The global law firm Jones Day announced today that W. Anders Folk and Kristin Berger Parker have joined the Firm as partners in the Minneapolis Office. Mr. Folk joins Jones Day’s Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice, and Ms. Parker joins the Firm’s Labor & Employment Practice. Mr. Folk spent the last four years at the Department of Justice, initially serving as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota and later as the Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. Parker joins Jones Day from Stinson Leonard Street LLP.
In November 2021, he was named Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General in Washington, D.C., where he advised the Deputy Attorney General and the Attorney General of the United States on litigation, operations, and policy matters. Mr. Folk began his legal career as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps, served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota from 2005-2010, and spent eight years in private practice as a partner at an Am Law 200 firm, before moving to his most recent role at the Department of Justice.
At Jones Day, Mr. Folk will focus his work on conducting internal investigations and compliance reviews; representing companies and executives in federal and state investigations, regulatory actions, and criminal prosecutions; and advising clients on regulatory and other enforcement issues.
Ms. Parker joins a top-ranked global Labor & Employment Practice at Jones Day, which includes more than 130 lawyers worldwide. Ms. Parker has spent the last 13 years practicing labor and employment law and has an extensive litigation track record involving defense of employment discrimination, workplace harassment, and retaliation claims; wage and hour class and collective actions; and trade secret and employee mobility disputes. She has significant experience representing employers in complex labor and employment disputes in both federal and state court. Ms. Parker began her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Hon. John R. Gibson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
“Anders and Kristin both have deep roots in Minnesota, including extensive litigation experience representing Minnesota companies in complex business disputes and government investigations,” said Brian Easley, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Minneapolis Office. “Their deep experience as attorneys and tremendous insights into both litigation and government investigations will be a valuable asset to our clients worldwide. We are delighted to welcome Anders and Kristin to the Minneapolis Office and look forward to integrating them into our Minneapolis Office as well as the Firm’s global legal practice.”
“Anders has overseen a broad portfolio of federal prosecutions, including a number of complex white-collar crime cases, and government investigations into major fraud and abuse, money laundering, export violations, and False Claims Act matters,” said Ted Chung, Leader of Jones Day’s Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice. “This senior-level government enforcement experience [in Minnesota and at a national level with the Department of Justice], combined with his track record as a successful defense lawyer, will be a tremendous addition to our practice group as we strive to serve our clients during a time of increased regulatory activity.”
Mr. Folk earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota.
“Kristin has a successful track record of litigating the kinds of high-stakes matters that clients turn to Jones Day for assistance, such as collective actions alleging wage and hour violations and class action employment discrimination claims,” said Liz McRee, Co-Leader of Jones Day’s Labor & Employment Practice. “Her experience is an excellent complement to our global practice group, and I am pleased to welcome her to our team.”
Ms. Parker earned her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Amherst College.
