On September 15, 2026, Phillip Kitzer joined Benjamin Kwan of Haller Kwan LLP and Darren Sharp of Schaefer Halleen, LLC to present at Minnesota CLE’s “Navigating Minnesota and Federal Leave Laws” seminar. The full-day seminar brought together Minnesota employment attorneys to address the growing number of state and federal laws governing employee leave and time […]
Frances Baillon and Phillip Kitzer recently presented at Minnesota Continuing Legal Education’s seminar, Preventing and Addressing Workplace Sexual Harassment. The August 11 program brought together employment law practitioners and other professionals to discuss practical and legal issues surrounding the prevention, investigation, and litigation of workplace sexual harassment claims. Frances and Phillip presented a session titled […]
Kitzer Rochel is proud to announce that our attorneys have once again been recognized for their outstanding legal work in Minnesota. Frances Baillon, Phillip Kitzer, and Brian Rochel have each been selected as 2026 Minnesota Super Lawyers. In addition to being named a Minnesota Super Lawyer, Frances Baillon was again recognized among the Top 100 Minnesota […]
Kitzer Rochel PLLP is proud to announce that Phillip Kitzer and Brian Rochel recently served as presenters at the Midwest Employment Law Institute, one of the premier employment law conferences in the country. The conference brings together leading employment attorneys, judges, HR professionals, and in-house counsel to discuss emerging workplace issues, litigation trends, and developments […]
We are pleased to announce that Brian Rochel was awarded the 2026 Karla Wahl Dedicated Advocacy Award on May 17, 2026. The Award is a rare honor recognizing attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing employee rights in Minnesota. Established in 2000, the Karla Wahl Dedicated Advocacy Award honors the memory of Karla Wahl, […]
Phillip Kitzer presented at the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Spring Seminar, held March 20–21, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop in Chicago, Illinois. The annual conference, titled “Powering Up Your Practice with AI and Legal Tech,” brought together plaintiffs’ employment attorneys from across the country to discuss emerging technologies and evolving best […]
Retaliation is one of the most common employment claims brought in Minnesota. In simple terms, retaliation occurs when an employer takes negative action against an employee because the employee exercised a legal right. Under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, it is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against a person who opposes discrimination, files a […]
Minnesota significantly changed its non-compete law in 2023. Under the statute, most non-compete agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2023 are void and unenforceable. The law defines a “covenant not to compete” as an agreement that restricts an employee, after leaving employment, from working for another employer, working in a geographic area, or […]
Brian Rochel led a conversation with Judge Douglas Micko of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, moderated by Brian Rochel of Kitzer Rochel, PLLP. The CLE event was hosted by Minnesota NELA and featured a candid and practical discussion with perspectives from the bench. Judge Micko reflected on his professional path […]
Many employers have begun requiring employees who worked remotely during the pandemic to return to the office. In general, employers have broad authority to decide where work is performed and may adopt return-to-office policies. However, the analysis can change when an employee has a medical condition or disability that affects their ability to work on […]