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Schwartz Law Firm: A Family Legacy in Litigation

By Susan Cushing

For more than 40 years, the Schwartz Law Firm has been a pillar of advocacy and justice in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Arizona. The firm was founded by Michael Schwartz on a foundation of discipline, teamwork and an unrelenting drive to win – something he brought from his days on the fairway. This legacy has been carried on by his son, Brandon Schwartz, who shares not only his passion for the law but his history of excellence in athletics.

The firm they’ve built together embodies that same competitive spirit, fueling their business practice.

A Father and Son Team

Michael went to the University of Minnesota on a golf scholarship. “I see a lot of that same competitive spirit when he fights for his clients,” Brandon says.

When Michael founded the firm in 1982, he was an ambitious young lawyer who had already settled a million-dollar hunting accident case and represented two wrongful death plaintiffs in the high-profile Kansas City Skywalk collapse.

“He’s fearless,” Brandon says. “Even in the big cases with the big issues against big-dollar firms, he is fearless in his pursuit of our clients’ rights. He fights like hell for them, but in a way that’s always respectful, ethical and in furtherance of their ultimate goal. Watching him work has been one of the most rewarding parts of my
practice.”

Brandon took a longer path to the practice of law. He also attended college on an athletic scholarship – his for hockey. He even went on to enjoy a notable first career as a professional hockey player before channeling his competitive drive and tireless work ethic into the practice of law.

While attending William Mitchell College of Law, he clerked at the family firm, gaining firsthand experience in litigation. As soon as he passed the bar, he skated into action, bringing the same determination and strategic mindset that defined his athletic career to his work as an attorney.

“I was fortunate to clerk for my father before and during law school,” Brandon says. “The longer I worked with him, the more I realized how good he was. After law school, I had the opportunity to go other places, but I liked working with him and learning from him. I wanted to participate in depositions and hearings, but wanted advice and guidance. His support has been invaluable.”

Holding the Rope

Both generations of the Schwartz men have proven their tenacity and determination, with the primary goal to always provide the finest representation for their clients.

Over the years the Schwartz Law Firm has proven to be a powerhouse providing services in a variety of areas including business litigation, business formation, contract law, and family law for business owners.

“I have always admired my father’s confidence,” Brandon says. “It doesn’t matter who is on the other side – whether it’s a large national firm, a small local firm or anything between. He knows he will not be outworked. That gives his clients the confidence that they are getting the best possible representation. They know he is turning over every rock. He treats each case as the most important because it is for that client.”

That determination has driven Michael to secure numerous verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million in each of the five decades of his practice. He skillfully navigates complex litigation with success. He is a proud lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocate Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum.

“That’s one of the biggest lessons he taught me,” Brandon says. “I wasn’t the most talented hockey player, but nobody worked hard than me. I bring that to the law as well. I’ve channeled all that drive I brought to the ice into something more meaningful—standing up for people and their businesses, guiding them through tough challenges and making a real impact on their lives.”

One of the ways Brandon has outworked the competition is by earning three bar certifications. He is a Minnesota State Bar Association board-certified civil specialist. He has also earned his board certification in civil trial and family trial law from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is highly regarded by his peers and clients and known for his meticulous approach, unwavering dedication and ethical practice.

Whether navigating a jury trial, court trial, arbitration, mediation, or pre-suit negotiation, Brandon brings extensive experience and deep legal expertise to every case, ensuring strong and effective advocacy for his clients.

“

I have always admired my father’s confidence. It doesn’t matter who is on the other side – whether it’s a large national firm, a small local firm or anything between. He knows he will not be outworked.”

The Art of War

At the Schwartz Law Firm, “The Art of War” is required reading. Since the firm’s beginning, the primary aim has always been to bring clients swift resolution. They act not just as attorneys but as trusted counselors. You can sum up their practice philosophy from one of Sun Tzu’s quotes, “The object of war is peace.”

“The object of litigation is dispute resolution,” Michael says. “According to Sun Tzu, the greatest victory is a battle won without ever having to fight it. We do that by being so prepared, opponents realize it is futile to go to battle.”

“He knows his client’s case inside and out and preps each case as though it is going to trial,” Brandon says. “One of our clients has described him as prescient. After handling so many cases with various factual patterns and legal issues, he can almost foresee the twists and turns of litigation.”

Brandon has modeled that tenacity.

“I’ve always been drawn to the strategic battle of litigation,” Brandon says. “We appreciate that those coming to us are facing probably the biggest issue in their life and they need to know that we will hold the rope for them.”

And they have long held the rope for their clients. The firm has been built on referrals and long-standing relationships. Michael has a client he has worked with for more than three decades, sitting in board meetings year after year. Brandon is continuing that legacy. He has worked with one of his clients for the entirety of his career, handling legal issues as they arise and working to prevent new ones.

“Clients put their faith in us,” Brandon says. “In return, we are relentless in pursuing justice for those who trust us to handle their greatest legal challenges. We honor that trust they place in us. We treat them as we would want to be treated if we were the client – as if they were family. Constant communication. Clear paths to success. Preparation.”

Following in the Footsteps

It’s obvious how much Brandon admires and respects his father both as a man and as an attorney. While it’s not uncommon for a son to have such admiration for his parents, and he includes his stepparents in that list, for Brandon it seems to go beyond that.

In addition to Michael and Brandon, the team relies on Michael’s wife, Kathy Schwartz. For more than 30 years, she has been a pillar of support in the firm as its office manager, modernizing operations, streamlining communication and fostering strong attorney-client relationships.

“Schwartz Law Firm is a genuine family-run practice,” Brandon says. “For a while my brother, Tyler, did some process serving for us. It is difficult to have a deeper trust than you do with family. We have each other’s backs and in turn we provide an elite level of representation for our clients, many of whom have become friends over the years.”

In fact, it’s not uncommon to see a handful of clients milling around family weddings, anniversary parties or baptisms.

“It’s all about family,” Brandon says. “I am blessed by the love and support of my bride, girls and parents in doing what I love.” Family was the foundation for the close-knit dynamic the firm has brought to its clients for decades. The firm has stuck to those roots, committed to upholding and extending the legacy of services built by Michael and Kathy and now carried on together with Brandon.

“The support we give each other allows us to provide the highest level of representation to those that place their trust in us,” Brandon says. “A trust we do not take for granted. And a trust we work every single day to strengthen.”