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"Marnie is a real asset. She has a no-nonsense style and provides sound advice based on her years of experience and in-depth legal knowledge."

Chambers USA 2023

Overview

With the straightforward outlook of a native Midwesterner, Marnie is a litigator who also advises on food and agricultural regulatory matters, protecting businesses that have often been in the family for decades.

While her litigation practice emphasizes food systems companies, Marnie represents clients in a variety of industries in complex commercial matters. Clients look to her for successful representation in bet-the-company litigation and other high-profile cases: Marnie often handles breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims, trade secret claims, intellectual property issues, unfair competition allegations and shareholder disputes.

Alongside her winning record, she’s also known for a practicality that serves clients well. Marnie approaches litigation with an eye toward the outcome that will truly serve a client’s business. Her aim is not to have a lengthy court battle, but to solve the client’s real-world problem.

A respected name in food and agricultural regulations, Marnie also chairs the firm’s Food Safety & Regulation practice group. She advises clients on USDA and FDA regulatory matters, providing proactive counsel and advice on matters such as safety and labeling concerns, product recalls and inquiries from regulatory bodies. With nearly twenty years of experience in these areas, Marnie understands the issues unique to food and agribusiness.

The firm’s authority on the National Organic Program, Marnie is also well versed in the special requirements of organic food. She represents both organic-certification agencies and certified operations, and advises clients on compliance. 

What Marnie loves most about her work, however, is collaborating with clients: she often represents businesses that have been owned by several generations of the same family. She values the opportunity to serve clients who have such a strong emotional connection to their work and who truly love the businesses she’s protecting.

Marnie also serves as co-chair of HB WE, the firm’s women’s Employee Resource Group.

"Marnie is a real asset. She has a no-nonsense style and provides sound advice based on her years of experience and in-depth legal knowledge."

Chambers USA 2023

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Commercial Litigation, 2024 and 2025
  • Benchmark Litigation
    • Local Litigation Star, 2020-2025
  • Chambers USA
    • Litigation: General Commercial, 2022-2024
  • The American Lawyer, Midwest Trailblazers, 2021
  • Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, Seeds of Justice Award, 2007

Education

  • J.D., William & Mary Law School
  • B.A., Dana College
    • English and History
    • summa cum laude

Admissions

  • Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Agricultural Law Association
  • Nebraska Legal Diversity Council, Board Member
  • Nebraska State Bar Association
  • Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court
  • Women in Agribusiness

Clerkships

  • Supervising Pro Se Law Clerk, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
Experience
  • Secured district court's assigned value of $893 million – $300 million more than defendants' competing valuation – for Streck, Inc, in shareholder oppression case, one of Nebraska's largest valuation disputes. Decision was affirmed on appeal before the Nebraska Supreme Court.
  • Served on collaborative pro bono legal team for Set Aside Program. Legal Aid of Nebraska screened candidates and Husch Blackwell attorneys helped participants fill out documents to nullify criminal convictions, such as shoplifting, that would otherwise impact job searches and the ability to serve in the military.
  • Won summary judgment for independent farm data company in case alleging misappropriation of trade secrets.
  • Represented company founder in shareholder dispute, obtaining one of the largest civil judgments in Nebraska history. The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in favor of the founder, granting over $750 million in value and interest for their shares in the Company.
  • In partnership with Institute for Justice, successfully represented Nebraska-based baker who filed suit when their home-based business was imperiled by certain permitting and inspection requirements implemented by the City of Lincoln, contrary to state law. Crafted a litigation strategy that ultimately led to a state trial court denying the City's motion to dismiss the suit on the merits, and Lincoln's City Council voted unanimously to bring its regulations in line with state law, thus handing the client a complete victory.
  • Represented client Farmobile as a competitor alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and various other state and federal claims. A summary judgment was entered in client's favor on all counts. Later, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for our client, affirming on all counts.
Case Studies
Farmobile LLC

Farmobile secured a complete defense victory in enterprise-threatening trade secret litigation.

News Releases | August 19, 2020
Husch Blackwell Scores Eighth Circuit Win for Farmobile in Trade Secret Dispute

The earlier court ruling granted summary judgment to Farmobile.

Outside the Office

Marnie is an avid gardener who names knitting as her biggest stress reliever. She and her husband also love to travel and have visited countries across Europe and Asia.

Thanks to her Danish heritage, Marnie is especially fond of the Scandinavian countries, with extra affection for Iceland. Marnie and her husband have visited Iceland regularly for the past twenty years. She loves its incredible nature and solitude: it’s a place where she relaxes as soon as her flight lands.

Community Leadership
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, Board of Directors, 2016–present
  • Museum of Danish America, Board of Directors, 2013–present