Schaefer Halleen, LLC- Minneapolis Employment Lawyer

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Toni L. Halleen

Toni L Halleen - Schaefer Halleen

Toni L. Halleen
Owner, Partner and COO
Pronouns: She/her

Email Toni >
612-294-2600

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Client Service Philosophy

“It’s all about listening and problem-solving. I try to understand where the client is coming from, what he/she is trying to achieve, and then help identify possible solutions. When we work together to combine our creative ideas and maximize our talents, we can usually emerge with a better solution.”

  • Biography
  • Involvement
  • Awards
  • Presentations

Biography

Toni L Halleen is the co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Schaefer Halleen, a position she has held since 2013.

Toni has practiced employment law since graduating from law school in 1988. The field appeals to her because in our society, our jobs can be core to our identity and well-being. Even in her early years in the 70s and 80s, Toni remembers being drawn to ideals of justice, fairness, and social equality in attending anti-discrimination marches, participating in school activism, and admiring the political satire of the Smothers Brothers (and others).

Ms. Halleen began her legal career as an attorney with Briggs and Morgan law firm, where she practiced employment law for many years both in litigation and in advising clients. When she started a family, Toni moved to an in-house position at ADC Telecommunications in Eden Prairie. As Director of Employment Law for ADC, Toni worked with leaders and managers across the company (and around the world) to shape employment policies and decisions affecting thousands of workers in the telecom industry. The creativity and collaboration of the corporate environment invigorated Toni and allowed her to develop keen business insight and cross-departmental skills.

At the same time, Toni was honing her skills in her avocation, which was inspired by the Smothers Brothers: comedy/music/writing. Toni studied, performed and taught improv classes in Minneapolis, which training later served as the basis for her Fun with Law business and the professional skills course she developed and delivered to hundreds of professionals called “Think on the Spot.”

Toni also learned to play guitar and wrote several songs about law and politics, performing some of them on TV’s Almanac and at private law-related and HR functions. Toni’s full-length musical, “Soulless, Bloodsucking Lawyers” played to sold-out audiences and won “Best Musical” at the Minneapolis Fringe Festival.

Toni decided to leave ADC in 2002 in order to join The General Counsel Ltd., which allowed her to freelance as an in-house employment attorney for a number of different companies, while also developing her Fun with Law business and delivering “Think on the Spot” workshops across the country and in Canada. Toni is a national speaker at conferences and professional meetings on communication topics, as well as employment law topics, and she has been an adjunct professor for many years at William Mitchell School of Law (now Mitchell Hamline).

Ms. Halleen’s career path has affected her approach to working with clients by enriching her perspective on employment law (seeing both defense and plaintiff perspectives) as well as establishing in her a deep understanding of creative problem solving. Toni’s client service skills and her appreciation for connecting with others been enhanced by working with hundreds of employees and professionals in a range of functions and in a variety of organizations. Through her teaching, Toni has interacted with many different communication styles, implemented deep listening strategies and utilized non-verbal communication tools.

Education

  • Juris Doctorate Degree, cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1988
  • Mini-MBA, Creative Problem Solving, University of St Thomas, 2000
  • Bachelor of Arts, Mount Holyoke College, 1984

Involvement

World Press Institute

Toni volunteers every summer/fall with the World Press Institute (“WPI”).  WPI is a non-profit organization that awards fellowships to 10 outstanding journalists from around the world.  WPI fellows come to the U.S. for an in-depth exploration of journalism that includes travel and meetings with some of the country’s leading media outlets, editors, academics, business leaders and other journalists.

Theatre Unbound

For several years, Toni has participated in the 24-Hour Play Project (a/k/a Xtreme Theatre Smackdown) by writing plays for Theatre Unbound, which are performed at their annual fundraiser, as well as plays for other Theatre Unbound projects and events.  Theatre Unbound is a non-profit theater organization that delivers thought-provoking live theatre written and performed by women, designed to engage audiences and improve the lives of women and girls.

