Firm History

Rinke Noonan began in a Sauk Rapids storefront when Orrin “Bud” Rinke opened his law practice in 1967. He was soon joined by Mike Noonan and then Roger Klaphake, who later left the practice to become a judge. The growing firm soon moved into a former church building and then to a new brick office building in downtown Sauk Rapids. As the new kid on the block, the firm took on a lot of causes from many ordinary people – consumers, working people, and injury victims. When a group of farmers sought representation in a controversial power line case, the firm's reputation for zealous advocacy for farmers spread, and Rinke Noonan continues an active agricultural practice to this day. At the same time, Mike Noonan’s growing practice in commercial real estate and business law began to attract business clients. The firm began to develop along two complementary paths by retaining its interest in zealous advocacy for individuals, while building a solid commercial, financial and governmental practice.

By 1982, the firm had developed an active legal practice representing products liability victims in gas explosions, landowners in eminent domain proceedings, a regional grocery chain and other prominent businesses, the City of Sauk Rapids and local banks and real estate developers. As the practice grew, the firm could no longer fit within its downtown Sauk Rapids office building.

To accommodate its growing space needs and expanding client base, Rinke Noonan moved to the top floor of the newly-constructed Norwest Center in neighboring downtown St. Cloud in 1984. During the next two decades, the firm continued adding attorneys and developed concentrations in practice areas such as business law, real estate development, commercial lending, environmental and water, construction, estate planning, employment, and municipal law. By 2003, the firm had once again outgrown its space and moved to the top floor of the US Bank building on the west end of downtown St. Cloud.

In 2007, 40 years after its humble beginnings, Rinke Noonan remains loyal to its history, zealously representing both individuals, businesses and institutions throughout Minnesota with commitment, integrity, quality and innovation. Despite the firm’s growth, Rinke Noonan’s attorneys are still as feisty and ready as ever to take on a tough battle to achieve the best possible result for the client as they were when the firm started on its journey from that old store front office in Sauk Rapids.