Stephen Foertsch
Stephen has quickly become a well-known criminal defense attorney throughout Minnesota, known for his thorough and thoughtful defense of his clients and his personable presence in front of a jury. He has deftly and effectively defended all levels of charges, from complex financial crimes and highly publicized murder charges, to annoying traffic tickets. Stephen prides himself on working hard for his clients, finding holes in government cases that are invisible to others while empathizing with his client's situation.
loading ...
loading ...
loading ...
loading ...
Licenses
- Minnesota District Court, 2013
- United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 2017
- United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2018
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 2013
- St. John’s University, B.A., 2009
Distinctions
- Selected by peers as a "Super Lawyer" in Super Lawyers Magazine, 2024
- Selected by peers as a "Rising Star” in Super Lawyers Magazine, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023
- Top Lawyers, 2022, Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine
- Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers
- Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service Award, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- 10 Best Attorneys in Minnesota, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
- Former Adjunct Professor, Mitchell Hamline College of Law
- William W. Thompson Professionalism Award
- Monthly Column, Criminal Law Notes & Trends, Co-Author, Bench and Bar of Minnesota
- "Think Locally, Act Globally," The Hennepin Lawyer, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
More About Stephen
Stephen graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, where he was awarded the William H. Thompson Award for Professionalism and was selected as one of the school’s top oral advocates to represent William Mitchell nationally in moot court and mock trial competitions. Stephen clerked full-time throughout law school and graduated early. He says, “I also managed to get Sammi to date me, which was a monumental feat on its own.” Stephen later returned to Mitchell Hamline as an adjunct professor. Prior to law school, Stephen graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Stephen took over as a managing partner for Bruno Law in 2022, in recognition of outstanding client services and courtroom results since he joined the firm in 2017. Prior to that, Stephen was the lead criminal defense attorney for a reputable Minnesota law firm, after clerking for the Honorable William H. Koch in Hennepin County. He writes a monthly column for Bench & Bar magazine, he has taught continuing legal education classes on jury selection, case law developments, expungement, officer-involved shootings, DWIs, and forfeitures. He has been published in the Hennepin Lawyer magazine and writes a monthly column in the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association's Police Journal. He is active in organizations such as the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and the Minnesota State Bar Association.
Stephen lives in Minnetrista with his wife, Samantha, their three children, Brooks, Colette, and Beau, along with their dog, Penny Sue.