Introduction
Sten Hoidal is a senior associate in Fredrikson & Byron’s Litigation Group. Sten has tried cases in both state and federal court, and has argued before the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Sten’s practice focuses in four areas: trade secret/non-compete litigation; U.C.C. litigation; real estate litigation; and appeals.
Sten has a multi-faceted trade secret/noncompete practice. He represents employers in matters involving corporate raiding, violations of nonsolicitation and noncompete agreements, violations of confidentiality agreements, and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. He also advises clients regarding the enforceability of restrictive covenants in employment agreements. As part of his practice, Sten assists clients with forensic investigations to determine whether former employees have misappropriated confidential information and, when necessary, represents clients in court to recover the information and hold the former employee accountable.
Sten represents companies in a variety of matters involving sales of goods under Articles 2 and 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code.
Sten represents builders, developers, landlords, tenants, and homeowners in a variety of matters involving real property, including disputes arising from purchase and sales transactions, leases, construction defects, mechanics liens, lien priority, and zoning and conditional use permitting.
Sten has represented clients in appeals before the Minnesota Supreme Court, North Dakota Supreme Court, and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has argued and won before the Minnesota Court of Appeals on issues ranging from conditional use permits to contested child adoptions.
Sten also regularly litigates cases involving business torts, lending relationships, and employment issues.
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude
- The Colorado College, B.A. Environmental Science, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Non-Competes & Trade Secrets
- Real Estate Litigation
- Appellate
- Electronic Discovery Resources
- Employment & Labor
- Commercial Law
Selected Publications & Presentations
- Presenter, “Thumbdrives, Emails and iPhones: Protecting Your Data When an Employee Leaves the Company,” Non-Competes & Trade Secrets Webinar, April 30, 2012
- Presenter, “Thumbdrives, Emails and iPhones: Protecting Your Data When an Employee Leaves the Company,” February 23, 2012
- Co-presenter, “To Preserve or Not Preserve: Pointers and Pitfalls in Litigation Preservation,” Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Litigation Section CLE, June 6, 2011
- "Remedies," Basics of Drafting Contracts in Minnesota, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, April 19, 2011
- “Are Employees Who Complain (or Whine) About Employer Practices Legally Protected,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 24th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 30, 2008
- “Technology vs. Employee Privacy” and “Current Trends in Wage & Hour Compliance,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 23rd Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 11, 2007
- “Wage & Hour Violations: An Employer’s Most Expensive Uninsured Risk,” co-authored with Lindsay Zamzow, Human Resources 2007, Thomson West, summer edition
- "Discovery in Shareholder Litigation: What’s Fair Game? (Getting the Goods While Defending Your Honor)," co-authored with Emily Duke, MSBA Continuing Legal Education 2007 Business Law Institute, May 2007
- “Discovery Strategies and Tactics in Shareholder Litigation: What’s the Game Plan?”, co-authored with Emily Duke, MSBA Continuing Legal Education, December 2005
- Sten-Erik Hoidal, Note, Returning to the Roots of Environmental Justice: Lessons from the Inequitable Distribution of Municipal Services, 88
Professional Activities
- Federal Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
Honors & Distinctions
- Minnesota Law Review, Managing Editor
- Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
Community Involvement
- Volunteer Lawyers Network, Housing Clinic Member
- Legal Assistance to Disadvantaged, former Committee Member
- Dedicated more than 50 hours to pro bono matters in each of the past 5 years