Shawn J. Wanta is dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers and employees and is recognized for his handling of complex legal matters. A founding member of Wanta Thome PLC, Shawn leads the firm’s class and complex litigation practice group. He ardently represents individuals and groups in and out of court to enforce laws that protect individual rights.
Shawn has consistently been named to the list of Minnesota Rising Stars in class actions/mass torts since 2012, was named to the list of Minnesota Super Lawyers in 2022, and has been named as a Best Lawyers in America© since 2021. He has been appointed to a number of executive committee memberships and as lead counsel in national class cases. Shawn is active in board and committee work for both consumer litigation and employment law sections and formerly served on the Governing Council for the Minnesota State Bar Association's Consumer Litigation Section.
Education
William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN, J.D.
University of Wisconsin- Madison, Madison, WI, B.A.
Admissions
Minnesota Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
Professional Memberships
National Employment Lawyers Association, Minnesota Chapter
National Association of Consumer Advocates
Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter Member and Pro Se Project Volunteer Attorney
Employee Lawyers Association of the Upper Midwest, Past Secretary-Treasurer
Minnesota Association for Justice
Minnesota State Bar Association, Consumer Litigation Section
Minnesota State Bar Association, Solo & Small Firm Section
Minnesota State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section
American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section
Sedona Conference® Working Group Series Member
Honors and Awards
Super Lawyers® Super Lawyer, Class Action/Mass Torts, 2022
Super Lawyers® Rising Star, Class Action/Mass Torts, 2012-2021
Best Lawyers in America©, Consumer Law, 2021-2023; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Plaintiffs, 2023
Publications and Presentations
Who’s the Boss? The ever-shifting landscape of Independent Contractors, Misclassification and Joint Employers, Minnesota State Bar Association, Co-presenter with Zaylore Stout and Gina Janeiro, February 17, 2021
Whistleblower, Reprisal, Retaliation, Minnesota CLE, Presenter, Sept. 16, 2019
Consumer Law 101, MSBA Consumer Litigation Section, Moderator, Feb. 21, 2019
Maine Bakery Drivers Lawsuit Will Become Class Action, Portland Press Herald, Interview, Feb. 1, 2019
Are Political Texts Legal? And How Can I Stop Them? NBC KARE 11 News, Interview, Oct. 24, 2018
Practical E-Discovery Strategies for the Plaintiff's Lawyer, Eighth Circuit National Employment Lawyers Association Conference, Panelist with Bert Braud and Rebekah Bailey, Apr. 6, 2018
"How Do Lawyers Get Paid by a Class of Plaintiffs When There is No Fee Shifting Statute?," Mitchell Hamline Law Review, Author, Apr. 5, 2018
E-Discovery for the Solo and Small Firm Attorney: The Basics of Doing More with Less, Minnesota CLE Solo and Small Firm Conference, Co-presenter, Aug. 7, 2017
Wisconsin Company Offers Optional Microchips for Employees, Al Jazeera, Interview, Aug. 2, 2017
Judge Adds Protections for N.C. Workers in Employee Lawsuit Against Bakery, The Charlotte Observer, Interview, Feb. 19, 2016
Lepage Bakeries' Parent Company Challenges 'Class Action' Ruling, Maine Business Journal, Interview, Apr. 9, 2015
Class Actions: Enter the Consumer Lawyer, Minnesota Lawyer, Co-written with Chris Jozwiak, Mar. 16, 2015
Consumer Arbitration Agreements, NBC affiliate KARE 11, Interview, 2015
Cost-Effective Discovery of Electronically Stored Data CLE series, Employee Lawyers Association of the Upper Midwest, Presenter, 2015
Wage and Hour Battles on the Rise, Minnesota Lawyer Article, Commentator, June 19, 2014
Social Media Discovery, 8th Circuit NELA Conference, Panelist, 2014
Developing Trends in Wage and Hour Cases in Minnesota, Minnesota-NELA, Presenter, 2014
CBS Minnesota WCCO Radio, Discussion of Minnesota and Federal Consumer Protection Laws, Interview, Feb. 22, 2012
Wage and Hour Law, The Legal Journal Radio Show, Interview, 2012
Class Action Lawyers Target Groupon Over Expiration of Daily Deals, Crain's Chicago Business, Interview, Apr. 23, 2011
Minnesota Lawsuit Alleges Deception in Groupon Business Model, Minnesota Public Radio, Interview, Mar. 24, 2011
Gift Certificate Laws in Minnesota, Class Action, Consumer Rights, Interview, 2011
Minired BP Carwash Voucher Sets Off $5 Million Class-Action Suit, Pioneer Press, Interview, 2011
