DATE: June 2, 2008

For Immediate Release

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - Tom Vogt is the recipient of the 2008 Leonard E. Lindquist Distinguished Labor & Employment Attorney award, presented by the Minnesota State Bar Association.  The MSBA's Labor & Employment Law Section's governing council established this award several years ago as a way of recognizing section members who have made an outstanding contribution to labor or employment law practice in Minnesota. Each year the Section's Governing Council receives nominations and selects the award recipient. The award was presented to Mr. Vogt on Wednesday, May 28 at the Section's annual meeting and Spring dinner.

Thomas M. Vogt was a name partner partner of Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt, having joined the firm immediately upon graduation from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1958.  Mr. Vogt dedicated his entire 45 year legal career to the practice of labor law on behalf of management. By the 1970's he was firmly established as one of the nation's preeminent labor lawyers. His particular expertise in health care labor law resulted in demand throughout the upper Midwest for his advice and leadership in NLRB proceedings, negotiations, arbitrations and labor contract administration.  Tom, and the Felhaber firm he led for so many years, left a lasting impact on the labor landscape locally and nationally. Mr. Vogt was a zealous advocate for his employer clients, but always with respect and civility for his opponents. As former University of Minnesota Law School Dean William Lockhart noted, Tom was always able to understand the other party's point of view even if they could not agree. Perhaps nothing better captured the essence of Tom's legal persona than The Star Tribune's headline in the midst of the longest nurses' strike in state history: "Tough but Fair."

In addition to his heavy practice demands, Tom still found time to contribute to the profession and the community. He taught labor law as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota from 1972 to 1982, was a contributing editor to the Developing Labor Law, and was a frequent lecturer at conferences and CLEs throughout the country. Tom was active in the Minnesota State Bar Association throughout his career as a member from 1958 to 2005, serving as Vice Chair of the Labor Law (now Labor and Employment Law) Section and then as its Chair from 1969 to 1970.  Tom was regularly listed in Best Lawyers in America and was someone who richly deserved that title.

Tom's contributions were particularly pronounced within the firm that he led as its President and Chairman from 1984 to 1993, continuing on as an active board member until a few years after his retirement. Tom was chair of Felhaber's Labor and Employment Law Section for years, and was an outstanding formal and informal mentor to dozens of young, upcoming attorneys.