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225 South Sixth Street | Minneapolis, MN 55402
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Christianna L. Finnern

Shareholder
p (612) 604-6435   f (612) 604-6935 
Education
University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., 2001
Wartburg College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1998
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Experience
Christianna Finnern is a shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., practicing in the areas of commercial, construction, bankruptcy and insurance litigation. Her practice encompasses products liability litigation, including food safety and medical device issues, as well as health care law, shareholder disputes, and real estate and banking litigation. Since joining the firm in 2004, Christianna’s practice has evolved to include representation of title insurance companies in such matters as agent fraud and defalcation, contract breaches, insurance coverage, quiet title and mechanic's lien actions.

Christianna is known as a collegial yet tenacious litigator, working tirelessly to achieve amazing results while balancing legal costs with business realities. Christianna’s clients include individuals, small and large businesses, insurance companies, employers and lenders in workout and foreclosure situations. She has counseled and advocated on behalf of clients in complex litigation matters in state and federal courts in Minnesota and other states around the country.

In addition to her role in the courtroom, Christianna is an active leader at the firm and in the community. She participates in the firm’s Recruiting and Marketing Committees, and is the chair of the firm's annual Women Client Event. Her passion for the law and promoting women professionals makes her a great mentor for young attorneys. Christianna currently mentors two women through the firm’s mentorship program, and also mentors a law student in partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Minority Mentorship Program. In the community, Christianna champions Dress for Success, organizing several clothing drives, and the American Heart Association.

Raised in Madelia, Minnesota, Christianna lives in Edina with her husband, also an attorney, and their two children.

Bar Admissions
Iowa (inactive), 2003
Minnesota, 2001
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota


Representative Cases
Represented a title insurer in litigation with a mortgage company. Obtained an Order to dismiss the Plaintiff’s Complaint for failure to state a cause of action. The court held that issues involving apparent, implied, and sub-agency did not change the fact that it was the conduct of the mortgage company, not of the title insurer, which resulted in the mortgage company’s apparent loss. In addition, the court awarded the title insurer Rule 11 sanctions against the mortgage company and its attorney. The parties eventually settled out of court in a settlement that the client found favorable.

A bankruptcy adversary proceeding against a former agent by a title insurer, which arose from an agent defalcation, proved to be an interesting case. The case was brought for an Order of Non-Dischargeability against the bankrupt guarantor of an agency agreement. Christianna’s team was successful in obtaining a non-dischargeability judgment against the guarantor for in excess of $145,000. In addition, the court issued a declaratory non-dischargeability Order regarding claims that could be made in the future with respect to the conduct of the guarantor.

Community Involvement

  • Mentor, University of Minnesota Minority Mentorship Program
  • American Heart Association
  • Dress for Success
  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Ramsey County Bar Association
  • Iowa State Bar Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers

Honors & Awards

  • Up & Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2011
  • "Future star," Benchmark Litigation, 2010 & 2011
  • Minnesota Rising Stars, Super Lawyers®, 2008-2011
  • Van Oosterhout Moot Court Competition, 1999-2000
  • Member, Journal of Corporation Law, 1999-2000
  • Articles Editor, Journal of Corporation Law, 2000-2001

    Articles & Presentations
    Speaker. "Preparing for the OCI Interview." Job Search Boot Camp, University of Iowa College of Law. 11 Aug. 2011.

    Co-author. "Closing Protection Letters Offer Peace Of Mind." Commercial Mortgage Insight Nov/Dec. 2009: 18-19.
    Republished:
    • MBA News. 16+.
     
    Co-author. “Attorneys can help reduce risk on loan deals.” NorthWestern Financial Review 15 Sept. 2008: 9.
     
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