Current Employment Position(s)

Shareholder

Year Joined Organization: 1997

Lawyer Overview

James Susag is a shareholder and litigator with Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren Ltd. He has a broad-based business litigation practice, including real estate and construction, fi nancial services, franchise and contract disputes. James has extensive fi rst-chair litigation experience, representing clients in numerous jury and court trials, arbitrations, administrative proceedings and appeals. James joined Larkin Hoffman in 1997 after two years with a Minneapolis-based litigation boutique. In 2005, he left Larkin Hoffman to become Chief Litigation Counsel for one of the largest banks in the United States. There, James was responsible for complex litigation on a nationwide basis involving trusts, investment fraud, lender liability, consumer class actions, and Truth in Lending Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and National Bank Act claims. James resumed his litigation practice with Larkin Hoffman in 2007. A member of the state bars in Minnesota and Wisconsin, James is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in both states as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. He is a Board Certifi ed Real Property Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association and is also certifi ed as an arbitrator and mediator by the Minnesota Alternative Resolution Review Board. James is a frequent writer, public speaker and panelist on such varied topics as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, tower sitings under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, settlement techniques in Federal Court, valuation litigation, condemnation and eminent domain, contracts for deed, mechanic’s liens and boundary law disputes. In 2005, James was interviewed and quoted in the Star Tribune newspaper in its coverage of the United States Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London, which relaxed constitutional requirements for redevelopment takings. He recently published the article “Are Franchisors More Vulnerable after Toledo Mack Sales & Serv., Inc. v. Mack Trucks, Inc.?” for the ABA Franchise Lawyer publication. He is a regular contributor to Larkin Hoffman’s E-News: Franchise and Distribution Law Update, authoring articles regarding the enforceability of mandatory mediation provisions in franchise agreements and other forms of resolving disputes among franchisors and franchisees. James serves as a volunteer arbitrator for the Hennepin County Bar Association Legal Fee Arbitration Program, a volunteer mentor to high school, college and law school students and as career day speaker to both junior high and high school students. Previously, James was appointed and served as a member of the Economic Development and Planning Commissions for the City of Savage, Minnesota. He has also served on several committees at Larkin Hoffman, including its Marketing, Contingency Review and Associates (former Chair) Committees.

Areas of Practice

• Litigation
• Real Estate

West Practice Categories

Litigation & Appeals, Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1995
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1995
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2000
• Wisconsin, 2001
• U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 2001
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2002
• U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 2003

Certification/Specialties

• Certified Real Property Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association Board
• Certified as an arbitrator and mediator by the Minnesota, Alternative Resolution Review Board

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Minnesota State Bar Association (Member)
• Hennepin County Bar Association (Member)
• Ramsey County Bar Association (Member)

Honors and Awards

• Rising Star Minnesota Law & Politics magazine, 2002 - Present

Past Employment Positions

• Johnson & Van Vliet, L.L.P., Attorney, 1997
• Arthur, Chapman et al., Attorney, 1995 - 1997

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, 1995
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  Honors: summa cum laude
  
  Law Review: Staff Member, William Mitchell Law Review, 1994 - 1995
• University of St. Thomas, St Paul, Minnesota, 1992
  B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  Honors: summa cum laude
  Major: Business Administration-Financial Management
  Minor: Computer Science

Address

1500 Wells Fargo Plaza
7900 Xerxes Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55431

Phones

(952) 896-1572

Faxes

(952) 842-1767

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.larkinhoffman.com