Ben Kwan

Attorney Ben Kwan Named Labor and Employment Law Specialist

The Minnesota State Bar Association announced the certification of Benjamin Kwan, of Haller Kwan LLP, as a MSBA Board Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist. This Certification program is administered by the MSBA and approved by the Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification.

According to the MSBA, the “certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in the speciality area, peer review, and documented experience.” The MSBA requires that certified attorneys have demonstrated superior knowledge, skill and integrity in their specific field and allows specialists to use the designation of specialist to advertise their credentials.

This achievement has been earned by fewer than 3% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys. More information about Certified Legal Specialists is at https://www.mnbar.org/members/certification.


Media Resources: Tonya M. Sconiers v. Duluth Public Schools, et al.

On Monday, September 9, 2019, Haller Kwan LLP filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of its client, Tonya M. Sconiers, the former Principal of Denfeld High School in Duluth, Minn., against Duluth Public Schools and district leaders alleging wrongful termination in violation of the First Amendment, among other legal protections.

Media Downloads:

The Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota on September 9, 2019—Sconiers v. Duluth Public Schools, Gronseth, and Horton

A written transcript of Principal Sconiers’ remarks to the community at the September 9, 2019, press conference announcing the lawsuit in Duluth, Minn.

Headshot—Tonya M. Sconiers, provided by Tonya M. Sconiers (low res) | (high res)

Media Contact:

For all media questions, please contact Attorney Ted Haller (ted@hallerkwan.com)

About Haller Kwan LLP:

Haller Kwan LLP is a law firm serving employees and whistleblowers across the state of Minnesota in the area of employment civil rights.

A Three-Peat: Ben Kwan Named Rising Star by Super Lawyers Again

Haller Kwan LLP is pleased to announce that Ben Kwan has been named a Rising Star by the research team at Super Lawyers for the third year in a row. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Minnesota are selected for the designation.

The Super Lawyer list is based on a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.

Benjamin Kwan
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Ben Kwan recognized as Rising Star by Super Lawyers for Second Year in a Row

Haller Kwan LLP is pleased to announce that Ben Kwan has been named a Rising Star by the research team at Super Lawyers for the second year in a row. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Minnesota are selected for the designation.

The Super Lawyer list is based on a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.  

Benjamin Kwan
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Ben Kwan revisits landmark Minnesota LGBT court ruling for Minnesota Lawyer

Haller Kwan LLP’s Managing Partner, Ben Kwan, indulged his first love, journalism, this summer and contributed a freelance piece for Minnesota Lawyer published last week.

In The Minnesota legal fight that changed the course of the gay rights movement, Kwan takes a look at a “family that nearly wasn’t” and the legacy of a landmark legal case and where the cases’s litigants are three decades later.

Thirty years ago on August 7th, thousands of LGBT rights activists and supporters took to the streets in 21 cities across the country for “National Free Sharon Kowalski Day.” The day became a flashpoint in the gay rights movement as a Minnesota woman fought for her right to care for and make decisions for her partner of four years, who had been severely injured by a drunk driver—and whose family later barred her partner from even seeing her.

A few years later, after a grueling legal battle, a landmark Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling overturned years of court-sanctioned “bigotry,” according to the lawyer representing the lesbian woman fighting for legal guardianship of her partner, and offered a new refrain for the gay rights movement—that same-sex relationships “ought to be accorded respect.” That was a landmark notion in 1991. My, how far we have come as a society.

Attorney Ben Kwan Talks Sexual Harassment with Jearlyn Steele on WCCO-AM

Attorney Ben Kwan was interviewed by WCCO-AM’s Jearlyn Steele last Sunday night about the sexual harassment in the workplace following a flood of allegations nationally. Ben explained that the harassment cases we hear about in the media are just the tip of the iceberg, and he offered advice for victims of sexual harassment at work. Click this link to listen to the interview:

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Ben Kwan recognized as Rising Star by Super Lawyers

Haller Kwan LLP is pleased to announce that Ben Kwan has been named a Rising Star by the research team at Super Lawyers. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Minnesota are selected for the designation.

