Shawn Wanta,
Founding Partner
Recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Mass Tort Litigation, Class Action, and Consumer Law. Top 100 National Trial Lawyers. Seventeen-plus years representing employees in complex employment, wage, and class action matters against mid-to-large employers.
Admitted in MN · IL
“I have been working with Shawn Wanta on a few cases now. Excellent service, very responsive and respectful. Gets your case won! Many Thanks to Shawn and his Amazing Team!”
Shawn J. Wanta represents employees in class and collective actions, with a career focused on workplace equity and individual rights.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Shawn studied Philosophy and Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, then earned his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul in 2008.
He’s recognized for taking on challenging cases. His selections include Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Civil Plaintiff and Top 10 Wage and Hour attorneys.
Over the course of his career, Shawn has become an established voice in employment law, and his work has helped shape Wanta Thome’s reputation for employees seeking fair treatment and rightful compensation.
William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN, J.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, B.A.
Minnesota Supreme Court
Illinois Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit...
National Employment Lawyers Association, Minnesota Chapter
National Association of Consumer Advocates
Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter Member and Pro Se Project Volunteer Attorney...
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
Honors & Awards
Super Lawyers® Super Lawyer, Class Action/Mass Torts, 2022–2023
Super Lawyers® Rising Star, Class Action/Mass Torts, 2012–2022
Best Lawyers in America©, Consumer Law, 2021–2023; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action-Plaintiffs, 2023
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Civil, Plaintiff, 2022–24
The National Trial Lawyers Top 10, Wage and Hour, 2022–24
Publications & Presentations
- Something to chew on How newly legal THC edibles interact with Minnesota employment laws, Minnesota Bench and Bar, December 2022
- Who’s the Boss? The ever-shifting landscape of Independent Contractors, Misclassification and Joint Employers, Minnesota State Bar Association, Co-presenter with Zaylore Stout and Gina Janeiro, February 17, 2021
- Whistleblower, Reprisal, Retaliation, Minnesota CLE, Presenter, Sept. 16, 2019
- Consumer Law 101, MSBA Consumer Litigation Section, Moderator, Feb. 21, 2019
- Maine Bakery Drivers Lawsuit Will Become Class Action, Portland Press Herald, Interview, Feb. 1, 2019
Case results
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Class Counsel in Noll et al. v. Flowers Foods, Inc. et al.,
No. 1:15-cv-00493-JAW (D. Me.) (class certification granted in class action brought by distributors of Flowers Foods, who are challenging their classification as independent contractors, rather than employees)
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Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel for In re Life Time Fitness, Inc.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation, MDL 2564 (class action settlement awarding a maximum of $15 million for class members who received unsolicited text messages in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act); settlement affirmed (8th Cir. 2017)
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Class Counsel in Rehberg et al. v. Flowers Foods Inc. et al.,
No. 12-cv-00596 (W.D.N.C.) (class action settlement for distributors who challenged their classification by Flowers Foods as independent contractors, rather than employees)
Want Shawn on your case?
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Get free case reviewWho else on the team
Kate Long
Attorney
Drawing on deep empathy from her time as a registered nurse, a fierce litigator committed to helping dedicated employees reclaim their power and find true justice on the job.
Admitted in MN
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
Luke Molvarec
Attorney
Forged by his background as a Marine, an unwavering defender fighting to level the playing field and secure meaningful financial recovery for unfairly treated workers.
Admitted in IL
Common questions
Who will I actually work with on my case?
A team. An attorney leads the strategy, a paralegal stays with your case from the first call through resolution, and a case manager keeps everything moving. You won’t be handed off to junior staff and forgotten — the people you meet early are the people working your case.
Will I work with one attorney or a team?
A team, with one attorney leading. Plenty of firms assign a single lawyer who then disappears into a caseload. We run cases with an attorney, a paralegal, and a case manager, so there’s always someone who knows your file and can pick up the phone.
What if I prefer to work with someone who speaks Spanish?
That’s available. Our intake team speaks Spanish natively and several of our attorneys are bilingual, so your case can be handled in Spanish from the first call through resolution. Tell us when you reach out and we’ll staff it accordingly.
Can I choose my attorney?
You can tell us who you’d prefer, and we’ll take it seriously. Assignments also depend on the type of case and who has capacity, so we can’t always guarantee a specific attorney — but we’ll explain the match and make sure it’s the right fit for your situation.
Will I have to keep re-explaining my situation to different people?
No. Your team shares notes, and everyone working your case knows your story. You tell it once. If someone new joins later, they read the file before they talk to you — not the other way around.