Eric FriskeAttorney
efriske@hensonefron.com
(612) 252-2815
“In litigation, there are no universal answers. Each case is unique, and each party brings their own motivations and objectives. With those realities in mind, I find the opportunities hidden in each dispute and leverage them to advance my clients’ goals.”
Contact MeI represent individuals and businesses in a wide range of complex business, estate, and trust litigation matters. At each stage along the way, I work closely with my clients to develop a successful strategy for their case, focusing on what is most important to them and their goals.
In my litigation practice, I have a proven track record of advocating for my clients in the following areas:
Business Litigation
- business torts,
- shareholder disputes,
- non-competes,
- breaches of contract,
- intellectual property,
- employment and labor, and
- real estate matters.
Estate and Trust Litigation
- complex trust and will contests,
- inheritance disputes,
- financial exploitation of vulnerable adults,
- creditor claims, and
- contested administrations.
As a business litigator, I bring extensive litigation experience, a strategic mindset, and a tireless work ethic to each case. Having represented owners, employees, and other stakeholders in a wide range of business litigation matters, clients value my ability to understand the unique issues in their disputes and formulate a successful strategy. I approach each case with that big picture in mind, strategizing around not just the individual legal issues at play, but also the wider business implications of each dispute.
At the same time, I am a frequent litigator of complex trust and estate matters. I understand that family dynamics and significant financial stakes can make these matters particularly challenging for everyone involved. In each case, my goal is to preserve important relationships and maximize the value of the estate, wherever possible, while advocating zealously for my client’s interests. I have represented individual and institutional trustees, beneficiaries, guardians, conservators, personal representatives, and other interested persons in a variety of complex estate and trust matters with many millions of dollars in dispute.
Prior to joining the firm, I served as a judicial extern to Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur J. Boylan in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, and as a staff attorney to Chief Judge Terrence E. Conkel in the First Judicial District of Minnesota.
- Assisted the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office in multi-year litigation that resulted in the removal of a trustee of a multi-billion dollar charitable trust.
- Assisted with high-profile internal investigation into decade-long $20,000,000 million fraud scheme involving officers of billion-dollar company.
- Represented professional conservator in investigation and litigation involving alleged dissipation of assets from estate valued at approximately $15,000,000.
- Represented plaintiff in commercial contract dispute involving allegations of multimillion-dollar damages.
- Represented spouse in estate and trust litigation involving challenges to trust and will instruments and interpretation of antenuptial agreement of an estate in excess of $200,000,000.
- Represented plaintiff in contract dispute involving approximately $2,000,000 in alleged damages stemming from asset sale.
- Represented plaintiff in securing $1,000,000 pre-judgment attachment against defendant accused of hiding assets, subsequently liquidating defendant’s construction business and multiple real estate interests.
- Represented trustee-beneficiary in litigation dispute over distribution of approximately $10,000,000 in assets from trust comprised predominantly of real estate interests.
- Represented plaintiff in construction dispute involving approximately $1,000,000 in alleged damages caused by deficient workmanship.
- Represented trustee-beneficiary in litigation involving dispute over alleged financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and alleged dissipation of multimillion dollar trusts.
- Represented professional trustee in litigation involving challenges to trust and will instruments and allegations of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult with damages sought in excess of $5,000,000.
- Represented individual trustee in litigation dispute over interpretation of trust instrument and antenuptial agreement and demand for distribution of assets in excess of $1,000,000 from multimillion-dollar trust.
- Represented plaintiffs in litigation involving challenges to beneficiary designations with disputed assets in excess of $1,000,000.
- Represented trustee-beneficiary in litigation dispute over interpretation of trust instrument and business succession documents involving business entity owned by companion trusts valued in excess of $2,000,000.
- Represented plaintiff in litigation seeking alleged damages for unpaid accounts and promissory notes in excess of $5,000,000.
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 2013
- M.S., Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2009
- B.S., Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2007
- Minnesota
- United States District Court, District of Minnesota
- Recognized in the 2021-2022 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Trusts and Estates; 2023 Edition: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
- Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers – Rising Stars® Edition, 2019-2023
- 2018 Up & Coming Attorney Honoree, Minnesota Lawyer, 2018
- North Star Lawyer, Honored by Minnesota State Bar Association for commitment to pro bono service, 2016–2017
- Managing Editor, Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology
- Recipient, Law School Public Service Program Award, 2013
- Recipient, Dean’s Distinguished Scholarship Award, 2010–2013
- Fellowship, Biomedical Graduate Studies, University of Pennsylvania, 2007–2009
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design, Appointed by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton 2017–2021, Reappointment by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan 2021-2025
- Co-Author, "Paycheck Protection Program Fraud: How Whistleblowers Can Combat Fraud and Obtain Substantial Rewards Using the False Claims Act," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, June 2023
- Co-Author, "Minnesota Bans Noncompete Agreements: Impact on Employers and Employees," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, May 2023
- Co-Author, "The FTC's Proposed Ban on Noncompete Clauses: Implications for Businesses and Workers," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, February 2023
- Co-Author, "#FreeBritney: Recent Changes To Minnesota Law Seeks To Avoid “Toxic” Conservatorships and Guardianships," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, July 2021
- Co-Author, "President Biden Encourages Limits on Noncompete Agreements in Executive Order," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, July 2021
- Co-Author, "Coping with Alzheimer's and Dementia From a Legal and Planning Perspective," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, September 2020
- Co-Author, "Further Guidance Concerning Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loans," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, July 2020
- Co-Author, "Rent Relief Options for Landlords During the Coronavirus Pandemic," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, April 2020
- Co-Author, "Under the CARES Act, Qualifying Businesses Can Obtain Forgivable Loans to Cover Eligible Expenses," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, March 2020
- Co-Author, "Contractual Obligations During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Avoidance, Enforcement, and Renegotiation," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, March 2020
- Co-Author, "Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What employers and employees need to know about emergency paid sick leave and family leave," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, March 2020
- Co-Author, "Coronavirus and Insurance Coverage: Does your business have insurance coverage for losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic?" Henson Efron Thought Leadership, March 2020
- Co-Author, "Legal Update: Minnesota Wage Theft Statute Changes," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, June 2019
- Co-Author, "Protecting your Business: Preventing Wrongful Interference with Non-competition and Non-solicitation Agreements," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, July 23, 2018
- Co-Author, "Protecting your Business: Identifying and Safeguarding your Company's Trade Secrets," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, June 20, 2018
- Co-Author, "Protecting your Business: The Enforceability of Non-competition, Non-solicitation, and Confidentiality Provisions in Minnesota,” Henson Efron Thought Leadership, May 16, 2018
- Author, “Addressing Looming Drug Shortages through Legislative and Regulatory Approaches,” Minnesota Journal of Law, Science, and Technology, Vol. 14, Issue, 1, 2013
- Author, "Digital Privacy: Who is tracking you online?," LawSci Forum, October 15, 2012
- Co-Author, “Yeast Screens Show Aromatic Residues at the End of the Sixth Helix Anchor Transient Receptor Potential Channel Gate,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 104, No. 39, 2007