Seven Robins Kaplan Firm Members Recognized by Minnesota Lawyer

Robins Kaplan LLP is pleased to announce that Rashanda Bruce, Geoffrey Kozen, Raoul Shah, and Greta Wiessner have been named 2023 “Up & Coming Attorneys” by Minnesota Lawyer, and business professionals Erin Prax, Barbara Stevens, and Travis Wilhelmi have been recognized as “Unsung Legal Heroes.”

The prestigious “Up & Coming Attorney” award is given to a few select lawyers within their first 10 years of practice based on their excellent and distinguishing performance. The “Unsung Legal Heroes” award is reserved for Minnesota’s most talented and dedicated legal support professionals. This award honors law firm employees who have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty, often behind the scenes.

Rashanda Bruce is an attorney in the firm’s Mass Tort and Personal Injury Groups, focused on representing individuals and families in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. Most recently, she assisted in a civil wrongful death action that resulted in a $7.5 million verdict following a bench trial. She also has served and is currently serving as an integral member of the firm’s Computer Dusting Spray trial team.

Geoffrey Kozen is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation department. His practice focuses on antitrust and complex commercial litigation, where he has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for his plaintiff-side clients. He is also dedicated to pro bono work and serves as the Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.

Raoul Shah has spent his career seeking justice for those injured by the actions of others. Before joining the firm’s Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Group, Raoul was an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, first working within the child protection system and then serving as a felony prosecutor with a focus on prosecuting crimes committed against children. Raoul also played key roles in the review and prosecution of several officer-involved use-of-force matters during his time as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney.

Greta Wiessner represents those who have been injured by police misconduct, the criminal justice system, pharmaceutical companies, and more in the firm’s Civil Rights and Mass Tort Groups. In her first two years at Robins Kaplan, Greta has briefed and argued dispositive motions in federal court, successfully argued an appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and served on the trial team representing the State of Minnesota against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs, Inc. and investor Altria.

Erin Prax is a Paralegal who supports attorneys in the Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Product Liability practice groups with meticulous attention to detail and willingness to help wherever she can. Erin is instrumental in getting cases ready for trial, and she is often requested to help on cases due to her high-level professionalism and can-do attitude. Barbara Stevens is a Legal Administrative Assistant in the Business Litigation Department who is known for completing her work with care, speed, and excellence. A true team player, Barbara has personally covered as many as eight attorneys at a time when needed, helping to ensure that they are able to continue their work without interruption or delay. Travis Wilhelmi is a Senior Trial Consultant & Multimedia Engineer who not only assists attorneys with technology in the courtroom, but offers creative solutions for how to present a case in a visual form that stands apart from the opposing counsel. Travis has produced countless day in the life videos that have helped settle cases and bring justice to clients.  

Honorees will be recognized at an awards luncheon in Minneapolis on Friday, September 22.