Est. 1886
Founded in Minneapolis in 1886 as Cobb & Wheelwright, Faegre & Benson has grown to more than 290 lawyers in the United States and Europe. The firm splits its business into nearly 50 areas, and counts clients such as Norwest Bank, Pillsbury, Cowles Media, and Dayton Hudson.
A big spill, a big verdict, a big wait
The firm has also taken on its share of plaintiffs's work. On March 23, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground at Prince William Sound, discharging millions of gallons of crude, and devastating the surrounding environment. Needless to say, fisherman, property owners, and native Alaskans weren't too pleased with the event, and joined together in a class action against Exxon. Leading the charge was Faegre & Benson, whose Brian O'Neill took was chosen as lead counsel. Five years after the disaster, O'Neill and co-counsel won a $5.3 billion jury verdict, at the time the largest in federal court history.
Ten years after, however, observers marveled as the plaintiffs had yet to collect a dime. "Exxon has filed over 25 post-trial motions with the district court," Faegre partner Lori Wagner told The Recorder in March 1999, sighing, "It's just been dragging on."
