Vildan Teske, Esq.

Vildan Teske

Mediator | Arbitrator | Special Master

Linkedin Facebook Instagram Youtube

Vildan.Teske@PowerHouseMediation.com

“Mediation offers a powerful opportunity to resolve disputes efficiently, helping all parties reach a mutually beneficial outcome without the lengthy process of litigation.   By focusing on collaborative solutions, we not only save time and resources but also foster a sense of fairness and control over the process, which is often lost in traditional courtroom battles.”   –  Vildan Teske | PowerHouse

Contact Information

Vildan.Teske@PowerHouseMediation.com

(612) 895-2210

Practice Areas

  • Civil Mediation
  • Civil Arbitration
  • Court Appointed Neutral/Special Master

Languages

  • Aramaic (native speaker)
  • Turkish (native speaker)

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, MN (Juris Doctor 1993, cum laude)                                   

  • Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court, Best Brief Award
  • Dean’s List

 

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Carlson School of Management, (Bachelor of Science in Business, 1990, with double emphases in Finance and Marketing)                                                          

  • University President’s Leadership Award Recipient
  • Dean’s List
  • Selected by the administration to represent the University and the Carlson School of Management at the National Women Students Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.
  • Alpha Kappa Psi Tablet Award, one of four graduating seniors selected by professors for excellence in academics, leadership, and community service

 

Certified Civil Mediation Skills Training (2021), Rule 114 Qualified Neutral/Mediator (Facilitative Roster).

Certified Civil Arbitration Skills Training (2023), Rule 114 Qualified Neutral/Arbitrator (Adjudicative Roster).

Bar Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit (2021), 2nd Circuit (2018), 7th Circuit (2012), 8th Circuit (1994)
  • Georgia (State Courts) (2001)
  • S. District Court, District of Minnesota (1994)
  • Minnesota State Courts (1993)

Professional Appointments

  • Minnesota Conciliation Court Referee – First Judicial District (Dakota), May 2021 – present
  • Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, MN Supreme Court, Elected Vice Chair (January 2024), Member, January 2020 – present
  • Minnesota ADR Ethics Board, MN Supreme Court, January 2020 – present
  • ABA House of Delegates, MSBA Representative December, 2022 – present
  • ABA Fellows – National Co-Chair, Minnesota State Delegation May, 2023 – present

Professional Accomplishments & Honors

  • Top 100 Minnesota Lawyers, recognized each year 2018-2021 by Minnesota SuperLawyers
  • Top 50 Women Lawyers, recognized each year 2018-2021 and 2023 by Minnesota SuperLawyers
  • Inaugural recipient of the National FBA’s Robyn Spalter Outstanding Achievement Award (2013), recognizing one individual nationally for professional achievements, leadership, and service to the profession
  • Invited to testify before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the effects of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the ability of consumers, service members, and employees to access justice in our court system, December 2013
  • Appointed in 2019-2020 to Federal Judicial Selection Committee by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith to make recommendations for Article III judge vacancy created in the District of Minnesota upon the Hon. Joan N. Ericksen taking senior status
  • Selected as a 2018 Diversity and Inclusion Honoree by Minnesota Lawyer magazine for efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in the legal community
  • Subject of a feature article in the 2020 Minnesota SuperLawyers Magazine discussing my work on behalf of the underprivileged as well as our servicemembers
  • Appointed in 2016-2017 to Federal Judicial Selection Committee by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to make recommendations for two Article III judge vacancies created in the District of Minnesota upon the Hon. Donovan W. Frank and the Hon. Ann D. Montgomery taking senior status
  • Minnesota SuperLawyers List, recognized each year since 2015 by Minnesota SuperLawyers
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2016-present
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2015-present
  • National Trial Lawyers of America, Top 100 Minnesota Lawyer, 2015-present
  • Fellow, Foundation of the Federal Bar Association, 2013-present
  •  