Legal Affiliations

  • Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Past Member, Ramsey County Bar Association
  • Past Member, Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • Past Member, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Awards

  • Loft Mentor Program, 2013
  • The Loft, Minneapolis, MN, August 2013
  • Was awarded a spot in the Loft Mentor Series for 2013, after having been a finalist and an Honorable Mention candidate in 2012
  • The Loft Mentor Series in Poetry and Creative Prose offers twelve emerging Minnesota writers the opportunity to work intensively with six nationally acclaimed writers of prose and poetry. Selected participants work throughout the year with the six mentors, and all participants and mentors give public readings at the loft.
  • Best Musical and Top Selling Show, The Minnesota Fringe Festival
  • The Minnesota Fringe Festival, 2003.
  • Wrote and produced, “Soulless Bloodsucking Lawyers: A Musical.”

Presentations

Presentations and Work in Entertainment

Think on the Spot ® Workshop – Presented over 100 seminars across the country as well as a few in Canada and one in Prague.  Her seminars focus on presentation skills, communication and listening skills, as well as on substantive employment law subjects.

Professional Education – Taught at Minnesota CLE, William Mitchell College of Law, The University of Minnesota Law School, and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. In addition, Toni has taught CPAs, engineers, insurance adjusters, human resources departments, marketing professionals, law students, and lawyers at every level and in every capacity (corporate, private practice, government).

Management Training – Trained thousands of managers on discipline & discharge, managing employees, dealing with leaves and disabilities at work, wage and hour compliance, codes of conduct, compliance, workplace policies, and prevention of harassment.

Community Presentations – Presented a keynote workshop, “Say Yes to Diversity: What Improv Comedy Can Teach Us About Embracing the ‘Big Tent’,” at the Minnesota Women Lawyers Conference on April 27, 2018. Toni participated on a panel at the LPGA Leadership Academy on June 13, 2018. On May 24, 2018, Toni and Jean Boler presented to the Minnesota Paralegal Association convention: “From Bra Burning to Twitter: Has the workplace really changed with the advent of the #MeToo movement?”

Entertainment

Original Songwriter – Wrote and performed original songs about public affairs and current events on TV (the PBS affiliate here in MSP), and produced 2 CDs of music about lawyers and the law.

Playwright – Wrote and produced plays about families and lawyers and games shows for the Minnesota Fringe Festival and Theatre Unbound.  Toni’s original musical, “Soulless Bloodsucking Lawyers,” was voted Best Musical and also was the top selling show of the 2003 Fringe Festival.  “Church Bus” was selected for the Best Of Series by Theatre Unbound in 2008.

Performer – Had a steady and successful career in the 1980s and 1990s doing standup and improvisational comedy in a variety of comedy clubs in the Twin Cities. More recently, Toni has performed comedy music at private gatherings for crowds of lawyers and human resources professionals.

Author – Currently writing a novel and several short stories.  Was recently awarded a spot in the Loft Mentor Series for 2013, after having been a finalist and an Honorable Mention candidate in 2012.

Recent Posts by Toni

Pressures On Small Businesses Raise Employment Questions

Even after persevering through years of pandemic-related stressors, many small businesses are facing inflation-related pressures. These challenges are changing the way companies do business, which mea...

June 7, 2022

Celebrating Toni Halleen’s First Novel: An Interview with the Author

Congratulations to Toni Halleen on the publication of her first novel. The Surrogate was recently released by HarperCollins and is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Prior to ...

January 4, 2022

Just Say Yes!

By Toni Halleen | Your Path To Creative Alternatives in Diversity and Inclusion According to Gloria Steinem, the circle is the oldest form of government. When women sit in a circle, we are reminded of...

June 1, 2018

It’s Personal: An Interview with Jean Boler and Toni Halleen

We are pleased to announce that Schaefer Halleen attorneys Jean Boler and Toni Halleen are featured in Attorney at Law Magazine’s Women in Law issue. The article, Telling It Like It Is: A Candid ...

November 14, 2017

Gotta Catch ‘Em All!

We admit it: some of us here at Schaefer Halleen are Pokémon fans.  We were excited to discover that our office building, the historic Grain Exchange Building has been designated as a “Pokéspot....

July 26, 2016

Our Worst Nightmare: Employee Endangerment at Work

By Toni Halleen | What’s the worst thing that can happen at work? An employee dies, is injured or becomes ill due to unsafe conditions. Although workplace safety laws have been in place for years, i...

