Introduction

Among all mediators practicing in Minnesota, only three hold certification from the International Mediation Institute (IMI). Patrick R. Burns of Burns Law Firm PLLC is one of them. That credential, combined with his peer-review AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and his 2015 Minnesota Lawyer of the Year award from Minnesota Lawyer magazine, places this Minneapolis-based alternative dispute resolution practice in a distinct tier. The firm operates from 218 Washington Avenue North, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55401, and can be reached at 612.877.6400.

Burns Law Firm focuses on alternative dispute resolution and civil litigation, serving individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The practice is deliberately structured around solving disputes through the most efficient and effective method available, whether that means mediation, arbitration, or litigation.

Practice Areas

Burns Law Firm organizes its work around dispute resolution in its full range of forms.

Mediation

Patrick Burns conducts mediations across a wide variety of civil dispute categories, including personal injury, employment, consumer, franchise, commercial, and contract matters. His IMI certification and his former role as vice president of the American Arbitration Association in Minneapolis give him a depth of institutional knowledge about how disputes get resolved that few mediators can match. He also provides ombudsman services for organizations that need a neutral third party to evaluate internal disputes.

Arbitration

The firm provides arbitration representation for parties in formal arbitration proceedings, drawing on Burns experience having served at the American Arbitration Association.

Personal Injury Representation

Burns Law Firm represents individuals in personal injury matters, handling the full litigation process for clients who have been injured through the negligence of others.

Expert Witness and Training

Patrick Burns serves as an expert witness in ADR-related matters and provides in-house training for organizations seeking to build internal dispute resolution capacity.

Civil Litigation

The firm handles civil litigation across personal injury, employment, consumer, franchise, commercial, and contract disputes, representing parties in court when ADR methods have been exhausted or are not appropriate.

Attorney Profiles

Patrick R. Burns is the founder and lead attorney at Burns Law Firm PLLC. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. His credentials include:

• Peer-review rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
• Certified by the International Mediation Institute (IMI), one of only three such certified mediators in Minnesota
• 2015 Minnesota Lawyer of the Year, awarded by Minnesota Lawyer magazine
• Named one of 20 Up and Coming Attorneys in Minnesota in 2007 by Minnesota Lawyer magazine
• Super Lawyers Rising Star designation in ADR and litigation, Minnesota Law and Politics (2010)
• Former Vice President of the American Arbitration Association in Minneapolis

Burns prior AAA leadership role is particularly significant: having sat on the institutional side of formal arbitration proceedings, he understands how those processes are structured, administered, and decided from a vantage point that pure practitioners rarely obtain.

Location and Service Area

Burns Law Firm PLLC operates from downtown Minneapolis at 218 Washington Avenue North, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Phone: 612.877.6400.

Patrick Burns is licensed across four states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota, which extends the firm reach throughout the Upper Midwest region. Consultations are available both in person and virtually, with twenty-four-hour phone availability. Full information is available at burns-law.mn/

Client Focus

Burns Law Firm serves a broad client base, including individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. The range of dispute types the firm handles, from personal injury to franchise and contract matters, reflects a practice built around resolution skills rather than a single subject-matter niche. The free half-hour consultation structure reflects an accessible approach to initial client contact.

The firm dual identity as both a litigation firm and a dispute resolution practice gives clients options. Some matters are best resolved through mediated settlement; others require the full litigation process. Burns Law Firm can handle both, which means clients do not need to switch counsel if a matter that started as a mediation becomes a lawsuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Patrick Burns mediation credentials significant?
Burns holds certification from the International Mediation Institute, which only three mediators in Minnesota have achieved. He is also a former vice president of the American Arbitration Association in Minneapolis, giving him institutional experience with formal dispute resolution processes.

What states is the firm licensed to practice in?
Burns Law Firm is licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

What types of disputes does the firm handle?
The firm covers personal injury, employment, consumer, franchise, commercial, and contract disputes through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

Does the firm offer free initial consultations?
Yes. Burns Law Firm offers free half-hour consultations, available in person or virtually around the clock.

What award did Patrick Burns receive in 2015?
He was named Minnesota Lawyer of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer magazine.

Closing

Burns Law Firm PLLC is a Minneapolis-based practice built around one of Minnesota most credentialed ADR attorneys. Patrick Burns combination of IMI certification, AV Preeminent rating, prior AAA leadership, and multi-state licensure positions the firm to handle civil disputes across mediation, arbitration, and litigation with equal facility.

To schedule a free half-hour consultation, call 612.877.6400 or visit burns-law.mn/