Professional Leadership and Activities

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Federal Practice Committee (2016-2021)
  • S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Justice and Democracy Centers of MN Committee (2020-Present)
  • S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and MN-FBA Committee, under the leadership of the Hon. Susan R. Nelson and the Hon. Katherine M. Menendez, to create inaugural Court Camp (week-long camp held at the Minneapolis Federal Courthouse for underrepresented high school students) (2017-2019)
  • S. District Court for the District of Minnesota Committee to plan events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Reconstruction Amendments, including a documentary film screening, panel discussion, and student art and literary contest (2015-17)
  • S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and the Collaborative Legal Community Coalition collaboration to plan events “Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Duluth Lynchings,” including half-day CLE featuring Bryan Stevenson (June 14, 2021) and other community events in Duluth, MN and the Twin Cities (2019-21)
  • S. District Court for the District of Minnesota Pro Se Project Volunteer Attorney
  • Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Member 1995-1998; 2006-Present
    • President, 2020-2021
    • Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Co-Chair 2016-2019, Member 2009-present
    • Long-Range Planning Committee, 2021-present
    • Law Student Mentor 2018-2019
    • Leadership Summit on Gender Equity, Committee Member, 2017-present
    • Nominations Committee, Member, 2016-present
    • Board of Directors, 1996-1998; 2016-present
    • Communications Committee, Member 2008-2015
    • Newer Lawyers Committee, Inaugural Chair 1996-1998
  • Federal Bar Association (National), Member 1995-present
    • Board of Directors, 2016-2019
    • Special Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, Member 2019-2020
    • Task Force on Younger Lawyer Courtroom Experience, 2018-present
    • Governance Review Task Force 2019-2021
    • Sections and Divisions Council, 2014-2016
    • Sarah T. Hughes Civil Rights Award Committee, Member 2015-2017
    • Audit Committee, Chair 2015-2016, Member 2014-2015
    • National Council Member 1998-2005, 2014-present
    • National Diversity Task Force, Member 2011
    • Special Committee on Diversity, Member 2009-2010
    • Younger Lawyers Division (largest division of the FBA), Chair 2003-2004
    • National Parliamentarian, 2003-2004
    • Michael & Ilene Shaw Younger Lawyer Public Service Award, Co-Chair 1998-2003
    • Younger Lawyer Awards Committee Member 1999-2003
    • S. Supreme Court Admissions Ceremony, Committee Member 2000-2002
    • Federal Lawyer, Contributing Editor 1998-2001
    • Constitution and By-Laws Committee, Member 2000-2005
    • Membership Committee, Member 1996-2000
  • Federal Bar Association, Atlanta Chapter, Member 1999-2006
  • Federal Bar Building Corporation (501(c)(2) organization), Board of Directors 2019-present, overseeing over $11 million in assets for the benefit of the FBA
  • Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson’s Re-election Committee, 2021-present
  • Federal/State Task Force on Well-Being, 2021-present (task force comprised of MN Supreme Court justices, federal and state judges, and bar leaders working on improvement of lawyer well-being)
  • Justice Douglas K. Amdahl Inn of Court, Member 2018-2022
  • Infinity Project (organization of judges and lawyers working on diversity and gender equity on the federal and state bench), President 2016, Collaborated with the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL), Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA), and the MN Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA) in planning day-long judicial applicant “boot-camps” with each affinity bar; Board Member, 2009-Present; Applicant Support Committee Co-Chair 2018-2019
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, ADR Section, Council Member 2022-Present; Consumer Litigation Section, Treasurer 2018-2022, Secretary 2017-2018, Council 2017-Present; Military and Veterans Affairs Section, Co-Chair 2019-2020, Treasurer 2017-2019, Secretary 2016-2017, Council Member 2015-Present; Military Pro Bono Panel Committee Co-Chair and Volunteer 2015-2018; Member 1993-1998, 2007-Present
  • American Constitution Society, Minnesota Chapter, Advisory Board of Directors 2016-2021
  • National Employment Lawyers Association, Minnesota Chapter, Member 2013-present
  • American Bar Association, Member 1993-1995; 2017-2019
  • National Association of Consumer Advocates, Board of Directors 2021-present, Nominations Committee 2018-2019, Military and Veterans Project Steering Committee 2011-2015, Member, 1997-present

Biography

Vildan will be providing a variety of dispute resolution services for PowerHouse, including mediation, arbitration, and special master/court-appointed neutral assignments.

Vildan brings a wealth of experience to the dispute resolution arena. With 30 years of practice in complex litigation and federal and multi-state class actions, her expertise spans a diverse range of legal areas. Vildan has handled cases involving consumer protection, breach of contract, employment law, constitutional and civil rights, discrimination, data privacy, breach of fiduciary duties, various torts, False Claims Act matters, Fair Labor Standards Act, antitrust, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and more.

Highly respected and perenially recognized as a leader in her field, Vildan Teske has been selected as a Minnesota Super Lawyer, and listed as one of the Top 100 Minnesota Lawyers and Top 50 Women Lawyers based on selection by her peers. In 2023, she was honored as an Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer for her role as co-lead counsel in a consumer rights/constitutional law case argued and won before the U.S. Supreme Court. She was also the sole national recipient of the Federal Bar Association’s Robyn Spalter Outstanding Achievement Award in 2013.

