AboutCody Blades.
My clients are accomplished professionals and business owners who are facing legal challenges they can’t resolve on their own. I created this law firm to serve as their guide through legal uncertainty so they can reclaim control over their work and life.
I founded Blades Law because I wanted to build something different.
Over my decade-long career, I have had the privilege of representing a wide variety of clients—all facing complex legal challenges and looking for solutions. While I’m not afraid of a courtroom, experience has taught me that most clients want early, efficient, and effective resolution to their legal challenges. That is why I pride myself on my ability to break down complex problems and come up with creative and effective solutions, with many cases resolving before litigation is initiated.
On behalf of my clients, I have negotiated hundreds of settlements, tackled complex and difficult litigation, navigated the administrative processes of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of both employees and employers, worked in-house as fractional employment counsel to one of Minnesota’s largest closely-held corporations, and tried cases before both state and federal juries.
While my experience is broad, I focus my practice on employees facing workplace discrimination and retaliation, employers needing regular employment advice, and business owners who are facing legal disputes they cannot resolve on their own, including fiduciary disputes against other owners.
I founded Blades Law because I wanted to build something different. I envisioned a law firm that is nimble, responsive, and genuinely invested in the success of the people and businesses it serves. A firm that rejects the traditional lawyer-client power dynamic and, instead, fosters a collaborative, transparent approach. A firm that puts clients’ desired outcomes at the center of everything it does—because a legal victory is only meaningful if it aligns with what truly matters to the client.
Today, my clients are accomplished professionals and business owners who are facing legal challenges they can’t resolve on their own. I created this law firm to serve as their guide through legal uncertainty so they can reclaim control over their work and life.
CaseResults.
Throughout my career, I’ve stood beside hundreds of clients during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
Meet Tara
Tara was a nurse at a local hospital, stalked by a colleague who eventually tried to assault her. Fortunately, Tara escaped. But when she reported the attack, her employer placed her on a performance improvement plan. Within a few months of her report, Tara was fired. When I met Tara, she felt powerless. I fought for Tara through a contentious litigation and was able to obtain a favorable settlement during a court-mandated mediation.
Meet Johanna
Johanna was a successful business owner who decided to grow through acquisition. After acquiring her second business, everything went wrong. Key employees left, a former team member violated an enforceable non-solicitation and non-compete and stole many clients, and dissatisfied customers sued. Johanna’s business was under severe threat of collapse. I partnered with Johanna and helped her navigate the crisis, defend her reputation and her business, and stabilize her company.
Meet Maria
Maria was a minority shareholder in a business she owned with her father. For 20 years, Maria ran the business—often working 60+ hours per week without any breaks on the weekends or for holidays. One day, Maria’s father sold the company behind her back and tried to prevent her from receiving her fair-share of the remaining assets during the wind-up. Years of patronizing treatment made it hard for Maria to stand-up to her dad. When she came to me she was ready to give up. I stood up for her when she had trouble standing-up for herself and, together, we fought to secure every dollar she was owed.
These cases, and many more, are the reason I practice law. When clients feel powerless, I give them a path forward and help them take back control.
I am an adept negotiator, aggressive litigator, and experienced trial attorney. My strategy is always guided by your ultimate goal. After knowing your desired outcome, I partner with you to build a strategy aimed at achieving it.
Don’t face your legal battle alone.
Let’s work together to take back your power.
MoreAbout Cody.
Education
- Mitchell | Hamline School of Law via Hamline University School of Law, magna cum laude (JD)
- University of Minnesota (BA)
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota
Organizations
- Minnesota Women Lawyers
- Board of Directors
- Co-Chair of the Membership & Engagement Committee
- Founder of the Rainmakers Affinity Group
- Emerge Mothers Academy
- Board Chair
- Board Member
- 2018 – 2022
Accolades
- Named a Minnesota “Rising Star” (an honor given to only 2.5% of lawyers in Minnesota, 2018-2024
- Included in the 2022 edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for her work in Commercial Litigation
Published Articles
“Crying Over Spilt Milk: Why the Legal Community is Ethically Obligated to Ensure LegalZoom’s Survival in the Legal Services Marketplace,” Hamline Law Review: Vol. 38: Iss. 1, Article 2 (2015)
“How the Simple Act of Asking ‘How can I help?’ May Improve Employee Productivity and Employer satisfaction,” LinkedIn, Oct 2, 2017 (available at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-simple-act-asking-can-i-help-may-improve-employee-cody-blades)
“A Reflection on Self-Limiting Belief,” LinkedIn, June 3, 2024 (available at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reflection-self-limiting-beliefs-cody-blades-dmhtc)