs, CO, 2013.
  • Panelist for “Trying Wage & Hour Class and Collective Actions.” National Employment Lawyers Association’s Preventing Wage Theft: A Two-Day Guide to Litigating Cases Involving Wage, Hours & Work (Chicago, Illinois, 2013).
  • Panelist for “To Arbitrate or Not to Arbitrate? Good Question!” Practicing Law Institute’s Managing Wage and Hour Risks Conference, New York, New York, 2013.
  • Panelist for “Tried and True Effective Deposition Techniques.” Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association’s 2013 Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., 2013.
  • Panelist for “The Evolution of Wage and Hour and EPLI: Offering and Obtaining Coverage for and Reducing Exposure to Wage and Hour Claims.” American Conference Institute’s 18th Annual Conference on Employment Practices Liability Insurance, New York, New York, 2013.
  • Panelist for “View From the Plaintiffs’ Bar: Adapting Your Defense Strategies to New and Innovative Techniques and Tactics.” American Conference Institute’s 17th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Miami, Florida, 2013.
  • “Effective Discovery Strategies in Class Action Litigation: Leveraging Trends and Best Practices for Depositions, Expert Witnesses and E-Discovery.” Strafford Publication Webinar, October 24, 2012.
  • “Wage and Hour Opportunities in the Post-Dukes and Concepcion World.” Minnesota Employment Lawyers Association, Minneapolis, MN, 2012.
  • William Mitchell College of Law Hachey Initiative Face Time Speaker, St. Paul, MN 2012.
  • "Fair Labor Standards Act Cases: Overview and Best Practices." Maine Employment Lawyers Association, Wayne, ME, 2012.
  • "Using Dukes and Concepcion to Your Advantage in Wage and Hour Cases." Illinois Employment Lawyers Association, Chicago, IL, 2012.
  • "Expanding Your Practice: The Big Employment Cases You Don't Even Know You Have." Minnesota Association for Justice Annual Meeting, Alexandria, MN, 2012.
  • “The Whistleblower Laws You Need to Know.” National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention, San Diego, CA, 2012.
  • “The Counter Intuitive Wage & Hour Trial, Lessons Learned in 2011.” Ohio Association for Justice & Workers’ Injury Law and Advocacy Group Wage and Hour Seminar, Cleveland, Ohio, 2012.
  • “Unique Opportunities with the FLSA in the Post-Dukes and Concepcion World.” Tennessee Employment Lawyers Association, Nashville, TN, 2012.
  • Panelist for “Views from the Plaintiffs’ Bar: Adapting Your Defense Strategies to New and Innovative Techniques and Tactics.” American Conference Institute’s 15th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions (New York, New York, 2012).
  • “2012 FLSA Case Update – In-Depth; FLSA Off the Clock Litigation – The Hottest Issues in the Hottest Cases.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2012.
  • "Common Employer Mistakes in the Wage-Hour Area – A Plaintiffs’ Attorney Perspective." Minnesota CLE’s Wage and Hour Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2012.
  • Panelist for Wage & Hour and EPLI: "Coverage Options and Best Practices for Minimizing Your Exposure to Claims." 17th Annual Conference on Employment Practices Liability Insurance (New York, New York, 2012).
  • "FLSA Case Update – In-Depth; FLSA Litigation – The Procedural Battles." Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2011.
  • Panelist for “View from the Plaintiffs’ Bar: Adapting Your Defense Strategies to New and Innovative Wage and Hour Claims.” American Conference Institute’s 12th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions (New York, NY, 2011).
  • "EPLI Litigation Strategies – Perspective from Plaintiff’s Counsel and Defense Counsel." Employment Practices Liability Insurance Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2011.
  • Panelist for “View from the Plaintiffs’ Bar: Adapting Your Defense Strategies to New and Innovative Wage and Hour Claims." American Conference Institute’s 12th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions (New York, New York, 2011).
  • Co-Editor to the Wage and Hour Handbook: Federal and Minnesota. MN CLE, Inc. (2011).
  • "The New Lawyer Experience; Everything But the Kitchen Sink? Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2011.
  • Panelist for “View from the Plaintiff's Bar: The Newest and Most Innovative Wage Claims Being Brought.” American Conference Institute's 11th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions (Miami, Flordia, 2011).
  • Panelist for “View from the Plaintiff’s Bar Adapting Your Litigation Strategies in Light of New and Innovative Claims.” American Conference Institute’s 10th Advanced Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, San Francisco, California, 2010.
  • "Adapting Your Defense Strategies to New and Innovative Wage and Hour Claims." American Conference Institute’s 9th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, From the Plaintiffs’ Bar, New York, New York, 2010.
