Alana K. Bassin

Alana Bassin is a trial attorney representing Fortune 500 companies in product liability, commercial litigation and general liability defense. She has defended individual and mass tort actions across the country involving high-exposure catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.

Alana currently serves as national counsel for a global medical device manufacturer. She also served as lead counsel in a mass tort involving an alleged contaminated product representing the company amidst a recall, FDA raid and unprecedented media campaign, and as counsel for a compounding pharmacy in high-profile litigation following a meningitis outbreak.

Alana is also national counsel for a global energy powerhouse, for whom she has first-chaired several trials including a multi-million-dollar catastrophic injury gas explosion case in Texas. Likewise, she has tried numerous cases before juries and arbitrators around the country, including defending a chemical manufacturer in a wrongful death case before a jury in Texas, and several commercial matters and wrongful death medical negligence cases. Alana’s representative experience includes:

Lead counsel in medical device and pharmaceutical cases, including mass torts, related to IVC filters, spinal fusion products, spinal cord stimulators, ambulation devices, defibrillators, heart pumps, dialysis cases, hearing aids, skin and hair products, implantable catheters and men's health implants
National product liability counsel for a global energy powerhouse
National counsel for a child sleeping product under CPSC recall and congressional investigation
National representation of a Fortune 100 company for building products, climate control solutions, HVAC and security systems
Representation of numerous commercial and contract disputes
Defense counsel for a large chemical, cleaner and pesticide company on the national level
Lead counsel for major long-term care providers and other medical care companies

Alana frequently speaks on the professional development of women in the legal community and has held a variety of firm leadership roles including Managing Partner, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair and Policy Committee Chair. For more information on Alana's presentations, speaking engagements and industry news, explore the Insights tab.

Bar Admissions

Minnesota, 1996
North Dakota, 1996
Montana, 2019

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court District of North Dakota

Education

University of North Dakota School of Law, J.D., 1996

with distinction
Regional Moot Court Competition
Board of Editors, North Dakota Law Review
Queen's University, Bachelor of Commerce, 1993

with honors
Queen's University, B.A., 1993

Major: Political Science

Professional Associations

Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity
—Fellow, 2011
Defense Research Institute
ABA Litigation Section
—Trial Practice Subcommittee, 2008 – 2011
—Trial Practice Subcommittee Vice Chair, 2011
—Co-Chair of Program Development
—Women Advocate Subcommittee, 2007 – 2008
WomenWinning
—Board of Directors, 2013 – 2018

Distinctions

Minnesota Lawyer
—"Attorney of the Year," 2015
The Legal 500
—Named in Litigation: Product Liability Defense, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2014 – 2015, 2020
Benchmark Litigation
—Local Litigation Star, 2016
—"Future Star," 2014 – 2015, 2019
Twin Cities Business
—Notable Women in Law, 2020
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
—40 Under 40, 2010
Super Lawyers Magazine
—Top Woman Attorney in Minnesota, 2015, 2017
—Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2014 – 2020
—Minnesota Rising Stars, 2004 – 2010

Clerkships

Honorable Justice William Neumann, North Dakota Supreme Court, 1996-1997

Recent News, Events and Blogs

Name / Date / Type	Practice	Industry
Bowman and Brooke Named in Four Product Liability Categories by The Legal 500 June 18, 2020 News	Product Liability Litigation Toxic Torts and Environmental Litigation	Motor Vehicles Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Consumer Products
Alana Bassin Featured in Minnesota Lawyer July 1, 2019 News	Product Liability Litigation	Medical Device and Pharmaceutical
Bowman and Brooke Announces New Executive and Management Committee Members February 15, 2017 News	Product Liability Litigation
Bowman and Brooke Announces 2016 Managing and Co-Managing Partners March 24, 2016 Articles	Product Liability Litigation
Minnesota Lawyer's Attorneys of the Year: Alana Bassin February 23, 2016 Media Mention	Product Liability Litigation

