Penelope (Penny) Phillips strongly believes in providing her clients with strategies and solutions (not just answers) based on quality human resources and legal practices.  She focuses exclusively on counseling and representing employers in all areas of employment law.  Penny has spoken to companies and organizations throughout Minnesota, the Midwest, and the United States.  She and her colleague Grant Collins, along with Howard Bolter, have become the editors of Employment Law and Practice, Minnesota Practice Series, Employment Law and Practice, Thompson Reuters, (4th ed. 2020).  Penny is an MSBA certified specialist in labor and employment law, and a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Attorneys.

Grant Collins is an MSBA-certified specialist in both traditional labor law and employment law.  Grant serves as the co-editor of the authoritative treatise Minnesota Practice: Employment Law & Practice (4th ed. 2020). Grant stays current on labor and employment law by serving as co-editor of the Minnesota Employment Law Report, an up-to-the-minute blog on the latest developments in labor and employment law in Minnesota and throughout the country.

Scott Blake serves as outside general counsel to a wide range of businesses and business owners. He frequently provides advice and counsel to businesses on employment law issues, including the FMLA, ADA, FLSA, and discrimination statutes, drafting employment handbooks, workplace policies, and employment agreements, and investigating and disciplining employees. He also works with clients in drafting and negotiating executive compensation agreements and non-compete agreements so that his clients’ customer relationships, confidential information, trade secrets, and business interests are adequately protected.

Ryan Olson represents clients in business and employment matters. His business consulting and litigation practice ranges from assisting clients with contract disputes to litigating business tort claims. Ryan’s employment law practice primarily focuses on advising employers on personnel and policy issues, drafting employment agreements, including retroactive covenants, and litigating numerous employment law related issues, including involving confidential information, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and allegations of retaliation. He also assists federal and state contractors/subcontractors with their affirmative-action obligations, including compliance audits.

Brian is an experienced advisor and litigator who represents and defends businesses. He provides advice on matters ranging from employee discipline, terminations, corporate restructuring and reductions-in-force, policy/procedure/process development, and general employment and labor law compliance. He has tried multiple jury, bench and arbitration matters to verdict or decision and is a skilled advocate in the courtroom. Brian also helps businesses navigate disputes and labor relations issues in the unionized setting.

Brian represents clients as outside General Counsel. He drafts and negotiates commercial contracts, provides advice on general business matters, legal disputes, litigation, and guides his clients through compliance issues and related strategy.

When counseling his clients, Brian draws upon his experience as a health care manager. Prior to entering the practice of law, he served in a variety of management and executive-level positions for a health care company that operated facilities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Brian regularly taps into his real word experience when litigating cases, resolving labor disputes, and solving complicated legal issues.

Brian is tenacious. He works tirelessly for his clients to meet their needs, and prides himself in being their go-to problem solver.

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Dan Kelly represents for-profit and non-profit businesses and business owners serving as outside general counsel. He assists clients in corporate matters, employment and labor law matters, noncompete agreements, trade secrets, commercial transactions, and real estate transactions. Dan has litigated cases in state and federal trial courts and appellate courts, and has represented businesses in arbitration hearings involving labor disputes, employment disputes and commercial disputes. He has also represented parties in contested hearings before the National Labor Relations Board.  Dan serves as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association on its Employment Neutrals Panel.

Stephanie Kilmer joined Christensen Group in 2014 with the acquisition of Schreifels & Associates where she had worked for 8 years.

As an Senior Benefits Consultant, she helps clients manage their strategic initiatives and day-to-day questions. Stephanie has experience with mergers and acquisitions, voluntary benefits and employee engagement, and loves to help both employers and employees find the right fit of benefits for their healthcare needs.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from the University of Minnesota (Morris). She and her husband try to keep their sanity in a house with two boys, two dogs, and three cats. She loves to travel, golf and spend time at the cabin.