Overview
Amran is a trial lawyer whose ability to read a room makes her a formidable advocate in high-stakes commercial and employment disputes.
Clients turn to Amran for their most consequential commercial and employment matters, including trials, arbitrations, and internal investigations. Her commercial litigation practice spans contract disputes, construction litigation, and business tort claims. She regularly defends employers in high-exposure employment litigation, including discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower claims, and leads sensitive internal investigations involving allegations against executives, board members, and other senior personnel.
Amran's ability to connect with jurors, judges, witnesses, and opposing counsel makes her a formidable advocate at trial and a trusted advisor when the stakes are highest. Minnesota Lawyer named her Attorney of the Year, and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal recognized her as a 40 Under 40 Honoree. She is listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021–2025) and Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2021–2023).
Beyond the courtroom, Amran co-founded Greene Espel’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practice, where she conducts workplace investigations and counsels employers through sensitive discrimination and misconduct matters. The practice is a natural extension of her litigation work: companies facing potential employment disputes often retain Amran first to investigate, contain risk, and resolve issues before they reach court.
EDUCATION
- J.D., Hamline University School of Law, magna cum laude; Hamline Law Review; Giles Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court
- B.A., University of Saint Thomas, Political Science and English
EXPERIENCE
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Judge Franklin L. Noel, Law Clerk
- Hennepin County District Court, Judge Pamela G. Alexander
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Judge Michael J. Davis, Extern
ADMISSIONS
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- State of Minnesota
AFFILIATIONS
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Federal Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- National Bar Association
- Somali American Bar Association
LANGUAGES
- Somali (fluent)
Amran's Practice Areas
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Commercial Litigation
Explore Practice AreaOur business litigation practice embraces the wide variety of commercial disputes facing private and public companies today. Areas of particular expertise include intellectual property, antitrust, securities, employment, professional liability, and construction disputes.
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Class Actions
Explore Practice AreaClients regularly turn to Greene Espel when faced with high-stakes, class-action litigation. Greene Espel attorneys have defended dozens of putative class actions in federal and state courts all across the country.
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Construction and Design
Explore Practice AreaOur team has significant experience navigating construction and design disputes. We have handled a wide variety of construction disputes in trials, arbitrations, and mediations, and frequently provide advice about construction contracts, preservation of claims and evidence ahead of repairs, and use of construction documents.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Explore Practice AreaOrganizations regularly call on Greene Espel to help comprehensively assess their workplaces’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and craft strategic, legally compliant solutions to address their goals and objectives.
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Employment Litigation
Explore Practice AreaBusinesses, public institutions, and individuals seek out Greene Espel for representation in a wide range of employment-litigation matters.
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Local Government Defense
Explore Practice AreaLocal government defense is a cornerstone of Greene Espel’s practice.
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Internal Investigations
Explore Practice AreaWe leverage our experience to conduct sensitive and high-profile internal investigations for our clients. We also help clients navigate investigations to mitigate reputational, regulatory, and litigation risks.
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Products Liability
Explore Practice AreaDefending products liability claims has been a cornerstone of Greene Espel’s practice since our founding in 1993. Manufacturers and other businesses turn to us when they face product defect allegations brought by individuals, by large groups of plaintiffs, or as putative class actions.
Cases & Wins
Representative Matters
- Represented companies in breach of contract and business tort disputes in Minnesota state and federal court, including matters with eight-figure exposure.
- Handled complex commercial arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association and other arbitral forums, including examining witnesses, arguing dispositive motions, and managing key workstreams.
- Represented owners, contractors, and developers in construction disputes involving defect claims, delay damages, and payment disputes.
- Led sensitive internal investigations for boards, audit committees, and senior leadership into allegations of executive misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.
- Counsel to businesses navigating high-profile social media and reputational disputes, including platform-related claims and content-based litigation.
Amran's Recognition & Awards
- 2021 Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer
- 40 Under 40 Honoree, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (2021)
- Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021-2025)
- Selected to Minnesota Rising Stars list, Minnesota Super Lawyers (2021-2023)
- Up and Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer (2020)
- Recognized as Minnesota State Bar Association North Star Lawyer for pro bono service (2019)
- 2018 Diversity & Inclusion Honoree, Minnesota Lawyer
- Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Award
- Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers – Michael J. Davis Scholarship Award
- Nelson Mandela Scholarship Award
- Minnesota Federal Bar – Judge Jacob Dim Memorial Award
- Minnesota Black Women Lawyer’s Network Scholarship Award
Amran's Community Involvement
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith selected Amran to serve on the Judicial Selection Committee for the open federal bench seat in Minnesota and appointed her to the committee that recommended candidates for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal for Minnesota. She is a past-President of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, a founder and past-President of the Somali American Bar Association, and past-Chair of the Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage. Additional community involvements include the below:
- Federal Law Enforcement Selection Committee
- B.R.A.V.E. Inc. – Board Member
- Governor Dayton's Council of Minnesotan's of African Heritage, Governor Appointed Member
- Minneapolis Police Police Conduct and Oversight Commission