Thomas M. Sipkins Appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Trial Court Bench in Hennepin County

Thomas M. Sipkins, chair of Maslon's Labor & Employment Practice Group, has been appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Trial Court Bench in Hennepin County. In his appointment of Sipkins announced on Wednesday, January 21, Governor Pawlenty stated, "Tom has a wealth of experience as a civil litigator, as well as in the management of the law firms where he has worked, which will be of great benefit to the Hennepin County courts."

Sipkins has been a lawyer for almost 36 years. He has tried over 30 cases in state and federal courts as well as before state agencies. Sipkins is a 1969 graduate of Williams College, and a 1973 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, following service in the United States Army as a Russian linguist. He began his career as an attorney at the U.S. Renegotiation Board in Washington, D.C. specializing in government contracts and Freedom of Information Act litigation. Later, he tried civil rights, discrimination, personal injury, and zoning matters for the City of St. Paul. Sipkins has been in private practice since 1977. He is also an experienced Certified Mediator. In addition, Sipkins has been selected by Minnesota Law & Politics as a Super Lawyer in the labor and employment and commercial litigation areas since 1997, and has also been a Top 40 Employment Lawyer since 2003.