Casey L. Matthiesen

612.349.0807

Experience

Casey’s past - adopted at birth and growing up on a rural family farm in southwestern Minnesota – is a prologue to her personal values and professional passions. She is the third enrolled member in the history of the Yankton Sioux Tribe to become an attorney and represents tribes across the country. She is a zealous litigator who practices in a variety of areas, including business litigation disputes, personal injury, and medical malpractice claims. The lessons Casey learned on the farm continue to guide her as a lawyer: tenacity, old-fashioned hard work, and most importantly, never giving up on a neighbor in need. Casey’s unique life experiences are an important asset to her clients because they guide her creative and unrelenting approach to difficult situations. She has experience in federal, state, and tribal courts at nearly every stage of litigation, including trial.

Casey is actively involved in bar associations, non-profits, and community service activities. Currently she serves as President of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association. She dedicates a significant portion of her career to promoting justice and educating the public about legal issues affecting Native American people.

Prior to Robins Kaplan, Casey worked for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Parliament of the United Kingdom, and a highly regarded lobbyist during a South Dakota Legislative Session. Outside of her law practice, Casey enjoys painting, golfing, and is a certified yoga sculpt instructor.

  • Micek v. Mayo Clinic, No. 21-CV-0436, 2021 U.S. Dist. WL 5282755, at *1 (D. Minn. Nov. 12, 2021). Obtained favorable order denying defendant’s motion to dismiss in medical malpractice action.

  • Erickson v. Mayo Clinic Health System – Southeast Minnesota Region, et al., No. 27-CV-21-3324 (Minn. Fourth Jud. Dist. June 15, 2021) Represented plaintiff in a medical malpractice/wrongful death action, obtaining favorable order denying defendant’s demand for change of venue. 
     
Northstar Lawyer
  • Recipient of the "Native American Indigenous Leadership Award," Profiles in Diversity Journal (2023)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2024 edition)
  • Named a “North Star Lawyer” by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2021-2023)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association – New Lawyers Section, CLE Director
  • The Sanneh Foundation, Associate Board Co-Chair
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Mentor
  • University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentor Externship Program, Mentor 
  • UPLIFT: Legal Institute for Teens, Volunteer Coach 
  • American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO), Volunteer
  • Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts (MnLA), Volunteer
  • Springboard for the Arts, Volunteer
  • Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance, Volunteer
     
Bar Admissions
  • Minnesota
  • North Dakota
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota
  • Yankton Sioux Tribal Court
  • Spirit Lake Tribal Court
Education
  • University of St. Thomas School of Law, J.D. (2020) 
  • University of South Dakota, B.A., magna cum laude (2017)
  • London School of Economics & Political Science, United Kingdom (Summer 2016)
  • Florence University of the Arts, Italy (Summer 2015)
Professional Associations
  • Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Board of Directors, Past President (2021-2023)
  • Minnesota Coalition of Bar Associations of Color (MN-CBAC), Co-Chair
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association 
  • Minnesota Association for Justice
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers 
  • North Dakota Association for Justice
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
  • American Association for Justice
     

  • Moderator, Robins Kaplan LLP 2023 Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (November 16, 2023)
  • Native Law Advocacy in Minnesota
    Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 8, 2023)
  • Case Law Update
    Minnesota Association For Justice, Minneapolis, Minnesota (April 13th, 2023)
  • Messaging Your Case for the Jury and the Media
    Moderator, Robins Kaplan LLP 2022 Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (December 15, 2022)
  • A Culturally Competent Lens: What New Research on Trauma In the Law Can Teach Us
    A collaboration between Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Webinar (November 18, 2022)
  • Minnesota Court of Appeals Investiture Ceremony for the Hon. Sarah Wheelock (October 28, 2022)
  • A Perspective on Indigenous Peoples’ Day
    University of St. Thomas School of Law Spiritual Life Committee (October 11, 2022)
  • Connecting with BIPOC Clients: Understanding Your Implicit Cultural Bias
    North Dakota Association for Justice Fall Seminar, Bismarck, North Dakota (September 29, 2022)
  • Building Your Brand: Perspectives and Insights from a Diverse Bar
    Panelist, Hennepin County Bar Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 9, 2022)
  • Tribal Futures: How Can Public Policy Support Native American Economic Development?
    Mitchell Hamline School of Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice, Webinar (February 11, 2022)
  • Indian Arts and Crafts Acts for Attorneys
    Minnesota American Indian Bar Association CLE, Webinar (January 27, 2022)
  • Federal Bar Association Minnesota Chapter Annual Affinity Bar Meet & Greet 
    Federal Bar Association (January 13, 2022)
  • Celebrating Native American Heritage Month - Current Issues on American Indian Law and Policy 
    Hennepin County Bar Association, Webinar (November 29, 2021)
  • And Still We Rise: Rewriting the Odds with Casey Matthiesen
    University of St. Thomas (November 18, 2021)
  • Minnesota American Indian Bar Association Fall Feast 
    Minnesota American Indian Bar Association (November 11, 2021; November 18, 2022)
  • Current Issues on American Indian Law and Policy 
    Panelist, In-House CLE for a Financial Institution (October 12, 2021)
December 15, 2022
2022 Trial Advocacy Seminar
2022 Trial Advocacy Seminar
Minneapolis, MN
September 29, 2022
Connecting with BIPOC Clients: Understanding Your Implicit Cultural Bias
Casey Matthiesen - North Dakota Association for Justice
Bismarck, ND
July 21, 2022
MAIBA Scholarship Golf Tournament
Casey Matthiesen - MAIBA Scholarship Golf Tournament
Prior Lake, MN
June 9, 2022
Building Your Brand: Perspectives and Insights from a Diverse Bar
Sherry Roberg-Perez, Casey Matthiesen - Hennepin County Bar Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
February 11, 2022
WEBINAR | Tribal Futures: How Can Public Policy Support Native American Economic Development?
Brendan Johnson, Casey Matthiesen - Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Remote
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