Overview
Jim is a veteran trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience representing public companies, banks, mortgage lenders, insurance companies, investment banks, and broker-dealers facing high-stakes litigation in federal court, state court, and before financial regulators.
Jim helps financial services clients resolve complex disputes with shareholders, regulators, and competitors through creative, cost-effective litigation strategies – and when necessary, by taking cases to trial and winning.
A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Jim brings extensive first-chair trial experience in federal and state courts, arbitration forums, including Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), American Arbitration Association (AAA), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) – and before regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Jim serves as Co-Chair of the Class Action Practice Group. His practice focuses on all aspects of financial services litigation, including class actions, shareholder derivative actions, mortgage-backed securities (MBS) litigation, securities arbitrations (customer and intra-industry matters), 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. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
- U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits
Clerkships
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Charles Metzner, 1984-1985
Experience
Representative Work
- CF Holdings v. Freeze-Dried Holdings. Representing plaintiff challenging conduct of private equity fund financing transactions.
- In Re TigerRisk Partners and Howden Capital Strategies. Representing insurance company in litigation involving alleged aiding and abetting fraud and related claims arising from the collapse of a property and casualty insurer.
- Bremer Financial v. Otto Bremer Trust. Represented trust in effort to sell bank in multi-forum litigation brought by bank and its board to avoid sale; after nearly five years, litigation resolved and bank sold.
- In Re Neogen Corporation. Represented various officers and directors in putative securities class action litigation alleging misstatements related to the integration of a business acquired through a merger transaction involving 3M Company.
- 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
News & Press Mentions
Events & Speaking Engagements
Select Presentations
- Jim is a frequent CLE lecturer on topics ranging from Class Actions to Legal Writing.
Industries & Practices
Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
Explore This Practice View resources related to this practiceGovernment Enforcement & Corporate Investigations
Explore This Practice View resources related to this practiceInternational Arbitration & Litigation
Explore This Practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Class Action Litigation
- Consumer Financial Services
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Government Enforcement & Corporate Investigations
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- International Arbitration & Litigation
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mining
- Mortgage Banking
- Products Liability
- Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
Accolades
- Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, Securities Litigation, 2021-2026
- Minnesota Lawyer, Legal 250, 2026
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, Minnesota, 2017-2026
- Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2008, 2019-2026
- Minnesota Monthly, “Top Lawyers in Minnesota,” 2024-2026
- Benchmark Litigation, "Local Litigation Star – Minnesota" by 2015-2019, 2021-2022, 2024, 2026
- Consistently providing pro bono legal assistance to those in need through Dorsey’s Pro Bono program
- Dorsey & Whitney – Scales of Justice Team Award (Housing Team), 2025
- Minnesota Super Lawyers®, "Top 100 Minnesota Attorneys," 2024
- Minnesota Lawyer, The POWER 30: Business Litigation, 2021-2022, 2024
- MSBA, North Star Lawyer, 2017-2018, 2022-2023
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®
