Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten
Partner - Minneapolis
Bar Admissions: Minnesota; North Dakota; South Dakota; Wisconsin; Montana; U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota; 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
Practice Groups: Toxic Tort / Mass Tort; Product Liability
Education: William Mitchell College of Law, JD, 2006; Concordia College, B.A., Psychology & Political Science, 2003
Memberships: Defense Research Institute (DRI), Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Steering Committee, Women in the Law Steering Committee; Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA), Co-Chair, Products Liability Committee; Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA), Co-Founder, Women in the Law Committee; International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
BIOGRAPHY
Liz Sorenson Brotten, a partner in the Minneapolis office of Foley & Mansfield, devotes her practice to defending product manufacturers, suppliers, and installers in high-risk product liability and toxic tort cases. Her experience includes serving as national coordinating counsel for a roofing, siding, and insulation contractor in the defense of asbestos claims pending throughout the country and defending one of the largest product liability lawsuits in North Dakota history following a catastrophic train derailment. Liz has tried cases to verdict in both Minnesota and North Dakota courts.
Liz is also experienced in defending commercial disputes throughout the upper Midwest, including the representation of manufacturers in breach-of-contract claims and claims of violations of dealership protection laws. A native of northwestern North Dakota, Liz assists clients in agricultural and oil and gas industries with drafting and negotiating agreements vital to their business operations.
Liz is a leader in both state and national defense organizations. She serves on the Defense Research Institute’s Women in the Law and Toxic Tort & Environmental Law national steering committees. Locally, Liz chairs the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association's Product Liability committee and co-founded the Women in the Law committee.
Within the community, Liz serves on the board of directors of the Hennepin County Bar Foundation, which promotes equal access to justice for the people of Hennepin County, and Norway House, a national education center that serves the greater community of Norwegian-Americans. In 2013, Liz traveled to rural Guatemala to assist with the construction of infrastructure projects.
An Academic All-American distance runner in college, Liz enjoys competing in races and traveling.
IN THE NEWS
January 7, 2019
Foley & Mansfield Elects Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten to Executive Committee
Foley & Mansfield announces that Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten has been elected to the firm’s Executive Committee. The committee serves as the firm’s managing body, overseeing administrative, business and strategic functions for the firm’s 16 offices and 180+ attorneys.
December 10, 2018
Foley & Mansfield Names 2019 Partners, Equity Partners
The national defense firm of Foley & Mansfield today announced the election of nine partners to its Equity Partnership, and fifteen attorneys to its Partnership, effective January 1, 2019.
August 22, 2018
Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten Named to MDLA Board of Directors
F&M partner Elizabeth “Liz” Sorenson Brotten was named to the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA) for a two-year term commencing August, 2018. Brotten also received the 2018 President’s Award.