Robins Kaplan LLP is pleased to announce that Samuel LaRoque has been named a 2025 “Up & Coming Attorney” by Minnesota Lawyer, and business professionals Christine Berndt, Kristin Mapel Bloomberg, Julie Ritter, and Caleb Shields 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, honoring those who have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty, often behind the scenes.
Samuel LaRoque is a standout litigator in Robins Kaplan’s Intellectual Property and Technology group. With a Ph.D. in astrophysics and nearly a decade of experience as a scientist and patent agent before earning his J.D., Sam excels at translating complex technical concepts for judges and juries. He has already contributed to multiple nine-figure outcomes, including a recent $467 million settlement involving COVID-19 vaccine technology, while maintaining a strong commitment to pro bono work in immigration and asylum cases. Known for his clarity and composure, Sam combines scientific precision with persuasive advocacy to navigate high-stakes patent disputes across the country.
Christine Berndt serves as the strategic force behind Robins Kaplan's comprehensive event programming, planning and executing over 60 firmwide events annually. As Client Events and Special Programs Manager, she created the firm's first integrated events strategy, launching the RK Events Committee and developing innovative ROI tracking systems that transform events into measurable business development assets. Her decade of experience as a Legal Administrative Assistant provides her with deep institutional knowledge that informs her thoughtful, collaborative approach to elevating client engagement across all practice groups.
Kristin Mapel Bloomberg has rapidly transformed the firm's research capabilities since transitioning from academia to legal research in 2022. As Senior Research & Business Intelligence Analyst, she has revolutionized complex research workflows, notably creating an expert bibliography system that reduced turnaround times from 4-6 weeks to 1-2 weeks. Her academic background in humanities, history, and legal studies, combined with her technological innovation, enables her to tackle the most challenging research projects while mentoring colleagues on emerging legal technologies.
Julie Ritter serves as an essential anchor for the firm's most complex litigation matters as an IP&T Paralegal who also supports the Healthcare group. Known for her exceptional reliability under pressure and proactive problem-solving, she manages high-stakes cases with precision while maintaining a calming presence during trials. Beyond litigation support, Julie demonstrates commitment to the profession through her leadership on the Paralegal Internship Committee and Paralegal Professional Development Committee, where she mentors the next generation of legal professionals.
Caleb Shields provides critical technical support as a Senior Trial Consultant and Multimedia Engineer, seamlessly managing all aspects of trial operations from courtroom technology to complete trial setups. His specialized skills include operating OnCue software as the "Hot Seat" operator and creating compelling day-in-the-life videos that require both technical proficiency and sensitivity when working with trauma survivors. Caleb’s versatility extends beyond trials to creating demonstratives, capturing digital content, and providing reliable technology solutions that enable attorneys to focus on advocacy while ensuring flawless technical execution.
Honorees will be recognized at an awards event in Minneapolis on Friday, September 12.
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