RK Alumni Connect Newsletter

We are excited to highlight alumni news, firm news, including recent firm successes, pro bono work, and past and upcoming events.

Summer 2025

Announcements

Alumni News:

Judge Laura Provinzino
On April 23, 2025, a formal investiture ceremony was held to honor Judge Laura M. Provinzino, who was sworn in last year as a United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota.

Judge Provinzino began her legal career as an associate at Robins Kaplan, where she contributed to several impactful matters. Notably, she worked on Becker v. Mayo Foundation, 737 N.W.2d 200 (Minn. 2007), in which the Minnesota Supreme Court held that a medical malpractice claim could be brought for failure to report child abuse and, in bringing such a claim, the plaintiff may introduce reporting requirements under the Child Abuse Reporting Act as admissible evidence of the standard of care. She also worked on a Title IX case that helped ensure high school girls’ hockey teams played their state tournament at the same venue as the boys: the Xcel Energy Center.
In 2010, she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, where she spent nearly 15 years prosecuting cases involving human trafficking, child exploitation, fraud, and other serious offenses.

Several Robins Kaplan attorneys, including B. Todd Jones and Bahram Samie, attended the ceremony in support. Congratulations, Judge Provinzino!

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Tucker Chambers
Robins Kaplan alum Tucker Chambers has been named Chief Trademark, Copyright & Marketing Counsel at Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions. In this role, Tucker oversees the company’s worldwide trademark portfolio, copyright strategy, and marketing legal matters, helping to safeguard and grow one of the most recognized brands in the industry. Tucker brings deep experience in litigation, brand management, and marketing claims to this position, and we look forward to seeing the impact he’ll make. Congratulations, Tucker!

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Firm News:

Robins Kaplan Partners Earn Spots on Forbes’ Inaugural Best-in-State Lawyers List
Four partners have been named to Forbes' first-ever Best-in-State Lawyers list, which recognizes exceptional legal talent across all 50 states. Read more here.

Visit the RK Alumni Connect page to stay updated on alumni features, newsletters, events, and more.

Chambers USA Recognizes Six Robins Kaplan Practice Groups and 19 Lawyers in 2025 Guide
Six of the firm’s practice groups and 19 of its attorneys have been recognized in the Chambers USA Guide 2025. Notably, the firm’s Healthcare and Insurance: Dispute Resolution practice groups are newly ranked this year, reflecting the firm’s continued growth and leadership in these key areas. Read more here.

Robins Kaplan Recognized as “Distinguished” in 2025 BTI Most Recommended Law Firms Report

Robins Kaplan has been named a “Distinguished” law firm in BTI Consulting Group’s Most Recommended Law Firms 2025 report, earning more client recommendations than most firms of its size. 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’s Victory for Homeless Veterans Named Among Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts of 2024
Robins Kaplan’s landmark victory in the West Los Angeles VA Campus case has been recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the Top Verdicts of 2024. This prestigious annual list celebrates the most significant cases that have made substantial legal and societal impacts throughout California. Read more here.

Robins Kaplan LLP Accepts $2 Million Offer of Judgement After 19-Year-Old Dies in North Dakota Jail

Robins Kaplan has accepted a $2 million offer of judgment for client Jessica Allen, following her daughter Lacey Higdem’s death nine hours after being admitted to the Rolette County Jail in Rolla, North Dakota. Rolette County made the offer on behalf of itself and two of its former correctional officers. Read more here.

Pro Bono

The American Lawyer & Vault Rank Robins Kaplan Among Top Firms in Nation for Pro Bono
Robins Kaplan has been ranked among the top 25 firms in the nation for pro bono according to The American Lawyer’s annual pro bono survey, which highlights Am Law 200 firms with the strongest commitment to pro bono work (Read more here). Vault also recently ranked the firm 20th in the nation for pro bono based on a 2025 survey of associates.

Roman Silberfeld and Tommy Du Honored with 2025 CLAY Award by Daily Journal
Roman Silberfeld and Tommy Du have been honored with a 2025 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award by the Daily Journal. They are recognized for their extraordinary advocacy in securing a historic victory for disabled homeless veterans in Los Angeles. Read more here. 

Opportunities, Trainings, & Clinics

Advocates for Human Rights Court Monitoring Project (Minnesota): The WATCH project uses volunteers to observe and document court proceedings involving domestic abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, using international human rights standards to improve the legal response to gender-based violence.

On-Demand Pro Bono CLEs (Minnesota): Legal Services State Support provides on-demand CLEs that allow attorneys to earn CLE credit while learning about current pro bono opportunities and issues.

Veterans Consortium (Nationwide): The Veterans Consortium connects volunteers with opportunities to support veterans, including staffing legal clinics, assisting with benefits appeals, or representing veterans with other than honorable discharges related to PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma, or Traumatic Brain Injury.

Lawyers for Good Government (Nationwide): Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) offers remote pro bono opportunities for volunteers to support work in areas such as immigrants’ rights, climate and environmental justice, and racial justice.

Stay Connected

Events:

Twins Game
On June 10, 2025, Minneapolis firm members and alumni gathered for a summer outing to watch the Minnesota Twins play against the Texas Rangers at Target Field. It was an evening full of good company and baseball. We appreciate all the alumni who were able to join us!

(From left to right: Jenny Gassman-Pines, Anne Lockner, Kate Bruce, Misti Okerlund, Katie Barrett-Wiik, Kelly McLain, and Nicole Frank)

Pride Month Event – Where We Are: Civil Rights and Rule of Law in the Second Trump Administration Webinar
On July 9, 2025, journalist Chris Geidner led an engaging and informative webinar for firm members and alumni. Chris examined the major court cases and legal developments since the start of the second Trump administration. The program explored landmark litigation involving LGBTQ rights, executive authority, separation of powers, and agency restructuring. It also covered legal battles around immigration enforcement, presidential power, and emerging issues involving law firms, DEI policies, and executive scrutiny.

Upcoming Events:

Disability Justice Seminar 
Robins Kaplan is excited to host the 15th Annual Disability Justice Seminar later this year. Program details and a formal invitation will be provided soon. We hope you will join us!