Fredrikson attorney John M. Koneck has been named as one of five honorees for Twin Cities Business (TCB) magazine’s 2025 Minnesota Business Hall of Fame. Each year, the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame celebrates five leaders who have made a significant impact in the Minnesota business community and shaped its economic landscape. Honorees are selected by TCB’s editorial team and recognized for their career accomplishments and contributions to their organizations and broader business community. Koneck will be formally inducted into the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame on July 24, 2025, at an event at McNamara Alumni Center.
Koneck is recognized for his dynamic leadership of Fredrikson, as well as his career-long commitment to the community via active volunteerism with non-profits, extensive pro bono work, and leadership within the state bar.
At Fredrikson, Koneck served long tenures as president, as a member of its board of directors, and on its executive committee, and was involved in all aspects of leadership. During his 19 years as president, the firm expanded from 1 to 10 offices across the region and into Asia and Latin America. He led the firm through dramatic growth to become the largest law firm in Minnesota with over 400 attorneys today.
Koneck developed a recognized real estate law practice. Unique among his real estate peers, he handles both complex real estate transactions, including sales, financings and leases, and complex real estate disputes and litigation, including contract disputes, foreclosures, workouts and bankruptcy.
Throughout his legal career, he has made it a priority to serve the community and has been a leader in providing pro bono legal services and encouraging others to do so. In late 2023, Koneck began a new role as Fredrikson’s first Pro Bono Counsel to serve the disadvantaged, combining his passion for legal advocacy and service.
Koneck made significant contributions to the Minnesota State Bar and its Real Property Section, ultimately serving on the Section’s Governing Council and leading its Certification Council, as well as helping to create the Section’s Pro Bono Program.
Since 2012, he has served on the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Board of Law Examiners, and since 2020, he has served as President of that Board.
“John is deserving of TCB’s Minnesota Business Hall of Fame recognition,” said Fredrikson president Melodie Rose. “Under John’s dedicated leadership as president of Fredrikson, the firm became the largest law firm in Minnesota. His extensive business leadership and pro bono work supports our community, and his industry knowledge is unmatched. As the former president of our firm, and now Fredrikson’s Pro Bono Counsel, John continues to lead and inspire us.”
Fredrikson & Byron is a leading Midwest law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally and globally. With a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet,” our attorneys bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to work with clients and operate as business advisors and strategic partners as well as legal counselors. The firm’s 400+ attorneys are based in Minneapolis, with offices in Ames, Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, Madison, Mankato, St. Paul, Saltillo, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. Learn more at fredlaw.com or LinkedIn.
Featured Professionals
Professionals
612.492.7038