After working as a partner for two nationally ranked law firms, Sam founded CrossCastle to combine the rigor and expertise of large firms with the flexibility and efficiency of a smaller organization. As a litigator, Sam has successfully represented clients in a broad spectrum of litigation and business and civil rights disputes. He has substantial experience with non-competition, trade secret, and restrictive covenant litigation. Sam has unique expertise representing churches and faith-based organizations in religious liberty and land use matters. In addition to litigation, Sam counsels clients regarding employment matters, negotiations, and disputes. He regularly advises business, executive, and faith-based clients on all aspects of employment relationships and employment law compliance.
As an advocate, Sam Diehl has successfully litigated and resolved disputes for clients in matters related to: trade secrets, non-competition and restrictive covenants; injunctions; contract matters; discrimination and whistleblower claims; administrative charges and government investigations; zoning and land use; and constitutional claims. Sam regularly advises clients ranging from small businesses to multi-national organizations who rely on his depth of experience and ability to defend their interests when necessary.
As an employment advisor, Sam regularly counsels clients through difficult termination and discipline issues, hiring, leaves and accommodations, and wage and hour issues. He also helps companies navigate employment law issues that accompany corporate mergers and acquisitions. Sam has handled numerous internal investigations for heavily regulated institutions and employers facing allegations of harassment, discrimination, and other serious concerns. He also regularly drafts and negotiates employment agreements for executives and key employees and trains managers and employees on compliance with employment laws.
In addition to commercial clients, Sam represents colleges and universities, religious organizations, and other non-profit organizations. He has substantial experience representing churches and other religious organizations in employment matters, sensitive investigations, land use, constitutional claims, and other matters. Sam has defended colleges and universities in litigation brought by students and employees, and he has investigated matters related to student, employee, and leadership misconduct. He has also worked with federal agencies to resolve disputes related to charges of discrimination and other issues.
Sam’s work with government agencies is informed by his significant work experience in Washington, D.C. where he was as a subcommittee staff director for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, an appointee at the U.S. Department of Labor, and a legislative staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Notable Experience
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Spearheaded successful litigation and advocacy efforts resulting in reversal of decisions to cancel high school football and volleyball in Minnesota
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Obtained $2.65MM for plaintiff after two-week trial of First Amendment claims
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Obtained multiple temporary and permanent injunctions in federal and state court on behalf of former employers barring former employees from competing
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Defeated multiple temporary and permanent injunction motions in federal and state court on behalf of federal and state court on behalf of new employers in trade secret and non-compete litigation, including obtaining dispositive dismissals
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Successfully tried employment discrimination claims, obtaining verdict for employer defendant
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Obtained multiple summary judgment victories for employers on discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower claims in federal and state court
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Successfully defended lower court summary judgment orders and trial verdicts for employers at the Eighth Circuit and Minnesota Court of Appeals
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Obtained summary judgment for defendant in $7 million-dollar commercial contract dispute
Honors and Awards
- Named “Up & Coming Attorney” by Minnesota Lawyer, 2017
- Selected for the Rising Stars list, Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2017
- Qualified as a “North Star Lawyer” by the Minnesota State Bar Association, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 2007, Editor, Minnesota Law Review
B.A., Princeton University, 1999
Admission
- Minnesota Bar
- North Dakota Bar
- Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Sharon A. Rose
Founding Partner – Washington, DC
Sharon is an experienced regulatory counsel and advocate in enforcement and litigation matters. She focuses her practice on representing corporations and individuals in civil and criminal investigations and proceedings brought by federal regulatory agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and related litigation. She has extensive experience advising clients on issues related to compliance with the federal securities and commodities laws and other laws and regulations that impact corporate entities, including federal contractor obligations, the False Claims Act (FCA), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). She has represented clients worldwide in matters involving alleged fraud, market manipulation, disruptive trading practices, insider trading, FinTech topics, accounting and internal controls irregularities, and other financial and trading issues. In addition to matters before the federal government, she regularly represents clients in enforcement proceedings and other inquiries by state regulatory agencies, regulated exchanges, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and foreign government agencies.
Prior to joining CrossCastle, Sharon served as Senior Counsel in the Office of the Solicitor at the Department of Labor, where she advised the Office of the Secretary and Department agencies on a variety of regulatory, enforcement, and litigation matters. She was integrally involved in several key rulemakings and litigation actions within the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), including those concerning fiduciary investment advice, ESG investing, proxy voting, QPAM exemptions, health and welfare benefit plans, and important reforms to OFCCP’s procedures for non-discrimination enforcement actions, religious exemptions, and accommodations. She routinely liaised with DOJ and other executive branch departments on joint litigation matters and amicus briefs requested by the Supreme Court addressing religious liberty and ERISA issues. Before entering government service, Sharon practiced in the Washington, D.C. and Singapore offices of an international law firm.
In her personal time, Sharon enjoys devoting her efforts to support several nonprofit organizations, including serving on the Board of Trustees of a private liberal arts college.
