Rich Ruohonen ’96
Rich Ruohonen ’96, partner at TSR Injury Law and an internationally recognized curler, will give the keynote address at Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s annual commencement ceremony on May 30, where more than 300 graduates will receive their J.D. or LL.M. degree.
Ruohonen has competed at the highest levels of the sport of curling, having won national curling championships and broken records. He notably became the oldest American to compete in a Winter Olympics when he represented the U.S. at this year’s Olympics as an alternate in men’s curling. He recently helped bring home gold for the U.S. men’s team at the ACE & Company World Senior Curling Championships in Geneva, Switzerland.
As trial attorney at TSR, Ruohonen has built his career over the past two decades on securing multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, including some of the largest in Minnesota history. His leadership has helped shape TSR’s reputation as a dominant force in personal injury law and set the standard—with a success rate of more than 80% in trials—for what it means to be a successful trial lawyer.
He has been frequently recognized for excellence and his contributions to the legal profession, including, among others, receiving the Minnesota Association for Justice’s Circle of Excellence Award and being named a six-time Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer and a Minnesota Super Lawyer. He is also known for his authenticity and generosity, mentoring young lawyers and using his reputation and confidence to open doors for others.
Ruohonen is an alumnus of Mitchell Hamline, having graduated from Hamline University School of Law, one of its predecessor institutions. His keynote address will usher the Mitchell Hamline Class of 2026 as fellow alumni into a network of more than 23,000 making an impact across the nation and the globe.