Biography
Mark Yira grew up along the St. Croix River Valley in western Wisconsin, where his family taught him the importance of hard work, empathy, kindness, and compassion. Through college, he worked in the health care field and served as the office manager for a psychiatrist. There, Mark saw firsthand the devastating impact injuries and trauma can have on individuals and families, and that perspective helped shape him as a person and his practice of law. He was the first person in his family to attend law school. He went to law school so he could help people and be their advocate through some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Having tried dozens of cases to a jury throughout the United States, he has a proven track record. Mark is admitted to practice in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and several federal courts. He is an MSBA Board Certified Civil Trial Senior Specialist, a distinction held by less than 1% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys. He also had the honor of being elected by his fellow trial lawyers as the 2024–2025 President of the Minnesota Association for Justice (formerly the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association), the preeminent trial lawyers association in Minnesota dedicated to advocating for individuals and families harmed by the fault of others.
The Minnesota Supreme Court appointed him to two four-year terms on the No-Fault Standing Committee. This Committee is responsible for reviewing and monitoring the administration of, and rules governing, arbitration under the Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act. He was also appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to two three-year terms on the Advisory Committee on the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure, a committee responsible for reviewing the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure applicable to all civil cases and proposing amendments to those rules.
Mark not only practices law, he teaches it, frequently instructing other lawyers at continuing legal education seminars. He was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Mitchell | Hamline School of Law for over 20 years, teaching Legal Research and Writing, Torts, Evidence, and Constitutional Law. He is currently a co-author of Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance with Prof. Michael K. Steenson and Aaron P. Frederickson (See Michael K. Steenson, Aaron P. Frederickson, and Markus C. Yira, Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance (Lexis-Nexis 2023)).
He also has experience serving as a Judicial Officer. From 2014 to 2026, he served as a part-time Referee of District Court in Minnesota’s First Judicial District, primarily serving McLeod, Sibley, and Le Sueur Counties. Because of this experience, he is frequently selected by parties to serve as a mediator or arbitrator in civil matters throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.
When he is not working, he loves to spend time with his family. He married his high school sweetheart, and they enjoy traveling together. He also spends his free time hunting, fishing, and exploring the great outdoors with his family.
If you are looking for a seasoned trial lawyer who cares and is willing to fight for you, contact him and the Nicolet team today.
Education:
- Juris Doctor - William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN - June 1996
- William Mitchell Law Review (1994-1995)
- Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, with distinction in Psychology - Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. - 1992
- Phi Beta Kappa.
- 30- Hour Mediation Training, Hamline University (2010)
- Certified Civil Arbitration Training (2016)
Bar Admissions:
- State of Minnesota - 1996
- State of Wisconsin - 2002
- Tribal Court, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, 2008
- United States District Court, D. Minn., 1996
- United States District Court, W.D. Wis., 2006
- United States District Court, S.D. Tex. 2010
- United States District Court, D. North Dakota, 2026
- United States Court of Appeals, 8th Cir., 1997
- Supreme Court of the United States of America, 1999
Professional Associations:
- Member, Minnesota Supreme Court No-Fault Arbitration Standing Committee
- Former Member, Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure
- Member, Minnesota Supreme Court No-Fault Panel of Arbitrators
- Past President and Board of Governors, current Member, Minnesota Association for Justice (formerly Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association)
- Officer and Board of Governors, Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota (ACTLM)
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Member, Wisconsin Association for Justice
- Member, 8th District Bar Association
- Member, McLeod County Bar Association
Accolades & Awards:
- MSBA Board Certified Civil Trial Senior Specialist
- Featured as a “Rising Star” in litigation, and “Super Lawyer” in Minnesota Law and Politics and Super Lawyers magazines. Minnesota “Super Lawyer” since 2015
- Minnesota Association for Justice - 2018 Member of the Year - in recognition of exceptional leadership, contributions in the advancement of justice, and contributions to the Minnesota No-Fault Arbitration system and tribunal
- Minnesota First Judicial District - 2021 Amicus Curiae Award - in appreciation of exemplary and dedicated service to the Courts of the First Judicial District, and in recognition of the significant contributions to the administration of justice
- Minnesota Association for Justice - 2025 President’s Award - in recognition of leadership, contributions in the advancement of justice, and contributions to the Minnesota Association of Justice as president of the association in 2024-2025
Publications:
- Dependency and No-Fault Survivors’ Economic Loss Benefits After Auto Owners Ins. Co. v. Perry: A Call for Legislative Action (published in William Mitchell Journal of Law & Practice and reprinted in Minnesota Trial, Fall 2009).
- Developments in Subrogation Law: Understanding Wos v. E.M.A and U.S. Airways, Inc. v. McCutchen (published in Minnesota Trial, Fall 2013).
- A New Era of Foreseeability: Common Law Developments (published in Minnesota Trial, Winter 2020).
- Michael K. Steenson, Aaron P. Frederickson, Markus C. Yira, Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance, (Lexis-Nexis 3d ed. 2023).