Sonja Dunnwald Peterson
888-689-7859
Sonja has practiced employment and discrimination law in Minnesota State and Federal Courts for more than 25 years, representing primarily employees in cases involving employment discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblowing, employment contract disputes, Family Medical Leave Act violations, wage and hour violations, and wrongful termination.
She is rated B-V by Martindale Hubble, i.e., noted for having an exemplary reputation and well-established practice by her professional peers. She was awarded the Minnesota State Bar Association's Human Rights Award for outstanding work in the advancement of human rights.
Areas of Practice
- Employee Rights
- Civil Rights
- Employer Discrimination
- Whistleblower - Employer Retaliation
- Sexual Harassment
- Wage & Hour
- Employer Defamation
- Family Medical Leave Act Compliance
- Litigation and Appeals
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1985
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1993
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota
- J.D. - 1985
- Law Review: William Mitchell Law Review, Editor, 1984 - 1985
- St. Oalf College
- B.A. (Cum Laude) - 1982
Published Works
- Minnesota Practice, Civil Practice Forms, (Co-Author with David Herr and Roger Haydock), West Publishing Co., 1995
Classes/Seminars
- Adjunct Faculty, MBA, Employment and Discrimination Law, University of St. Thomas, 1989 - 1993
- Adjunct Faculty, MBA, Employment and Discrimination Law, University of St. Thomas, 2001 - 2006
Honors and Awards
- Human Rights Award, Minnesota State Bar Association
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Member, Diversity Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member, Human Rights Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member, Labor and Employment Law Section
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, Member
- League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission, Director
- Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission, Commissioner
Past Employment Positions
- Law Offices of Sonja D. Peterson, Founder, Owner, 1997 - 2001
- Horton & Associates, Associate, 1986 - 1997
- Minnesota Third Judicial District, Judicial Law Clerk
Pro Bono Activities
- Volunteer Mediator, Minnesota Department of Human Rights