Rob Forward, Class of '95, Joins Stinson Street in Bismarck

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

5-14-2014

Campus Unit

School of Law

Abstract

Former North Dakota Special Assistant Attorney General and Special Investigations Unit Director Joins Firm's Energy, Mining, Transportation and Telecommunications Division as a Partner

Stinson Leonard Street LLP announced that Robin Wade Forward has joined the firm's Energy, Mining, Transportation and Telecommunications Division as a partner in the firm's Bismarck, N.D. office. Prior to joining Stinson Leonard Street, Forward was Special Assistant Attorney General and Special Investigations Unit Director in North Dakota.

Forward is the fourth partner to join Stinson Leonard Street since Jan. 1, 2014, when Stinson Morrison Hecker and Leonard, Street and Deinard completed their merger. The combined firm has offices in 14 cities and more than 520 attorneys.

"Rob brings a wealth of experience in several areas to our energy practice, particularly in the areas of workplace safety, investigations and administrative law," said Jim Bertrand, co-chair of Stinson Leonard Street's Energy, Mining, Transportation and Telecommunications Division. "We have a number of clients in the oil and gas sector, as well as other mining and transportation industry clients, who will benefit from Rob's background in transactional, administrative and litigation matters."

As Special Assistant Attorney General, a post he had held since August 2003, Forward supervised litigation of more than 600 complex administrative cases, including more than 30 appeals to the North Dakota Supreme Court. He drafted legislation and administrative rules, testifying before the North Dakota legislature. He also reviewed and approved administrative orders and prosecuted civil collection cases.

As Director of Special Investigations Unit, a post Forward held since February 2008 while he was Special Assistant Attorney General, he directed the agency's investigations of injured workers, employers and medical providers involved in the workers' compensation system. He supervised the unit's daily operations and its vendor contracts with private investigators. He also facilitated the criminal prosecution of fraud cases.

"We're excited that Rob is joining our Bismarck office because, over the course of the last decade, he has built a network of relationships in North Dakota that will be beneficial to our clients," said Adrienne Clair, co-chair of Stinson Leonard Street's Energy, Mining, Transportation and Telecommunications Division. "Rob has significant contacts throughout state government, the judiciary and the bar."

Stinson Leonard Street's Energy, Mining, Transportation and Telecommunications Division provides national, full-service legal counsel to a wide variety of clients in transactional, federal and state regulatory, corporate and finance, and litigated matters. The firm has more than 30 years of experience representing energy companies in exploring for, developing, producing, gathering, transporting and marketing oil and natural gas and related products.

"I've had the opportunity to get to know the attorneys from Stinson Leonard Street well, and am excited about applying my experience to assist the firm's clients," said Forward. "I am looking forward to being a part of the team in Bismarck, collaborating with the firm's attorneys on projects for clients doing business in the area."

Forward earned a law degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1995. He earned an undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from the University of North Dakota in 1992.

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