Allen Slaughter

Allen Slaughter is a seasoned trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor who brings almost three decades of courtroom and investigative experience to his practice. Most recently, he served as Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Indian Country Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, where he helped lead the Criminal Division while maintaining an active and substantial trial docket.

Over the course of nearly 16 years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Allen handled all stages of federal criminal prosecution, from investigation and charging decisions through trial and post-conviction litigation. His experience spans controlled substance and firearms offenses, violent crime, public corruption, health care fraud, bank fraud, Hobbs Act robbery, witness intimidation, and complex conspiracy cases. As Deputy Chief, he supervised and mentored Assistant U.S. Attorneys, participated in charging and case assessment decisions, and worked closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in high-stakes matters. He was also a member of the trial team in United States v. Chauvin et al. 

Allen’s practice is shaped by deep insight into how prosecutors build cases, assess risk, and try matters to verdict. He counsels clients facing government investigations, internal investigations, regulatory scrutiny, and complex litigation, bringing strategic judgment informed by extensive trial experience.

Earlier in his career, Allen practiced at Robins Kaplan as an associate, where he handled complex business litigation matters involving internal investigations, employment discrimination, corporate compliance, antitrust, patent and licensing disputes, white collar defense, and other commercial conflicts. He was a member of multiple trial teams and also led litigation groups, managed all phases of discovery, and chaired the firm’s ESI Discovery Committee. He was also active in the firm’s pro bono efforts, including the Guardian Ad Litem and Asylum projects.

Before entering private practice, Allen served as an Assistant County Attorney in Hennepin County, prosecuting a wide range of felony offenses, and as a federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Karen E. Schreier of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. He earned his J.D. from the University of South Dakota School of Law.

Education

• University of South Dakota School of Law (1999)
• University of South Dakota, B.A. in Political Science (1995)

• David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service – Highest Award Granted by the Department of Justice (2023)
• Multiple Awards from Federal and State Agencies for Various Aspects of Public Service
• Named a Rising Star by Minnesota Law & Politics (2007)
• Nominated to Leaders Impacting the Non-Profit Community (“LINC”) (2007)
• University of South Dakota School of Law – Moot Court Board Member (1997-1998)
• Horace R. Jackson Memorial Scholarship for Achievement in Legal and/or Appellate Brief Writing (1998)
• Justice James M. Doyle Scholarship (1998)
• South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association Award to Outstanding Student Member (1998)

Civic

• District of Minnesota Re-Entry Court Pilot Project (2012-2016)
• Lawyers Without Borders Ambassador – Kenya (2009)

Professional

• Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
• Minnesota State Bar Association (2000-2012)
• Federal Bar Association (2006-2013)
  • Facilitator and volunteer with FBA President Steven E. Rau – Little Rock School Desegregation: Cooper v. Aaron CLE Presentation (2009)
  • FBA Grant Committee (2012-2013)
• National Black Prosecutors Association (2011 – 2012)
  • Committee Member & Volunteer – National Annual Meeting (Summer 2011)

Speeches

• Multiple Agency and Ongoing Trainings (2018-2025)
• Narcotics Conspiracy Investigations & Prosecutions
  Presenter, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Advanced Narcotics Training (March 2017)
• Federal & State Firearms Prohibitions
  Presenter, Minnesota CLE: Gun Law: Regulating, Acquiring & Handling Firearms in Minnesota (October 2016)
• Narcotics Conspiracy Investigations & Prosecutions
  Co-Presenter, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Advanced Narcotics Training (November 2016)
• Firearms & Domestic Violence
  Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Presentation to Fifth Judicial District Court Bench Conference (March 2013)
• Firearms & Domestic Violence
  Presenter, Blue Earth County Law Enforcement (March 2011)
• Multiple In-House ESI Presentations to Robins Kaplan Partners and Associates (2006-2010)
• Multiple presentations and training events to judges, lawyers and investigators
  Lawyers Without Borders, Nairobi, Kenya (2009)
• Civil Litigation & Metadata
  Ethics and E-Discovery (June 2007)
• What You Need to Know About Electronic Discovery – Issuing ESI Requests (February 2006)
• Preservation & Spoliation
  Panelist, Kroll Ontrack E-Discovery A-Z Workshop (April 2005)

Media Mentions

• "Former Federal Prosecutor Rejoins Robins Kaplan After Leaving Amid Immigration Crackdown," Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal (February 25, 2026)
• "Former Federal Prosecutor Slaughter Rejoins Robins Kaplan,” Minnesota Lawyer (February 25, 2026)