Notable Experience
- Representing a national bank in an investigation by and settlement with the Department of Justice and Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General related to alleged False Claims Act and Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act violations, in connection with the bank subsidiary’s servicing of federally insured reverse mortgage loans;
- Defending a foreign private issuer in DOJ and SEC investigations and settlement negotiations involving alleged FCPA violations;
- Representing an energy trading company in FERC investigations into alleged market manipulation and tariff violations, successfully concluding the investigations without enforcement action;
- Obtaining permanent injunctions against mandatory FINRA arbitration for a broker-dealer;
- Representing senior executives of foreign corporations in DOJ and SEC investigations into potential FCPA violations;
- Representing a public corporation and its executives in securities fraud litigation related to an accounting restatement, successfully obtaining dismissal with prejudice and defending against plaintiffs’ appeal to the Fifth Circuit;
- Representing a corporate executive in an investigation involving alleged trade sanction violations;
- Representing financial institutions and commodities trading companies in investigations and proceedings by CFTC’s Division of Enforcement and the Intercontinental Exchange Market Regulation Staff;
- Representing ExxonMobil Pipeline Company in proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding rates for transportation of crude oil over the Trans Alaska Pipeline System;
- Advising U.S. and foreign issuers on compliance with the FCPA and various securities laws;
- Advising U.S. companies on compliance with ERISA and federal contractor compliance obligations;
- Advising energy and commodities trading firms on market manipulation and regulatory issues under the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act, and the Commodity Exchange Act;
- Advising energy clients on state regulatory issues, including divorcement statutes.
Prior to her law career, Sharon was a Partner and Managing Principal of a multi-state registered investment advisor and estate planning firm and held registered securities principal and general securities representative licenses.
Honors & Awards
- Named as a Rising Star in Super Lawyers, Washington, D.C., 2013 to 2017
Education
J.D., University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall)
- Senior Articles Editor, U.C. Davis Law Review
- Staff Editor, U.C. Davis Business Law Journal
M.B.A., Claremont Graduate University, emphasis in Finance
B.A., summa cum laude, Westmont College
- Certificate of Leadership Studies
- International Business Institute, Europe
Admissions
- District of Columbia Bar
- California Bar
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Nathan L. Hopkins
Associate – Washington, DC
Nathan focuses his practice on commercial litigation, investigations, and responses to government agencies. Prior to joining CrossCastle, Nathan spent thirteen years working in higher education both as an attorney and an administrator. Because of his first-hand perspective he has an appreciation for the complex compliance and regulatory issues facing colleges and universities. As in-house counsel, he advised clients on employment matters, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), insurance claims, real estate due diligence, and contract negotiations. As a former Title IX Coordinator, he has extensive experience drafting and enforcing discrimination and harassment policies, investigating sexual misconduct complaints, Clery Act compliance, responding to OCR complaints, and developing training programs. Nathan is a faculty member at Liberty University where he teaches courses in Civil Procedure and Risk Management.
Notable Experience
Honors & Awards
Education
J.D., Liberty University School of Law
B.S., Liberty University
Admissions
Pennsylvania Bar
New Jersey Bar
Harry Niska
Of Counsel – Minneapolis, MN
Harry Niska is an experienced counselor and advocate for businesses and individuals. He has extensive litigation experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in trial and appellate courts across the country in a variety of commercial and constitutional disputes, including contract, fraud, First Amendment, and antitrust litigation. He also frequently advises political candidates, party units, and other organizations on campaign finance issues and election law. He also has significant experience advising businesses on legal strategy issues, currently serving as general counsel for two construction companies. He practiced for several years at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago and Ross & Orenstein in Minneapolis. In addition to his private practice experience, he has also twice served as a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit: first as a law clerk to Judge Roger L. Wollman from 2005-2006, and later as a clerk to Judge David R. Stras when he was elevated to the Eighth Circuit in 2018.
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2005, Articles Editor, Minnesota Journal of International Law, Order of the Coif
- Concordia College, B.A., Political Science, 2002
Judicial Clerkships
- Roger L. Wollman, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (2005–06)
- David R. Stras, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (2018)
Admissions
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- S. District Court, Minnesota
- S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
Seminars & Publications
- How Loud is Your State’s Voice at the High Court?: Comparing State Attorney General Activity at the U.S. Supreme Court, Federalist Society – Minnesota Lawyers’ Chapter (Feb. 7, 2017).
- Litigating in the Wake of a Class Action: How to Maximize Your Client’s Interests, Hennepin County Bar Association (Dec. 15, 2015) (with Matt Veenstra).
- That’s Not Plausible: IqbalOne Year Later, Hennepin Lawyer (June 2010) (with John Orenstein).
- The European Union TRIPS over the U.S. Constitution: Can the First Amendment Save the Bologna That Has a First Name?, 13 Minn. J. Global Trade 413 (2004).
Community Involvement
- Former vice chair, City of Ramsey Charter Commission
- Board member, Connection Church
- Youth baseball and basketball coach
Kimberly B. Maher
Paralegal – Washington, DC
Kimberly has a varied background, working in youth ministry and politics before earning her law degree from George Mason University School of Law. She practiced in family law before stepping out of the paid workforce to raise two children while maintaining her law license and serving in volunteer leadership capacities and Board positions with several non-profit organizations. She came out of “retirement” several years ago, working as a writer and researcher in the fiduciary liability insurance industry and consulting in a variety of fields, including finance and government grant-writing. Kimberly now employs her legal and business background to serve Cross Castle’s clients as the firm’s paralegal.
Personally, Kimberly is passionate about family history, genealogy research, and teaching people the personal aspects of history. She lives with her husband, two sons, Peanut the dog, and George and Tommy, the bunny rabbits.
Jaclyn Peterson
Operations and Accounting Manager – Minneapolis, MN
Jaclyn has a passion for Cross Castle’s work and serving its clients. She brings a wealth of experience to the firm, including project management, organizational development, human resources, and bookkeeping. Before joining the firm, Jaclyn worked for several faith-based and non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota. When she is not on the job, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially when it involves good food and being outdoors.