Leora M. Maccabee
Partner
Overview
Leora Maccabee is a trial lawyer practicing primarily in the areas of general business, product liability, intellectual property, and trust and estate litigation. In the business, product liability, and intellectual property litigation side of her practice, she prides herself on offering exceptional legal service to businesses—from multimillion-dollar companies to startups—facing conflicts and challenges that at minimum threaten to distract from the products they are selling and services they are providing to our community, and at maximum are bet-the-company matters. Whether that means going to court, engaging in mediation, or conducting complex and large-scale written and deposition discovery and e-discovery to develop the factual record, she represents her clients aggressively, intelligently, and effectively, and with a keen eye towards their business needs. As a trust and estate litigator, Leora partners with other attorneys in Maslon's Estate Planning Group to handle contested matters in probate courts, representing her clients in disputes regarding the obligations of fiduciaries such as a trustees, executors, conservators, and guardians as well as the interpretation of testamentary instruments.
Leora was recognized as a 2016 40 Under 40 Honoree by Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal, a 2015 Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer, and annually on the Rising Stars and Top Woman Attorney lists by Super Lawyers®. Leora has co-authored the "Unfair Trade Practices" chapter of the Business Disputes: Claims and Remedies Deskbook published by Minnesota CLE since 2015.
Experience
- With a small team of Maslon litigators, represented world-leading medical device company in litigation in Minnesota state and federal court;
- Represented voting trust trustees and corporate officeholders in litigation involving the interpretation of a voting trust for a family-run corporation, after extensive discovery and depositions, successfully argued and obtained summary judgment dismissing all claims, pending on appeal;
- Represented substance abuse services providers, their owner, and independent contractor therapists and counselors in disputes with licensing agencies.
- Represented an international charitable organization in a dispute involving charitable bequests.
- Provided ongoing legal analysis and strategic advice for a cutting-edge entertainment facility.
- Provided ongoing legal analysis and strategic advice for efforts to challenge certain non-profit organizations’ compliance with state and federal laws including those for breaches of fiduciary duty and fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation.
- Represented a bank/corporate trustee in litigation, as part of a team of attorneys, involving claims relating to a family trust and successfully obtained the client's full and complete discharge from liability in a negotiated settlement.
- In re American Medical Systems, Inc., CV-11-3933 (Hennepin County District Court, Minnesota). With a small team of Maslon litigators, defended consolidated state court actions alleging multiple tort theories against American Medical Systems related to female mesh products.
- Diana Foster and Mustang Innovations, LLC v. WestRock Company. Successfully argued and obtained summary judgment dismissing defamation, deceptive trade practices, and tortious interference case.
- In re 35W Bridge Litigation. Part of team representing design engineers for litigation following collapse of I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis; Represented client in multi-party lawsuit and helped obtain appellate court dismissal of a multimillion-dollar contribution claim as well as dismissal of the State's multimillion-dollar statutory claim for reimbursement under the Victim's Compensation Statute.
Pro Bono
- Ex parte Armstrong (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). Member of team of Maslon lawyers serving as pro bono counsel for Douglas Tyrone Armstrong, a Texas death row inmate convicted of capital murder in 2006. The team successfully secured the vacation of Armstrong's death sentence by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
- Pro bono representation of low-income individuals during negotiations and trials in Housing Court, Family Court, Hennepin County District Court, and Minnesota Federal Court to help them obtain safe and secure housing, relief from unmanageable consumer debt obligations, and fair and just resolutions of marriage dissolutions.
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Represented Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity in an unfounded racial discrimination and breach of contract lawsuit against it by a Caucasian male; obtained dismissal of all claims with prejudice.
Honors
Recognized on Minnesota Rising Stars list as part of the Super Lawyers® selection process, 2014-2023 (Minnesota Rising Stars is a designation given to only 2.5% of Minnesota attorneys each year, based on a selection process that includes the recommendation of peers in the legal profession.)
Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota® list, 2015-2023 (The annual edition of the Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota list features attorneys selected for the previous year's Minnesota Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists.)
North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2012, 2014-2020, 2022 (North Star Lawyer is a designation that recognizes members who provide 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services in a calendar year.)
Woman of Promise Award, Minneapolis Jewish Federation's Pearl Society, 2019
Light of Justice Award, Texas Defender Service, 2018
40 Under 40 Honoree, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, 2016
Up & Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2015
2013 Arthur T. Pfefer Memorial Award, Twin Cities Cardozo Society (for outstanding leadership and commitment to the Jewish and general community)