My love of the law is rooted in a love of justice. While I enjoy and excel at the intellectual and strategic aspects of a case, I never lose sight of the real world impact cases have on our clients and society in general. My practice is therefore driven by constant recognition of the fact that no case is small to those who are affected by it. At Ciresi Conlin, I work collaboratively with the finest team to strive for just outcomes for our clients.
Kyle has worked at Ciresi Conlin from 2018 to the present. He graduated from Stanford Law School; while there he focused on public interest law, and represented pro bono clients in social security proceedings and school placement matters. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Macalester College.
Following graduation from law school, Kyle served as a law clerk to Judge Diana Murphy of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from 2013-2016. There, he assisted with the Judge’s preparation to hear and decide cases, as well as the management of chambers. He was, and remains, honored to have contributed to the indispensable work of the federal judiciary.
From 2016-2017, Kyle served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, where he represented the Minnesota Department of Revenue in state and federal courts. His practice involved a variety of complex tax matters, at both the trial and appellate court levels, most notably defending the State in high profile commerce and due process clause challenges to the application of state tax law. This work touched on a wide array of tax types including sales and use tax, personal income tax, and personal property tax valuation; similarly it involved a variety of legal claims and defenses, including personal jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction, and procedures under writ of mandamus. Kyle briefed and argued a case before the Minnesota Supreme Court, and assisted in the briefing and preparation for argument of at least three other cases before that Court. In lower courts, Kyle briefed and argued multiple motions to dismiss, for summary judgment, and to compel discovery. His work garnered multiple favorable results on behalf of the people of Minnesota. While at the AGO, Kyle also worked directly with Minnesota citizens who contacted the office to provide assistance with their concerns.
Since joining Ciresi Conlin, Kyle has litigated all aspects of complex civil matters, including oral argument, research and writing for dispositive and non-dispositive motions, taking and defending depositions, working with expert witnesses, and witness examination at trial. Across countless state and federal court matters, Kyle has worked on motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, pre- and post-trial motions, discovery matters, mandamus proceedings, and engaged in extensive settlement negotiations and client counseling. He has further developed his appellate practice as well, working on briefing and preparation for argument of cases in the Eighth Circuit, Minnesota Supreme Court, and Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Bar Admissions
We take the same approach for any commercial litigation - from business to business disputes to high-profile, bet-the-company, and procedurally difficult cases that affect business success and vitality of international corporations, small businesses, or individual owners.
Handling many high-stakes trials leads to briefing and arguing many high-stakes appeals. The complexity and uniqueness of our cases requires the highest level of legal analysis, strategy, and creativity.
Achieved a $375 million settlement on behalf of Pine River Capital Management in a high-profile, five-year litigation involving breach of contract, trade secrets, and fiduciary duties. The case featured 27 fact depositions, 17 expert depositions, and extensive motion practice, and raised novel questions about REIT governance and the enforceability of investment management agreements under the Investment Advisers Act. Our client prevailed on summary judgment on its contract claim and defeated all twelve of the defendant’s counterclaims before the case resolved in a settlement. Read more about Ciresi Conlin’s work here.
Defended leading relocation management company against competitor seeking damages and injunctive relief for claims of trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, tortious interference with existing and prospective customer relationships, and violations of Minnesota’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act in connection with client’s development of proprietary software. Obtained Rule 12 dismissal of multiple claims and prevailed on extensive discovery motion practice, including obtaining sanctions precluding plaintiff from asserting scores of newly identified trade secrets. Completed voluminous fact and expert discovery, including the production and review of millions of pages of documents, source code inspections, and 24 depositions. Case resolved with a mediated settlement days after the completion of expert depositions. Plus One, LLC v. Capital Relocation Services, LLC, No. 23-cv-2016 (D. Minn).
Represented the Office of Governor Tim Walz in a lawsuit regarding the constitutionality of a Minnesota Statute’s requirement for the Board of Pardons to agree unanimously before the Governor may grant a pardon.
Represented a manufacturer in a lawsuit against a major retailer regarding breach of contract and implied duties of good faith and fair dealing and counter claims totaling over $14 million. The case ended with a resolution and settlement.
Negotiated a $27 million settlement in a royalty fee dispute, with Jan Conlin, Heather McElroy, and Barry Landy, which was scheduled for arbitration. (2019)
Represented technology-based lending company in various matters, including an arbitration dispute with a former consulting company that successfully concluded. (2019)
Negotiated a settlement to partnership dispute on behalf of founder of a startup online gambling company. (2019)
Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority/Twin Cities & Western Railroad: Represented the Council, Hennepin County and HCRRA regarding colocation of freight and light rail in the Bass Lake Spur and Kenilworth Corridor for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Project. (2018)
Represented a super-premium spirit importer in a negotiated exit to a distribution contract, obtaining over $1.4 million in payments due and avoiding need for litigation. (2018)
Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Kashiv Pharma: Represented Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Kashiv Pharma in a Hatch-Waxman patent dispute brought by Purdue Pharma over a generic drug, which successfully concluded. (2018)
Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America” for Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers (2024-2026)
Named “Attorney of the Year,” Minnesota Lawyer (2023)
Named a “Minnesota Rising Star,” Super Lawyers (2020-2025)*
Named an “Up & Coming Attorney,” Minnesota Lawyer (2021)
*Being named to the list or receiving the award is not intended and should not be viewed as comparative to other lawyers or to create an expectation about results that might be achieved in a future matter.