  • Panelist for “2010 FLSA Update – In-Depth. Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute.” (St. Paul, Minnesota, 2010).
  • Panelist for “FLSA Litigation, The Hottest Issues in the Hottest Cases.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2010.
  • Panelist for “Spotting and Preventing FLSA Landmines Before They Explode.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2010.
  • "The New Lawyer Experience: Everything But the Kitchen Sink? Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2010.
  • FLSA Update. Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2009.
  • "Critical Employment Issues in Difficult Times." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2009.
  • "Winning Before Trial; Secrets of Case-Changing Depositions." Advanced Civil Litigation Institute, Minnesota CLE Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2009.
  • FLSA Update- In-Depth. Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2009.
  • “Key Developments in States To Watch Out For: NY, MN, CA, MA.”, Panelist, American Conference Institute's 7th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, New York, New York, 2009.
  • "The New Lawyer Experience; Everything But the Kitchen Sink? Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2009.
  • "Critical Employment Issues in Difficult Times." Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2008.
  • “View from the Plaintiff’s Bar: Analysis of the Newest Claims and Where Wage and Hour Litigation is Going.”, Panelist, American Conference Institute's 6th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, San Francisco, California, 2008.
  • "Everything You Wanted to Know About Discovery But Were Afraid to Ask." Indiana NELA, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2008.
  • "Turning the Table on Defendants in FLSA Cases." National Employment Lawyers Association, Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, 2008.
  • Panelist for “Advanced Trial Practice, How to Bring and Defend the FLSA Case.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2008.
  • Panelist for “Advanced Trial Practice, Plaintiff's Panel for Winning FLSA Cases.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2008.
  • Panelist for “The View from the Plaintiffs’ Bar Current and Future Targets of Wage & Hour Claims.” 6th Annual National Forum on Wage & Hour Litigation, Miami, Florida, 2008.
  • "An Employment Case from Soup to Nuts, Discovery: How to Achieve Constant Pounding." 7th Annual 7th Circuit NELA Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2008.
  • "The New Lawyer Experience." Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2008.
  • "Litigating Wage and Hour Class Cases from A to Z from Class Certification through Appeal." American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2007.
  • "Representing Workers in Individual and Collective Actions Under the FLSA, Advanced Issues in Collective Actions." National Employment Lawyers Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2007.
  • "Everything but the Kitchen Sink? Conducting Effective and Efficient Written Discovery." Minnesota State Bar Association Basics of Civil Litigation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2007.
  • "The E-Discovery Amendments: What Standards Are Developing?" Minnesota Federal District Court Bar Annual Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2007.
  • "Cutting Edge Issues in FLSA Litigation." Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2007.
  • "From the Plaintiffs’ Bar: What is Coming Down the Pike." American Conference Institute’s 4th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, New York, New York. 2007.
  • "It Isn't Just About Title VII - Retaliation Claims Under the ADEA, FLSA and ERISA." NELA Spring Seminar, Chicago, Illinois. 2007.
  • "Strategy & Tactics, Strategy & Tactics in Employment Litigation – Tentative Steps Toward a Unified Theory." 6th Annual 7th Circuit NELA Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2007.
  • "Conducting Effective and Efficient Discovery in Employment Cases." Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, Washington D.C., 2007.
  • "Hot Topics in Employment Law & Litigation." Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2007.
  • "Developing and Implementing an Effective Discovery Plan." 17th Annual National NELA Convention, San Francisco, California, 2006.
  • "Recent Developments in the Eighth Circuit." Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2006.
  • "A Starting Point – Helpful FLSA Cases for Plaintiffs’ Lawyers." 8th Circuit NELA Conference, Des Moines, Iowa, 2006.
  • "Wage and Hour Claims in the Shadow of the New Regulations." Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2006.
  • "Why Let Them Up For Air?" NELA Mid-Year, San Diego, California, 2006.
  • "Efficient Discovery in Employment Cases." 16th Annual National NELA Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2005.
  • 8th Circuit and Federal District Court Updates. Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2005.
  • "Plaintiff Counsels’ Love/Hate Relationship with the FLSA." Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2004.
  • "Recent Developments in the FLSA." Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2004.
  • "The Ultimate Arbitration Update." ABA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, 2004.
  • "Welcome to the New Mud Puddle – How the New Regulations Impact FLSA Litigation." Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2004.
  • "Workers’ Compensation Meets Employment Law." Lorman Institute Seminar, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2003.
  • "ADA/FMLA Tough Issues – The ADA and Undue Hardship." Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2003.
  • "A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Perspective of the FLSA." Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2003.

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No Company Is Too Big to Play Fair

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