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MATTHEW J.M. PELIKAN

Matt Pelikan has devoted his career to the idea that everyone is entitled to a strong advocate and a fair deal. Matt represents individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies in complex litigation and serious, high-stakes matters. Matt uses his passion to be a bold and determined advocate and to provide thoughtful, well-grounded advice to clients trying to navigate a wide range of issues. Matt’s practice includes individual consumer law, a full range of business matters, class action and multidistrict litigation, intellectual property, and appellate advocacy.

 

Whether you are an individual consumer who needs someone to stand up on your behalf, a business that’s being taken advantage of, or someone looking to put an end to unjustified litigation, Matt will fight tirelessly on your behalf.

 

Before joining MADEL PA, Matt was a lawyer with the Voter Protection department of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign effort. This work put Matt on the front lines of the fight to protect and expand access to voting.

 

First as an advocate working with elected leaders and now as a passionate legal advocate, Matt has worked for almost fifteen years in law and politics to help everyday individuals, consumers, and businesses get the solutions they need—all organized around the simple principle of basic fairness.

 

Matt attended law school at the University of Minnesota, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of Minnesota Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude. After law school Matt clerked for the Minnesota Supreme Court, first as a clerk to the Honorable Paul H. Anderson and thereafter for the Honorable David L. Lillehaug.

 

Before law school, Matt worked for Gov. Mark Dayton, when he served as U.S. Senator, U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, the Ohio Democratic Party, and the Florida Democratic Party.

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Minnesota Lawyer named Matt an Attorney of the Year for 2021. The article featuring Matt is available here.

A picture of attorney Matt Pelikan.

Email:  mpelikan@madellaw.com

Phone:  612-605-0630

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representative cases​

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  • Part of case team representing individual inventor suing three of the largest technology companies over infringement of patents related to semiconductor technology. Matt took a lead role in helping avoid an early motion to dismiss and allowing the client to pursue his full claims as well as worked with complex discovery issues related to the case.

  • Counsel of record for a major technology and industrial company pursuing patent claims against a Fortune 20 corporation, including managing important client-side concerns and an aggressive discovery schedule.

  • Worked on behalf of major company facing allegations related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to successfully manage multi-district litigation process and class action defense.

  • Successfully defended large Minnesota-based retailer against series of baseless intellectual property claims to obtain favorable resolution.

  • Extensive pro-bono experience, including: work on behalf of Native American tribe attempting to vindicate its treaty rights against the Indian Health Service and Department of Health and Human Services; work pursuing tenants’ rights; family law, including obtaining child support and protecting victims of abuse; and animal welfare.

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PLEASE NOTE:  All cases are different and past results do not predict future case outcomes.

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awards

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  • Named a Minnesota Lawyer  Attorney of the Year for 2021

  • Named a “Minnesota Rising Star” by Super Lawyers (2018, 2019, 2020)

  • Named a “North Star Lawyer” by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2015–2016).

  • Award in appreciation of “Leadership and Commitment to Excellence” for tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Minnesota Law Review.

  • “Best Brief” in section at the University of Minnesota Law School.

  • “Best Oral Argument” in section at the University of Minnesota Law School.

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publications​​

  • Eric J. Magnuson & David F. Herr, Federal Appeals: Jurisdiction and Practice (2017 ed.) (edited and revised multiple chapters).

  • Eric J. Magnuson & Matthew J.M. Pelikan, Fact finding and law making in the digital age, Minn. Lawyer (June 11, 2015).

  • Eric J. Magnuson & Matthew J.M. Pelikan, In the interest of justice, Minn. Lawyer (February 12, 2015).

  • Paul H. Anderson, Remembering Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Huffington Post (October 29, 2012) (edited work).

  • Matthew J.M. Pelikan, Note, Plausible Defenses: Historical, Plain Meaning, and Public Policy Arguments for Applying Iqbal and Twombly to Affirmative Defenses, 96 Minn. L. Rev. 1828 (2012).

  • Matt Pelikan, Youth Voices: What Must the U.S. Do After the War to Repair its Image?, St. Paul Pioneer Press (Apr. 3, 2003).

  • Matt Pelikan, Youth Voices: What Has Been the Impact of Anti-War Demonstrations?, St. Paul Pioneer Press (Mar. 27,  2003).

  • Matt Pelikan, Youth Voices: How Do Generational Differences Affect Views About the War?, St. Paul Pioneer Press (Mar. 6, 2003).

  • Matt Pelikan, Youth Voices: Does the U.S. Have the Right to Press War Against Iraq?, St. Paul Pioneer Press (Feb. 26, 2003).

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speeches​​

  • Matthew J.M. Pelikan, What Does it Mean to Be a “Lawyer”?, Student Commencement Speech, University of Minnesota Law School (May 2012).

 

bar admissions​

  • Minnesota

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, Minnesota

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education​

  • University of Minnesota Law School (2012)

    • ​J.D., magna cum laude

    • Editor-in-Chief, Minnesota Law Review

    • Legal Research & Writing Instructor

    • Consumer Protection Clinic

  • St. Olaf College (2003)

    • B.A., Political Science, cum laude

    • Student Senate (Chair, Students’ Rights Committee)

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