About the Founder - Blake Vanderhyde

Why did you start Vanderhyde Law?

I started Vanderhyde Law to be an advocate for people who have been harmed and have nowhere else to turn.   For over 20 years I have dedicated my law practice to helping people and families who have been wronged by some of the largest and most powerful corporations/organizations in the world.

What sparked your interest in becoming a lawyer?

When I was in college I was the president of an organization that promoted friendships between students and kids with developmental disabilities.  Part of my responsibility would be to arrange social activities for the group.  I would constantly run into problems with getting my kids into and out of buildings because most of them were not handicapped-accessible.  I would have to carry students in wheelchairs into buildings, and it was very frustrating.  This experience really changed my perspective.  I went to law school to try to make a positive difference in this world and help those who were less fortunate.

What cases are you most proud of?

That is a really difficult question to answer because there are so many.  I have had the honor and privilege of representing some of the bravest and most courageous people you would ever meet.  Let me give you some examples.  Imagine the amount of courage it takes to come forward after being sexually abused by a priest and taking on the Catholic Church.  Or imagine surviving World Ward II, coming home and starting a family, and being diagnosed with Mesothelioma, knowing there is no cure in sight.  Try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has just lost their husband or wife because they took a pharmaceutical drug or used a defective medical device, and there is no money to pay the mortgage or put food on the table? I get to witness this type of courage all of the time, and it is truly humbling.

• Summa Cum Laude Graduate
• Member of Law Review
• Admitted in State and Federal Court
• Recognized by Super Lawyers and Minnesota Law and Politics
• Member of American Association for Justice