Brian L. Johnsrud

Brian L. Johnsrud is managing partner of the firm's Silicon Valley office and a member of the firm's governing Partners Board.

Mr. Johnsrud has represented companies in their most challenging employment law matters for more than 25 years.  He anticipates and solves problems so that companies may focus on their business.  His goal is to provide responsive, practical, and concise advice in a personable manner.   

When anticipatory and strategic work does not prevent a dispute, Brian defends companies in multiple forums, from agency proceedings and hearings to arbitration and litigation.  With many of his clients having arbitration agreements, Brian has developed a specialty there, achieving more than a dozen winning arbitration awards.  He gives specific litigation recommendations, from strategy calls to settlement authority, and does so in a cost-effective and results-oriented manner.

Brian defends a wide variety of claims, from whistleblower/retaliation claims to gender, age, and race discrimination cases as well as executive contract and compensation matters.  He has defended many PAGA actions as well as other wage and hour claims.   He is a frequent advisor on sensitive investigations and executive separations. 

A long-time resident of Silicon Valley, Brian focuses his client representation in the technology, finance, and bioscience and life sciences industries.  He has worked on employment law issues for artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, clean energy, communications, electronic gaming, hardware, internet, medical devices, mobile devices, semiconductors, software, and transportation companies.  He has worked with start-ups, mid-size companies, as well as many of the largest technology companies in the world.

Brian speaks and writes on employment law trends, especially those facing technology companies.  As a leader and manager, Brian has long been a strong advocate for female and other diverse attorneys, from recruiting to mentoring to advancement, just as he had excellent female and diverse mentors starting out in his career.

Brian is a 1996 cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School where he was the class commencement speaker.  He is a former member of the Law School’s Board of Directors.  He is a summa cum laude graduate of Saint Cloud State University, which is near the small farm he grew up on in Minnesota.