The practice of law requires the best in each of us—our principled discipline, plain hard work, and all the creativity we can marshal.

Carolyn Anderson is a Partner Emeritus – Of Counsel at Zimmerman Reed and had served as the firm’s managing partner for 16 years. She offers clients representation rooted in insight, analysis, and passion. Carolyn brings a deep understanding of the law, strategy, and the dynamics of large-scale litigation management to her cases. Her clients include individuals, municipalities, and states, including state attorneys general. Carolyn represented these clients in consumer fraud, financial fraud, and antitrust actions.

Whatever the context, Carolyn speaks directly to what’s at the heart of every problem. Her skills at clarifying challenging legal and behavioral concepts make her a respected leader and lecturer on the topics of complex litigation and legal ethics. And her unwavering focus on excellence has earned the respect of courts and attorneys across the country.

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Education

  • JD, cum laude, Hamline University School of Law
  • Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, Law, Religion, & Ethics Studies
  • BA, cum laude, Psychology, Trinity International University

 Professional Memberships

  • Federal Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Public Justice
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • American Association of Justice
  • Represented the State of Minnesota in litigation against tobacco companies, Juul and Altria, for their role in contributing to the youth vaping epidemic. Member of the trial team in a three-week jury trial in 2023 that achieved a $60.5 million settlement the day before closing arguments.
  • Represented the States of Indiana and Vermont in the opioids litigation, in the States’ investigation of and litigation against entities responsible for the deceptive marketing, sale, and distribution of opioids. Resulted in $26 billion settlement with distributors and J&J alone.
  • Represented the State of Mississippi in litigation challenging the practices of Navient Corporation, one of the largest student loan processors in the nation, of pushing risky and expensive loans on students and directing them to repayment programs that cost thousands of dollars in additional and unnecessary accrued interest.
  • Member of the Lead Counsel Committee in nationwide litigation involving CenturyLink customers who were overcharged and billed for services they didn’t request or authorize.
  • Class and Derivative Counsel on behalf of investors in the Morgan Keegan Open End Mutual Funds litigation. Involved in briefing, strategy, experts, discovery, and settlement: Resulted in a $125 million settlement, reached after eight years of litigation, including resolution of claims against the auditor.
  • Represented the State of New Mexico in its litigation against Visa and MasterCard, working with and reporting to the State in directing case strategy, working with experts, and serving as primary mediation counsel.
  • Co-Lead Counsel and trial team member representing the City of Farmington Hills and other pension funds in litigation relating to Wells Fargo’s securities lending program: Resulted in a $62.5 million settlement, reached two days prior to trial was set to begin.
  • Co-led the TVM litigation at the firm, representing hundreds of individual clients in the medical device litigation, including depositions, expert discovery, briefing, and litigation and settlement strategy.
  • Represented a state attorney general’s office in an action brought by Google, against the office, regarding the legality and enforceability of a Civil Investigative Demand to Google issued by the attorney general.
  • Led a legal team in a case brought by investors against American Express Financial Advisors, challenging that company’s practices and breaches of fiduciary duty with its investing customers. The case, brought under the Investment Advisor Act, resulted in a $100 million settlement.
  • Working with a coalition of four attorneys general, led the legal team representing the State of Mississippi, asserting consumer fraud and antitrust claims in an action against LCD display manufacturers. During the course of litigation, the State’s claims were removed to federal court. The legal team successfully opposed this removal at the District Court and presented oral argument in a parallel MDL that resulted in a favorable order preserving the State’s claims. After Defendants’ successful appeal to the Fifth Circuit, the State petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a Circuit split on the removal standard. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Mississippi, reversing the Fifth Circuit’s decision and clarifying the standard for removal of state actions under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA). Mississippi ex rel. Hood v. AU Optronics, 571 U.S. 161 (2014).
  • Represented homeowners with property in proximity to MSP airport who challenged the airport’s failure to provide noise abatement as promised to increased noise levels due to the airport traffic. Reached a successful settlement with the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) that provided expansive noise abatement to homes.
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers: 2014-2024
  • Super Lawyers Top 50 Women Lawyers in Minnesota: 2020-2024
  • Super Lawyer Top 100 Lawyers in Minnesota: 2023-2024
  • Best Lawyers in America: Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Plaintiffs: 2019-2024
  • Best Lawyers in America: Lawyer of the Year, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Minneapolis: 2022
  • Pro bono representation of individuals with immigration issues.
  • Pro bono representation in family law matters.
  • Petters Ponzi Scheme Litigation: Represented more than one hundred faith-based not-for-profit organizations pro bono related to their losses from the $3.6 billion Petters Ponzi scheme. Carolyn was appointed by the federal judge to serve as Assistant Liquidating Trustee under the supervision of the Court and the Liquidating Trustee for assets being distributed to some of those investors. The Firm worked with the Department of Justice and the court-appointed receiver to successfully recover and distribute millions of dollars to these victims pursuant to a settlement with Petters’ financier, Frank Vennes. (United States v. Petters, No. 08-cv-05348 (D. Minn.))
  • Served as a board member for Philippines Children’s Shelter, 2012 – 2021.

