Leo A. Knowles

Leo Knowles is a member of McGrath North’s Litigation Practice Group and is experienced in all aspects of commercial and business litigation. With over 40+ years of experience as a trial lawyer, Leo has represented a wide variety of corporate and individual clients in various industries. He looks at problems and issues in the simplest terms possible and searches for the direct and most expedient solution.

Leo has served as lead counsel in numerous jury trials, bench trials and appeals in federal and state courts in Nebraska and other jurisdictions throughout the United States. The focus of his trial practice has been on commercial and complex business cases, including class actions, trade secret cases, governmental defense and product liability litigation for a variety of clients.

From 2006 – 2016, Leo worked as in-house counsel for ConAgra Foods as Senior Vice President and Chief Litigation Counsel. In this role, he was responsible for the management of the company’s litigation as well as legacy environmental matters. Prior to his tenure at ConAgra Foods, Leo was a shareholder and director at McGrath North for 30+ years and served as assistant general counsel to ConAgra Foods.

Representative Cases

Managed the defense of several mass tort actions including the litigation arising from 3 separate food borne illness recalls.

Education

Creighton University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1976)
College of the Holy Cross

Admissions

Nebraska (1976: Sustaining Member)
United States Courts of Appeals – Third, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits

News

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08/18/2022

McGrath North's Team Receives Broad Recognition from The Best Lawyers in America® 2023

In its newly released 2023 edition, The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized 44 McGrath North attorneys in the full range of specialty practice areas key to supporting businesses of all sizes across a broad range of industries, and 28 attorneys have been recognized for 10 years or more. Of these attorneys recognized based on peer-review surveys, seven were named “Lawyer of the Year.” This honor is awarded to only one attorney with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic location.

McGrath North's Team Receives Broad Recognition from The Best Lawyers in America® 2022

In its newly released 2022 edition, The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized 47 McGrath North attorneys in the full range of specialty practice areas key to supporting businesses of all sizes across a broad range of industries. Of these partners recognized based on peer-review surveys, 11 were named “Lawyer of the Year.” This honor is awarded to only one attorney with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic location.

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