Introduction

Eric H. Anderson holds a Board Certification in DUI Defense from the National College for DUI Defense and is separately certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Municipal Court Trial Lawyer, a combination of credentials that few criminal defense attorneys in Minnesota can claim. Before building his practice in Minnetonka, Anderson clerked for New Jersey Appellate Division Judge Hany A. Mawla, giving him direct exposure to how appellate courts evaluate the same procedural and evidentiary questions that arise in criminal proceedings. That background informs the legal work Anderson Defense does today across its criminal defense and professional licensing practice.

Anderson Defense operates from 12800 Whitewater Drive Suite 100, Minnetonka, MN 55343, and is admitted to practice in both Minnesota state courts and federal courts in the district. The firm can be reached at 612-373-9490. Attorney Lexie D. Stein works alongside Eric Anderson, expanding the firm’s capacity to handle the range of matters described below.

The firm has accumulated over 100 client reviews, a volume that reflects consistent case activity across criminal defense, DUI matters, and the specialized areas of professional licensing and child protection proceedings.

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense

Anderson Defense handles the full spectrum of criminal matters in Minnesota state and federal court. Criminal charges, whether misdemeanor or felony, carry consequences that extend well beyond any sentence imposed. Employment, housing, professional licenses, and immigration status can all be affected by a conviction or even by an arrest record. The firm approaches criminal defense as a matter of examining the prosecution’s evidence, procedural history, and constitutional compliance before any decision about how to proceed is made.

DUI and DWI Defense

Eric Anderson’s Board Certification in DUI Defense from the National College for DUI Defense is a nationally recognized credential requiring demonstrated expertise in the science, law, and trial skills specific to impaired driving cases. DUI cases involve chemical test evidence, field sobriety testing, and traffic stop law, any one of which may present grounds to challenge the prosecution’s case. Anderson Defense handles first-offense DUI matters as well as cases involving prior convictions, aggravated factors, or commercial driver’s licenses.

Minnesota’s implied consent law and the interplay between administrative license proceedings and criminal court proceedings require attention to both tracks simultaneously. The firm handles both the criminal case and any related driver’s license matters.

Professional Licensing Defense

Professionals who hold licenses issued by a state board face a distinct type of jeopardy. A criminal charge or investigation, a complaint filed with a licensing board, or a maltreatment determination can trigger disciplinary proceedings that threaten a career built over years or decades. Anderson Defense represents licensed professionals, including attorneys, physicians, nurses, and others, in licensing board proceedings and in the related criminal or administrative matters that give rise to them.

Child Protection Proceedings

Anderson Defense handles CHIPS proceedings (Child in Need of Protection or Services), termination of parental rights cases, and maltreatment determinations. These matters sit at the intersection of family law and administrative law, and the stakes for parents and families are severe. A maltreatment determination entered into Minnesota’s database can affect employment in education, healthcare, and other fields for years. The firm represents parents and caregivers at every stage of these proceedings, from initial investigation through contested hearings.

Attorney Profiles

Eric H. Anderson

Eric Anderson is the founding attorney at Anderson Defense. He is Board Certified in DUI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense, one of the few attorneys in Minnesota to hold this designation. He is also certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Municipal Court Trial Lawyer, a credential reflecting trial competency specifically evaluated and approved by that state’s highest court. Early in his career, Anderson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Hany A. Mawla of the New Jersey Appellate Division, a position that provided close familiarity with appellate reasoning and judicial decision-making. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota state courts and in federal court.

Lexie D. Stein

Lexie D. Stein is an attorney at Anderson Defense. Specific biographical and credential information beyond her association with the firm is not specified in available sources.

Location and Service Area

Anderson Defense is located at 12800 Whitewater Drive Suite 100, Minnetonka, MN 55343, in the western Twin Cities metro area. The firm serves clients throughout Minnesota in state court matters and handles federal criminal cases in the applicable federal district. Phone: 612-373-9490. The firm’s website is andersondefense.com.

Client Focus

The clients Anderson Defense serves are those facing criminal charges, DUI allegations, professional licensing threats, or child protection proceedings in Minnesota. Many arrive at the firm after receiving news that fundamentally alters their immediate circumstances: an arrest, a search warrant execution, notice of a licensing board complaint, or a child protection investigation letter. The firm’s work is focused on factual and legal analysis rather than volume processing, consistent with the caseload that the firm’s attorney credentials and experience allow them to handle with genuine attention to each matter.

The over 100 client reviews the firm has received reflect experience across the practice areas described above and a client base that spans both individuals and licensed professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Board Certification in DUI Defense mean for my case?

The Board Certification issued by the National College for DUI Defense requires attorneys to demonstrate knowledge specific to DUI law and science, including how chemical testing works, field sobriety testing validation research, and the constitutional law governing traffic stops and arrests. Eric Anderson holds this certification, meaning he has been evaluated and recognized by a national body as having expertise in DUI defense specifically. In practical terms, this means he approaches DUI cases with detailed knowledge of the testing methods and their limitations, which is relevant when evaluating whether the prosecution’s evidence will withstand challenge.

What happens in a Minnesota CHIPS proceeding?

A CHIPS proceeding is a court case in which a county attorney or other petitioner asserts that a child is in need of protection or services. Parents are parties to these proceedings and have the right to legal representation. The case proceeds through an adjudicatory hearing at which the allegations are tested against the evidence, and if the petition is sustained, a dispositional hearing follows. Anderson Defense represents parents at each stage, including any appeal. Maltreatment determinations that arise in connection with CHIPS cases can also be separately challenged through the administrative process, and the firm handles those proceedings as well.

Can my professional license be affected by a criminal charge even if I am not convicted?

In many cases, yes. Licensing boards in Minnesota have authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings based on conduct underlying a criminal charge regardless of whether the criminal case results in a conviction. The standards for licensing discipline are different from the standards for criminal conviction, and a board may find that conduct occurred and warrants discipline even where a criminal jury acquits or a charge is dismissed. This is one reason why engaging defense counsel early, before a criminal case resolves, is relevant to protecting a professional license.

Does Anderson Defense handle federal criminal cases?

Yes. The firm is admitted in federal court as well as Minnesota state courts. Federal criminal cases involve the United States Attorneys’ Office as prosecutor and are governed by federal sentencing guidelines, which differ substantially from Minnesota state sentencing. Federal investigations often precede charges by months or years, and consulting a defense attorney early in a federal investigation, before charges are filed, can affect how a case develops.

What makes DUI defense different from other criminal defense?

DUI cases rely heavily on scientific evidence: breath test results, blood test results, and field sobriety test scoring. Each of these methods has published validation research, operating procedures, and known sources of error. Challenging a DUI case requires understanding that underlying science, not just the legal rules. Eric Anderson’s NCDD certification reflects training in both the legal and scientific dimensions of these cases, which means he can evaluate whether the chemical test was administered correctly, whether the machine was properly maintained and calibrated, and whether the field sobriety tests were conducted in conformance with the validated protocols.

Closing

Anderson Defense operates in a set of practice areas where technical and procedural knowledge matters as much as courtroom experience. Eric Anderson’s dual board certifications and his appellate clerkship background shape how the firm approaches cases, whether the matter is a DUI in Hennepin County court, a licensing board complaint filed against a physician, or a CHIPS proceeding involving parental rights. The firm’s federal court admission extends its reach beyond state proceedings when federal charges are involved.

For those facing criminal, DUI, licensing, or child protection matters in Minnesota, Anderson Defense can be contacted at 612-373-9490 or visited online at andersondefense.com. The office is at 12800 Whitewater Drive Suite 100, Minnetonka, MN 55343.