Our Team
Kaarin Nelson
Kaarin is the founding partner of Nelson Schaffer, PLLC and a fierce advocate for her clients. She began her training as a trial lawyer right out of law school. Since that time, she has helped 100s of clients get successful results, spoken at conferences around the country, graduated from the most prestigious trial college in the country, and trains trial lawyers throughout the country. When you ask what makes Kaarin unique - the answer is clear. Kaarin is a trial lawyers and she is also kind. She is both aggressive and compassionate, making her a wonderful counselor and advisor. And because she is a trial lawyer and love trying cases, she won’t encourage you to take a bad settlement or discourage you from pushing your case into litigation and trial if that is what is right for your case. She feels confident at every stage of the life of a case, so she will do what is absolutely right for you. She will fight for you.
Kaarin also understands that not everyone likes to litigate and try cases like she does. Just as she will not push you to settle your case, she also will not push you to go to trial if that is not right for you. Kaarin will listen and work with you to figure out the best possible outcome for you. Her focus is to be here for you.
Kaarin has been named a Minnesota Rising Star or Super Lawyer every year since 2014. She speaks regularly at employment related conferences as well as trial related conferences. She teaches trial attorneys all over the country, and Kaarin was recently named a Minnesota Attorney of the Year.
Cassie Navarro
Cassie Navarro protects employee rights by representing individuals who have faced discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and unlawful drug and alcohol testing at work. She advises clients on employment, severance, and non-compete agreements, and works to negotiate more favorable terms with employers. Cassie also has experience litigating class action claims, including wage and hour violations.
Cassie has over a decade of experience working on Plaintiff’s employment claims. She was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 and has been recognized as a One to Watch by Best Lawyers since 2021. Cassie graduated summa cum laude from Mitchell Hamline College of Law.
“Kaarin was great to work with. She was always available when I called and had questions about my case. Kaarin set expectations from the beginning. She is a woman of good character … Kaarin has a great legal mind and work ethic. She is a excellent negotiator. She was always positive and realistic. Kaarin knows how to utilize the information in my case with the rule of law. She was tireless in her efforts to get me the out come I needed. I would highly recommend Kaarin.”
Former Client
“Kaarin’s name came to me on accident while I was desperately searching for someone to help me with an employment issue - and it made all the difference. From our first conversation she listened, asked great questions, and then listened more. She appreciated my view and always took the time to give me hope to hang on until the end. She was patient, efficient and personable. I recommend her for any employment issue that you have and encourage you to remain vigilant in what you believe but hire Kaarin to protect you and keep you on track.”
Former Client
“Kaarin was amazing. I was in a dark spot in my life and losing my job was devastating. I needed legal help and I also needed someone to listen to me. Kaarin did both. She was so aggressive about my case but so patient and understanding with me. She supported me when nobody else would.”
Former Client