June 7, 2016
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Filed Under: All Blog Posts, Severance/Employment Contracts, Toni L. Halleen

Schaefer Halleen, LLC

Schaefer Halleen, LLC is located at:
412 S 4th St, Suite 1050, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-294-2600
Fax: 612-294-2640
Email: info@schaeferhalleen.com
www.schaeferhalleen.com

Google Rating
4.6
Based on 56 reviews
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
4.6
Dave Carlson
Dave Carlson
16:46 28 Sep 23
Awesome counseling and legal services.Larry and his team are very service oriented!
Leon Griggs
Leon Griggs
15:49 12 Sep 23
I had no idea if or what legal rights I had involving employment law. After receiving consultation from Schaefer Halleen, a surprising and fair resolution was found to the expressed appreciation of all parties involved.Schaefer Halleen, Thank you for your help on this very important matter.
Don Mink
Don Mink
16:15 22 Aug 23
Lawrence was extremely professional and thorough in his research and communication with me and other parties. I highly recommend him and this firm and would personally utilize their services in the future.
Rembrandt Brown
Rembrandt Brown
19:16 10 Jul 23
Fantastic firm!
Al Krysan
Al Krysan
13:47 16 May 23
I engaged Peter Christian at Schaefer Halleen and his advice, guidance, and speed to resolution was just what I needed to move on in a better spot. I highly recommend this team!
Randy Reyes
Randy Reyes
16:13 28 Apr 23
Lauren D'Cruz did a wonderful job representing me on a complicated case. Her expertise, intelligence, and understanding of the circumstances and my personal story led to a very successful outcome and efficient process. I am extremely grateful for her expert work.
James Hannan
James Hannan
20:04 21 Apr 23
Excellent knowledge and easy to work with!
Mary Kallock
Mary Kallock
04:22 19 Apr 23
I highly recommend working with Schaefer Halleen. Each team member that I interacted with - Larry, Darren, and Jenelle - were extremely professional, respectful of my time and concerns, and were quick to address my needs. I worked closely with Darren Sharp for my case. Darren lives up to his surname - he is thorough, efficient, and no nonsense when it came to representing my needs. All the same, he is compassionate, engaged, and a pleasure to work with. Again, I highly recommend this firm and thank them for their support in my case!
Leann Barrick
Leann Barrick
05:00 25 Jan 23
I highly recommend this law firm. Peter took his time to explain how the legal practice would work so I knew what to expect and Jenelle showed compassion when listening to my needs. Peter resolved the settlement fast and I think you find out you'll be happy with this firm as well.
Smook Music
Smook Music
16:34 27 Dec 22
Jeff Hilligoss
Jeff Hilligoss
15:03 05 Dec 22
Larry Schaefer and the professionals at Schaefer Halleen are the team you want in your court for employment law matters. Consummate professionals, their expert, clear-eyed advice and counsel has been invaluable to me over the course of my career. And they are a delight to work with!
Tom Emison
Tom Emison
14:53 22 Nov 22
Tim Christensen is simply amazing; evenings, weekends, whatever it took to serve me. thank you Tim!
Mark Copeland
Mark Copeland
22:46 17 Nov 22
Tim was fantastic and really paid attention to detail. I recommend him and the firm to anyone who has employment legal issues.Mark Copeland
C Verdick
C Verdick
13:47 15 Nov 22
Peter and Makenzie were great to work with. Highly recommend.
Keely Hooper
Keely Hooper
17:48 02 May 22
Caroline Allen
Caroline Allen
10:56 03 Feb 22
I worked with Larry on a severance negotiation and was incredibly pleased with the work he did. He gave great advice and helped me end the negotiation in a very favorable spot.
Kit White
Kit White
18:22 07 Jun 21
I would highly recommend working with this firm if you're dealing with a legal case. They are so responsive, kind and compassionate. Darren made me feel heard and fought for me throughout the entirety of my case. It was not an easy experience, as legal cases tend to bring up a lot of emotions and trauma, but this firm will fight for you and make you feel heard. Highly, highly recommend.
Marcia
Marcia
14:18 02 Jun 21
I highly recommend Peter Christian and Shaefer Halleen. Clear communication and planning were key to our success. The team I worked with was empathetic and sensitive to my situation, and always helped me understand the overall legal process and what to expect during our case.
Amy A Houchins-Post
Amy A Houchins-Post
14:00 10 Mar 21
Lia
Lia
22:13 26 Feb 21
Peter and Lauren are patient and understanding. They considered my case from every angle possible. They also took the time to educate me a bit on how the law works. Very impressed!
Julie Koritz
Julie Koritz
01:27 25 Feb 21
Peter and Jacob did a great job getting me a settlement. I am very fortunate to have worked with them.
DeAijha Oliver
DeAijha Oliver
05:22 30 Dec 20
Henry V
Henry V
15:56 25 Sep 20
