Lucas J. Kaster

Founding Shareholder | Employment Law & Civil Rights Attorney

Lucas J. Kaster is a nationally recognized employment and civil rights attorney who has built his career standing up for individuals facing workplace injustice, retaliation, discrimination, and violations of their constitutional rights. For more than a decade, Lucas has tried and won complex cases in state and federal courts across the country, earning a reputation for strategic advocacy, meticulous preparation, and unwavering commitment to his clients. 

Lucas has secured numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, including a $9.4 million jury verdict in a whistleblower retaliation case against BNSF Railway and a $3.8 million disability discrimination verdict against Union Pacific Railroad. He has also successfully represented clients in high-profile civil rights matters, including a $1.455 million settlement for correctional officers who experienced race-based discrimination during Derek Chauvin’s post-trial detention, and a $300,000 resolution of an excessive-force police misconduct claim.

Lucas also brings significant appellate experience. He has twice argued before the Minnesota Court of Appeals to revive whistleblower claims, both resulting in successful outcomes, and he prevailed at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, overturning an adverse jury verdict in a landmark Federal Railroad Safety Act case.

Leadership & Service

From 2020 to 2024, Lucas served on the Minnesota State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights—an independent, bipartisan federal agency tasked with advising Congress and the President on civil rights enforcement. In addition, he has held leadership roles in numerous professional organizations, including serving as President of the Minnesota National Employment Lawyers Association (MN-NELA) and holding leadership positions within the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section, where he has been a frequent speaker, panelist, and program coordinator. 

Lucas is deeply involved in community and pipeline development work. He serves on the Twin Cities Diversity in Practice Board, has coached high-school mock trial, and mentors law students as an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. He has taught and spoken extensively at conferences nationwide on topics including trial strategy, bias in investigations, post-trial practice, effective depositions, and developments in discrimination and retaliation law.

Background

Before becoming a civil rights and employment litigator, Lucas founded and operated Kaster Law, a criminal defense practice in Milwaukee, where he tried multiple misdemeanor and felony cases to verdict. During law school, he began his hands-on litigation experience at the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

A former Division I athlete, Lucas earned his bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and his law degree from Marquette University Law School, where he was active in public-interest and advocacy organizations.

Education

  • J.D., Marquette University Law School 
  • B.S., Villanova University

Admissions

Lucas is admitted to practice in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California, as well as multiple federal district courts and the 5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Recognitions

Lucas has earned repeated recognition for his litigation accomplishments and service, including:

Approach

Clients trust Lucas for his clear communication, strategic thinking, and ability to navigate high-stakes matters with both precision and compassion. Whether negotiating a severance, litigating workplace discrimination, exposing retaliation, or fighting systemic civil rights violations, Lucas brings integrity, depth of experience, and a client-first focus to every case.

In the News

Minnesota Lawyer - The Powerlist - Employment Law - Lucas Kaster
2025 Lawdragon - 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers
Super Lawyers - Lucas Kaster