Speaking Engagements

“Bumps in the Road: Overcoming Tough Career and Life Challenges,” Co-Presenter, Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law, July 2019
"Litigation Triggers: Acknowledging the Warning Signs and Actions to Take When Litigation Seems Imminent," Co-Presenter, CA Life Sciences Hot Topics Seminar, April 2019
“Life Sciences Trends and Hot Topics,” Co-Presenter, Client Event, August 2018
"In-House Counsel: Navigating Today’s Regulatory Issues and Litigation Trends,” Moderator, Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Litigation Hot Topics Seminar, October 2017
"Easiest Catch: Don’t Be Another Fish in the Dark Net,” Co-Presenter, ACC-MN Annual Meeting, June 2017
"Of Mutual Benefit: Enhancing In-House and Outside Counsel Relationships," MN Women Lawyers Conference, May 2015
"Attorney-Client Privilege Post Valukas – Effective Legal Advice In the Wake of The GM Valukas Internal Report," Client, March 2015
"Raids, Recalls and Media - Crisis Management,” Client Presentation, June 2014
"Crisis Management: A Guide to What you Need to Know,” Client Presentation, March 2014
"Lean in, Lean Out: Balancing Work, Family Life and Self," Law Women's Caucus, University of North Dakota Law School, April 2014
"Trying Your First Case," ABA, Section of Litigation, Annual Conference, April 2014
"On the Frontline of Public Perceptions: What Can the Industry do to Counteract Negative Press," ACI Long Term Care, January 2014
"Top Ten Charting Mistakes That Will Get You Sued," Care Providers of Minnesota, November 2013
"Women in the Boardroom: A Panel Discussion on Finding the Right Board for You," Panelist, Minnesota Women Lawyers, Minneapolis, MN, November 20, 2013
“Product Liability Primer,” Client, October 2013
“Federal Marshal is in the Lobby, Now What?” Medical Device Client Seminar, April 2013
“The Reasons Why Nursing Homes Get Sued in 2012,” Care Providers of Minnesota Conference, Speaker, November 2012
"The Art of Closing Argument," Panel Moderator, ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., 2012
"Women and the Practice of Law: How to Have it All," The Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan Branch, Retaining Women in the Law Conference, March 2012
"101: The Reasons Why Nursing Homes Get Sued," Care Providers of Minnesota Conference, November, 2011
"Key Preparation for Corporate Witnesses and Executive Testimony," Client Seminar, Minneapolis, MN, November, 2010
"Claims, Defenses, Exhibits And How A Chart Can Help or Hurt!" Care Providers of MN, 2010
"Tackling Tough Issues at Trial," ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., 2009
"What To Do After An Adverse Event," Care Providers, Minnesota Long Term Care Organization, 2009
"Communicating Effectively with Jurors: Generation X and Y," Client Seminar, 2008

Publications

"Expert Witnesses," Chapter in Trying Your First Case - A Practitioner's Guide, 2014
"Striking a Balance in Law and Life," Chapter from The Woman Advocate, 2nd Edition, 2010
"Does Sorry Work for the Long-Term Care Provider?" (with Shane V. Bohnen), Andrews Nursing Home Reporter, 2009.
"Tackling Tough Issues at Trial," Verdict, Summer 2009
"Gender and Generational Issues Across Borders," Verdict, Vol. 23, No. 1, Winter, 2009
"Flight of Female Lawyers in Canada Mirrors US Exodus," Of Counsel, January, 2009
"Marketing and Business Development for Senior Associates," The Woman Advocate, Fall, 2008
"Gender and Generational Issues Across Borders," The Woman Advocate, Summer, 2008
"Why Packing a Pistol Perpetuates Patriarchy," Hastings Women's Law Journal, Vol. 8, No. 2, Fall, 1997
"Modifying the Time, Place and Manner Analysis for Free Speech Injunctions: The United States Supreme Court creates a heightened scrutiny to review content neutral injunctions imposed against antiabortion protest," Madsen v. Women's Health Center, Inc., 114 S. Ct. 2516 (1994), 71 N.D.L.REV. 4, 1995

Representative Trials & Cases

CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE. CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.

First Technology v. Siemens Energy, Inc. January 2019. Orlando, Florida. Complex, multi-million-dollar commercial arbitration involving alleged underpaid commissions related to foreign power-generation facilities.
Chan v. Siemens Medical Solutions U.S.A., Inc. et al. May 2018. Houston, Texas. Wrongful death trial with negligent hiring/retention claims related to a field technician’s accident.
Associated Electric & Gas v. Siemens Energy, Inc. June 2017. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Product defect and breach of warranty arbitration related to the failure of gas turbine at a power plant.
Rossell v. Siemens Energy Inc. et al. November 2014. Kermit, Texas. Catastrophic injury trial involving a 2011 plant explosion.
Meskill v. Golden Living Center. August 2013. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wrongful death arbitration related to a long-term care facility.
Cole v. GGNSC Stillwater Greeley LLC. October 2010. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wrongful death arbitration related to a long-term care facility.
Smothers v. Ecolab Inc. March 2004. Galveston, Texas. Wrongful death trial involving claims of properly administered pest control service.
Lavine v. H.B. Fuller. March 2002. Dallas, Texas. Non-binding summary jury trial related to allegations of product defect of a siding manufacturer held by a real judge in front of a real jury.
North Central Companies, Inc., v. Kris Martinson and Ottertail Lumber Co., December 2000, Minneapolis, Minnesota. First-chaired commercial trial.
Smart Carte, Inc., & Smart Carte Corporation, v. Nancy Immel, March 2000, Minneapolis, Minnesota. First-chaired bench trial (as plaintiff counsel) in commercial matter.
Alpine Industries, Inc., v. Bill Waterman, Charles Barry, General Aviation, Inc., et.al., July 1998, Anoka, Minnesota. Second-chaired commercial matter at trial, settled before verdict.
Cigarette/Smoking personal-injury claim (mock trial), Kansas City, Missouri, November 2019. First-chair role included opening statement and multiple witnesses (including experts and plaintiff).
Johnson v. 3M Company et. al. (mock trial), Oakland, California, March 2014. Benzene/toxic tort claim. First-chair role included opening statements, multiple witnesses (including experts and company witnesses), and closing arguments.