Image of Mark G. Ohnstad

Mark G. Ohnstad

Attorney
Print Full Bio

Service Areas:

Education:

  • J.D., cum laude, Harvard University Law School
  • B.A., summa cum laude, Concordia College

Admissions:

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Mark’s primary area of practice is civil litigation. He has handled cases from conciliation court to the U.S. Supreme Court. He has tried hundreds of cases over his more than 40 years of practice.

His cases involve a wide variety of areas of law and facts, including bankruptcy, construction, copyright, discrimination (sex, race, age), employment, family law, franchises, guardianships, insurance, international law, personal injury, professional malpractice (medical, dental, legal), probate, retirement plans, securities (federal, state), trusts, and wills.

He has been an arbitrator, mediator and volunteer judge for Hennepin County, Minnesota. He enjoys novel, complex and interesting matters.

Mark also does some transactional work, including intellectual property, real estate and corporate matters. He has found his litigation experience helpful in other areas of the law.

He distinguishes himself with the careful analysis and knowledge he brings to each matter. He comes from a family of lawyers (father, uncle, and daughter) and puts the best interests of the client first.

Affiliations
Articles & Presentations
Notable Representations

Affiliations

  • Member – Minnesota State Bar Association (Litigation Section)
  • Member – Hennepin County Bar Association

Articles & Presentations

  • "Going to Court - An Overview"  –  DeWitt LLP March 2021
  • "General Points of Law Re Employment Matters in Minnesota" – October 2013
  • "Before you Divorce, Make Plans for your Insurance Needs" –  NetQuote.com, January 2013
  • "How to Write Non-Competes to Close Loopholes – Upsize Magazine, June 200

 

Notable Representations

  • He represented a large, well-known national organization in a high-level federal case involving the First Amendment right to associate
  • He represented a medium size supplier in a construction case which has been referred to by legal authors over 160 times. National Hydrosystems v. M.A. Mortenson Co., 529 N.W.2d 690 (Minn. 1995)
  • He represented a homeowner in a case which reversed the trial court’s decision and protected the homeowner from an improper construction lien. Niewind v. Carlson, 628 N.W.2d 649 (Minn. Ct. App. 2001)
  • He represented an author in a federal copyright case which established a new legal principle in Minnesota protecting copyright holders. Tri-Marketing, Inc. v. Mainstream Marketing Services, Inc., No. CV-09-13, 2009 WL 1408741 (D. Minn. May 19, 2009)
  • He drafted a contract for a client involving intellectual property which has a stated term of 100 years
  • He has represented clients regarding litigation in Australia, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico, and New Zealand
  • He still represents his first client, a cooperative buying association
Contact