A law firm built around
the employee
We represent employees at every level. We dedicate our entire practice to standing by people who have been mistreated on the job, and holding employers accountable.
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Background
When Shawn Wanta and Joni Thome partnered, they made one non-negotiable decision: we only represent employees. Never the employer.
Wanta Thome exists because standing up to a powerful company isn't easy, and no one should have to do it alone. While many law firms play both sides of the fence, we believe protecting an employee’s livelihood requires total commitment to their side of the table.
Being exclusively plaintiff-side means zero conflicts of interest. We don’t switch teams. Having spent decades facing down the biggest employer defense firms, we know their playbooks and exactly how to hold them accountable.
Today, from our offices in Minneapolis and Chicago, our reach spans the Midwest. We have the resources to take on formidable employers, carry your legal burden, and fight relentlessly for you.
Practice areas
So I got discriminated because I’m... Mexican
Discrimination
Standing up for workers treated unfairly because of who they are
At work, I have to deal with... being called slurs
Harassment
Holding employers accountable when the workplace becomes hostile or unsafe
I got fired after I... asked for medical leave
Wrongful Termination
When a firing crosses the line from unfair into illegal
My employer... didn’t pay me overtime
Unpaid Wages
Recovering pay that employers owe but haven’t paid
After I spoke up, my employer... fired me
Retaliation
When speaking up costs you your job, your hours, or your standing
I’m not the only one who... worked off the clock
Class Action
When one worker’s problem turns out to be many workers’ problem
How we work
Team-based,
not solo-lawyer
Every case runs as a team. Attorney leads strategy. Paralegal stays with the case from first call to resolution. Case manager keeps the file moving. You’re not handed off — you’re handed up.
Plain English, always
No legalese, no making people feel small for not knowing the terms. We explain what’s happening at every step.
Honest assessments
If you have a case, we say so. If you don’t, we say that too — and point you toward someone who can help.
Recognized by our peers
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Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation, Class Action, Consumer Law (Shawn)
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Best Lawyers in America — Labor and Employment Litigation, since 2018 (Joni)
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Top 100 National Trial Lawyers (Shawn)
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Top 50 Minnesota Women Super Lawyers (Joni)
- Super Lawyers — multiple attorneys, multiple years
Recognized by community we serve
*Unlike most legal awards,
these are voted by Minnesotans,
not by other lawyers
- Star Tribune Minnesota’s Best — Gold,
Employment Law Firm 2025 - Star Tribune Minnesota’s Best — Gold,
Employment Law Firm 2024
We’ve recovered money for hundreds of Minnesota & Illinois workers over more than two decades. See recent results
Justice begins
in our backyard
Workplace fairness doesn’t only happen in courtrooms. We partner with organizations and initiatives across Minnesota that share what we fight for every day — fair treatment, equal access, opportunity for everyone. Most of our community work is local because most of our clients are local. We grew up here. We work here. We want people around us to thrive.
Project Backpack
Each fall we help students across Minnesota start the school year with the supplies they need.
Wanta Thome Scholarship
We support aspiring students with an interest in employment law and worker advocacy.
Minnesota Wind Chill
We sponsor Minnesota’s professional ultimate frisbee team because we share their values: integrity, teamwork, and self-governance.
Minnesota Aurora
Featured sponsor of Minnesota’s women’s pro soccer team.
“The court recognizes that Plaintiffs’ counsel has performed at a very high rate of professionalism and skill... they have been consistently knowledgeable and accomplished.”
We represent employees
across Minnesota & Illinois
Check areas served
The team
Meet the full team
Shawn Wanta
Founding Partner
Recognized among the nation’s Top 100 Civil Plaintiff and Top 10 Wage and Hour attorneys, a determined litigator fighting for workers in class and collective actions.
Admitted in MN · IL
Kristan Burgess
Attorney
Leveraging over 25 years of experience and bilingual fluency, a compassionate ally dedicated to empowering everyday wage earners and dismantling workplace inequities.
Admitted in IL
Joni Thome
Founding Partner
Drawing on 25 years of representing professionals and managers, a steady advocate for employees facing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.
Admitted in MN
Suzanne Heywood
Attorney
Driven by her own encounters with corporate unfairness, a tenacious champion focused on protecting the rights, livelihoods, and futures of hardworking professionals.
Admitted in IN · IL · MI
Ready to find out where you stand?
There is no charge for finding out whether our firm is a good fit for your case.
Get free case reviewCommon questions
What kinds of workplace problems does Wanta Thome handle?
Discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, unpaid wages, retaliation, and class actions involving large groups of workers. We work across Minnesota and Illinois with workers in nearly every industry — warehouse, healthcare, hospitality, construction, office, and more. If your situation doesn’t fit, we’ll point you toward someone who can help.
Do you represent companies, or only workers?
Only workers. Wanta Thome has never represented an employer. Every case we take is on behalf of a worker — or a group of workers — against the company that wronged them. We do not switch sides. This is the only kind of law we practice.
How do I pay for a lawyer?
For most cases, you pay nothing unless we win. Our matters typically run on contingency — no money up front, no money while we work, no fees at all if we don’t recover money for you. The first call to find out whether you have a case is always free.
Can I work with you in Spanish?
Yes. Our intake team speaks Spanish natively, and several attorneys on our team are bilingual. Spanish support is built into how we work, not an afterthought — you can submit our form, talk to our team, and have your case handled in Spanish from start to finish.
What if my case feels small?
Call us anyway. Some of our most meaningful outcomes started as a single worker with one unpaid paycheck or one unfair firing. We’ll tell you honestly whether you have a case and whether we’re the right firm. If the answer is no, we’ll explain why and try to point you toward someone better suited.