Thirty years ago when Pat O’Donnell was talking to his son’s grade school class about what he did for a living, he simply said, “I solve peoples’ problems.” Today Pat is still doing the same thing in his practice, focused primarily in labor and employment law and civil litigation. Whether the challenge calls for strategic diplomacy and subtle persuasion or figuratively holding his opponent’s head under water, Pat’s goal is to obtain results for his clients, as efficiently and cost-effectively as practical.
Pat’s background as a Navy veteran and martial artist have instilled in him that honor, respect, professionalism and personal responsibility are paramount in dealings with others – in assisting clients, in adversarial negotiations and in the courtroom. Winning results can take many forms; Pat and the SPOE team work with clients to help them determine what the best “win” is for them and the best way to achieve it.
In addition to his legal work, Pat is passionate about professional and community service. He served 14 years on the Board of Directors for Central Minnesota Legal Services, is a member of the 10th Judicial District Equal Justice Committee, and served more than 10 years as a volunteer Ethics Investigator for the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility. He is a former president and current STRIVE program student mentor for the Monticello Rotary Club, a former Treasurer of the Monticello Chamber of Commerce, and a former President of the Wright County Area United Way. Pat has also served as a Finance Council member and Trustee at St. Henrys Church in Monticello and has actively served in music ministry, marriage prep and small-group leadership positions over the last 35 years.
Pat started his legal career after working several years as a newspaper reporter, photographer and editor. He returned to school, attending William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN. While a student, he worked as a Law Clerk in the Human Resources Legal Department at Honeywell Inc. Corporate Headquarters in Minneapolis, MN, where he began his study of labor and employment law. Pat entered formal law practice in Galveston, TX, at the firm of McLeod, Alexander, Powel & Apffel, where he practiced labor and employment law and business litigation in the Houston-Galveston area and elsewhere around Texas. When he returned to Minnesota, Pat was a founding partner in Granath & O’Donnell, a boutique labor and employment practice located in Minneapolis, MN. A resident of the Monticello area, Pat relocated his practice to Monticello in 1999 and has never looked back.
Pat is admitted to practice in Minnesota and Texas, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for Fifth and Eighth Circuits.
Awards & Honors
• Nominated, Galveston County Outstanding Young Lawyer, 1990 & 1991
• Awarded, 10th Judicial Pro Bono Award (with Firm) 2007
• Awarded, William Mitchell Alumni Association Student Award of Merit, 1988
• Awarded, 2007 Pro Bono Citation, Central Minnesota Legal Services
• Awarded, L.A.W. Scholarship, 1985-1986
• Dean’s List, St. Cloud State University, 1976, 1977 and 1981
• Company Academic Award Winner, Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, 1972
Community Involvement
• Monticello Rotary, Past President, STRIVE Mentor, 1999-present
• American Legion, Member, 1975-present
• Veterans of Foreign Wars, Member 1975-present
• St. Henry Catholic Church, Music Ministry, Marriage Prep, Lector, 1994-present
• North American Tae Kwon Do Federation
• United States Judo Association, Ju Jitsu Division, Life Member
• Advocate, Recidivism Intervention Program, Galveston County Jail, Galveston, Texas, 1989-1993
• Annulment Advocate, Office of Family Life Ministry, Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Houston, Texas, 1990-1993
• Diocesan Committee Member, Campaign for Human Development, Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Houston, Texas, 1991-1993
• Reserve Police Officer, Mora Police Department, Mora, Minnesota, 1982-1984
Professional Memberships
• MSBA Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist, 2011-present
• State Bar of Minnesota, Labor & Employment Law Section
• State Bar of Texas
• 18th District Bar Association, former Ethics Committee Investigator
• 10th Judicial District Equal Justice Committee, Member, 2009-present
• Central Minnesota Legal Services Board, Director, 2004-2020
• Society for Human Resource Management, North Star Chapter Board Member, 2012-present
• Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, 1980-1988.