I worked with Larry Schaefer and Lauren D'Cruz. They enthusiastically took up my case. They showed creativity, good judgment and deep knowledge of the law in formulating the theory of the case. They also struck a fine balance between zealous advocacy and risk management. They were very responsive and provided timely status updates throughout our engagement. They took genuine interest in me as a person. I would recommend Schaefer Halleen to my family and friends without reservation.
Constance Lewis
Constance Lewis
15:46 10 Aug 20
I had the opportunity to work with Peter Christian. He was amazing to work with. He believed in my case from the moment we spoke and was diligent in working for me. He kept me in the loop on every aspect of my case, he allowed me to have input before decisions were made and fought for me from the very beginning to the end. He was prompt and followed through on everything he said he would. Peter was very professional, and timely. I truly appreciate the time and dedication to my case. Thank you Peter for taking the chance with my case and fighting for me. With Peter's expertise, my case was settled with a positive and favorable outcome. You were a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend your services. Thank you again!
B Bowlby
B Bowlby
15:46 24 Apr 20
I cannot recommend Schaefer Halleen highly enough. I had a particularly hard employment issue and I found the people at S.H. to be excellent to work with. They are all very professional, very intelligent, handled me and my situation with care and always kept me up to date on where my case was at. In the rare instance when I contacted them by either phone or email I received a near immediate response.I was always made to feel that I was important and I always felt I was being given advice I could trust. At the end of the day my case was settled in a very timely manor and I am very pleased with how it turned out.Finally, the lawyers and staff at S.H. are some of the most experienced people in their industry and I was very impressed with their past accomplishments. I knew I could trust S.H. to handle my case after the very first meeting. If you need employment law help, Schaefer Halleen, LLC is the one and only firm I would recommend.
Roland Awasome
Roland Awasome
13:32 02 Apr 20
I am a professional and worked with many attorneys in the past. Peter is hands down the best out there. I can’t recommend him enough .
Laura H
Laura H
14:10 21 Feb 20
I am so thankful I found the Schaefer Hallen team to help me through one of the most difficult times in my life. Lauren always took the time to listen and was respectful and professional. Her attention to detail is impeccable, and she helped organize all my random thoughts and emails to help strengthen my case. Larry and Lauren kept me informed throughout the whole process and always made me feel like I was in control. With their expertise, my case was settled efficiently and with a positive outcome.
Mevhibe Atay
Mevhibe Atay
20:03 19 Feb 20
I had a great experience with the firm. My attorney Darren Sharp was very efficient, knowledgeable and kept me informed at every step. Very trustworthy and professional.
Ioannis Karampelas
Ioannis Karampelas
15:45 12 Sep 19
Extremely professional and humane treatment towards me as a person in severe trouble, perplexed by conditions generated totally out of my control. This law firm is outstanding.
Katy Eagle
Katy Eagle
16:54 16 May 19
Overall, the firm is great! Lauren D'Cruz is organized, thoughtful, and very pleasant to work with. I have enjoyed my interactions with everyone at Schaefer Halleen over the years. I highly recommend the firm and Ms. D'Cruz.
M. Malik
M. Malik
20:11 05 Apr 19
It is with great pleasure that I write this for Mr Schaefer and his capable people comprised of talent and empathy. I had a fear of Attorneys (due to my own weakness, no disrespect to the legal profession), but I felt pleasantly surprised after my visit to his firm located in the heart of Minneapolis - my home city that I am passionate about. Larry's office emblomized everything that I look for. The attorneys, the administrative staff, the decor, it all felt "happy" and "inter-connected". I had thought my case was too too hard to understand by others, however due to Larry's brilliance and savvy, it became evident to me that he understood it very well. He had a clear line of action and a resolve to seek justice with ethics. That was all that I desired. I hope Larry's office continues to serve the disability community, that it prospers, grows, and makes Minneapolis the best city in the world.
Sameh Said
Sameh Said
16:21 04 Apr 19