CREDENTIALS

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Education

  • JD, cum laude, Hamline University School of Law
  • Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, Law, Religion, & Ethics Studies
  • BA, cum laude, Psychology, Trinity International University

 Professional Memberships

  • Federal Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Public Justice
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • American Association of Justice

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Represented the State of Minnesota in litigation against tobacco companies, Juul and Altria, for their role in contributing to the youth vaping epidemic. Member of the trial team in a three-week jury trial in 2023 that achieved a $60.5 million settlement the day before closing arguments.
  • Represented the States of Indiana and Vermont in the opioids litigation, in the States’ investigation of and litigation against entities responsible for the deceptive marketing, sale, and distribution of opioids. Resulted in $26 billion settlement with distributors and J&J alone.
  • Represented the State of Mississippi in litigation challenging the practices of Navient Corporation, one of the largest student loan processors in the nation, of pushing risky and expensive loans on students and directing them to repayment programs that cost thousands of dollars in additional and unnecessary accrued interest.
  • Member of the Lead Counsel Committee in nationwide litigation involving CenturyLink customers who were overcharged and billed for services they didn’t request or authorize.
  • Class and Derivative Counsel on behalf of investors in the Morgan Keegan Open End Mutual Funds litigation. Involved in briefing, strategy, experts, discovery, and settlement: Resulted in a $125 million settlement, reached after eight years of litigation, including resolution of claims against the auditor.
  • Represented the State of New Mexico in its litigation against Visa and MasterCard, working with and reporting to the State in directing case strategy, working with experts, and serving as primary mediation counsel.
  • Co-Lead Counsel and trial team member representing the City of Farmington Hills and other pension funds in litigation relating to Wells Fargo’s securities lending program: Resulted in a $62.5 million settlement, reached two days prior to trial was set to begin.
  • Co-led the TVM litigation at the firm, representing hundreds of individual clients in the medical device litigation, including depositions, expert discovery, briefing, and litigation and settlement strategy.
  • Represented a state attorney general’s office in an action brought by Google, against the office, regarding the legality and enforceability of a Civil Investigative Demand to Google issued by the attorney general.
  • Led a legal team in a case brought by investors against American Express Financial Advisors, challenging that company’s practices and breaches of fiduciary duty with its investing customers. The case, brought under the Investment Advisor Act, resulted in a $100 million settlement.
  • Working with a coalition of four attorneys general, led the legal team representing the State of Mississippi, asserting consumer fraud and antitrust claims in an action against LCD display manufacturers. During the course of litigation, the State’s claims were removed to federal court. The legal team successfully opposed this removal at the District Court and presented oral argument in a parallel MDL that resulted in a favorable order preserving the State’s claims. After Defendants’ successful appeal to the Fifth Circuit, the State petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a Circuit split on the removal standard. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Mississippi, reversing the Fifth Circuit’s decision and clarifying the standard for removal of state actions under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA). Mississippi ex rel. Hood v. AU Optronics, 571 U.S. 161 (2014).
  • Represented homeowners with property in proximity to MSP airport who challenged the airport’s failure to provide noise abatement as promised to increased noise levels due to the airport traffic. Reached a successful settlement with the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) that provided expansive noise abatement to homes.

RECOGNITIONS

  • Minnesota Super Lawyers: 2014-2024
  • Super Lawyers Top 50 Women Lawyers in Minnesota: 2020-2024
  • Super Lawyer Top 100 Lawyers in Minnesota: 2023-2024
  • Best Lawyers in America: Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Plaintiffs: 2019-2024
  • Best Lawyers in America: Lawyer of the Year, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Minneapolis: 2022

COMMUNITY + PRO BONO

  • Pro bono representation of individuals with immigration issues.
  • Pro bono representation in family law matters.
  • Petters Ponzi Scheme Litigation: Represented more than one hundred faith-based not-for-profit organizations pro bono related to their losses from the $3.6 billion Petters Ponzi scheme. Carolyn was appointed by the federal judge to serve as Assistant Liquidating Trustee under the supervision of the Court and the Liquidating Trustee for assets being distributed to some of those investors. The Firm worked with the Department of Justice and the court-appointed receiver to successfully recover and distribute millions of dollars to these victims pursuant to a settlement with Petters’ financier, Frank Vennes. (United States v. Petters, No. 08-cv-05348 (D. Minn.))
  • Served as a board member for Philippines Children’s Shelter, 2012 – 2021.