Swain, Tim

James M. Susag is a shareholder and trial lawyer with Larkin Hoffman. His trial practice focuses on franchise, dealer and contract disputes, and real estate and construction. Mr. Susag has extensive fi rst-chair trial experience, representing clients in numerous jury and court trials, arbitrations, administrative proceedings and appeals. Some of his recent successes include enforcement of franchise and dealer agreements in Federal District Courts in California, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and in arbitration.

Mr. Susag joined Larkin Hoffman in 1997 after two years with a Minneapolisbased litigation boutique. Between 2005 and 2007, he was Chief Litigation Counsel for U.S. Bancorp. There, Mr. Susag was responsible for complex litigation on a nationwide basis, and learned about litigation from the client s perspective. He resumed his trial practice with Larkin Hoffman in 2007.

A member of the state bars in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Mr. Susag 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 member of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association. Mr. Susag is also a Board Certifi ed Real Property Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association and is certifi ed as an arbitrator and mediator by the Minnesota Alternative Resolution Review Board.

Mr. Susag is a frequent writer, public speaker and panelist on varied topics. He recently presented on the topic "Enforcing Post-Termination Rights in a Down Economy" at the 43rd Annual International Franchise Association Legal Symposium (held on May 16-18, 2010 in Washington, D.C.). Mr. Susag also recently published the articles "Non-Compete Cases: Does Anyone Really Win?" for the LJN Franchising Business & Law Alert (co-authored with Charles Modell) and "Are Franchisors More Vulnerable after Toledo Mack Sales & Serv., Inc. v. Mack Trucks, Inc.?" for the ABA Franchise Lawyer. He is a regular contributor to Larkin Hoffman's E-News: Franchise and Distribution Law Update.