“This recognition validates the work we do each day helping employees who have experienced wrongs,” Kwan said. “And it reminds me why Ted and I made the decision to open our own practice focused on being strong lawyers and counselors.”

The Super Lawyer list is based on a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.  

Kwan Selected to State Bar Association's Labor & Employment Section Governing Council

MINNEAPOLIS  — Haller Kwan LLP Managing Partner Ben Kwan was named to the Minnesota State Bar Association's Labor & Employment Section Governing Council on Tuesday night at the L&E Section's annual dinner at Target Field. Kwan will serve along with 11 other members of the employment bar including lawyers from both the defense and plaintiff bars.

Kwan is Featured Speaker at Stinson Diversity Scholars Reception

Haller Kwan LLP Managing Partner Ben Kwan speaking at the April 24 Stinson Leonard Street Diversity Scholars Reception. Kwan is an alumnus of the program.

MINNEAPOLIS — Haller Kwan LLP Managing Partner Ben Kwan was the featured speaker at the Diversity Scholars Reception at the Minneapolis office of the national law firm of Stinson Leonard Street.

Kwan is a former Stinson Diversity Scholar and recipient of a law school scholarship provided by the Stinson firm. The firm for years have devoted a large amount of money towards scholarships fir diverse law students at each of the Twin Cities law schools. 

The law firm asked Kwan to speak at the April 24, 2017, event as an alumnus and local bar leader. Kwan is serving as the President of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association for 2016-2017. 

Kwan told the audience that the firm's commitment to diversity and inclusion through deeds and dollars was instrumental in his career, allowing flexibility because he was not burdened by as many law school debts. 

Kwan Participates in Panel for FBA Young Lawyers Division on Success in First Years of Practice

MINNEAPOLIS — Haller Kwan LLP Managing Partner Benjamin Kwan participated in the Federal Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (FBA YLD) inaugural “Emerging Professionals Conference” on April 6. The event served as the kick-off to the FBA YLD’s Minnesota mentorship pilot program.

Benjamin Kwan was part of a panel discussion focused on how to create success in the first years of practice, including strategies for time management, and whether work-life balance actually exists. The panel also included FBA President Elect Kip Bolin, FBA Younger Lawyers Division Chair Glen McMurray, Sybil Dunlop, and Lauren D’Cruz.

Kwan Co-Authors the Employment Law Chapter in Minnesota CLE Deskbook

MINNEAPOLIS — Haller Kwan LLP founding partner Ben Kwan recently co-authored the latest edition of the Employment Law Primer, a comprehensive guide to employment law included in the Minnesota Continuing Legal Education desk book, Representing the Ongoing Business. 

Kwan co-authored the Employment Law Primer with employment defense lawyer Colton Long of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago, an employment bar colleague and occasional worthy adversary on litigation matters.  Kwan and Long updated and augmented the Primer to include more information on pitfalls for employers. Kwan brought the plaintiffs' lawyer's perspective to the work, which is intended to instruct everyday business attorneys on advising their clients on employment law matters.

"Our work as plaintiffs' employment attorneys will never be done so long as there are still human beings reporting to work everyday," Kwan said. "If we can contribute to our body of local legal scholarship in a way that prevents problems from ever happening, we're contributing to the greater good."

Kwan and Long will host a one-hour live webcast for attorneys on the topic of employment law through Minnesota CLE on Tuesday, February 14, 2017.

Ben Kwan is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Haller Kwan LLP. He advocates on behalf of employees and those thrust into a whistleblower role. He believes in the role of lawyer as counselor and remains steadfast in improving the lives of his clients. Ben writes and speaks on employment law issues as well as issues critical to the practice of law like diversity and inclusion.