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July 20, 2020 News

Three Berger Montague Attorneys Named 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Berger Montague is proud to announce that Thomson Reuters has named Managing Shareholder E. Michelle Drake a 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyer. In addition, Associate John Albanese and Senior Counsel Hans Lodge have been named 2020 Minnesota Rising Stars.

Each year, Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research, and each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. No more than 5% of attorneys in any given state are selected by Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

E. Michelle Drake is a Managing Shareholder at Berger Montague, where she leads the Firm’s Minneapolis office. Michelle’s practice focuses on consumer class actions.

Michelle has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of relief for her clients and has served as lead class counsel in dozens of class cases. Michelle’s practice has encompassed a wide variety of cases, including cases challenging improper employment background checks, unfair mortgage servicing practices, illegal student loan cost calculations, and data breaches. Michelle serves on the board of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, is a member of the Partner’s Council of the National Consumer Law Center, and is the co-chair of the Consumer Litigation Section for the Minnesota State Bar Association. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2013. Michelle graduated from Harvard Law School in 2001. She began the practice of law by trying high-stakes criminal cases as a public defender in Atlanta, Georgia and is happiest on the side of the underdog.

John Albanese is an Associate in the Minneapolis office. John concentrates his practice on consumer protection with a focus on Fair Credit Reporting Act violations related to criminal background checks. John has also prosecuted class actions related to illegal online lending, unfair debt collection, privacy breaches, and other consumer law issues.

John is regularly invited to speak on consumer law and litigation issues. John has obtained favorable decisions for consumers in state and federal courts all over the country. He also frequently represents consumer advocacy groups as amici curiae at the appellate level.

Hans Lodge is a zealous advocate and is dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers in and out of court. Hans assists consumers who have been denied jobs or housing due to inaccurate criminal history information reporting in their employment/tenant background check reports. Hans also assists consumers who have been denied credit due to inaccurate information reported in their credit reports and have suffered harm due to unlawful debt collection behavior.

Hans is an aggressive and strategic litigator who has a reputation of working tirelessly to get favorable outcomes for his clients. Hans understands how frustrating it can be trying to deal with background check companies, credit reporting agencies, credit bureaus, and debt collectors and has a passion for helping clients navigate these areas of the law during their times of need.

Meet The Team