Michael S. McKnight

Mike McKnight has represented hundreds of employers, their insurers and self-insurers across South Dakota in the past 33 years of practice. A partner in our employment law section, Mike’s vast experience before the South Dakota Department of Labor includes having tried over 100 cases in front of administrative law judges. In addition, he has handled administrative appeals to both the circuit court and the South Dakota Supreme Court.
Mike has also defended workers’ compensation bad faith claims and has an active practice as a mediator. Mike has lectured extensively on the subject of workers’ compensation and employment law. He has also served as an expert witness for the defense in bad faith cases.

In the past ten years, Mike has developed an active and growing practice as a mediator of all types of disputes.  He has mediated over 400 cases ranging from workers' compensation claims to personal injury actions, insurance bad faith claims, construction claims and environmental claims.

Mediation Center in affiliation with Hamline University School of Law; Certificate of Completion, 30-Hour Civil Mediation Training (2016) and is a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice

J.D., University of South Dakota School of Law (1986), with honors

B.S., South Dakota State University (1981)

South Dakota Bar Association
The Defense Research Institute (Workers’ Compensation Committee)
South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
State Bar of South Dakota (Disciplinary Board and Ethics Committee)
Member of National Workers’ Cmpensation Defense Network (www.nwcdn.com)
Fellow, College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers      Resolute Systems, LLC

Arbitrator - American Arbitration Association

OTHER CREDENTIALS:
Recognized by Chambers USA as a leading attorney in Labor & Employment Law/Workers’ Compensation
Recognized by Best Lawyers as the “Sioux Falls Best Lawyers Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year” for 2014
Recognized by Best Lawyers as the “Sioux Falls Best Lawyers Litigation – Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year” for 2015
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for 2014 and 2015 in the areas of Employment Law-Management, Litigation-Labor and      Employment and Workers’ Compensation Law
Listed in Great Plains Super Lawyers (States of South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska)

Flat fee of $1650 plus sales tax and expenses for a four hour or less mediation; flat fee of $3000 plus sales tax and expenses for a full-day (6 hours or more including travel time) mediation; $350 per hour for arbitrations