Beyond her legal accomplishments, Vildan’s dedication to access to justice and diversity and inclusion in the legal profession is long-standing and notable. During her tenure as President of the Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, she spearheaded a number of long term initiatives, including working on the development of several projects in conjunction with the federal bench. Vildan also served as President of the Infinity Project and continues to serve on its Advisory Board. Currently, she is Vice Chair of the MSBA ADR Section.

As a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral, Vildan is exceptionally equipped to navigate complex disputes with diligence, attention and fairness.

Professional Experience

Teske Katz, PLLP, Minneapolis, MN, 2012 – Present
(f/k/a Teske, Micko, Katz, Kitzer & Rochel, PLLP)
Founding Partner

Representing consumers, employees, and servicemembers in complex individual, class, and collective actions around the nation. Including:  

  • Class action case on behalf of Minnesota property owners challenging the constitutionality of statute allowing counties to keep surplus funds after property tax lien foreclosure sales, currently being briefed before the United States Supreme Court;
  • Court-appointed co-lead counsel in federal Fair Labor Standards Act collective and class action on behalf of thousands of low-wage earners, leading to an $8.75 million settlement after lengthy discovery, dispositive motions, and class and collective certification motions;
  • Court-appointed co-lead counsel in Minnesota state class action case on behalf of low-income borrowers leading to settlement valued at over $9 million after winning on summary judgment and class certification;
  • Lead and co-lead counsel in several class actions resulting in six and seven-figure settlements on behalf of consumers involving breach of contract, deceptive and unfair trade practices, consumer fraud, mortgage lending violations, fair debt collections practices, constitutional takings; emphasis on cases that lead to changes in policy and practice favorable to consumers;
  • Co-lead counsel in class action which led to changes in how the state of Minnesota handles unclaimed property after securing a Minnesota Supreme Court decision on behalf of property owners;
  • Represented individuals in employment actions and negotiations

 

Crowder Teske, PLLP, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN, 2007 – 2012
Founding Partner                                                                                                                              

Federal and state court litigation focused on complex consumer financial litigation, class actions. Including:

  • Federal court-appointed lead counsel on $3 million settlement on behalf of over six thousand active-duty servicemember student loan borrowers against national lender, first class action of its kind in the country;
  • Mortgage foreclosure class actions challenging lending industry practices during the 2007-2008 financial meltdown and its aftermath;
  • Several class action cases dealing with complex mortgage-backed securities and their effect on homeowners seeking to save their homes from foreclosure

Teske Law Firm, LLC, Atlanta, GA, 2001 – 2007
Owner                                                                                                                                                
Represented and advised individuals, families, and small businesses in various matters, including business formation, contracts, trusts, estates, and probate.

Crowder, Bedor & Paulson, LLP, St. Paul, MN, 1993 – 2006
(f/k/a/ Crowder & Bedor)
Associate (1993-1997), Partner (1998), Of Counsel– remote from Atlanta, GA (1999-2006)
Litigated consumer financial and other types of class actions in federal and state courts. Handled and assisted with all phases of litigation.

 Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Minneapolis, MN, 1993-1994
Law Clerk (researched and wrote legal memoranda for civil and criminal divisions)                                  

Hennepin County District Court, Minneapolis, MN, 1992
Judicial Extern for the Hon. Robert G. Schieffelbein                        

Reinhardt & Anderson, St. Paul, MN, 1991-1993
Law Clerk (researched and wrote legal memoranda in various practice areas, assisted with pre-filing investigations and discovery)       

Community Leadership and Activities

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation, Citizens Academy (2018); Alumni Association (2018-Present)
  • Girl Scouts, Troop Co-Leader (2002-2005)
  • Eastview Athletic Association, Volleyball Coach (2008)
  • Apple Valley Junior Olympics, Volleyball Assistant Coach (2009)
  • Eastview High School Soccer Booster Club, Volunteer (2010-2015)
  • Eastview High School Competition Dance Team Booster Club, Chair of Concessions (2012-2013)
  • Feed My Starving Children, Volunteer
  • Junior Service League of Woodstock (Georgia), Member and Volunteer (2000-2003)

Professional Publications

  • Contributing author, National Consumer Law Center’s Consumer Class Actions, Chapter 15 (8th, 9th, and 10th Editions) (2013, 2016, 2020)
  • Guest lecturer on class actions and consumer law at several law schools around the country
  • Frequent presenter at continuing legal education seminars on class action litigation, consumer law, discovery, employment law, Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA), leadership, diversity and inclusion, and judicial selection processes
  • Frequent presenter at the National Consumer Law Center’s annual Consumer Rights Litigation Conference since 2008
  • Presenter at the National Consumer Law Center’s annual Class Action Symposium