James K. Langdon
PEOPLE

James K. Langdon

Partner
langdon.jim@dorsey.com

Overview

JIM IS A VETERAN TRIAL LAWYER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS OF HIS FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER AND PUBLIC COMPANY CLIENTS. HE HELPS THEM RESOLVE DIFFICULT DISPUTES WITH SHAREHOLDERS, REGULATORS AND COMPETITORS BY USING CREATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES AND, WHEN NECESSARY, TAKING CASES TO TRIAL AND WINNING.

Jim has more than 30 years of experience representing public companies, banks, mortgage lenders, insurance companies, investment banks, and broker-dealers in litigated disputes in federal and state courts as well as before regulatory agencies, particularly the SEC. Jim is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has extensive first-chair trial experience in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration forums (including FINRA, AAA and UNCITRAL) and before regulatory agencies.

Jim is co-Head of the Class Action Practice Group. His practice focuses on all aspects of financial services litigation, including class actions, shareholder derivative actions, claims related to mortgage-backed securities, securities arbitrations (customer and intra-industry), tender offer defense and regulatory investigations and enforcement actions.

Education & Admissions

Northwestern University (B.A., English, 1979)

Columbia Law School (J.D., 1984), Stone Scholar Articles Editor, Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems, 1983-1984

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Ninth Circuits

Clerkships

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Charles Metzner, 1984-1985

Experience

Representative Work

  • In Re St. Jude Medical, Inc. Represented publicly held medical device manufacturer in securities fraud class action.
  • Baker v. NavSeeker. Represented two U.K. companies named as aiders and abettors in Chancery Court breach of fiduciary duty shareholder derivative claim against Delaware affiliate.
  • Allstate v. Residential Funding. Represented multiple entities and individuals accused of fraud in connection with issuance and sale of residential mortgage-backed securities.
  • In re Taxable Municipal Bonds Securities Litigation.  Represented issuer of defaulted municipal bonds in multi-billion dollar consolidated securities fraud class actions.
  • In Re Mortgage Lenders Network. Represented warehouse lender and secondary market purchaser in numerous proceedings related to failed national mortgage company.
  • In Re Oppenheimer Funds. Represented special litigation committees of two fixed income funds in investigation of alleged shareholder derivative claims arising from 2008 financial markets collapse.
  • Numerous investigative and enforcement proceedings before the SEC and state agencies.
  • Falkowski v. Imation Corp.  Represented publicly held issuer of options in securities fraud case in which Ninth Circuit adopted broad construction of SLUSA.
  • Staro Asset Management LLC, et al. v. Richards.  Represented officer and director of consumer sales company in federal securities fraud action brought by hedge fund.
  • In re Midwest Life.  Represented broker-dealer in multi-state actions brought by state guaranty associations, individuals and liquidator of estate arising from sale of annuities issued by former insurance company affiliate. 
  • Defense of numerous class actions on behalf of mortgage lenders and servicers regarding closing fees, escrow charges and alleged predatory lending practices.
  • Coleman v. Franken. Represented candidate in U.S. Senate 2008 election contest proceedings.

News & Resources

Articles

Not so Fast in Certifying Class: Supreme Court Holds That Courts Must Consider Generality of Alleged Misstatements in Deciding Whether to Certify Securities Fraud Class
Preparing for LIBOR Substitution-Commercial and Consumer Lending Considerations
Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of “Creative Attempt to Recast Corporate Mismanagement as Securities Fraud”
Voices The FDIC vs. PwC: Scapegoating the auditors is the wrong move
Ground-Breaking Delaware Opinion: Books and Records include Electronic Documents Subject to Inspection and to be Incorporated in any Resulting Action
Tort Reform: Is the World Flattening?
Jim Langdon has written a variety of articles for numerous legal publications.

News & Press Mentions

17 Dorsey Lawyers Recognized by Benchmark Litigation
200 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch
Super Lawyers Recognizes 27 Dorsey Attorneys in Minneapolis
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 30 Dorsey Lawyers and 10 Practices in Minneapolis
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Super Lawyers Recognizes 26 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
The POWER 30: James Langdon
18 Dorsey Lawyers Recognized by Benchmark Litigation
Super Lawyers Recognizes 29 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 17 Dorsey Lawyers
Super Lawyers Recognizes 38 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 17 Dorsey Lawyers
Super Lawyers Recognizes 41 Dorsey Lawyers in Minneapolis
Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Dorsey Partner Jim Langdon Comments on Auditor Liability
Chambers USA 2018 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Dorsey Partner Jim Langdon Comments on FDIC Win Against PwC
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 16 Dorsey Lawyers
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Dorsey Partner Jim Langdon Comments on FINRA's Priorities Letter
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 17 Dorsey Lawyers
Benchmark Litigation Recognizes 15 Dorsey Lawyers
Dorsey Partner Jim Langdon Comments on Errors in Briefs

Select Presentations

  • Jim is a frequent CLE lecturer on topics ranging from Class Actions to Legal Writing.

Industries & Practices

Government Solutions & Investigations
International Arbitration & Litigation
Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
  • Antitrust & Competition Law
  • Appellate
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Consumer Financial Services
  • Electronic Discovery
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • Government Solutions & Investigations
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Insurance Law
  • International Arbitration & Litigation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Mining
  • Mortgage Banking
  • Oil & Gas
  • Products Liability
  • Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
  • Sustainability

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Qualified Civil Neutral under Minn. R. Gen Prac. 114
  • Member, ABA and MSBA
  • Arbitrator for FINRA
  • Member, Association of Fraternal Benefit Counsel

Accolades

Chambers USA 2023Chambers 2022Chambers USA 2021  Ranked in Chambers USA 2020  Ranked in Chambers USA 2019 Leading Individual  
Chambers USA 2018 Leading Individual  Ranked in USA Chambers 2017 Leading Individual 

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2021-2024
  • Named one of "America's Leading Business Lawyers" by Chambers USA (Litigation: General Commercial), 2017-2023
  • Listed in Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2008 and 2019-2023

    Pro Bono 50 Hours 2022    Contributed 50+ Pro Bono Hours in 2021

Benchmark Ligitation 2017

  • Recognized as a "Local Litigation Star – Minnesota" by Benchmark Litigation, 2015-2019, 2021-2022, and 2024

     North Star Lawyer logo

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2017-2018 and 2022
James K. Langdon