I am very thankful to Larry for helping me through a very difficult time of my life. My former employer discriminated against me and treated me very badly and I was forced to resign to end my struggle with this employer. I did not know what to do or who I can find to help me getting through this and restore my reputation and my employment. I met with several layers prior to my meeting with Larry and I can tell the difference immediately when I engaged with him. Larry told me what will happen in the first meeting and despite my process took several months, he was able to predict the successful outcome just through listening to me in that very first meeting. He has complete understanding of all employment related issues, he is focused and dedicated to help his clients getting back on track. His strategic thinking and the steps he made were the key to success. He also has a wonderful team that are just the right team to help. Quick response and timely feedback about what is going on with the case so you are always in the loop with the next step. Now I moved on to a new and a better employer and I feel I am beginning a new and a good chapter in my life, and I feel I can't thank Larry or his wonderful team enough for what they did to me and how they supported me to get through probably the worst chapter in my life.Thank you Larry
Rebecca Thavis
Rebecca Thavis
17:14 02 Apr 19
Larry truly went above and beyond. In each step of the case, he made sure I was aware of what was happening and the next steps. He called frequently, and followed my choices, making sure that I felt in control. I never felt like a victim, or less- he helped inspire me to fight for what I needed and deserved. If I had to go through it again, no questions asked, I would want Larry by my side every step of the way. His team is well organized, efficient, kind and discrete. I am forever grateful that Schaefer Halleen represented me, and I highly suggest them for any and all people who need empowering representation.
Joanne Simons
Joanne Simons
21:30 26 Mar 19
Excellent experience, outstanding staff, expedient, caring, respectful.
Jessie Lecy
Jessie Lecy
00:22 18 Mar 19
The humanness and genuine care for their clients separates this firm from others and makes it best in class.
John Styliaras
John Styliaras
23:55 17 Mar 19
Larry and his team at Schaefer Halleen helped bring to resolution issues at the workplace in an amicable manner. When I first approached Larry, I was not even sure what steps to take, what to do, did not even know if I needed a lawyer, or why I needed a lawyer. All I knew was that friends and colleagues told me to reach out to a lawyer. And when I asked around, his name and his firm's name kept on being mentioned by many. And the reputation was well deserved.Larry patiently and deliberately listened to my story, and then explained to me exactly why I needed a lawyer, and how he could help me. Immediately he laid out the plan about how to proceed. Instantly I was put at ease. Throughout a very long process, he provided me advice and guidance and was always willing to talk to me on the phone, whenever there were either updates, or I had questions and concerns.I am absolutely certain that I would had not been able to reach the resolution without Larry's and his team's steadfast guidance, advice, and impressive work. I recommend Larry and his firm unconditionally - the very best in the field.John C. Styliaras MD,MS
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
18:49 12 Dec 18
I highly recommend the Schaefer Halleen law firm. Larry Schaefer was always available to answer any questions and his team was very professional. They work hard to get results and take the time to listen to the client’s goals.
annette miller
annette miller
00:40 07 Nov 18
I found the team to be professional, respectful and very well versed in employment law. I would recommend them to anyone looking for advice or expertise in this area.
Lynn Hassan Jones
Lynn Hassan Jones
14:18 31 Oct 18
I am a physician who recently hired Schaefer and Halleen to represent me in an employment discrimination case, my Atty was Jean Boler ESQ.They provided top-tier legal services to me for my case 2017 through my settlement in 1st qtr of 2018.This was excellent legal representation, specifically - very responsive, very prompt, extremely detailed and never off-putting.Absolutely would recommend without reservation!
Doc MoSho
Doc MoSho
19:40 02 Jul 18
They were attentive and responsive and dod a great job of diffusing the tension in a situation that could have been quite adversarial. They also did an excellent job of level setting before the process proceeded to far in an unrealistic direction. Great work.
the Dodger
the Dodger
14:28 04 Jun 18
Joyce Jenkins
Joyce Jenkins
19:03 02 Jun 18
Larry has been a great resource for several years. His response time, quality of response and follow up are excellent. He has been flexible enough to answer an impromptu calI and get a response back within an hour. I recall talking to Larry early one morning when there was 8" of snow and most businesses were closed. He was the only one in the office to keep my appointment.I have recommended Larry to more than a dozen of my friends and colleagues and I feel very comfortable recommending him to anyone.Derek Jenkins
John
John
23:57 01 Jun 18
An honest lawyer? YES! Larry was fantastic and I can’t thank him enough for his unbiased advice and support.
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