RK Alumni Connect Newsletter

Announcements

We are pleased to announce that four former Department of Justice attorneys have recently joined the firm: Carla Baumel, Lauren Roso, Bahram Samie, and Allen Slaughter, Jr. Each of these individuals brings significant experience and a proven track record in handling complex, high-stakes matters. Their addition underscores the firm’s continued commitment to bringing in top-tier talent and delivering exceptional client service across a variety of practice areas.

Carla Baumel

Carla joins Robins Kaplan’s Intellectual Property & Technology department after nearly three years as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, where she served in the Violent and Major Crimes Section of the Criminal Division. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Attorney General in Antitrust for the State of Colorado, litigating matters involving big tech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries. She also practiced in the private sector handling patent and licensing disputes. Carla brings a trial-focused approach to high-stakes intellectual property and technology disputes, including matters involving emerging technologies such as AI.

Lauren Roso

Lauren joins the Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Civil Rights Department working with the Civil Rights group at Robins Kaplan after more than six years in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Lauren prosecuted complex drug trafficking and violent crimes, sensitive national security matters, and served as a Senior Litigation Counsel advising teams on trial strategy and training law enforcement. Before public service, Lauren was an associate at Dorsey & Whitney LLP in the Government Enforcement and Investigations group. Her practice includes complex civil rights and litigation matters, with a particular focus on cases involving police misconduct, excessive force, and jail and prison abuse.

Bahram Samie

Before joining Robins Kaplan’s Business Litigation group in July of 2025, Bahram was the Deputy Civil Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. He coordinated the Civil Division’s affirmative civil rights practice, enforced the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statue in government fraud matters, and defended the United States in civil litigation. At Robins Kaplan, Bahram focuses on complex civil litigation, including False Claims Act matters, government investigations, and civil rights cases, leveraging his extensive experience leading high-impact federal enforcement actions.

Allen Slaughter, Jr.

Allen returns to Robins Kaplan’s Business Litigation department after nearly 16 years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Indian Country Section in the District of Minnesota. He has vast experience across all stages of federal criminal prosecution, including matters involving controlled substance and firearms offenses, violent crime, public corruption, and complex fraud. Allen was an associate at Robins Kaplan for seven years before transitioning to public service. He focuses on various practice areas, including but not limited to government and internal investigations, white collar defense, civil rights, as well as business and patent litigation.

Firm News

THREE ROBINS KAPLAN ATTORNEYS APPOINTED TO LAW360 EDITORIAL BOARDS
Robins Kaplan LLP is pleased to announce that James Kitces, Raoul Shah, and Travis Waller have been appointed to Law360’s 2026 editorial advisory boards. As board members, they will provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and offer insight on content and thought leadership themes within their area of specialism. Read more here.

13 PARTNERS SELECTED TO LAWDRAGON 500 LEADING PLAINTIFF CONSUMER LAWYERS GUIDE
Thirteen partners have been named to the 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America” guide. This guide recognizes elite plaintiff attorneys across the United States who bring justice to those harmed by violations of consumer rights, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, mass torts, and wrongful death. Read more here.

Practice Highlights

The firm continues its track record of success both inside and outside of the courtroom. Here are highlights from our recent wins:

ROBINS KAPLAN TRIAL WIN FOR WILLIS ELECTRIC AFFIRMED IN FULL BY FEDERAL CIRCUIT
On February 17, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a 37-page precedential decision affirming in full the trial verdict and judgment in Willis Electric Co., Ltd. v. Polygroup Ltd., et al. Read more here.

ROBINS KAPLAN SECURES $67 MILLION JURY VERDICT FOR LONGITUDE LICENSING IN LCD PATENT INFRINGEMENT CASE
Robins Kaplan LLP secured a $67 million jury verdict on behalf of clients Longitude Licensing Ltd. and 138 East LCD Advancements Ltd. against BOE Technology Group Co., one of the world's largest display manufacturers. Following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the jury found that BOE willfully infringed three patents related to liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. Read more here.

Pro Bono

Pro Bono Efforts Protect Constitutional Rights Amid Federal Immigration Actions

Robins Kaplan volunteers have undertaken multiple pro bono efforts to protect constitutional rights and support communities impacted by federal immigration enforcement actions.

• The firm is serving as co-counsel in a class action lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of three community members and a class of similarly situated individuals whose constitutional rights were violated by ICE, CBP, and other federal agents. The lawsuit challenges the agencies’ alleged practice of conducting suspicionless stops, warrantless arrests, and racial profiling in Minnesota. We are proud to partner with the ACLU of Minnesota, Covington & Burling LLP, and Greene Espel PLLP in this important litigation. The firm has also provided ACLU-MN with a roster of volunteer attorneys to assist in preparing declarations for this lawsuit.
• Our attorneys are filing habeas petitions in federal courts to help individuals challenge continued immigration detention. These cases have been accepted through the Pro Se Project, the Minnesota Habeas Project, and the Texas Immigration Law Council.
• Alongside five other area firms, we have partnered with the Binger Center for New Americans at the University of Minnesota Law School to develop and implement a screening and placement process for habeas cases as part of the Minnesota Habeas Project.
• Our attorneys have represented refugees at “re-interviews” with immigration officials scheduled as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation PARRIS.
• The firm has also provided volunteers for Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s ICE Custody Screening & Advice Program, which provides advice to detained immigrants and screens for potential immigration relief.

Pro Bono Opportunities

• Minnesota State Bar Association Operation PARRIS Training (Minnesota): Get CLE credit and learn more about how you can represent refugees scheduled for revetting interviews as part of the Department of Homeland Security's Operation PARRIS.
• Rent Escrow Cases with VLN (Minnesota): The Volunteer Lawyers Network needs more attorneys to help represent low-income tenants in rent escrow actions. Take the on-demand rent escrow CLE to learn more and register to volunteer here.
• Veterans Consortium (National): Represent veterans before the Board of Veterans Appeals in relation to VA disability, educational assistance, and survivor benefit and pension benefit claims. Regular trainings and resources are available. You can view specific pro bono opportunities through the Veterans Consortium by signing up here. 

Stay Connected

Events

Past Events:

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
On January 29, 2026, alumni and firm members gathered to hear from Hope Craig, Chairwoman of the United American Indian Involvement (UAII). Hope shared her personal journey, goals she hopes to achieve in her leadership role at UAII, plus the organization’s mission to support Native American communities, and the challenges and misconceptions Indigenous peoples continue to face today.

2026 CLE - Lessons in Insurance, Recoveries, and Uninsured Risks
On April 21, 2026, Robins Kaplan partner Dick Allyn and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP retired partner John Wheaton hosted a CLE at the Minneapolis office titled, “What Could Possibly Go Wrong? The Story of an Iconic Minneapolis Block: The Northwestern Bank Building, Its Catastrophic 1982 Destruction, and Post-Covid Level Setting – Lessons in Insurance, Recoveries, and Uninsured Risks.” Through the lens of the 1982 Thanksgiving Day fire at the future Wells Fargo Tower site, they examined risk buildup, crisis response, and long-term recovery, offering practical insights before asking, “What could possibly go wrong?”

Upcoming Events:

2026 Minneapolis Office Summer Outing – Minnesota Twins Game
You are invited to join the firm on June 23, 2026, for an evening at Target Field to watch the Minnesota Twins take on the LA Dodgers. If you are interested in attending, please fill out this form.