Ronald J. Schutz is Chairman of the Executive Board at the national law firm of Robins Kaplan LLP. Ron is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America. Becoming a Fellow is by invitation only and membership is limited to 1% of the total lawyer population. He is included in many top lawyer lists, including The Best Lawyers in America and the Law Dragon 500. Based on his trial victory in Grantley v Clear Channel, The National Law Journal named Ron to its annual list of the “Top 10 Winning Litigators in the United States.” Ron is a frequent lecturer and author on topics related to litigation and trials and he is often quoted in the business and legal press. He has also appeared on the NBC Nightly News and the CBS Morning News.
Ron is extensively involved in community and public affairs. He is a former chair and current board member of the Center of the American Experiment and a member of the Board of Directors of Tee It Up for The Troops. He is also a member of the University of St. Thomas Law School Board of Advisors, a former member of the Advisory Board of the Minnesota Law Review, and a past president of the University of Minnesota Law School Alumni Association. He previously served on the boards of the YMCA of the North and the Guthrie Theater. In addition, he served as chair of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection (appointed by Governor Pawlenty). Mr. Schutz also served as chairman of the Board of Directors of Pawlenty for President (2011-2012).
Ron attended Marquette University on an ROTC Scholarship where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Schutz graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School where he was a member of the Law Review. After law school, he fulfilled his military obligation by serving four years in the United States Army JAG Corps stationed with the 7th Infantry Division where he tried twenty jury trials. His notable military trial victories include a murder acquittal when he was serving as defense counsel and a conviction and 50-year prison sentence in a rape case when he was serving as a prosecutor.
Ron is married to his high school sweetheart Janet, and they have three adult children. Matt, their oldest is a graduate of Georgetown University and lives in London where he is the CEO of a technology consulting company. Erik is their number two son and a graduate of West Point. He served year-long tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan as an Infantry Officer. He left the Army in July 2012 to attend Harvard Business School and is now the CEO of an HR outsourcing company. Erik lives in Wayzata with his wife Erin and they have two children. Their youngest child, Kristin, is a graduate of Southern Methodist University. She works in London for her older brother Matt.
Ron has run several marathons and triathlons and enjoys outdoor adventure activities. He has trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, Machu Picchu, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
