Bob Schmitz joined Christensen Group in 2014. Previously, Bob was a partner at Schreifels and Associates, a Minnesota based employee benefits consulting firm. At Christensen Group, Bob is the Leader of the Employee Benefits department. Bob has a specific focus in the following areas: Regulatory Compliance (ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA), Funding Analysis, Long-term Strategic Planning, and Claims Analytics. Bob graduated from St. Cloud University with a B.S. in Accounting.

Penelope (Penny) Phillips strongly believes in providing her clients with strategies and solutions (not just answers) based on quality human resources and legal practices.  She focuses exclusively on counseling and representing employers in all areas of employment law.  Penny has spoken to companies and organizations throughout Minnesota, the Midwest, and the United States.  She and her colleague Grant Collins, along with Howard Bolter, have become the editors of Employment Law and Practice, Minnesota Practice Series, Employment Law and Practice, Thompson Reuters, (4th ed. 2020).  Penny is an MSBA certified specialist in labor and employment law, and a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Attorneys.

Grant Collins is an MSBA-certified specialist in both traditional labor law and employment law.  Grant serves as the co-editor of the authoritative treatise Minnesota Practice: Employment Law & Practice (4th ed. 2020). Grant stays current on labor and employment law by serving as co-editor of the Minnesota Employment Law Report, an up-to-the-minute blog on the latest developments in labor and employment law in Minnesota and throughout the country.

Sara Gullickson McGrane is an experienced litigator who has handled hundreds of matters in both the federal and state courts of many states, including Minnesota and North Dakota. She has tried numerous cases to jury verdict and has tried one or more cases to verdict in sixteen of the last twenty years. Sara focuses her practice on litigation, with an emphasis on employment and energy law, and is certified as a specialist in Labor & Employment Law by the Minnesota State Bar Association, is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Chambers & Partners Leading Attorney, Super Lawyer (Top 100 Lawyers and Top 50 Women Lawyers).

Scott Blake serves as outside general counsel to a wide range of businesses and business owners. He frequently provides advice and counsel to businesses on employment law issues, including the FMLA, ADA, FLSA, and discrimination statutes, drafting employment handbooks, workplace policies, and employment agreements, and investigating and disciplining employees. He also works with clients in drafting and negotiating executive compensation agreements and non-compete agreements so that his clients’ customer relationships, confidential information, trade secrets, and business interests are adequately protected.

Ryan Olson represents clients in business and employment matters. His business consulting and litigation practice ranges from assisting clients with contract disputes to litigating business tort claims. Ryan’s employment law practice primarily focuses on advising employers on personnel and policy issues, drafting employment agreements, including retroactive covenants, and litigating numerous employment law related issues, including involving confidential information, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and allegations of retaliation. He also assists federal and state contractors/subcontractors with their affirmative-action obligations, including compliance audits.