Minneapolis (12-June-2009) - For the second consecutive year, three Faegre & Benson LLP practice areas—franchising, Native American law, and privacy and data security—received nationwide rankings in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.

Making a jump to band 2 in this year's guide, the firm's franchise practice is now counted among the country's most elite providers of legal services to franchisors in a range of industries.

In addition, Faegre & Benson is the only Minnesota firm to achieve the guide's highest recognition in five legal categories: construction, corporate/M&A, labor & employment, litigation and real estate. In Colorado, the firm ranked in the top tier for corporate/M&A, environment, intellectual property and real estate: construction.

Based on strong recommendations from the market, a total of 51 Faegre & Benson lawyers were included in the referral guide. The lawyers and their respective practices are:

Minnesota

• Scott A. Anderegg, Real Estate
• Catharine Boschee, Privacy and Data Security (National)
• Kerry Bundy, Franchising (National)
• William R. Busch, Corporate/M&A
• Angela M. Christy, Real Estate
• Delmar R. Ehrich, Litigation: General Commercial
• Bruce M. Engler, Corporate/M&A
• Charles S. Ferrell, Real Estate
• Philip S. Garon, Corporate/M&A
• David J.F. Gross, Litigation: IP
• John H. Herman, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
• Andrew G. Humphrey, Corporate/M&A
• William R. Joyce, Construction
• Randall E. Kahnke, Litigation: General Commercial
• Steven C. Kennedy, Corporate/M&A
• William L. Killion, Franchising
• Charles F. Knapp, Labor & Employment
• Kenneth A. Liebman, Litigation: IP
• Thomas M. Mayerle, Real Estate
• Kathlyn E. Noecker, Labor & Employment
• Patrick J. O'Connor, Construction
• James O'Neal, Litigation: General Commercial
• Brian B. O'Neill, Litigation: General Commercial
• Kent E. Richey, Native American Law
• Rebecca L. Rom, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
• Brian B. Schnell, Franchising (National and Global)
• Robert L. Schnell, Litigation: General Commercial 
• Amy C. Seidel, Corporate/M&A
• W Smith "Kris" Sharpe, Corporate/M&A
• Jerry W. Snider, Litigation: General Commercial
• Michael A. Stanchfield, Corporate/M&A
• Mary E. Stumo, Labor & Employment
• James L. Volling, Litigation: General Commercial
• Charles F. Webber, Litigation: General Commercial
• John R. Wheaton, Real Estate
• Daniel G. Wilczek, Labor & Employment
• Wendy J. Wildung, Litigation: General Commercial

Colorado

• J. David Arkell, Real Estate: Construction
• Jeffrey A. Brimer, Franchising (National)
• Charles D. Calvin, Real Estate: Hotels & Leisure
• James H. Carroll, Corporate/M&A 
• Diane B. Davies, Real Estate  
• Leslie A. Fields, Real Estate
• Natalie Hanlon-Leh, Intellectual Property
• Elizabeth A. MacDonald, Labor & Employment
• Michael S. McCarthy, Litigation: General Commercial
• Linda L. Rockwood, Environment
• James R. Spaanstra, Environment
• Douglas R. Wright, Corporate/M&A

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business is an annual guide ranking attorneys and law firms based on in-depth research and interviews with clients, attorneys and corporate counsel.